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The Evidence Against Her
Inseparable from birth, three children-Robert Butler, Lily Scofield, and her cousin Warren-experience the complications of love and family relationships as Robert and Lily marry, despite her love for Warren, who in turn falls in love with the younger Agnes Claytor, in a poignant, evocative novel set against the backdrop of a small, turn-of-the-century midwestern town. 50,000 first printing.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2001
17 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
About the author
Robb Forman Dew
17 books19 followersGranddaughter of US poet, essayist and political writer John Crowe Ransom. Godfather was US poet, essayist, academic Robert Penn Warren. Grew up between Baton Rouge, LA and Ohio, well-connected to Kenyon Review writers and artists. Attended but did not graduate from Louisiana State University.
Her first novel - Dale Loves Sophie to Death - won the 1982 National Book Award. She has taught at the Iowa Writer's Workshop and has received Guggenheim Fellowship. In 2007 she was awarded an honorary degree by Kenyan College.
Since 1977 Robb Forman Dew has been living in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where her husband Charles B. Dew is now the Ephraim Williams Professor of American History at Williams College. They have two sons.
Her first novel - Dale Loves Sophie to Death - won the 1982 National Book Award. She has taught at the Iowa Writer's Workshop and has received Guggenheim Fellowship. In 2007 she was awarded an honorary degree by Kenyan College.
Since 1977 Robb Forman Dew has been living in Williamstown, Massachusetts, where her husband Charles B. Dew is now the Ephraim Williams Professor of American History at Williams College. They have two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
May 2, 2011
I found this book very unsettling. Both my mother and my mother-in-law are from small Ohio towns. And each of them grew up during the timeframe of this novel. I felt echoes of each of them in the various female characters in the book, yet I felt no connection with any of the women in Dew's novel. And certainly no sympathy for their family dramas.
In general, I enjoy a book where seemingly nothing happens. The small events of every day can be so much more interesting than overblown plots. But, this book seemed to focus on the petty, the dysfunctional and the distressing aspects of family life. The writing was interesting, the characterization was skillful, but the pages were filled with incidents I didn't want to experience and people I found it impossible to like. It has been praised as painting a vivid picture of small town life; that may be true, but there is also humor to be found in every day life and none of it was present here. Nor was there resolution or redemption. I needed some relief from the narrow, inward focus of these women who were bright but did little with their gifts.
In general, I enjoy a book where seemingly nothing happens. The small events of every day can be so much more interesting than overblown plots. But, this book seemed to focus on the petty, the dysfunctional and the distressing aspects of family life. The writing was interesting, the characterization was skillful, but the pages were filled with incidents I didn't want to experience and people I found it impossible to like. It has been praised as painting a vivid picture of small town life; that may be true, but there is also humor to be found in every day life and none of it was present here. Nor was there resolution or redemption. I needed some relief from the narrow, inward focus of these women who were bright but did little with their gifts.
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March 3, 2013The fact that this book isn't a best-seller tells you what's wrong with contemporary literary fiction. Used to be a book like Dew's or like Anne Tyler's, would win the National Book Award or the Pulitzer. A book about family. About, gasp, women. Now we're completely obsessed with a certain kind of prose and we dismiss all books like these -- all family dramas -- as worthless. We dismiss them as "women's fiction." As "Oprah books." As if Ursula Hegi's book Stones From the River , for example, an Oprah book, wasn't magnificent. It's just sexism, pure and simple.
April 11, 2011
This story starts with the birth of three children and ends when they're all grown up and married. I felt like this whole book was about character development and there didn't really seem to be a plot. As the title made me believe that someone would eventually do something worth finding "evidence against" I kept waiting for something big to happen, but it never did. The writing style was interesting but the story was somewhat boring.
October 24, 2023
The pros in this novel of quiet family life in small town Ohio feels like the best documentary nonfiction. The book does not have a plot, but rather it follows the lives of members of two families. Just as most of our lives have no specific plot, the lives of these characters contain pivotal moments but do not illustrate a particular overarching theme. I did find this somewhat anti-climactic, but I find interpersonal relationships interesting in themselves so overall still enjoyed this book.
