kleedc73's review against another edition
3.0
In this novel, Amanda Travis is an emotionally-closed-off woman in her late 20s working as a criminal defense attorney in Florida. When Amanda gets an unexpected, urgent phone call from her ex-husband, she is shocked and dismayed to learn that her estranged mother has shot and killed a man in her hometown of Toronto. Her ex urges her to come home and assist in dealing with her mother, who appears to want to plead guilty and go directly to prison. Amanda wants nothing more than to hide in Florida and pretend she has no past. Her relationship with her mother is rocky, to say the least, and she left her ex under less-than-ideal circumstances too. But Amanda is drawn back to Toronto where she is forced to confront unresolved issues and demons from her past as well as investigate things she never knew about her mother. The necessity of investigating the charges against her mother force Amanda to open up emotionally and reevaluate her own life.
Amanda is a complex, less than fully likeable character, but she is not entirely unsympathetic. In some ways, it is refreshing to have a less-than-perfect "heroine" who doesn't always handle things with perfect aplomb and total control. Putting aside the bizarre factual circumstances driving the plot, the novel is essentially about Amanda confronting her past and the journey to finding out who she really is and how she wants to live her life. It's about choices and mistakes and having the courage to attempt to correct things you regret. It is a relatively quick read, although the plot develops a little more slowly than would be ideal in a mystery/thriller. This is far from Joy Fielding's best offering in this genre but certainly worth reading.
Amanda is a complex, less than fully likeable character, but she is not entirely unsympathetic. In some ways, it is refreshing to have a less-than-perfect "heroine" who doesn't always handle things with perfect aplomb and total control. Putting aside the bizarre factual circumstances driving the plot, the novel is essentially about Amanda confronting her past and the journey to finding out who she really is and how she wants to live her life. It's about choices and mistakes and having the courage to attempt to correct things you regret. It is a relatively quick read, although the plot develops a little more slowly than would be ideal in a mystery/thriller. This is far from Joy Fielding's best offering in this genre but certainly worth reading.
soffimarie's review against another edition
4.0
* 3.5
Ich habe das Ende so definitiv nicht kommen sehen!
Ein solider Thriller, auch wenn die Hauptperson mir anfangs ein wenig unsympathisch war. Hansi Jochmann liest das Hörbuch sehr gut vor. :)
Ich habe das Ende so definitiv nicht kommen sehen!
Ein solider Thriller, auch wenn die Hauptperson mir anfangs ein wenig unsympathisch war. Hansi Jochmann liest das Hörbuch sehr gut vor. :)
burtree's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
seasenorita's review against another edition
4.0
As I usually do, I started this book and another simultaneously, letting one lure me in. This one won out, and I finished it in three days. Some parts were predictable, but not the ones that mattered, which were gripping and suspenseful. Just when the book started to slow down, a plot twist would occur and suck me back in. Good read! Not life changing, but very enjoyable.
miss_jakobs32's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5
Amanda's mother shoots a seemingly complete stranger in cold blood and Amanda needs to figure out who the man is exactly and what her mother's connection to him is. I found this novel engaging, thrilling in the right parts and it delivered some fine twists. A good way to pass the time.
Amanda's mother shoots a seemingly complete stranger in cold blood and Amanda needs to figure out who the man is exactly and what her mother's connection to him is. I found this novel engaging, thrilling in the right parts and it delivered some fine twists. A good way to pass the time.
kateb310's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
erikadawnh's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Anyone who didn't enjoy Travis' character lives in a froo-froo world. I love the depth of her character, the snippets of her past and how it all ties together at the end!
By no means did I think it would end the way it did! If you like murder/mystery, twisted family past, steamy relationships and a good dose of giggles this is the book for you!
By no means did I think it would end the way it did! If you like murder/mystery, twisted family past, steamy relationships and a good dose of giggles this is the book for you!
hillie's review against another edition
I started this book with not too high expectations but the main character was so typical and annoying, I just had no interest to read further. I think the plot would be okay, but I am just not interested to read anymore about this main character. In reviews I now see that many others experienced the same thing, so I don't expect it to become better in the rest of the book... One of my first DNFs.
More...