"The Pact", written by Jodi Picoult, is not a new book. It was first published in hardback in 1998, yet the story content is as fresh today as it was 10 years ago. It is the timeless story of love and tragedy. The characters could live today and still be as relevant as they were originally.

The author uses a riveting method of moving back and forth between the past and the present, telling her story through the eyes of her characters chapter by chapter. She also divides the book into three parts.

This story revolves around the lives of six people primarily. Gus and James Harte, and their son, Chris, were next-door neighbors to Melanie and Michael Gold, and their daughter, Emily. Chris and Emily grew up from infancy to be as close as nearly brother and sister; best friends who were nearly inseparable from birth. Their relationship was almost on the par with twins, who could often know what the other was thinking or feeling. As youngsters they often suffered sympathy pains from each other’s falls and mishaps.

The book is full of back-stories of episodes in the lives of Chris and Emily, delving into their relationship in childhood, as well as when the feelings grew into a more mature relationship.

It also goes into details of the relationships of the adults. Gus and Melanie became best friends, also. They spent so much time together that naturally the children were together, too. They also took turns keeping the children at each other’s homes so social obligations could be met. As couples, these characters were also close socially.

The tragedy in the book begins with the suicide death of Emily, and the questions evolving around Chris' involvement with it. At first Chris indicates to the police that he and Emily had a suicide pact. First Emily would shoot herself, and then Chris would kill himself.

Jody Picoult does an excellent job of portraying the grief and turmoil felt by each member of the cast. Chris suffers from the realization that he has to live the rest of his life without the one person he loved with all his heart and soul. Melanie finds herself grasping onto the hatred she now feels for the boy she had loved like a son. Michael has to struggle with the realization that his lovely daughter was either suicidal or Chris was a murderer. Gus loses her best friend, her son, and nearly her husband in one swift moment. And, James characteristically falls into his usual means of denial that anything bad could ever possibly happen to his family.

As the story progresses, Ms. Picoult reveals gradually the true events of that fateful night. She does it in such a way that it is nearly impossible to put the book down. You have to keep reading to find out what she will divulge next.

Three more pivotal characters are included into the mix with the addition of Chris' lawyer, Jordan McAfee, his investigative assistant, Selena Demascus, and the assistant attorney general, Barrie Delaney. The author spins the details of Chris' trial like the spider uses its web to draw in unsuspecting insets. Each sequence of narrative draws the reader deeper into the emotions of her characters until the reader almost feels like she is sharing the pain and fear.

Jody Picoult is a master storyteller. This book is an excellent read for men, women, and young adults alike. I squirmed inside my mind at times, feeling the emotions, the fear, the anxiety of not knowing what the outcome would be, yet I just couldn't keep myself from continuing to read to the very end. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good story, which will keep him or her engrossed throughout.