This review is from the Hartford CT Examiner, and is written by John Valeri:
I came across this book on a recent trip to Barnes & Noble. I wasn’t actively looking for it—I’d never heard of Sophie Hannah before (gasp!)—and yet it immediately jumped out from its resting place among dozens of other new releases. Something about its simple but chilling cover, which depicts a black house with a white door left slightly ajar (as if inviting the reader to come inside), screamed, read me. And so I did…
The Cradle in the Grave follows television producer Fliss Benson as she works on a documentary about three mothers – Helen Yardley, Sarah Jaggard & Rachel Hines – wrongly accused of killing their children (apparent victims of crib death). On her first day of this assignment, Fliss receives an anonymous card with sixteen numbers printed on it, arranged in four rows of four, which appears meaningless to her. Helen Yardley is later found dead in her home—with an identical card left in her pocket.
Fliss can certainly be considered the book’s protagonist, but the narrative does not belong solely to her. Segments are also granted to the lead investigators in the Yardley murder, Simon and Sam, and others. Also interspersed throughout are excerpts from Yardley’s memoir and the occasional newspaper article or essay. This proves to be an exceptionally effective way of introducing background information and varying perspectives, and Hannah’s methodical plotting is truly a wonder to behold.
Though a complex murder mystery, The Cradle in the Grave is also a penetrating look into the lives of its characters, none of whom should be considered safe or above suspicion. As the truth of the crimes is unraveled in intricate layers, so, too, are the characters exposed in such a deliberate manner, allowing for the revelation of multi-dimensional beings that possess the capacity for both good and evil. Trying to figure out how these elements add up is equally enticing and futile, as there is never a moment where Hannah is not a step—or many steps—ahead of the reader.
The Cradle in the Grave concludes in a fashion that manages to be both surprising and, in retrospect, somewhat inevitable, which is further testament to Hannah’s storytelling prowess. The author has certainly chosen to work with a lot of ingredients here, and yet the subtlety with which she does so makes for a hearty literary meal—one in which each part feels as if it’s essential. If good books are those that entertain while simultaneously provoking thought, then this one certainly qualifies…
***
As an aside, the first thing HBE did after finishing The Cradle in the Grave was to go back to the bookstore and purchase Sophie Hannah’s four other psychological thrillers…