Book Description
You’ve taken your Last Look. You’ve spoken your Last Words. Now prepare to surrender your Last Breath to New York Times bestselling author Mariah Stewart, in this tour de force of suspense, romance, and action.
As renowned archaeologist Dr. Daria McGowan readies the most important project of her career–a University museum exhibit showcasing the priceless artifacts her great-grandfather unearthed a century earlier in the Middle East–she makes a shocking discovery: many of the most significant pieces have vanished. Panicked, Daria turns to the FBI.
Solving the mystery is an assignment that Connor Shields is more than happy to accept: Daria is the same intriguing blonde archaeologist he’s had on his mind since their paths first crossed two years ago. Working together to track down the stolen artifacts, Daria and Connor discover a trail of bodies–collectors who have met brutal, bizarre ends at the hands of a killer whose murderous methods are based on the rituals of an ancient civilization.
Amid rumors of a curse and mounting pressure from both the FBI and the University, Daria and Connor race to unmask their enemy and unravel a mystery stretching across oceans and centuries. All the while, an ingenious murderer follows a sinister plan to gather the coveted antiquities and one last acquisition–Daria.
Customer Reviews:
needs work.......2007-09-16
Story line had some potenntial but it was not developed in a meaningful way. The plot was transparent, the characters and dialogue stilted and there was little suspense. Tighter editing might have helped. Read more like a first draft than a finished product. Maybe Mariah Steward needs to take a break.....
Janet.......2007-08-26
Great book. I enjoyed every minute of it. It just ended too soon.
exciting FBI romantic suspense thriller .......2007-08-09
Internationally renowned archeologist Dr. Daria McGowan is euphoric that Howe University has provided with the first public exhibit of the incredible find of her great grandfather. In 1908 in Asia Minor, Alistair McGowan located the lost ancient city of Shandihar. The artifacts he brought home a century ago will finally be on display in Pennsylvania.
As Daria prepares the exhibit, she notices some of the more valuable items listed in the meticulously accurate catalogue are missing. She turns to FBI Agent Connor Shields, whom she previously met for assistance. Connor has not forgotten her and sees this as an opportunity to see where their attraction leads them. They follow leads to the new owners of the artifacts, but in each case that person was brutally slain in a ritual killing with the artifact gone. Connor assumes that a Middle East based cult sworn to die to protect and in this case recover the treasures of the lost city are the killers, which means Daria is on the hit list.
The latest Shields FBI romantic suspense thriller (see LAST WORD and LAST LOOK) is a thrilling whodunit that grips the audience from the onset when the person in the shadows vows to correct his failure and never slows down until the finish. The story is a fast-paced cat and mouse struggle between the lead pair and a diabolical dedicated killer with a lucid objective to cleanse the mistake of the last century. Mariah Stewart is at her best with the final Shields saga.
Harriet Klausner
Remains riveting to the very end........2007-08-07
Last Breath is a suspenseful murder mystery, written by Mariah Stewart and narrated by professional actor Laural Merlington. When skilled archaeologist Dr. Daria McGowan discovers that priceless artifacts uncovered by her great-grandfather in the Middle East have gone missing, she turns to the FBI for help. Connor Shields, whom she first met two years ago, is assigned to the case. As they search for the stolen artifacts, they find a trial of bodies - unfortunate collectors murdered in a number of brutal and bizarre ways connected to the rituals of an ancient civilization. A mystery that transcends centuries lies at the heart of Last Breath, which remains riveting to the very end. 8 compact discs, approximately 9 hours, unabridged.
Very Disappointed and Book Not Readable.......2007-08-04
I have read every book that Mariah Stewart has written and I must say that this has to be the worse book ever written by her usually she writes a very good mystery suspense type book but this one is a book about museums artifacts and digging for treasures Come on Mariah what has happened I for one like the mystery suspense that I have come to expect from you if I wanted to read a book about history I would have checked out a reference book.
Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Prepare to have some of your greatest fears laid bare in this collection of riveting, and often terrifying, "cautionary tales from the limits of human endurance." Based on interviews with accident survivors and the medical specialists who treat them, veteran outdoor writer Peter Stark offers mostly fictitious accounts (there is one based on a true historical incident) of people caught in life-threatening situations. In Last Breath, he thoroughly explores what happens to the human body and mind during drowning, a long fall, burial beneath an avalanche, hypothermia, dehydration, mountain sickness, the bends, malaria, scurvy, hyperthermia, and contact with a poisonous jellyfish. Stark packs enough historic and scientific information and page-turning suspense into each chapter to make them all fascinating and useful. And he answers some perplexing questions in the process, such as why those suffering from acute hypothermia often rip off their clothing in an effort to save themselves.
No, Stark does not have some unresolved death wish--he readily admits that he fears death. But he also understands that the fine line between life and death actually entices outdoor adventurers to risk everything for the chance to explore their own physical and mental limits. In fact, it is exactly this close proximity to death that makes the experience come alive for certain individuals with the overriding desire "to strip away the superfluous, to remove the protective boundaries between that thing you call a self and something larger." These are the stories of those who crossed the line. --Shawn Carkonen
Book Description
Sudden, extreme deaths have always fascinated us-- and now more than ever as athletes and travelers rise to the challenges of high-risk sports and journeys on the edge. In this spellbinding book, veteran travel and outdoor sports writer Peter Stark reenacts the dramas of what happens inside our bodies, our minds, and our souls when we push ourselves to the absolute limits of human endurance.
Combining the adrenaline high of extreme sports with the startling facts of physiological reality, Stark narrates a series of outdoor adventure stories in which thrill can cross the line to mortal peril. Each death or brush with death is at once a suspense story, a cautionary tale, and a medical thriller. Stark describes in unforgettable detail exactly what goes through the mind of a cross-country skier as his body temperature plummets-- apathy at ninety-one degrees, stupor at ninety. He puts us inside the body of a doomed kayaker tumbling helplessly underwater for two minutes, five minutes, ten minutes. He conjures up the physiology of a snowboarder frantically trying not to panic as he consumes the tiny pocket of air trapped around his face under thousands of pounds of snow.
These are among the dire situations that Stark transforms into harrowing accounts of how our bodies react to trauma, how reflexes and instinct compel us to fight back, and how, why, and when we let go of our will to live.
In an increasingly tamed and homogenized world, risk is not only a means of escape but a path to spirituality. As Peter Stark writes, "You must try to understand death intimately and prepare yourself for death in order to live a full and satisfying life." In this fascinating, informative book, Stark reveals exactly what we’re getting ourselves into when we choose to live-- and die-- at the extremes of endurance.
