Jealousy

Jealousy runs throughout Christina Schwarz's novel Drowning Ruth. In flashbacks, it is established that Amanda Starkey resents losing her exclusive claim to her mother when Mathilda is born. She has then to care for the girl who is far prettier and more lovable than she. Amanda never admits to being jealous. When Mathilda's husband, Carl, goes off to war after their baby Ruth is born, Amanda moves back to help raise the baby. Amanda grows obsessed with Ruth and openly preempts Mathilda's motherhood, making Mathilda jealous and resentful.

The tables turn when Amanda returns home pregnant. The sisters take Ruth to their island to hide until the baby is born and concoct a cover story to allow Mathilda to raise the baby with Ruth. As the birth nears, Mathilda grows possessive to the point that Amanda takes her newborn over the ice to start a new life. Ruth...