Plain Truth – Jodi Picoult
ISBN:978-0671776138
Review by: Cecilia Jansink
Plain Truth offers us something rarely seen, a fascinating glimpse into Amish Life mixed with courtroom drama and family ties.
Lawyer Elle Hathaway is taking a break from the rat race and staying with her Aunt and Uncle in Amish country, hoping for a well deserved rest. But when the body of an abandoned newborn baby turns up at the farm of her Aunt’s Amish relations, Elle finds herself defending an unmarried Amish girl charged with murdering her own child. Elle must wade through a minefield of stony silence and animosity towards outsiders in order uncover hidden secrets.
This is one of those stories that will stick with you. Picoult has weaved a highly visual and captivating tale, and handled a confronting subject manner with respect and dignity – not just for her characters but for the readers as well. Plain Truth is different from most crime dramas. The apparent “bad guy” is caught almost from the start but as the facts are brought to life the question is raised as to whether she is as much of a victim of circumstance as the child. The plot flows along nicely and there are some breathtaking twists and turns. Although Elle is our main protagonist there are passages told from differing views which has added to the character development and the sense of being a part of the action. Crime fans who love the thrill of the chase may find this lacking but at the same time it is a refreshing change to have a perpetrator that isn’t necessarily evil.
Plain Truth is just one of Picoult’s thought- provoking offerings and while she is not what most consider a traditional crime novelist, Plain Truth is certainly worth checking out.
Author info can be found at http://www.jodipicoult.com/
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