Customer Reviews:
Compelling in the Extreme!.......2006-12-04
I read this book in nearly its entirety on a flight home from NY. What a compelling can't-put-down read! I HIGHLY recommend it! This book contains fictionalized tales of real life experiences that humans have gotten themselves into when pushing themselves to the limits in the dangerous outdoors. There are chapters on hypothermia, heat stroke, dehydration, falling, drowning, high altitude sickness, avalanche, scurvy (a particularly nasty chapter), predators, malaria, and the bends. It's one of those extremely rare books that really make you appreciate the comfort of sitting in those cramped, poorly designed aircraft chairs.
I couldn't stop reading.......2006-02-02
This is not a book I would have normally bought. I picked it up at a Bookseller's Convention where publishers were giving away books. As a lover of books, I couldn't turn this or a couple dozen others, down. But this book is fascinating!
Last Breath is a collection of short stories fictionalizing the events--the why, how and results--when man pits himself, sometimes unwittingly, against the elements. For instance, the first story titled: As Freezing Persons Recollect the Snow: Hypothermia, follows a young man's journey from the moment he makes the wrong decision that exposes him to a snow storm in the Colorado Mountain to. . . Well, I'm not going to tell you the end. Each story is different, but each intriguing. Stark goes into detail on what happens in someone's mind and body as they face deadly element. Call me ghoulish, but I couldn't stop reading.
Patricia Lewin
Author of BLIND RUN, OUT OF REACH, & OUT OF TIME
Amazing work.......2004-02-03
This book is one of the best I've read in a long time. To the first reviewer, he clearly didn't understand this book, as is shown by the following reviews.
The author is brilliant, after the chapter on thirst I went to the fridge and drank two sodas right away. The writing is intelligent, you don't get the feeling he's trying to dumb it down to the lowest common denominator. There is just enough medical information to make you understand what is going on physically, but not overwhelm you.
I highly, highly suggest you read this book.
My Favorite Non-Fiction.......2003-12-02
I first read a chapter of this book in paddler magazine and the way Peter Stark described the drowning of a kayaker (Chapter 2: A River of One's Own) in detail right down to the amounts of oxygen remaining in his lungs at various periods of time. The entire book is written as en ewcellent blend of fact and fiction and while the scenarios are not true they are composites of true stories, and some of Stark's imagination, which gives them a realism that pure fiction can't match. The facts Stark gives are sound, he obviously did his homework and he even gives a bibliography so you can check out some of his sources. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to get outside.
Outstanding Book.......2003-01-31
This book just blew me away. A wonderful blend of fact with realistic, fictional stories to make the points really come across. I couldn't put the book down until I finished it straight through the first time I read it. It's so well written that I've been able to enjoy rereading it several times.
Book Description
“Forget the edge of your seat. Last Breath takes you to the edge of your life, for a pulse-pounding glimpse into the Great Beyond. There are many ways to risk your life in the out-of-doors, and Stark has captured them in exquisite and harrowing detail.”
–JIM ROBBINS
Author of A Symphony in the Brain
An enthralling blend of adventure and science, Last Breath re-creates in heart-stopping detail what happens to our bodies and our minds in the perilous last moments of life when an extreme adventure goes awry.
Combining the adrenaline high of extreme sports with the startling facts of physiological reality, veteran travel and outdoor sports writer Peter Stark narrates a series of adventure stories in which thrill can cross the line to mortal peril. Each death or brush with death is at once a suspense story, a cautionary tale, and a medical thriller. Will they survive, or will they succumb? Readers will shiver with a man lost in the snowy woods, suffering from hypothermia and tearsing off his clothes as he’s burning up from the cold; they will hallucinate with a young woman stranded at the top of Annapurna as she experiences a cerebral edema; and while a kayaker tumbles helplessly underwater for two minutes, five minutes, ten minutes, readers, too, will gasp for their last breath.
Customer Reviews:
subclinical scurvy - what, ME ?.......2006-09-05
I will always remember this book as the one which led me to reconsider my discounting of Pauling's Vitamin-C-megadose-theory due to the chapter 5, which contains selected tidbits of True History ( of scurvy ) interwoven with plausible fiction.
Four stars because the "plausible fiction" often sounds so contrived - for five stars the author might rewrite the book after searching for more tidbits of True History to base each scenario upon.
Still, to read the wikipedia article confirming that humans ARE genetically defective - opposable thumb check, but we can no longer make Vitamin-C while e.g. goats still can, and an adult goat will synthesize "about 13,000 mg" per day, more when sick. Strangely, no one had ever explained it to me that way before !
Too much setup, too little payoff.......2006-08-02
In this unconvincing mix of fact and fiction, Peter Stark has pulled off a pretty good trick: he has taken material that is inherently interesting and managed to make it almost boring. His primary problem is that he seems enamored of his own writing. As a result, he has a very poor sense of pacing. He often employs a paragraph when a sentence or two would do. His preface, for example, goes on and on, when the reader--or this reader, at least--just wants him to get on with it. Unfortunately, the hybrid tales that follow are equally inflated. Stark's efforts to create compelling characters and put them in dramatic situations come off as neither good fiction nor good journalism. The good stuff--facts on how people die--occupies such a small part of each story that it's hardly worth the effort. The reader goes through too much setup for too little payoff.
Have read it twice........2005-07-30
While one reviewer did not like this book at all, I can't agree with him that the characters were not engaging. Even though it is hard to create characters who are only in one situation, and who mostly die at the end of the story, I think the authour succeeded in showing interesting characters. Given the main purpose of the book was to show the physiological ways of death, I was glad the authour didn't focus on creating deep character studies. That would distract from the reason I personally bought the book - to learn about the human body, and how it can die. I am now reading this book again, and don't regret buying it at all.
An unblinking look at what it is really like to die.......2005-02-13
This might look like a morbid subject, but it isn't really. Every single one of us is going to die, and although we become very good at not thinking about it - developing a kind of mental blind spot that hides the awareness - it might be a good idea to give it some thought. Besides, we could pick up some tips that put off the evil hour. Such as not deciding to ski the rest of the way when our car breaks down in subzero conditions a few miles from the friend's house where we are going. Such as taking the right anti-malarial drugs before going to a part of the world where that disease is endemic. Or not free-soloing a rock face of difficulty 5.9 with no one else in sight or hearing distance.
As Peter Stark explains, risking your life helps you to experience life more fully. But sometimes risks turn out badly, and then it may be too late to be sorry. "Last Breath" tells you exactly what it is like to drown in a "hole" while kayaking a turbulent river, to die of dehydration in the Sahara, or to be buried by an avalanche. So you don't need to try these experiences yourself - which is a good thing, if you want to go on living.
This book is packed with fascinating information about our bodies, how they work, and their relationship with the surrounding environment. Without the support of technology - clothes, houses, heating, and so on - human beings can live only in a narrow band close to the Equator, below 3.5 miles above sea level, and where there is plenty of fresh water. Stark drives home to the reader just how easy it is to misjudge things when stepping outside the ideal environment. Sometimes just one wrong movement - or even one necessary thing left undone...
At the end of "Last Breath", I found there was a wonderful unanticipated bonus. *I* was still alive!
