Dark Saturday: A Novel

Frieda Klein, a psychotherapist with a past, is drawn into a review of Hannah Docherty’s conviction for the bloody killing of her mother, her stepfather, and her brother. Frieda immediately sympathizes with the young woman, sensing that her harsh treatment at the mental institution where she’s been confined for ten years may have more to do with her insanity than any murderous impulses. She is also dissatisfied with the sloppy police investigation and notes several odd features of the crime that never seem to have been fully resolved. Frieda engages with what is apparently her usual intensity, determined to find out the truth and, possibly, prove Hannah innocent. She interviews Hannah’s biological father and her friends and neighbors from ten years ago, gradually putting together a picture of the Docherty family’s inner workings and a detailed history of the often surprising events leading up to the tragedy.

Dark Saturday’s complex, well-crafted plot, together with the clear, expressive writing, makes for an absorbing read. Perhaps the ending is a little abrupt, and perhaps events from Frieda’s past creep in only to hinder rather than help the story, but, make no mistake, this mystery is well worth reading.