It’s hard to review a novel about child abuse objectively. Any decent person would react with horror and disgust. What makes it even harder is the detail with which the author deals with the subject.

Katerina Theodorakis, a native of New York, is married to a Greek electrician and lives in a small village on the island of Crete. Fluent in both English and Greek, she makes a happy home for herself and her daughter Aspasia while her husband is away on a long sea voyage. Katerina’s relationships with the townspeople are cordial until she discovers that her husband’s father has taken sexual advantage of Aspasia. Katerina’s first instinct is to denounce the man before the police.

Difficulties ensue when Katerina realizes that she cannot address the problem as an American citizen would. The mountain village is a closed society whose natives are clannish and may take the abuser’s word over that of a foreigner. Katerina has only one choice: to go outside the law to protect her daughter until her husband returns. The steps she takes are risky, with horrific implications.

Florence Wetzel skillfully develops the unique culture in which Katerina struggles. We learn a great deal about other characters, many of whom share their kindness and wisdom in the face of their own troubles. Echoes of small-town life emerge, such as Katerina’s nosy neighbor, her husband’s odd and reclusive sisters, and the elderly aunt whose suspicions keep Katerina in a constant state of fear.

Once you get past the exposition, which I found a bit challenging, I think you’ll find Aspasia a well-paced and suspenseful novel. Because of the frank subject matter and a few instances of offensive language, I have limited my rating to four stars.

Chevron Ross's novels include Weapons of Remorse, The Seven-Day Resurrection, and The Samaritan's Patient. Click here for more information.