This is a clever novel with fascinating characters. I enjoyed reading it, and found that it was a real page-turner that flows well from chapter to chapter; and McCarthy's ability to manipulate emotions is absolutely incredible! The book follows Tess in her escape from an abusive relationship with brutal husband Jay, and for the entirety of the novel I really found myself in her shoes, feeling what she was feeling. The progression of the the flashbacks to the beginning of their marriage is logical and devastatingly predictable (in terms of Tess' terrible decision making, not poor plot set-up), but what really moved me was the description of Jay's violence. McCarthy describes those scenes in crippling detail, stirring an almost physical response of disgust for the issue of violence against women that is addressed so subtly yet effectively in this novel. In all, an interesting read with a clever plot and moving character growth; not the most spectacular book I've read, but certainly worth recommending!