the librarian handed this book to me and said probably the worst 3 words i could imagine: "it's a mystery"
i hate mysteries!  (or so i think.  aren't they formulaic and rather boring in their singlemindedness to find out Who Dunnit?)
well, this well crafted novel had me hooked from the begining.  so many interesting characters, so many surprising ties.  and where was the mystery - was it gonna be with her?  with him?  or all of them? 
terrible things could and DID befall the characters.  i had a real sense of worry, and in numerous directions. 
the chapters alternated between the 4 main characters and it would leave you hanging before dropping you into the next, and you just HAD to keep reading to see what was going to happen...  i stayed up late last night to finish it and it was well worth it.  already found a 'best of' book for 2011.