This book started off slow building quite a bit of backstop from several perspectives. But this was all needed to tie all of the characters together. We often see the same scene described from several individual perspectives. The people in this story appear to represent the average (mostly) white middle Americans. Each character's story was riddled with so much despair all while leaving the slightest sliver of hope. The author kept you wanting to know more until the very end. I loved it. I wouldn't be surprised if it was made into a movie or miniseries. I'd definitely watch it.