Finished 4-25-10, rating 3.5/5, fiction, pub. 2008

Cray is one of the last relatives I have left, but I can’t seem to muster up much empathy for him, even though I know he needs it.  He’s lost, just the same way I was when I was his age.  I should be helping him more.

After all, I’ve given stacks of money to complete strangers, but I’m almost incapable of being in the same car as Cray.  I wonder if I’ve become too solitary after years on the road or if I’m allergic to my family.

I don’t particularly want to explore out mutual history or the connections that make us relatives instead of strangers.  I just want to stop, shove Cray out by the side of the road, and drive away.

page 50

Ross is a travelling pianist and thief.  He uses his gigs to scope out women to take to bed and rob of their jewels.  He is an equal opportunity thief in that he also steals random BMW’s from the street and sells them.  What makes Ross a little odd is what he does with his windfall.  He gives it away to strangers.  He’d lived a life of high income and spending and reached the conclusion that it didn’t make him happy.  When his nephew is dropped at his hotel door for a month, Ross is reluctant to resume his nighttime activities, but soon enough Cray has opened up a whole new can of worms.

This was an interesting book, one I grew to appreciate.  I liked that it was original and had a lot to say about money and how we all relate to it.  I enjoyed watching Ross come out of his shell and learning his reasons for giving the money away.  I did feel that it took too long for me to really get into the book.  I started it, put it down and didn’t feel like picking it up for another month.  But, that being said, once I reached the middle I was into it and happy I read on.

This is a free book offered from Concord Free Press in exchange for a donation to a person or charity of your choice.  I donated money to The City Mission of Cleveland.  I won this book from Dawn at She is Too Fond of Books and will be mailing it to Sarah E tomorrow.  Once she has read the book she has agreed to make a donation to a charity of her choosing and log it on the Concord Press Tracking Page.

Finished 4-13-10, rating 4.5/5, fiction, pub. 2005

When does murder begin?

With the pull of a trigger?  With the formation of a motive?  Or dies it begin long before, when a child swallows more pain than love and is forever changed?

Perhaps it doesn’t matter.

Or perhaps it matters more than everything else.

(Beginning of novel)

Cat Ferry is an expert odontologist, the study of teeth, as well as a personal train wreck.  She has gotten herself pregnant by a married man and is a lifelong alcoholic and the drinks and pills don’t stop with the pregnancy, at least at first.  When she is helping the FBI in a series of serial murders she begins to experience panic attacks and that coupled with the discovery of her affair sends her running back home to Natchez, Mississippi.  Cat is from a wealthy and well-respected family, but the death of Cat’s beloved father over 20 years before had scarred her and left her distant from her mother and grandfather.  Once home Cat becomes convinced that the serial murders are somehow connected to the death of her father.

The prevailing theme of this thriller is incest and molestation.  If this had been on the back of the book I don’t know if I would have picked it up, but I’m glad I did because it was excellent.  It doesn’t dwell so much on the act, but on the effect on the lives of those harmed and what happens to them after the they’ve escaped the abuse. 

I did have a major problem with Cat’s pregnancy.  She popped pills, drank, almost drowned, was raped, and shot in the stomach and still managed to stay pregnant.  That just passed the point of credibility to me.  But that being said,  I loved this book.  It is over 700 pages, but it only took me 3 days to read because it read so fast and I didn’t want to stop reading.  It is exciting and thought-provoking at the same time.  This is my second Iles book and it won’t be my last.

This is from my personal library and was chosen by Jennifer, Kristie, Carol, Jenners, and Angie.  Here’s what they had to say…

“Love his books and they always have a great twist in them.”  Angie

“I really love his books. They aren’t “great” literature or anything but he knows how to write a thriller. I have his latest to on my 2010 TBR pile.”  Jenners

“I have really liked everything I’ve read by Iles.”  Carol

“I fell in love with his descriptive prose, laid back approach and brilliant twisty plots.”  Jennifer

“Love all of his!”  Kristie

Finished 4-2-10, rating 4.5/5, fiction, pub. 2010

I knew opening that read door would destroy my life.

First line of book

Dan Mercer is a social worker who spends his time helping neighborhood kids.  One day, just like any other, he walks into a house to aid a teen and is stunned by the cameras and Wendy Tynes’s accusation of pedophilia.  He escapes, but his life is shattered.  When Wendy finds him after his court case is thrown out because of her, she is shocked to find that she believes he’s innocent.  This is just where the craziness begins.  There is also a missing teenaged girl who leaves a grieving family and community behind.  When these two cases seem to connect things become only more confusing.

Wendy was a character easy to dislike at first, but she also grew on me until I was completely rooting for her to find out the truth.  Not just for herself, but for me too 🙂

Harlan Coben has done it again.  I’ve read all of his books and this is up there with his best.  I know when I start reading I’m not going to want to stop til I’m done and this was no exception, I finished it in a day.  He’s a master at twists and turns and even when you get to the end there always seems to be something there to surprise you. 

I also find that he is very timely.  As a book blogger I can appreciate the importance that blogging and social media played in this book.  It will make you think twice about things you might read online.  And the role parents play in their kids lives.  This is definitely one that you shouldn’t miss.

This is a great thriller that I paid for with my very own money.