I hope I only read about these desparate stories.......2005-01-17
This was a good read. I followed the unfolding of one desparate story after another with interest. The medical side line was also interesting information. I appreciated the author's preface explaining how he got his information and what was fictionalize. It certainly helped that he has participated in most of the sports contained in these experiences gone wrong. This book was a unique find for me, as I had never read much adventure before.
Amazon.com
The story opens with somber drama: The body of a 2-year-old girl is removed from her grave and transported to a hospital for a second autopsy. In the small Gulf Coast town of Alvin, Texas, the bereaved mother, the child's grandmother, and the female detective who has risked so much to champion their cause, await the opinion of a visiting pathologist. Carlton Stowers, whose Careless Whispers won the 1987 Edgar Award for fact crime, brings all the right skills to this tale of a sullen, possessive man who liked to play cruel mind games on his loved ones and apparently killed his young daughter in a slow and deliberate fashion. Perhaps at the end, we don't really know why he did it, but we will have come to know and admire the three women who fought for justice.
Book Description
On January 22, 1994, two-year old Renee Goode played happily with her sisters and cousin, as the four of them enjoyed an impromptu "slumber party" at the home of her father, Shane Goode. The next day she was dead.The local medical examiner could not determine the cause of the little Renees death. But her mother Annette and grandmother Sharon were convinced she'd been murdered--and that they knew the identity of Renee's killer: her handsome father, Shane Goode, a manipulative, emotionally abusive man who displayed virtually no interest in Renee--until he took out a $50,000 insurance policy on her life.With the help of a courageous female police investigator and Assistant DA, Sharon launched a case against Shan and had Renees tiny coffin, lovingly filled with her favorite stuffed animals, exhumed from its final resting place. And her small corpse revealed what her grandmother had suspected all along: cold, calculating Shane Goode had murdered his own daughter to cash in on her death.
Customer Reviews:
I had to keep reminding myself..............2007-01-26
.....that this was non-fiction. Absolutely, unbelievable, the happenings in this book.
Excellent book.......2005-06-23
This is a story of a 2-year-old child who was murdered by her father after her parents had divorced. It is a gripping story by its own right, but it was so well written I felt like I knew just about everyone. The flaws of all the characters are included, making no one a true hero (which is reality). The almost non-existant investigation, the extreme shortcomings of certain investigators, the political wheeling and dealing that almost allowed Shane Goode to get away with murder, the over-involvement of the victim's grandmother, the personality shortcomings of the victim's mother, the personal problems of the prosecutorial/detective staff -- everything is bared in this book. Sure, it would have been nice to know more about the murderer, but he steadfastly maintained his innocence as did his parents. There was enough information from other sources to get the true flavor of this guy. Others have criticized the book because all questions weren't answered. But in real life they rarely are (i.e., how could Shane attract strong and weak women? What was his secret?). The book is a tear-jerker, and Renee Goode is lucky her story was told by Carlton Stowers, one of the best true-crime authors ever.
Poor Little Renee.......2004-11-09
She had a sad sap moron for a mother, and a cold-blooded killer for a father. Luckily she had a granny with some brains who fought for justice for her.
It's impossible to have any sympathy for Annette, her mother, who stayed with this man, even though she knew he killed her cat, and had no qualms about getting pregnant by him a second time (the first time he "made" her have an abortion at 5 - 6 months), even though she could not support herself and the child she already had by her first husband and had to keep moving back in with mommy. Both she and Shane moved so many times: back together, apart, condos, apartments, rent houses, back with their respective parents - I could not keep up with all the moving. They were quite obviously immature and both expecting someone to come along and solve their problems for them.
Even though Annette told Detective Duckworth her suspicions at the scene, he claimed she didn't, and that he "knew nothing". So basically he did nothing, and luckily was reassigned to Narcotics. He couldn't even find out that Goode had taken out $50,000 life insurance policy on his kids - as far as he was concerned, this guy would have gotten away with murder, no skin off his nose, as long as didn't have to do any actual work. This book does not make the Houston and Alvin Police Depts look very good, but what is, is. They didn't do their jobs, the ME's didn't want to do their jobs, the wife-cheater DA didn't want to do his job either - luckily he resigned too! The only ones who wanted to work and cared about justice were the female Asst DA, the woman detective, and the grandma turned private investigator. She may have raised two kooky kids, but she got it together and took care of things for Renee - she paid for her funeral, tissue testing the city refused to pay for needed for evidence, and took copious notes. Thank goodness for them, or this guy would probably have murdered another of his kids.
This is an interesting story, but not well-written or organized. It may be necessary to tell, but there seemed to be too much about all the authorities infighting and personal problems. There was basically zilch about Shane Goode's childhood or background. So no explanation of his psychological state or what happened in his life to lead him to this point.
It could have been better.
Hint: In order to write a true crime story that will appeal to and hold the interest of DISCERNING true crime readers, it's best that the author spend her/his time getting the scoop on the MURDERER - not the lawyers.
Shocking story, good book.......2004-05-01
This was a very good book about a very touching story. Left some things unanswered, but good nevertheless.
Renee, I will never forget you--.......2000-12-13
thanks to this spellbinding book by Mr. Stowers; I am a prolific reader of true crime and while I am reading a book I am engrossed in it but the story fades quickly; not so with this book. There are so many aspects to the story: the shoddy, so- called investigation by the police; the shoddy examination by the medical examiner resulting in an "undetermined cause of death",the realization that if the family had not been persistent, this child's murder would have been "cold filed"; What is heartening is the degree of involvement of Sue Dietrich the Detective who asked to get involved in this case and the attorney who tried the case Jeri Yenne; their passion to bring the killer to justice was surprising and Mr. Stowers reveals their compassion for this child. Most of all, Mr. Stowers writing style evoked an immense amount of sympathy for this poor unfortuante and innocent child. I kept looking at her face and then went back to reading the book; while the death of a child is always horrific, you don't always feel as though the child in the book if personalized as was the case with this book; I felt as though I could see Renee and hear her laugh and play; in fact,there were times I had to put the book down because it was painful to read; Thank goodness for Sharon, Renee's grandmother, who was intelligent and feisty and would not allow this crime to be swept under the rug; It was the passion of the the detective and the attorney who tried the case that won this case for Renee; I will never forget you, Renee.
Average customer rating:
- Psychological Thriller
- Oh dear....
- Compelling Thriller
- Terrific
- fine Peak District police procedural
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One Last Breath
Stephen Booth
Manufacturer: Bantam
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ASIN: 0440242703
Release Date: 2006-12-26 |
Book Description
Set in England’s legendary Peak District, Stephen Booth’s acclaimed mysteries tell tales of men and women under siege by both ordinary life and extraordinary crime. Now, in a stunning, fascinatingly intelligent novel, Booth’s uneasy young policeman, Ben Cooper, encounters an enigma that begins with a shocking murder and a victim’s . . . One Last Breath
Around the ancient cave system in Derbyshire are thronging tourists, a medieval castle, and the thriving town of Castleton. With its underground tunnels and caverns, it’s the perfect place for a man to hide–or vanish. Detective Constable Ben Cooper and Detective Sergeant Diane Fry are looking for such a man, one who is on a rampage of revenge.
