Review: Tuesday’s Gone by Nicci French

 Read - A - Latte 150 Challenge, Reviews 2013  1 Response »
Apr 112013
 

Tuesdays Gone

Tuesday’s Gone:
A Frieda Klein Novel
2nd in Series
Psychological Thriller
Pamela Dorman Books (April 4, 2013)
Viking
Published by The Penguin Group
Hardcover: 384 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0670025671
E-Book File Size: 813 KB
ASIN: B008EKOO0A

Tuesday's Gone: A Frieda Klein Novel

In this follow up to Blue Monday psychotherapist Frieda Klein returns to help Chief Inspector Karlsson. A London social worker making a routine home visit discovers her client serving tea to a naked decomposing corpse. Frieda is asked to help identify the man and what she finds is a complex web of lies and half truths that all eventually seem to connect back to her.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

As I have come to expect from Nicci French this story is a complex puzzle with dynamic characters and ongoing tension just beneath the surface.

There is so much happening in this story. More layers are pealed away as we get to know more about our protagonist, Frieda Klein. She seems to keep making headlines as a book is released about a former case and Frieda is portrayed in a very poor light. All the officers involved in the current case are not happy to have her consulting as she believes there is much more to the case than meets the eye. She is also very conflicted about the course of her personal life as a new man appears to be interested but she hasn’t dealt with her feeling for a former love that moved away.

Michelle Doyce has been placed in a mental institution but Frieda was able to determine the identity of her guest for tea. But “Robert Poole” seems to be a con man who had ran scams on several people including a nice elderly woman. She was lonely after losing her husband and her sons only visited when they needed something, like her money. She was the perfect choice for a man like “Bob”.  Bob turns out to be quite an enigma.

Josef and Reuben also return in this installment. Josef has returned from Kiev with an enormous weight upon his shoulders and both Frieda and Reuben are both trying to be supportive.

As I said the whole story is a complex puzzle and not everything falls into place before that last page. I found myself reading this story very slowly to catch every nuance and clue and I am still not sure I caught them all. It is best to read these books in order because they do build off of each other. Then you will be like me. impatiently Waiting for Wednesday.

just you and a friend 4 STARFISH

Dollycas

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To find out more about Nicci French check out this website.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Little Night by Luanne Rice Review & Giveaway

 E-Book Challenge, Giveaways, Reviews 2012  6 Responses »
Jun 012012
 

 

Little Night: A Novel
Pamela Dorman Books
Viking
Published by The Penguin Group
Release Date: June 5, 2012

How far would you go to protect your sister? What if you do protect you sister and she tells lies that don’t backup your story?

That’s exactly what happened to Clare Burke. She tried to help Anne leave the husband that was abusing her and ended up being charged with assault. The verdict largely hinged on her sister’s defense of her spouse. She stuck with her abusive husband and her testimony was all lies. Clare ended up in prison.

Even after she was released the sisters remained estranged. Her sister has moved to Denmark where her husband was born and raised. Clare is living in Manhattan, writing her blog about the birds of Central Park. A very quiet life compared to her life before. Her relationship with fellow birder Paul has been sorely tested over the years and they have not been able to reconcile. They have tried to remain friends.

Almost twenty years after the incident that sent her to jail Clare is surprised when her niece, Grit, shows up on her doorstep. Grit has always wanted a relationship with her aunt. She knew the kind of man her father was and she remembered how Clare tried to help. As they work hard to develop that relationship they must face the wounds inflicted upon them by Anne as she stayed by her husband’s side. Healing is difficult for both of them but together they hope they can get by the physical and emotional scars left from the pain they have both suffered. They still hold out hope that Anne will her leave husband and return to her family and friends who really love her.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
Written in true Luanne Rice style we are taken inside a very complex family situation that has us reeling. The physical and emotion abuse that splits Anne off from her own family is tragic and when it continues on to her own son and daughter is even more disturbing. Tempered by her wonderful descriptions of nature, the birds and the bogs we are given a bit of a rest from the extreme family drama. Rice is an expert of creating the ebbs and flows necessary for a story as powerful as this one. I have never been to Central Park but after reading this book I almost feel like I have.

We received a sneak peek at these characters in How We Started that was released for Kindle on May 1. The story of how Clare and Paul met was perfect before delving into this story that was so heartbreaking. In a split second Clare and Paul’s lives changed forever. She pushes him away when she is in prison and tells him to get on with his life. Even when released her heart is so closed off she is afraid to let anyone in. The arrival of Grit helps her start the healing process and her niece tries to move forward as well. 

