I adored Rebecca Kauffman’s novel Chorus, and was very excited to see that she has a new novel out. The Reservation is a compelling mix of mystery, kaleidoscopic character study and workplace drama. On the day that John Grisham is to attend a dinner at an upscale restaurant in a Midwestern college town, 22 ribeye steaks go missing from the kitchen, and the restaurant’s owner, Orsa, spends the day trying to figure out who stole them. Each chapter explores a different employee’s backstory – a format that Kauffman is especially skilled at – as Orsa interrogates each person about the theft. She does a wonderful job conveying a lot about a person through just a few pages or a single scene. I loved the complicated workplace dynamics and the taut climax that aired deep-seated grievances. Funny and empathetic, The Reservation is a satisfying read.