Jessie Garcia’s The Fair Weather Friend captivated me from start to finish. This can’t put down book is full of surprises right up to the very end. And I am not quite sure how I feel about the outcome. Multiple characters in the novel face moral dilemmas. Not all choose wisely.

The story has numerous points of view with most of the main characters baring their souls to the reader. Some are deserving of empathy, most are not. The Fair Weather Friend is so much more than a murder mystery.

At the heart of the story is a repetitive and unsettling theme of ethical choice. Unsettling because so many of the characters lack empathy for others and thus don’t follow the golden rule. Furthermore, greed and envy also make an appearance. As does guilt. All human frailties, and The Fair Weather Friend shines an ugly light on these and other shortcomings of the soul.

Faith’s early demise by foul play keeps her from protagonist status. But the story truly revolves around her. A popular TV meteorologist, her murder is the focus of the story. The other characters are either suspects, co-workers or fans. Garcia advances the story through various points of view.

Garcia’s twists in the plot are truly surprising. Additionally, many of the characters lack empathy for the murder victim. Indeed, they make the departed unlikeable.

Then a second character is murdered, and everything twists again.

The writing is exceptional. I could not put the book down. However, it is not a feel good story. Only a few characters are likeable. Most of the relationships have serious flaws. And an innocent, but very flawed, character takes the fall for the murders.

Thus, Garcia forces the reader to explore guilt and ethics. The Fair Weather Friend makes a great choice for a class discussion or book club meeting. Put this book on your reading list!