An Inconvenient Woman - Stephanie Buelens

Fiction/Thriller

Rating: 5/10

As far as this novel goes, the characterization of an inconvenient woman is one who tells the truth about a bad man.

Claire learns that her ex-husband is remarrying. Sure that he is the worst sort of criminal, she sets herself the task of stopping it by whatever means necessary. To get Claire off his back, the ex hires a retired cop turned “sin-eater” who specializes in handling delicate cases.  

The attempt at reimagining the sin eater fable is an odd choice and a wasted opportunity in this book. Defined here as an individual who is akin to a fixer or cleaner of misdeeds. But the mark is missed symbolically speaking as there is no “taking on” of these sins, merely the intent to exact punishment for them.

The authors profusion of red herrings should offer suspense. Leaving the reader to ponder; what is the truth here? Who’s telling it? Who’s hiding it? But their volume, seemingly one on top of each other, obscures whatever aspirations the author may have had in flooding us with them. We are also taken on many tangential paths and left to puzzle out when, or if, they will somehow merge. I found that they did not.

Thanks to Net Galley, W.W. Norton & Company Publishers and the author for the advance readers copy.

Footnote: I did not enjoy the author’s portrayal of the male characters in this book, all of them are nefarious and lecherous.  That’s too easy…