Monday, April 19, 2010

Treasure Hunt, John Lescroart

Synopsis:

Mickey Dade hates deskwork, but that's all he's been doing at Wyatt Hunt's private investigative service, The Hunt Club. His itch to be active is answered when a body is discovered: It's Dominic Como, one of San Francisco's most high-profile activists—a charismatic man known as much for his expensive suits as his work on half a dozen nonprofit boards. One "person of interest" in the case is Como's business associate, Alicia Thorpe—young, gorgeous, and the sister of one of Mickey's friends.

As Mickey and Hunt are pulled into the case, they soon learn that the city's golden fund-raiser was involved in some highly suspect deals. And the lovely Alicia knows more about this—and more about Como—than she's letting on.

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Sara's Review:

I'm a big fan of John Lescroart's Dismas Hardy series. I've read nearly every one over the course of the last few years. So I was excited to read one of the books in his newest series, The Hunt Club.

Sadly, I was disappointed. As interesting as the Hardy series is, The Hunt Club is equally as uninteresting. I didn't find any of the characters particularly moving or dimensional and the entire premise of the book is shaky at best. The writing tries to hard to throw you off the trail of the 'real' killer and in the end, the resolution (if you can call it that) is disappointing and predictable.

Not Lescroart's best showing in my humble opinion. If you've never read him, don't dismiss him all together - just stick with the Hardy series and be glad you didn't get your invitation to the Hunt Club.

Grade: F

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Another Mother's Life, Rowan Coleman

Synopsis:

Can you ever mend a shattered friendship?

For wealthy Alison James, moving with her family to her hometown of Farmington presents more than a case of relocation jitters. Fifteen years ago, she fled town, eloping with her best friend's boyfriend. Now, blessed with three children, but uneasy in her marriage, she wonders if that decision led her away from the life she was meant to lead.

Catherine Ashley, broke, the mother of two and almost divorced, can't help but wonder the same thing. Although she's content with her children, she finds herself returning again and again to those few weeks fifteen years ago when she fell deeply in love, only to be betrayed by her most trusted friend.

Now, once more living in the same town, Alison and Catherine are about to find out just how different their lives could still be. But this time around they are adults, and while their own happiness is at stake, so is their children's.

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Sara's Review:

I borrowed this book from one of my sisters because the premise sounded interesting. Friendship, love, betrayal, unexpected reappearances? Sounded like the makings of a good book to me.

Too bad the best part of the book is the back cover. I was thoroughly disappointed. The 'betrayal story' is flimsy, the women tiresome, the man-in-the-middle a total loser. Neither of the women is particularly likable - Alison comes across as a shallow, selfish moron and Catherine is only marginally more empathetic as the 'scorned woman' who lets a teenage betrayal shape her entire future.

To be honest, I probably wouldn't have even finished the book if I hadn't been trapped on an airplane with nothing better to do.

Grade: D

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Gone For Good, Harlan Coben

Synopsis:

As a boy, Will Klein had a hero: his older brother, Ken. Then, on a warm suburban night in the Kleins’ affluent New Jersey neighborhood, a young woman—a girl Will had once loved—was found brutally murdered in her family’s basement. The prime suspect: Ken Klein. With the evidence against him overwhelming, Ken simply vanished. And when his shattered family never heard from Ken again, they were sure he was gone for good.

Now eleven years have passed. Will has found proof that Ken is alive. And this is just the first in a series of stunning revelations as Will is forced to confront startling truths about his brother, and even himself. As a violent mystery unwinds around him, Will knows he must press his search all the way to the end. Because the most powerful surprises are yet to come.
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Sara's Review:

Harlan Coben has been one of my favorite authors ever since I stumbled upon his book Tell No One half a dozen years ago. Since then, I have slowly but surely been making my way through his long list of amazing books. This one was no exception.

You know how most tag lines on book covers are crap? This one's the exception. "More twists and turns than an amusement park ride" is no exaggeration. Just one you think you've got it all figured out - BAM! - huge plot twist and you're turning pages furiously, trying to get to the end! I was continually surprised, right down to the very last pages. If you like a good mystery without a lot of bloodshed and gore, you don't want to miss this one!

Grade: A