April 20, 2011
Essentially this appealed to me most as a genealogist and historian. It's almost like it starts with the skeleton of what you know of family history (places, dates, marriages, schools attended, homes lived in, professions, etc.) and adds the stories you wish you knew. A family tree with character development. The plot feels effortlessly, almost heartbreakingly plausible and the uneven story structure, with the odd jumps in time and shifts in tone and POV, mirrored the process of piecing together the history of a community.
February 5, 2011
This is a slow read. Be prepared for a lot of description and character development. But, if you can tolerate it, you will be rewarded with a vivid glimpse of families and homes and life lived in the early part of the 20th century that will make you feel like you've met these people and seen these places, and that you care about their fates. Good insight into interpersonal relationships. First book of a trilogy. I'm on to the next book.
April 23, 2011
This was engaging to read, but left me feeling - what was the point? It's a character study without much of a plot, but I also didn't feel like it left me anything to ponder when I had finished it.
August 25, 2012
The Evidence Against Her was not at al what I expected. I picked up this book because it was set in the 1910s and I wanted to immerse myself in language from that time. I thought, solely based on the title, that it might be story of a sordid woman, perhaps even a killer. I was wrong. It's not. It's about two families and the characters that make them up.
For a saga it was somewhat interesting, though because it was told as opposed to showing us the drama through the character's eyes (there is little to no dialog) it lacked tension. I kept waiting for something to happen, unfulfilled by the interactions of the characters and their emotions as told by the narrator.
The language was beautiful and rhythmic and the characters were interesting up to the last section. From the last section to the end, Dew's main characters quit having thoughts or being at all aware of what was going on around them, which made them annoying. That much oblivion ought to cause drama, but it didn't.
It's worth the read for research on the time and language, but it is not really a satisfying story.
For a saga it was somewhat interesting, though because it was told as opposed to showing us the drama through the character's eyes (there is little to no dialog) it lacked tension. I kept waiting for something to happen, unfulfilled by the interactions of the characters and their emotions as told by the narrator.
The language was beautiful and rhythmic and the characters were interesting up to the last section. From the last section to the end, Dew's main characters quit having thoughts or being at all aware of what was going on around them, which made them annoying. That much oblivion ought to cause drama, but it didn't.
It's worth the read for research on the time and language, but it is not really a satisfying story.
February 23, 2015
This book puzzled me. Initially, I struggled with the author's writing style. She moved quickly through present, past and future, but in no meaningful order. It took awhile to get used to that, but eventually I was able to get into the flow. The suspense builds nicely through character development. Lots of detail is spent focusing on the younger years of the main characters, and then as they get older there are big jumps of time, which makes you feel like you're hurtling towards something big and dramatic. Semi-spoiler alert - there is no something big and dramatic. In the end, the thing you are waiting for is incredibly anti-climatic. And disappointing.
May 15, 2012
For the life of me I can't remember how this made my 'must read' list, but it was absolutely awful. The only gratifying part about the book was that most of the main characters in the book, who were terribly self-possessed, ended up dying untimely deaths and those who didn't manage to die were well on the way to living out miserable lives by the time this book came to a merciful conclusion. What a disappointing effort by a National Book Award winner! Maybe I should have read the book that won the award instead.
March 21, 2013
This was one of those books that you start and then make it to the end only because you feel like you should, not because you really care about it. I never quite figured out who or what this story was supposed to be about and in the end, I really didn't care. I read in the notes at the end and it seems this is part of a trilogy. I have no interest in reading any more about these character or their lives. I didn't hate the book but I won't remember it or any of the characters from it a week from now.
July 3, 2013
I keep reading this chapter after chapter hoping to find some sort of plot that will correspond to the tittle but it has not happened. Lovely prose but such a flat storyline. Not entirely impressed with this author for being able to tell a good story.
2/3 through I gave up on this boring drawn out story.
2/3 through I gave up on this boring drawn out story.
August 7, 2009
This novel begins with the birth of two cousins & a close family friend into elite families in a small town in central Ohio near the end of the 19th century. But the book quickly loses focus & abandons its original almost entirely by midway through--and it's not at all clear what takes its place.
February 18, 2013
About the only thing this book had going for it was its provocative title. But the story was boring and in as much as I can remember there was really no evidence to bring against her except maybe some other women being catty bitches, but not even in an interesting way.