After thirteen years in prison, Mansell Quinn has emerged a man enraged. Hours after violating his parole, Quinn is the chief suspect in a fresh murder. And his original sin–the brutal killing of his lover–still haunts the valley. Because Quinn has always maintained his innocence, the people who lined up against him then are in dire danger now.
Ben may be one of those people, for he is the son of the cop who had arrested Quinn thirteen years earlier. But while his department races to find Quinn, Ben wonders if the man was indeed guilty of the first crime. Even when another new victim is found, Ben stubbornly clings to the old case–and makes himself an open target for a killer.
For Ben, the real story of Mansell Quinn is as hidden as the caves beneath them. His search for answers will lead him on a twisting, harrowing journey through that maze of darkness–into the shocking light of truth.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Psychological Thriller.......2007-09-10
A newspaper and magazine journalist for over 25 years, Stephen Booth was born in the English Pennine town of Burnley. He was brought up on the coast at Blackpool, where he began his career in journalism by editing his school magazine and wrote his first 'novel' at the age of 13.
Stephen gave up journalism in 2001 to write crime novels full time. He and his wife Lesley live in a former Georgian dower house near Retford, Nottinghamshire, in Robin Hood country.
The Peak District has always been a major attraction for tourists, but this particular summer a convicted killer with one thing on his mind, revenge. Fourteen long years ago Mansell Quinn was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his lover.
Now he is out of prison, under licence. The problem is nobody knows where he is and his ex-wife has been murdered. As they try to get a picture of where Quinn might be and what his next move will be detectives Ben Cooper and Diane Fry become increasingly frustrated and puzzled by the case. There are too many anomalies to the case, not least the fact that two of his friends refused to back up his alibi and for the last ten years of his sentence, not a soul visited him in jail There is a lot more to this case than meets the eye, but at the moment the pair are getting nowhere.
Oh dear...........2007-06-01
Well....I seem to be the odd one out here. I'm struggling to think of anything I truly enjoyed about this novel, as I found it rather boring, lacking in almost any form of credibility and full of uninteresting characters. It's my first try at Stephen Booth and it will be my last. On the positive side I would say that it was well constructed and consistent, but the problem was that I was less than halfway through when I realised that while I could not guess at the exact outcome, I didn't really care! The repeated references to 'one last breath' became slightly irritating, and I felt that the story could have been told in half as many pages and achieved no less an impact even for those who clearly enjoyed it. I read constantly, and in recent months have finished works by Ian Rankin, Mark Billingham, Harlan Coben, the excellent Val McDermid, Jeffery Deaver, Carlene Thompson and P.J.Tracy - but when I consider the subject matter of One Last Breath, while I recognise it has a certain style, I consider the entertainment level to be below that generated by writers such as (dare I say this?) Dan Brown, characterisations inferior to the likes of McDermid and Rankin, imagery of violence weaker than Deaver or Billingham, and overall pacing to be sluggish, unlike Coben for example. Probably of more interest to geologists than theologists, and maybe to those who seek a change from big-city style thrillers.
Compelling Thriller .......2006-09-01
Mansell Quinn is released is released from prison fourteen years after having been convicted of killing his lover. His lover was killed in his house while his wife was at work. His memory is foggy; vague images of blood and his lover's last breath crowd his mind. He felt his must have done it, but while in the middle of his sentence he started to proclaim his innocence. The fact that all of a sudden he was denying his crime made the parole board decide to have him serve his full sentence. Now that he is out, his wife is found dead. Detective Sergent Diane Fry and Detective Constable Ben Cooper investigate a case that is deeply entangled in the past.
My favorite Brit Crime Fic author is Peter Robinson. Stephen Booth has a bit of a way to go before I would consider him the same caliber, but he's got the elements to be a very fine storyteller: atmospheric setting, multidimensional characters and an well-developed, suspenseful plot. Where he falters a bit is when plot points don't get resolved or they are resolved, but don't make much sense. I still don't understand why Rebecca was killed, and more importantly, I am unclear on who killed her. Maybe I missed it, but a reader should really be able to miss the resolution of a major story line. The plot should be more concise and not meander loosing part of the audience. I did like the story, and I was engaged during reading it. I don't think my mind wandered once, so I was a little perturbed when I still had questions at the end.
I did really love how the Peak District was brought to life in the novel. An ancient underground cave became almost another character in the book. I did get a good sense of Derbyshire as a setting. It was not just a matter of saying a story is set in a location, and that is that.
While I did have a few issues with the story, I did enjoy it and do recommend reading it.
3 1/2 Stars
Terrific.......2006-08-07
Each of the Ben Cooper series is better than the last--and that is saying something. Evoking the alien landscape of the Peak District and Speedwell Caves, Booth manages to make Cooper, and his relationship with his conflcted colleage, Diane Fry, as interesting as the slowly unraveling mystery.
fine Peak District police procedural .......2006-08-02
In 1990 Castleton, Derbyshire, a drunken Mansell Quinn comes home from the pub only to hear the woman's last breath as she dies. He confesses and is arrested him for the brutal murder of his lover. However, he recants his declaration of guilt, but is still convicted and goes to prison.
Now over thirteen years later, Quinn is released from prison. Already known as a violent man before the homicide, he is a raging violent man with a grudge against those who sent him away. He almost immediately violates the conditions of his release, but the Peak District police cannot find him to pick him up. Instead the first person connected to Quinn, Rebecca Lowe, is murdered. While the police assume Quinn has begun avenging his "affront", Detective Constable Ben Cooper wonders if someone framed Quinn. Ben begins to look back at the case that his father solved thirteen years ago when he arrested Quinn and wonders if perhaps the culprit could be someone else then and now. As he obstinately digs for clues and tries to persuade Detective Sergeant Diane Fry that he is right and their superior DI Paul Hitchens is wrong, Ben comes to the attention of someone who wants him out of the way while Quinn hides in the caves near the tourist attractions.
The latest Peak District police procedural (see BLIND TO THE BONES) is a solid tale that starts off with a deep look at the potential antagonist and establishes who the key police participants are. The story line slows down a bit in the middle even though more die and the delightful English Peak District is vividly described, but then takes off again for an exhilarating climax. Throughout readers will wonder if Ben is right as the evidence points heavily towards Quinn in Stephen Booth's fine whodunit.
Harriet Klausner
Average customer rating:
- The book that hooked me on Prescott
- I'm a Prescott fan
- Not bad, kept turning pages quickly most of the time.
