Anne Madison is a person with a cause. As a former nurse, she has seen physical suffering and is especially drawn towards women’s rights. She aspires to a place in the Massachusetts State Legislature hopefully to right those wrongs that women have had to endure. She is married to Randall Madison, a geriatric physician and the mother of 12-year-old Tessa, to whom she is devoted as long as Tessa conforms to her rigidly controlled standards. Randall has recently moved out of their home, declaring his wife’s overbearing need to control and disinterest in sex is more than he can bear.

Naturally, with a divorce pending the question of custody of Tessa arises. Unlike some cases where one parent is clearly not fulfilling his or her parental duties, or both parents are unsuitable, the judge deciding the custody of Tessa Madison must choose between two good people. Inevitably Kelly gets drawn into the case, though a lot more intimately than she ever would have imagined.

Custody is not a mystery novel. In the few instances in which the reader is somewhat in the dark the author quickly explains all the confusing points. That said, the novel proceeds logically from start to finish. The plot is not riveting, compelling the reader to turn page after page, though it should appeal to those with an interest in social issues.

Ms. Thayer’s strong point is her ability to describe complex relationships and flesh out her characters. All of the major players have their own personality defects with which they are forced to grapple. They are not, however, unique individuals. In truth, they are quite predictable - Anne the control freak, Randall, who respects his wife’s intelligence and dedication but can’t stand her rigidity and frigidity, and Tessa, the typical almost-teenager beginning to see the world through her own eyes and mind, rebelling at having it predigested for her by her mother. Judge Kelly is the epitome of the individual who, essentially by herself, against enormous odds, makes good.

Numerous coincidences occur to make the plot work. Howeve, no laws of nature have been broken in the logistics of the story and the book ends on an optimistic note, so if readers that prefer happy endings may enjoy Custody.

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--Andy Plonka