This is my first Picoult, and I have to say, the woman knows how to weave a story, if this is any example. All the characters are detailed and real, the situations believable, and the research about the Arizona prison system (and the people in it) impressive in scope, scale, and focus. I'm not usually much into court drama, but the courtroom scenes in this one definitely take second place to the intricate weave of the lives and relationships of the characters.

The book has more than one protagonist - the point of view rotates between Delia, her father Andrew, her fiance Eric, her friend Fitz, and even her mother Elise. This has the potential to be confusing or detract from the story, but the narrative voices are actually pretty clear, and the increased intimacy with the characters isn't just a device; it serves the story very well.