In my opinion this book was a so/so read. I was the only one at our book club meeting who had actually finished the book, although most of the women said they were planning on finishing. Even though we had read the description of the book, I was expecting something lighter. To my eye, the font the title is written in on the front of the book ,and the overall look of the cover lead me to believe it was going to be more of a summer beach read. I would have been fine with that. I also would have been fine with a heavier read. It just wasn't what I expected. The Last Summer of the Camperdowns is about murder and betrayal, revenge and loyalty. The Camperdowns are a family that had money at one time but not now. They are trying to keep up pretenses living among their friends in Cape Cod who still have money. The mother of the family is a fading movie star named Greer. Her husband is Godfrey (called Camp), a limousine liberal politician who is currently running for office. Their 12 year old daughter is Riddle James Camperdown. She is named after Jimmy Hoffa (REALLY!?) and is either called Jimmy or Hoffa or Riddle throughout the book depending on who is addressing her. She calls her parents by their first names. No reason is ever given for this that I remember. There is endless bickering between the family members. It gets old quick. Old family friends who live close by are an ongoing point of contention to the Camperdowns. The Devlin family has a 19 year old son who is intrigued (for lack of a better word) by Riddle. Keep in mind that riddle is 12 when the book begins. That makes the relationship between her and the 19 year old not only creepy but also very unbelievable. You then throw in a vague murder and you have a book. Or so it seems. Like I said, a very so/so read.