Focusing

While planning to divorce her rich husband, Leon, an internationally known actor-turned congressman, a disaffected Alexandra Pike narrates her obsessive search for her old uncle Bart. Alexandra's hunt for information about her dead uncle, who, despite evidence to the contrary, she believes is still alive, becomes her quest for personal identity and life's meaning. As a last-ditch effort to save his marriage, Leon pulls strings to locate Bart. The investigation discloses that Bart is indeed living in a secluded desert town, having eluded his family and the authorities for 40 years; ironically, he dies a mere 10 days before Alexandra arrives at his door. Alexandra's interior monologues are skillfully written and tread neatly between her past and her present. Not strong on plot, British actress Turner's first novel is nonetheless intelligent, wry and full of character. December