I'm a librarian who loves anime, manga, and reading a wide variety of genres.
This is a weird book - either it's the most painstakingly obvious mystery ever, or Pike has a doozy up his sleeve.
It alternates between scenes of Sharon's trial and past scenes leading up to Ann's supposed death. Not a spoiler: very early on, readers are given Ann's full and detailed plan to fake her own murder and ruin Sharon's life, and her motive for doing so. The main question seems to be: did she actually succeed, or did she die during her regrettably elaborate plan?
I want to know whether Ann Rice is a very thinly veiled stand-in for Anne Rice. Also: done in fun with her full knowledge, or not? Book Ann is an obsessed, vindictive, and pretty but nearly friendless drama queen.