I like that the characters are seeking God (except for the obvious villains), but it seems that communication between the characters is lacking. The State Police don't reveal they are conducting a drug recon to the forest rangers, and information that Cynthia has that might have helped them sooner had they known (or had she known what it possibly meant) might have changed the course of the book.

I found it a bit odd that Carlita bonded to Cynthia so quickly and also that when the family decided to go on a vacation after their son's suicide that she relays a message to Cynthia via Jennifer rather than writing a note or calling or talking to Cynthia directly. ( )