Fox River

Starred review from June 1, 2001
Richards (Whiskey Island, etc.) brings her experience as a family mental health counselor to bear in this spirited tale of family tragedy, friendship and love. When Julia Warwick loses her eyesight after falling from a horse, she is surprised to learn that her condition is psychological rather than physical. Julia's militaristic husband insists that she stay at a mental health institute until she can see again, but in a rare act of defiance, Julia takes her daughter Callie and joins her mother and stepfather at their comfy Virginia estate. Meanwhile, Christian Carver, Julia's former betrothed, is released from prison after having been wrongly convicted of murdering Fidelity Sutherland, Julia's best friend. Despite Christian's determination to start a new life, he is still consumed with the need to uncover Fidelity's murderer. As Christian examines the details of the case, Julia's mother reveals some startling truths about her own past while reading passages from her novel-in-progress. These deftly handled novel excerpts serve as a springboard for Julia's recovery as it becomes clear that her blindness is caused by a long-forgotten tragedy. Richards's ability to portray compelling characters who grapple with challenging family issues is laudable, and this well-crafted tale should score well with fans of Luanne Rice and Kristin Hannah.