- Unbelievable
- excellent and under-appreciated
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Last Breath
Michael Prescott
Manufacturer: Signet
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In Dark Places
ASIN: 0451205073
Release Date: 2001-12-05 |
Book Description
I spy with my little eye a pretty young girl who's going to die...
Caitlin Osborn was only ten years old the first time he came for her...
I've been waiting such a long time for this...
Sixteen years later, LAPD Officer Osborn is still suffering from her inescapable childhood fears-made all the more real by a recent wave of bizarre murders. Because Caitlin knows that he is back...
I can feel your breath, Caitlin...
Customer Reviews:
The book that hooked me on Prescott.......2007-05-23
I can't remember exactly what got me to pick up Michael Prescott's LAST BREATH. I just remember walking through my local bookstore, reading the back cover and thinking, "Interesting enough for me!" Next thing I knew, I was home and reading.
The result? An excellent, suspenseful thriller that had me on the edge of my seat.
LAST BREATH moved very much like a movie, which is to say, swiftly and tautly. Prescott really knows how to pull the strings to keep the action and suspense going. Less of a mystery than an out-and-out thriller, we watch as C.J. battles to keep herself alive despite the very wily, clever serial killer on her trail (as well as a few other obstacles). She's thrown into one jam after another, and each time she found herself against the ropes I didn't know how in the world Prescott would get her out of it. The suspense during these times is palpable, and I zoomed through page after page wanting to see what happened next.
The characters are smartly drawn, not quite to the level of a Dennis Lehane or Stephen King novel, but enough that they become more real to the reader as the story progresses. The plot is twisty, everything thriller readers seek in their leisure reading. The ending is fantastic, one of the more memorable endings I've read in a long time. And to give you some idea, I read this book almost five years ago, and to this day I still remember in vivid detail how it ends. It's that good.
So if you're looking for a scary, suspenseful time with a book that will steal your last breath (cheesy pun wholly intended), then run out and pick up LAST BREATH by Michael Prescott.
I'm a Prescott fan .......2006-05-07
I've loved all his first books but as they keep coming, I'm not as excited. I couldn't wait for Mortal Thoughts to come out. It was nothing compared to his earlier writings. Good thrilling reads that are not easy to spell out until the end.
Not bad, kept turning pages quickly most of the time........2004-10-28
I give it 4 stars because at one point the book lost my interest for a brief moment. I love a story when it rolls, keeps my suspense up, this didn't do it for me at some point in the book. Loved the beginning chapter, ending was good as well. This book is not very gory but a great thriller read.
Unbelievable.......2003-02-07
I can't believe someone over 17 could be entertained by this. How about some realism for once!
Many things in the book would never happen. Therefore, it totally killed the story midway through the book for me.
It's sad to think people are entertained by such a weak job, almost like the movie Face Off or something. Often I like the Vintage Collection books and they're not as exciting but at least they are realistic.
excellent and under-appreciated.......2002-09-26
Everybody looks for something different in the books they read. Were all different. This book, to me, is excellent. Just like all his others. His stories and the way he describes them are movie quality stuff. Yeah, I know, everyone wanted the hourglass killer to be the main adversary. But the perosn they "did" use, (not letting out any spoilers.)was great. He was dark, perverted, mean and smart all at the same time. Great characterization. He was my favorite character of them all.
This should be made into a movie..big time. It's dark, scary and tough. And lets not forget it has edge. I may be exaggerating, but i cant help it. buy this book. NOW!
Book Description
My Last Breath is a true life autobiography of one man's two
near-death experiences, one at the age of twelve (accidental drowning), and the other at the age of twenty-five (suicide attempt). Upon his return from his second
near-death experience, he quit a thousand dollar a week drug habit, and committed his life to humanitarian work. Matthew Dovel, the author, helps those that suffer from alcohol abuse, drug addiction and that have suicidal thoughts. Although Mr. Dovel is an author, he is not a writer! This book was written as a way to communicate the facts about
NDE's in a simple way that anyone can understand, and/or comprehend. Unlike other authors, Mr. Dovel is available for any questions from the readers that they feel
My Last Breath, may not have answered.
Customer Reviews:
Genuine Fear and a Genuine Experience........2007-08-02
This book may not be for everyone, but for those seeking yet another valid confirmation that NDEs are real, and not always do they take the participant to the Heavenly reamls, this is a must read. I do not doubt in the least the sincerity of Mr. Dovel's experience, that he genuinely wants to warn others away from even considering suicide, and that he sincerely wants to help people. While not always written in the most professional style (the descriptions of his Hell NDE were riveting however), the truth shines through. Thank you Mr. Dovel for sharing your experience.
Book review: My Last Breath.......2007-03-23
This book was a story about the author. It starts out when he was 12 and at a friend's house. While playing a game in the pool, he drowns. He goes to heaven where Jesus Christ greets him. He sees the glory of heaven and feels its awesome power. When he is sent back and drops into depression and drugs abuse. After seeing perfection, everything on earth seemed so wrong. He lives for another 20 years or so in alcoholism and drugs until he ends up in Alaska. Here he gets married twice and becomes addicted to cocaine. He eventually becomes so depressed he kills himself. He is then sent to hell where he spends 3 day living out his sins. At the end of the three days Jesus once again greets him. He is told that he has a job to do and not to drink or do drugs. He immediately stopped drinking and drugging, and dedicated his life to telling his story. In the last few chapters he describes his life after hell. He claims to have strange powers given to him by God and tries to convince the reader that suicide is never the solution. I think that this book is good for any reader. It is an easy and quick read that makes you not want to put the book down until the end where it is less captivating. It easily connects to any reader's life and problems they may face. The purpose of this book is to give hope to those who have considered suicide or are considering. It is also to tell people that heaven awaits those willing to accept God. It also gives an anti drug and alcohol vibe. I would give the book 3 out of 5 because some of the book is questionable in its truth, or reality. I would divinity recommend it to christens and anyone searching for answers in life. It is an uplifting and inspiring book and I hope you will give it a try.
WHAT A COOL BOOK!!.......2007-03-23
The novel, My Last Breath, by Matthew D. Dovel was really interesting and a quick read. The book was about a man who had two near death experiences and in each experience, and a very powerful someone saved his life. He went through many bad triumphs and he was a rebel for most of his life. Something changed him along the way and he realized what he needed to do. This book is about the author's life and the times he went through.
The author often asks himself questions during the book about things he wish he never had done. At the end of the book he answers his questions because he completely changes as a person.
This is a good quote from the book. " Adventure isn't hanging on a rope off the side of a mountain. Adventure is an altitude that we must apply to the day to day obstacles of life-facing new challenges, seizing new opportunities, testing our resources against the unknown and in the process, discovering our own unique potential." -John Amatt
The author used this quote because he also talks a lot about other people and how they should not stand back, but go after what they want and to follow your desires.
I thought this book was really moving because it had numerous amounts of life experiences that just made you want to read more. He also made me think of things in my life because he puts some questions out there for the reader.
