Prized Possessions

Marcia Sweet, formerly head of the Douglas Library’s
Information/Reference Unit at Queen’s University, is currently an
Ottawa-based information consultant.

“The grit of insufficiency,” like a painful cinder in the eye,
describes perfectly the common element in the lives of the main
characters in this literate, interesting crime novel. Wright masterfully
weaves several complex personal dramas into a sophisticated story of
fallible people whose “insufficiencies” propel them into dangerous
situations.

The book starts powerfully. A woman is lying in bed, pretending to
sleep, as her husband enters the room. She opens her eyes. “Her
husband lifted his right hand, slowly, and aimed his revolver at her
head.” Of course, it would be very difficult to maintain the pace of
an opening like this, but Prized Possessions shows steady plot
progression. The characters’ voices are varied and in keeping with the
backgrounds the author has created for them. The dialogue is clear,
natural, and appropriate.

The weakness of the book lies in the profusion of characters and
chapters. There are 54 chapters—some breathlessly brief—which gives
the book a choppy, disjointed quality. And the reader may find it
confusing to keep track of the 50 different names (including pets) that
are mentioned. Not all get equal billing, of course. Those who are
featured are well delineated and believable.

The publisher’s description of the book as a “mystery” and
“suspense” book is misleading, but Prized Possessions is worth
reading on its own terms and will be enjoyed especially by readers who
like an unconventional approach to murder and mayhem.