This is the 30th novel from Luanne Rice. It is fresh and original and just plain outstanding. Another one for the keeper shelf because  you will definitely want to read it more than once.

Dollycas

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Central Park from Rockefeller Center

Thanks to the people at Viking I have another brand new copy of

and a brand new paperback copy of

The Silver Boat: A Novel

to giveaway!!

U.S. and CANADIAN RESIDENTS
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.

Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Liking My Facebook Fan Page.

If you publicize the giveaway anywhere you will receive
5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.

Contest Will End June 15, 2012 at 11:59 PM CST
Winners Will Be Chosen By Random.org
Winners Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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Review: Blue Monday by Nicci French

 1st In A Series Challenge, Mystery & Suspense Challenge, Reviews 2012, What's In A Name Challenge, Where Are You Reading Challenge  3 Responses »
Mar 132012
 

Blue Monday: A Novel
Pamela Dorman Books
VIKING
New Series
Available Now

Frieda Klein believes the world is out of control and the only thing we can control is what is inside our own heads. Yes, she is a psychotherapist. A very obsessive compulsive one at that. She spends her free time walking the streets of London to clear her head and get her thoughts in order.

Frieda has a patient that keeps having recurring dreams for a child that looks just like him. He and his wife have been unable to conceive and it has tormented him so that he is very near a mental break. When she learns of the disappearance of 5 year old Matthew Farraday and sees his resemblance to the child her patient has described he feels she must notify someone is charge of the investigation. She never imagined she would be working with the chief investigator to find the boy.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
It is very important to lay out a really good foundation when starting a new mystery series and these authors (Nicci Gerrard + Sean French) have done an excellent job. Revealing enough about the primary characters to immerse us in the current story but leaving us intrigued about where these characters will go and grow in future installments.

Frieda Klein is a perfect imperfect protagonist. She already has many layers. Reuben is a troubled soul that continues to emerge. Josef is a mystery himself and because of his background adds a little humor to a very intense story. Inspector Karlsson is a tough nut to crack but we can see a relationship with Frieda moving forward. The primary character to this story, Alan, was very well written as he struggled through his pain and dealt with a therapist he thought had betrayed him and had secrets revealed about his life that he never could have fathomed. All the characters are flawed which gives them so much depth.

The mystery is extremely complex and suspenseful. A few white knuckle moments. These are experienced authors with several other bestsellers. They know how to create a thrilling tale to keep us turning those pages. It starts slow and builds. I am anxious to see where the next Frieda Klein story takes us.


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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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The Darlings by Cristina Alger

 Mystery & Suspense Challenge, Reviews 2012  Comments Off
Feb 172012
 

The Darlings: A Novel
VIKING
Pamela Dorman Books
Published by The Penguin Group
Available Today!

Paul Ross marries the love of his life Merrill Darling, daughter of billionaire financier Carter Darling. Just as he starts to get comfortable living life in all the luxury the Darlings are famous for he loses his job. Carter Darling offers him a job as General Counsel at his hedge fund business. Paul warily accepts the position since the country is in the worst financial position since the great depression and jobs are scarce.

He barely settles into his new job and a tragic event lands the Darlings into the middle of major of a scandal so great Paul has to make some really tough decisions. Does he stand with his family or betray the ones he loves to save himself?

Dollycas’s Thoughts
Cristina Alger’s debut takes on a current hot topic with the arrest of Bernie Madoff in 2008 and the Occupy Wall Street protests and the general distrust of most financial institutions today. We not only get to see into The Darlingshigh society life but we get to observe the people doing everything they can to being them down.

While I believe all those who caused this crisis in America need to be held accountable I really felt for Paul. He didn’t know what was going on, he was just learning the basics of the company when this scandal broke. He took the job thinking he was doing the best thing he could for himself and Merrill and was caught up in the web of lies before he knew what was happening.

With the voice of a true insider Alger has given us a fast paced, page turning fictional exposé into the financial world that has caused havoc around the world. A solid four stars and a smart debut!

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About the Author

Cristina Alger received her B.A. from Harvard College and her J.D. from NYU Law School. She has worked as an analyst at Goldman, Sachs, & Co. and as an attorney at Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale, & Dorr. She was born and raised in New York City, where she currently resides.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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