The writer had many strengths like, very good descriptions. His descriptions wanted to make me read more. Also a strength was that he was able to make me think of my own experiences in my life. He handles his issues well and does a really good job of describing them. He makes the book very detailed and it is factual. He also did have some weaknesses. He tended to stay on one subject for a very long time which cold get a little boring at times, but he always managed to keep the book interesting.
I would say that people around the ages of 16 to 25 would be interested in this book because it is about the author as a teenager and an adult.
He handles his issues well and does a really good job of describing them. He makes the book very detailed and it is factual.
stellar book!.......2007-03-23
My Last Breath by Matthew D. Dovel was a very intriguing and a very hard book to put down once I started reading it. The author, Matthew D. Dovel, grew up in a small town in California and had a pretty normal childhood. At the age of twelve he was drowned by his good friends on accident and got a glimpse of heaven. In My Last Breath Dovel takes you through all the experiences, good and bad, of his life.
In his book Dovel drowns and gets a glimpse of heaven and the feelings that come along with it. He goes through the rest of his life not telling anyone about his experience. He ends up getting for frustrated with the world around him and wants to kill himself and return to heaven but instead is sent to hell. Returning again from the after world Dovel is trying to cope through the two experiences he has just been through.
Dovel is trying to tell his readers about both sides of the after world, heaven and hell. He explains vividly his three days that he experienced in hell after he tried to kill himself to get the fullness of heaven that he had felt before when he was drowned. There are many vivid illustrations that Dovel uses to really get his point across.
This book is written very cleverly and uses very powerful points to get across the authors views. "I was once told, after my suicide attempt, that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem".
This passage that Matthew D. Dovel wrote in his book is very strong in putting across a main point of his book. He tells the flat out truth about most of the world's problems with suicide and substance abuse. Dovel really knows the in's and outs of all the situations he has been in and knows what its like to abuse substances and be able to come out a good person.
The beginning and middle of the book were the easiest parts to read. They flew by very fast because of all the action the was occurring during these chapters. In the end of the book Dovel just gives his advice and views about God. He tries to comfort those who had thought about suicide and maybe conceder doing.
I would recommend this book to anyone. To read this you do not have to be thinking about suicide or be abusing drugs or alcohol. It is a good book if you just want a good quick read. My Last Breath teaches about the different lives of some that we don't even know about. I would give this book four stars because the book really slows down towards the end.
My Last Breath.......2007-03-23
"My Last Breath," by Matthew Dovel is a book of courage, experience and real life experiences. If you're looking for a touching book, that will "wow" you with experience, then this is the book for you. Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. This book is an easy read, as you're reading it the pages just fly by. This book implies a huge message about life, and how to live your life to the fullest.
Matthew grew up in Poway, California. He died and went to heaven in Poway. At the age of twenty-one he joined the U.S Air force. They stationed him in Alaska.
Matthew Dovel wrote this book about himself. This book a complete nonfiction from start to finish. This is a unique story about the presence of Jesus Christ in Matthew himself after he visited Heaven and Hell.
At the age of twelve Matthew Dovel died. While he was knocked out he remembers a feeling of peace coming over him. He saw a light with a man standing infront of it. Matthew, being a child with no religious back round, didn't recognize who it was. Finally it hit him that it was Jesus Christ. Jesus told Matthew his time was not up and to go back and live the rest of his life to the fullest.
Matthew came back to life, only being overcome with the feeling of wanting to go back to heaven. The peace that came over him was a once and a lifetime experience. The only thing Dovel wanted in life was to go back to heaven. Drugs and Alcohol took over Matthew Dovels life. He spent the rest of his childhood and young adult years abusing alcohol and drugs till one day he realized the only way he could be back in heaven was to die again. Dovel attempted to commit suicide. This ended in a 3 day trip to hell, but once again he returned to tell of his experience.
After Matthew explains it's not until after the near death experience, until you realize the importance of life, and how unique your life is.
After coming back from hell Matthew immediately stopped abusing drugs and alcohol. He was blessed with a strong knowledge of electronics. He didn't know how, and he didn't know why, all he knew was he was really good at understanding electronics.
Dovels life had changed and he devoted in life to the bible, and to Jesus Christ. He believes Jesus knows what is right for him, and no matter what will lead him in the right direction. After coming back from hell Dovel had a completely new understand of life, and a whole new understanding of his purpose on earth. He finally realized this earth isn't hell.
Dovel explains the importance of living your life to the fullest and why you don't want to have it go in the wrong direction.
I suggest reading this book to everyone out there. I would give this book 5 stars, for keeping you interested and an extremely touching story.
Average customer rating:
- Long Awaited Last Breath
- Last Breath at last.....SPOILER ALERT!
- Have A Great Summer Vacation, Jenna Blake!
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Last Breath (Body of Evidence)
Christopher Golden ,
Rick Hautala , and
Kamil Vojnar
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Throat Culture (Body of Evidence)
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Meets the Eye (Body of Evidence)
ASIN: 0689865260 |
Book Description
"When a psycho wants to make a statement, and nobody gets it, he's only going to say it louder the next time."
Jenna thought spending her summer in Somerset would be quiet and relaxing. With classes over and the students home on break, the campus is a ghost town. But the summer is not chock-full of R & R. In fact, her latest case at the medical examiner's office is anything but quiet.
A psycho killer is on a rampage, drowning the victims in Boston's most public places. It seems everyone is talking about the murders, yet no one has any leads.
Then Jenna uncovers a key piece of evidence, and she is quickly drawn into the puzzle. But the closer they get to the killer, the more frequent -- and more violent -- the drownings become. And before Jenna realizes how deep in she's gotten, it's suddenly sink or swim time for her...literally.
Customer Reviews:
Long Awaited Last Breath.......2005-02-03
I have read all of the books in the Body of Evidence series, and I thought that after Brain Trust there wouldn't be anymore. But then came Last Breath. It really satisfies the expectations of fans of Christopher Golden and BOE. Like another reviewer, I am all rooting for Danny and Jenna despite their age difference, and this newest release in the series really plays with that aspect. Fans will not regret reading this. Can't wait till Throat Culture comes out in April.
Last Breath at last.....SPOILER ALERT!.......2005-02-02
Just when I had given up all hope of reading another Body of Evidence book, I found Last Breath. I mourned the end of the series back in 2001 when Brain Trust was released, after I heard a rumour that the end of Jenna's freshman year was also slated to be the end of the series. But hope springs eternal...and on a random Amazon search for new Christopher Golden books, I found *trumpets flare* Last Breath. I honestly feel that this is the best book in the series...or at least tied with my previous favorites, Burning Bones and Soul Survivor (the more obesrvant among you may notice that these are Danny-heavy books). I am a huge Danny fan, and I will continue to root for Danny and Jenna despite all logic to the contrary...another reason why Last Breath fulfilled everything I was hoping for in a new Body of Evidence novel.
