The Cloud of Unknowing

by: Thomas H. Cook

Published by: Harcourt Books

Reviewed by Andrea Sisco

David Sears is a small-town lawyer. He’s married and has one daughter. David’s family has a history that includes mental illness. His pseudo intellectual tyrant father was schizophrenic as is his sister, Diana and her young son Jason, who recently died from drowning.

Diana suspects that her ex-husband, Mark, is responsible for Jason’s death. Mark wanted a perfect child and Jason was an embarrassment. Following the determination that Jason’s death was accidental, Diana begins to collect strange information about old murders. She befriends Patty, David’s daughter, and draws her into the web of her dark suspicions. With Patty’s seduction by Diana, David fears for her health and safety.

When Diana begins threatening Mark with messages, David believes he must intervene before anyone gets hurt.

The story slowly unfolds through the eyes of David and is told to the police during an interrogation. Information is carefully parceled out. It’s almost as if the reader is on a ‘need to know’ basis. And even when the conclusion arrives, we’re not quite sure if we have the story right. But I did quickly figure out what the reader was supposed to learn at the end. That was disappointing.

I enjoy Cook’s novels. They are well written, compelling and always have unique plots. They’re often dark and make one think. And while I enjoyed this novel, I must admit, the ending was less than satisfying. I want my mysteries to be tied up neatly at the end. I want closure. There wasn’t any of that in this one.

Armchair Interviews says: Not as good as Cook’s Red Leaves but worth a read if you’re more interested in a literary work than a mystery or crime novel.