Sculptress (1993)

Out of 50 winners of the Edgar Award for Best Novel, I had only read 13 before beginning my challenge to myself to read all of them. [b:The Sculptress|41325|The Sculptress|Minette Walters|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1169591756s/41325.jpg|40899] was one of them. I had read the first three or four of Walters' novels, and then stopped keeping up with them for some reason or no reason. I may have to rethink that decision.

Walters' books are characterized as psychological thrillers, and they certainly do have many of the traits of that subgenre. Unlike some, though, Walters has said that there is always some love, some redemption in her books, and I think that's why I find them easier to take than some of the other authors who focus on deviance.

In [b:The Sculptress|41325|The Sculptress|Minette Walters|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1169591756s/41325.jpg|40899] a non-fiction writer, still reeling from the death of her young daughter, is being pressed by her agent to get busy and write another book. She decides to interview a woman known as The Sculptress who is in prison for the murder and dismemberment of her mother and sister several years before. As she gets to know the prisoner, she begins to doubt the guilt of the self-confessed murderer. Her investigations lead her down unexpected paths and also introduce her to a former policeman who worked on the case, with romantic consequences.

Although I gave this book five stars, I wasn't really completely happy with the ending, specifically the epilogue. Still, the writing, plot, characters and setting were all excellent. Highly recommended for anyone who missed it the first time around. ( )

I really enjoyed this novel. The characters were engaging, the multiple storylines were well handled, and i liked the way the plot started with a murderess in prison and worked, essentially, backwards. The crisp prose made the story move along at a good pace, and there were just enough surprises to keep me on my toes. ( )

What a remarkable book. This is a book to read as Halloween approaches.

Containing many twists and turns, some very gruesome descriptions and a host of wicked characters, this doesn't disappoint.

Horribly obese, Olive sits in jail after she confessed to the killing and dismemberment of her mother and sister. Calmly calling the police, she greeted them at the door in blood stained attire. Police vomited when they witnessed the gruesomeness of the deadly deed.

Enter Rox, an author whose publisher will drop her unless she writes a book about Olive. Interviewing the murderess proves to be very confusing. Repulsed by the layers and layers of fat, the dysfunctionality of Olive's lies, and the evil beady eyes, Rox has difficulty listening to the details.

Slowly, the Rox believes that while Olive adamantly confesses, there are too many questions left unanswered. The reader travels with Rox down sharp windy paths. The truth is veiled and even at the end the reader is left wondering, pondering.

Highly recommended. ( )

I'm of two minds about this book.

It's a somewhat more realistic and human Silence of the Lambs scenario, which is a pretty intriguing idea.

Upside: unusual and interesting female characters, good dialogue, non-obvious plot, ambivalence between cynicism and faith in human nature.

Downside: Plot devices and character development devices sometimes used sloppily, pedestrian descriptive passages.

Walters definitely has something to bring to the party, though. I'll read her again. ( )

A great mystery with enough twists and turns to keep you on the edge..I loved Walter's writing and depth in characterization brought into the story and also the excellent ending where readers were left skeptical about what really happened even after a happy ending.. ( )