THE CRAZY SCHOOL by Cornelia Read

The Crazy School by Cornelia Read is smart, funny, provocative, and powerful. (That's four adjectives in a row, and I usually only give books three at most, but this book rocks.)

Read is the author of A Field Of Darkness, a novel that was nominated for virtually every major award including the Edgar. That book introduced protagonist Madeline Dare, a recovering debutante with a penchant for conflict. Madeline returns in this novel, but Read has made The Crazy School its own book, so if you missed her debut you can read this one first.

Read has arguably the most original voice in crime fiction today, with equal parts wry observation and heartfelt characterizations. She also has a knack for seamlessly weaving together all the disparate influences and associations that shape our lives but are so rarely seen together in one work of fiction. From social commentary to history to philosophy to relationships, Read blends everything into a portrait that lingers in your mind's eye long after you stop reading.

And to make it even better, this book flies. I started it before boarding a plane and finished by the time I landed. The dialogue is pitch-perfect, the descriptions tightly drawn. No wasted words and a plot that twists more than a few times before coming to a surprisingly but very satisfying conclusion. This book is not to be missed.