I enjoyed reading this whodunnit which is set in 1959 California. It is packed with racial tension, which is portrayed through Ruby who is the domestic help of the white family where a crime has taken place. The descriptions are extremely colourful and vivid and really bring the book to life. The beautiful bright kitchen where the sun shines through the window is clear as day in my mind and then there is the bloodstain that stands out. Although is it mainly a crime mystery novel, race and gender are especially important and key themes throughout the book. The role of the average middle-class woman and how she is expected to behave and stay at home looking after her husband and children features very prominently. I enjoyed the pacing of the novel and enjoyed how it all unfolded. A very good read. If anyone were to ask I would say I recommend this book to them. Very enjoyable.