For those of you who have not read these books, I will paraphrase before I go ahead and spoil Last Breath with an excerpt that will have anyone who is a fan of the series thanking Amazon on their knees for that whole ships-in-24-hours thing...
Jenna Blake is a freshman at Somerset University just outside of Boston. She works as a path assistant to the Medical Examiner of Essex County, Dr. Slikowski (or 'Slick'), and wants to be an ME herself someday. In the course of her work as a 'diener,' she has become friends with two Somerset homicide detectives, Audrey Gaines and Danny Mariano, and has also risked her life by getting overinvolved in the cases of the corpses who come across her boss' autopsy table. Jenna loves puzzles, and to her, murder is the biggest puzzle of them all. Despite other cops treating her like a 'kid,' and her friends and potential crushes thinking she's more than a little strange, Jenna sticks with it.
Jenna and Danny have liked each other pretty much since the beginning, flirted, danced around each other, and tried to pretend they were 'just friends,' and despite having almost owned up to their feelings a couple of times when they discussed the age difference between them (a whopping thirteen years!), have never had 'the talk,' openly declaring their love....UNTIL NOW! (mwah-hah-hah!)
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER
Here it is...what all the Jenna-and-Danny fans (I can't be the only one) have been waiting for...the day (and the book) when Danny finally says....
"I want to sleep with you. I'm pretty sure you feel the same. I love you as my friend, but I'm a little bit in love with you, too. Maybe more than a little. And I know the feeling's mutual."
About damn time, is all I have to say! I'm not gonna give you Jenna's reply, because this way is more fun...and also because the good people at Amazon would probably reach through the monitor and smack me if I did.
But of course, there is more to these books than romance...
A new killer called the Baptist is drowning criminals in swimming pools and then leaving them around the Boston area...'baptized in blood and water.' The killer is brilliant and eludes the Somerset cops over the course of the summer...but is 'the Baptist' the same person who is stalking Jenna?
Last Breath continues to have the same mind-blowing, gag-making scientific detail as previous novels, and I was impressed all over again at the realistic and fascinating way two men have written from a college girl's point of view...in a way that makes you want to be best friends with her as soon as you've finished the book...and not just so the adventure doesn't have to end. I also loved the sense of realism...that no one in the 'inner circle' of Jenna's world is safe...just because they're main characters, doesn't mean bad things can't happen to them...they can even die, like Melody (hint, hint).
I am awaiting Throat Culture with (ha-ha) bated breath....
Have A Great Summer Vacation, Jenna Blake!.......2004-09-29
Nineteen-year-old Jenna Blake thought that she would be spending a relaxing summer in Somerset, filled with quiet, and no studying. After all, with classes out for the summer, Somerset University's campus is something like a ghost town, completely deserted. However, the minute she gets involved in a new case at the medical examiner's office, her summer turns out to be anything but relaxing, for there is a crazed serial killer on the loose, and he/she is drowning various victims in some of Boston's most well-known public places. Everyone knows about the cases, yet no one has any leads as to who might be the murderer. Then Jenna puts her mind to it, and uncovers an important piece of evidence, that lands her smack dab in the middle of the murder investigation, and makes her a prime target for the murderer.
It has been many anguishing years since the last BODY OF EVIDENCE book was released, yet Christopher Golden and Rick Hautala's latest effort, LAST BREATH, was utterly amazing. As always, Jenna is a wonderfully entertaining character, who is beginning to show a bit of her wild side for once, and her quirky personality is as funny as ever. Filled with all of the characters that BODY OF EVIDENCE fans know and love, as well as the series' trademark mystery, this is an absolute must-have!
Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper
Average customer rating:
- Some of the most controversial issues of spirituality
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A Rebel to His Last Breath: Joseph McCabe and Rationalism
Bill Cooke
Manufacturer: Prometheus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 157392878X |
Customer Reviews:
Some of the most controversial issues of spirituality.......2002-01-09
A Rebel To His Last Breath provides the first biography of one Joseph McCabe, a former Catholic priest who became a champion of free thought and rationalism in the first half of the 20th century. Why chart the life of a man largely forgotten today? Because he tackled some of the most controversial issues of spirituality and social issues of modern times, and his efforts and writings continue to influence.
Average customer rating:
- A Must Read!
- Oh Please
- Struggled through it
- Average Story
- Annoying book, annoying "heroine".
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With Her Last Breath
Cait London
Manufacturer: Avon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
London, Cait
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What Memories Remain
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ASIN: 006000181X
Release Date: 2003-06-24 |
Book Description
Don't Look Back . . .
Maggie Chantel is running from memories too painful -- and frightening -- to acknowledge. And the small, peaceful town of Blanchefleur on the shores of Lake Michigan is where her running stops. Maggie just wants to be left alone to forget, but her new neighbor Nick Alessandro is paying her far too much attention. A survivor of soul-shattering tragedy, Nick is fascinated by this beautiful, secretive woman -- an interest that is slowly turning from attraction to love.
But someone waiting in the shadows is determined that Maggie will love no one ever again. The nightmare she was escaping has found her hiding place, and people in the sleepy Michigan community are starting to die. Maggie knows what her hunter is capable of, and now she must leave behind the man who was bringing her back to life, for his own safety. Nick is determined never to lose the only person who can make his world whole again. And he knows he has to find the killer -- before the killer gets to Maggie.
Customer Reviews:
A Must Read!.......2005-12-11
Maggie Chantel is on the run, bearing secrets and hurts. While trying to cope with the death of her sister, the betrayal of her husband, and her fear of water, she doesn't stay in one location long enough to form attachments. Maggie's only companion is her faithful, protective Labrador Retriever, Scout. Maggie isn't willing to give her trust to anyone ever again, only to be betrayed. It's just too painful. Maggie is ready to put down roots for her and Scout in the sleepy, close-knit town of Blanchefleur on the shores of Lake Michigan where she will start her new life. Will this be the place to heal her?
Brent Templeton is searching for Maggie. He WILL find her, and when he does she will pay for ruining his life! He will stop at nothing to get his hands on Maggie. Wherever she goes, there he will be. He will blackmail, steal, cheat and do whatever is necessary to achieve his goal of exacting revenge upon Maggie.
Nick Alessandro is a haunted man. His guilt over losing his wife and their unborn child eats at him daily. He also splits his time between his parent's restaurant and his vineyard, putting out the best wines he can offer. Nick doesn't have the time to fight the prickly Maggie for her friendship, even though a friend is something Nick can see she desperately needs. Nick has his own problems to deal with. Adding Maggie to the mix is not on his agenda.
However, Maggie gets to him and he wants to get to her, in more ways than one. Nick wants to know what Maggie's secrets are, what's so special about that locket that Maggie clutches, and how deep does the bond run between Maggie and Scout? And the most important question of all: can Maggie let down her guard and allow Nick to become a part of her life and trust him?