January 20, 2011
Interesting story about the what can happen behind closed doors with families and the preceptions that each person can have about others.
May 21, 2022
Lily Scofield, Robert Butler, and Warren were always together, being there for one another like the three musketeers.
Although they did get comments on their friendship, “Three never works out. There is always someone left out… But it does not seem at all right … not healthy in some way.” (9) That did not matter to them., those words meant nothing to them, so they continued to play around. They usually played with dolls or house because lily told them to, and they listened to her even as they left her behind to attend boarding school, she was still in their minds.
“Lily was as shocking and slender and brilliant with potential as the blade of a knife.” (26) There now grown up and Lily decides to marry Robert, they both have their minds flooded with each other. But lily is not able to let go of Warren as well as him but eventually, he will have to learn how to since she is already married to do that, he must find himself again.
So, when Agnes Claytor starts to fall in love with Warren, lily feels threatened that she is about to lose the one thing she is not able to let go of. It's hard to catch a certain feeling for Agnes it can be heartache because she comes from an abusive household or to question what she feels motivated to do when going toward Warren. “Every thought in Agnes’s was blond and dangerous unless she forced her mind in some other direction” (145)
When she does marry Warren, it's not all that clear what exactly is she doing or going to do afterward like become like her mother or her father. Her father was the one who brought her down either physically or mentally. “He had been annoyed, even angry, at her before…. Had the terrifyingly pleased expression of a man who appetite has been piqued and who sees an opportunity to sate it,” (192) While her mother tried to protect so and did not tell If she became caring or went to the other side.
Except much does not happen from here, with Lily in general and her relationships with Robert, it seems like they become a side character halfway through. And then with lily and warren, it just explains how lily cannot let him go. “Lily felt at that moment – with Robert off in a dangerous place where there was nothing, she could do to protect him, and with Warren moving away from her without a second thought – more heartsick than she had ever felt in her life.” (262). However, reading through this book you still do not get any answers and the title “The evidence against her” doesn’t make sense because of who is “her” and what type of evidence.
Although they did get comments on their friendship, “Three never works out. There is always someone left out… But it does not seem at all right … not healthy in some way.” (9) That did not matter to them., those words meant nothing to them, so they continued to play around. They usually played with dolls or house because lily told them to, and they listened to her even as they left her behind to attend boarding school, she was still in their minds.
“Lily was as shocking and slender and brilliant with potential as the blade of a knife.” (26) There now grown up and Lily decides to marry Robert, they both have their minds flooded with each other. But lily is not able to let go of Warren as well as him but eventually, he will have to learn how to since she is already married to do that, he must find himself again.
So, when Agnes Claytor starts to fall in love with Warren, lily feels threatened that she is about to lose the one thing she is not able to let go of. It's hard to catch a certain feeling for Agnes it can be heartache because she comes from an abusive household or to question what she feels motivated to do when going toward Warren. “Every thought in Agnes’s was blond and dangerous unless she forced her mind in some other direction” (145)
When she does marry Warren, it's not all that clear what exactly is she doing or going to do afterward like become like her mother or her father. Her father was the one who brought her down either physically or mentally. “He had been annoyed, even angry, at her before…. Had the terrifyingly pleased expression of a man who appetite has been piqued and who sees an opportunity to sate it,” (192) While her mother tried to protect so and did not tell If she became caring or went to the other side.
Except much does not happen from here, with Lily in general and her relationships with Robert, it seems like they become a side character halfway through. And then with lily and warren, it just explains how lily cannot let him go. “Lily felt at that moment – with Robert off in a dangerous place where there was nothing, she could do to protect him, and with Warren moving away from her without a second thought – more heartsick than she had ever felt in her life.” (262). However, reading through this book you still do not get any answers and the title “The evidence against her” doesn’t make sense because of who is “her” and what type of evidence.
December 8, 2024
Finished the book without exactly knowing what it was about, I was expecting some sort of big revelation or event at the end. I liked the characters and writing, it was an easy read. I guess it’s just a glimpse into the lives of two wealthy American families; the mundane and the ugly. Nothing special or crazy happening.
