Before You Know Kindness by Chris Bohjalian

One of the blurbs on the cover of this book calls it a multi-layered book.  I second that!  In the first pages of the book Spencer McCullough is shot in the shoulder by his adolescent daughter, Charlotte.  It then takes Bohjalian 120 to get back to that spot in time.  He takes his time setting up the plot so deep and layered that it would be impossible to explain in this small space.  But questions such as: Why did she have the gun?  Whose gun was it? Why was it loaded? Why would she even try to shoot it? Even, What does Spencer do for a living? becomes an integral part of the plot of this book.   

It is a page-turner, suspenseful, at times wryly funny and often humane.  A story of family love and what can happen to destroy a family if allowed.  Wonderful characterizations.  People one cares about and can truly cheer for. 

4 (almost 5) stars (Rated PG-13 for violence and adult situations)