With Her Last Breath takes my breath away. Maggie carries so much hurt within her. Overlaying the hurt is a steel resolve to survive. More and more through the story I see Maggie's determination that no one will ever hurt her again, and I cheer her on! When Nick begins to intertwine his life with hers, I see the start of something beautiful in the works. Nick's troubled past makes him determined to protect Maggie whether or not she likes it. These are two stubborn people, and they are absolutely perfect for each other. The sooner they realize it, the better. Scout, of course, has a big hand in bringing Maggie and Nick together. Scout's past abuse makes Maggie extremely protective of her. Scout uses her canine ability to know whom she can trust, and Nick is at the top of her trust list, much to Maggie's dismay. Maggie fights Nick but she can't fight her strong attraction to him. He awakens within her a womanly awareness that has been long dormant.
The secondary cast of characters are a colorful lot, adding moments of comedy, touching sentimentality, and home grown love. Each of them, in one way or another, becomes a part of Maggie's life aiding in chipping away the tough exterior she has built. Celeste and Beth become her most prominent friends, along with Nick's family, the Alessandros, who are a wonderful loving bunch. It is with this group of people that Maggie knows what it is to be cared for, to love again, and ultimately to trust again.
Secrets, hurt, betrayal, a slow rebuilding of trust and true love: Cait London gives me everything I could ask for in a romantic suspense book, keeping me on my toes right to the end. With Her Last Breath is a must read!
Dee
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
Oh Please.......2005-06-20
Whenever I get this impression of a book 1/3 of the way through it I check others reviews and find quite a few with similar feelings. I thought I was reading Danielle Steele, who I have given up on because of her repetitious driving of her point across. So they are living with a lot of angst, get on with it. Should she try to save Beth, cause she couldn't save Glenda? Will Nick turn out to be another guy to do her wrong even if she feels such a strong attraction to him? Can he ever forgive himself for not making Alyssa wear her helmet. Stay tuned for the next chapter in this soap saga. No one wants to tell anyone anything but they are all sure trying to find out everyone's secrets. That's a small town for you, you can never outrun your past.
Struggled through it.......2004-06-24
I have to agree with the reviewer who stated that the plot points kept getting rehashed through the novel and it made the reading too reduntant and uninteresting. I understand that the main characters are haunted by their past and that it motivates their actions but I wish as a reader I was not constantly reminded of it. I also struggled with the attraction between Maggie and Nick, I understood the physical aspect but did not see an emotional intimacy between them. In fact, Maggie keeps repeating the same mantra "leave me alone" and three-fourths of the way through she still hasn't opened up to Nick. The psychology of the characters elludes me. Their preoccupation with their past makes it difficult for them to trust (I get that since I have been beat over the head with it) but not difficult to jump into bed with one another (I don't get that since neither character is promiscuous). Don't get me wrong, I like steamy sex in my books but only when there is a certain level of emotional intimacy or at the very least good conversation which I found lacking with these characters. I am haven't finished the book and I am not sure if I can or even want to complete it. This is my first London book and I don't think I will be trying her out again anytime soon.
Average Story.......2004-03-11
This novel was just okay. I like the premise. Women on the run from dangerous man. Goes to new town to start over. Meets new guy who is still having trouble getting over his first wife. While they adjust to each other, she still has to be wary of the "dangerous man" she ran from. This novel did not flow well for me. If I love a novel I can usually read it in one sitting. I kept getting bored with the dialogue and sitting it down and then picking it up again. I guess I was expecting a little more action in the novel. Still, the characters were likeable, the story line was predictable but flowed. I guess I would recommend.
Annoying book, annoying "heroine"........2003-10-12
Maggie is almost raped by a business associate of her husband's. She tells everyone about it but no one, including her husband and sister, believe her. Eventually her husband divorces her. Her would-be rapist is mad because she told people (not sure why since she wasn't believed). To punish her, he hooks up with her sister Glenda, gets Glenda hooked on drugs, destroys her marriage and causes her death. Maggie leaves town after her business dries up and because she can't stand looking at her sister's kids because they remind her of her sister and she knows she reminds them of Glenda? Gee, isn't that sort of the point?
Nick lost his wife 12 years ago in an accident he feels responsible for. We never do find out anything else about the wife except that she was sweet and had dark hair. And Nick has been celibate since his wife's death. Not sure I get why but I digress.
Maggie comes to town and Nick falls for her immediately. Again I can't figure out the attraction since Maggie is rude, never thinks about anyone else's feelings and is downright cruel to Nick. "You can go now." "Leave me alone." "Go away." "Butt out of my life." Then she proceeds to throw his feelings for his late wife in his face. "Go home and brood about your wife." Nick is a nice guy and only trying to get to know her and keep her safe. His family takes her in immediately, again a real mystery why since she's not that much nicer to them. (Question-why was Tony's son afraid of him?)
The villian was a joke and was never developed. Of course, none of the other characters were either except maybe for the dog. And if I heard one more wine connected comment I would have been bouncing off the ceiling. "No more waiting until the flavors blend. You're full and ripe now. Just ready for harvesting." I know the guy had a winery but for Pete's sake, enough already!
Yes, I realize Maggie had been through a terrible time and it was hard for her to trust again and she was afraid. Guess what, Mags? So have a lot of other people but they don't use it as an excuse for their bad-tempered treatment of other people.
Needless to say this is so not a keeper. The only thing that kept me awake was the fact that Maggie was so annoying! And the only mystery was what motivated any of them to do the things they did?
Books:
- Live from Jordan: Letters Home from My Journey Through the Middle East
- Lovell and Winter's Pediatric Orthopaedics (2-Volume Set)
- Monday Morning Leadership: 8 Mentoring Sessions You Can't Afford to Miss
- Mouse Guard Volume 1: Fall 1152 (Mouse Guard)
- Murder City: The Bloody History of Chicago in the Twenties
- Murder in the Cathedral
- Mystic River
- On the Case with Lord Peter Wimsey: Three Complete Novels/Strong Poison/Have His Carcase/Unnatural Death
- Perfect Match: A Novel
- Pirateology: The Pirate Hunter's Companion (Ologies)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Flags of Our Fathers
- The Marketing of Evil: How Radicals, Elitists, and Pseudo-Experts Sell Us Corruption Disguised As Fr
- Method and Practice in Aristotle's Biology
- Oxygen
- Pokemon Colosseum
- The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook
- The Basque Table: Passionate Home Cooking from One of Europe's Great Regional Cuisines
- Peaceful Spaces: Transform Your Home into a Haven of Calm and Tranquility
- Membrane Structures: The Fifth Building Material
- Morphology and Infrageneric Relationships of the Genus Jatropha
Last Words: A Novel of Suspense
Last Look: A Novel of Suspense
Die for Me
Up Close and Dangerous: A Novel
High Noon