I felt like I was on edge the whole time whenever something good happened to the characters in the book, like every good thing that happened to them came at a cost. The general tone and atmosphere was tense throughout. I felt bad for them most of the time, tbh
I felt like I was on edge the whole time whenever something good happened to the characters in the book, like every good thing that happened to them came at a cost. The general tone and atmosphere was tense throughout. I felt bad for them most of the time, tbh
March 17, 2018
THE SYNOPSIS OF THIS NOVEL ON GOODREADS SAYS THE CHILDREN WERE BORN IN 1988-THAT IS INCORRECT. THEIR BIRTH WAS IN 1888.
This is the first of a trilogy and I purchased all three in 2009 and just now finally got around to starting it. I liked this book written in 2001 but I think the majority of readers will just feel that it is old fashioned because so many of the popular books these days are mystery/suspense/thrillers. This is not that! It is just a quiet book about a small town in Ohio in the days before and during WW1 and centers basically on two families and at times I wasn't really sure I liked it well enough to finish the trilogy. The main character, Agnes, is going to go through all three books and I am going to go ahead and read the series because, even though I found myself at times getting weary and wishing the author would get on with it, I was interested enough to finish this one and continue Agnes's story. It did remind me of the novels I read years ago.
Giving it a high 3 stars if for nothing else the beautiful cover. The Dress which I think I read was the author's grandmother's wedding dress.
This is the first of a trilogy and I purchased all three in 2009 and just now finally got around to starting it. I liked this book written in 2001 but I think the majority of readers will just feel that it is old fashioned because so many of the popular books these days are mystery/suspense/thrillers. This is not that! It is just a quiet book about a small town in Ohio in the days before and during WW1 and centers basically on two families and at times I wasn't really sure I liked it well enough to finish the trilogy. The main character, Agnes, is going to go through all three books and I am going to go ahead and read the series because, even though I found myself at times getting weary and wishing the author would get on with it, I was interested enough to finish this one and continue Agnes's story. It did remind me of the novels I read years ago.
Giving it a high 3 stars if for nothing else the beautiful cover. The Dress which I think I read was the author's grandmother's wedding dress.
October 3, 2018
I can see why this book has largely been forgotten by the reading public, despite coming from a former National Book Award winner. The characters, setting, story, and writing were all fairly forgettable, without offering any great insight or uniqueness. While there was nothing to actively dislike (except maybe the plodding pace), I can't identify anything to praise either. I definitely wouldn't reread this and I don't think I'd recommend it either.
July 27, 2018
Confusing. At times the prose is lyrical and the story clips along nicely, other times you're re-reading passages or even whole pages wondering just what point the author is trying to get across. Historical fiction probably best left for a long plane/train ride, knowing you're captive for many hours.
May 20, 2020
This book is honestly terrible. I usually try to make it at least to page 100 before abandoning a book, but I only made it to page 84 with this one before giving up on it. The book is about nothing at all, no plot, just details about the lives of the characters, and it skips around various time periods, which makes the reading confusing.
December 13, 2025
3.2. This book follows the family life of the Scofield’s and Claytor’s through a few decades in a small town in Ohio. It was hard to attach yourself to any character. It was slow moving and had a bit of flowery language. Nothing much really happens. It is just watching these families and what happens to them in their town. It wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t exciting. I won’t remember it for long.
January 6, 2020
I typically enjoy historical fiction but I had a hard time finishing this one. I wasn't drawn to any of the characters, there was no flow to the story and 10 words were used when one would suffice. Overall a boring read.
April 28, 2022
The book was quite boring not going to lie. I was very confused why Lily's and Warran's relationship was like that since they are cousins??? Other than that, it took me a bit to read because of how slow it felt like it was going.
May 4, 2024
So I read these out of order, because I read book 2 first, and then this one. I liked book 2 better, but this one gains power as it goes. But not a lot really happens, and the ending felt rushed and a bit anticlimactic.
October 9, 2017
So hard to get through.
September 21, 2018
Good story, well-written characters. But I had a hard time keeping track of some of them. The thread of this book is just not very fluid.
December 5, 2018
Beautifully written ❤️
May 5, 2019
Didn't finish it. Too many good books waiting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews