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p010ne's review against another edition
4.0
This is a really creative novel that investigates the effects of a mall shooting on those involved at the time of the event but the long lasting results, not only including the culprits and subjects but the wide ranging devolving effects!
I am familiar with the area of Maine (Portland/Brunswick) when I lived there in 1957/8 and think the author was stretching the truth about the charm of that coastline as I was unimpressed, particularly, when the tide was out as I thought the effect was spectacularly uninspiring!
I am familiar with the area of Maine (Portland/Brunswick) when I lived there in 1957/8 and think the author was stretching the truth about the charm of that coastline as I was unimpressed, particularly, when the tide was out as I thought the effect was spectacularly uninspiring!
sendpam's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
emilianilssson's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
marryd's review against another edition
4.0
Teen, Simone Knox, and her two BFFs, Mi and Tish, go to the movies at the mall one afternoon. Young Reed Quartermain is working in the mall, taking a break to set up a double date with his mate, Chad, and a girl he has had his eye on. Suddenly, three teenage boys open fire, one in the cinema and two in the mall and all hell breaks loose. Simone, happens to be in the ladies and is the first 911 caller. Reed is coming back from organising his date: he finds and saves a little boy and is the second 911 caller. Chad saves most of the people in his shop. Tish and Reed's date don't make it and Mi nearly dies but survives her surgery. One shooter is killed and two suicide but shockingly Simone and Mi find that they were schoolmates.
But of course that is not the end of it for the survivors and their families. They all have to find ways to live on and make sense of the tragedy. Reed becomes a cop. Mi becomes a doctor. Simone tries to block it all out and ends up leaving the country for a few years as she follows her art. But, in the background, the fourth killer is far from satisfied and slowly develops plans to finish what was started in their youth.
This is not a romance focused novel as is usual for Nora Roberts. It is clearly her response to what is mostly a US specific phenomenom. The whole book is made much darker with the knowledge that these shootings are a fact of life in the US. There is a reason that Nora Roberts is the world's #1 romance writer and this is illustrated in this book.
Having said that I am rarely a fan of using the killer's POV. Usually it is fairly petty and it often descends into melodrama. It's something of a mixed bag in this case. It definitely affects the re-readability of the book for me. I've read this book more than once and I have skipped through much of the killer's POV pages since the second read.
BUT this is Nora Roberts. She's brilliant. You'll enjoy it!
But of course that is not the end of it for the survivors and their families. They all have to find ways to live on and make sense of the tragedy. Reed becomes a cop. Mi becomes a doctor. Simone tries to block it all out and ends up leaving the country for a few years as she follows her art. But, in the background, the fourth killer is far from satisfied and slowly develops plans to finish what was started in their youth.
This is not a romance focused novel as is usual for Nora Roberts. It is clearly her response to what is mostly a US specific phenomenom. The whole book is made much darker with the knowledge that these shootings are a fact of life in the US. There is a reason that Nora Roberts is the world's #1 romance writer and this is illustrated in this book.
Having said that I am rarely a fan of using the killer's POV. Usually it is fairly petty and it often descends into melodrama. It's something of a mixed bag in this case. It definitely affects the re-readability of the book for me. I've read this book more than once and I have skipped through much of the killer's POV pages since the second read.
BUT this is Nora Roberts. She's brilliant. You'll enjoy it!
linda_h's review against another edition
2.0
Unpopular opinion alert.
This book was just not for me. It has really great ratings; a 4.29 average rating with over 14,000 readers. THAT is pretty amazing. So take my review with a grain of salt. I am in the minority with my rating- so don't let me stop you from picking this up.
The blurb got my attention as well as the stellar ratings. But, in the end I am left here scratching my head. It took me over a week to finish this book. The beginning was intense and moved along quickly but the rest really dragged. The ending was anti-climatic and wrapped up too neatly. I felt that the book could have been shorter and could have used more editing.
I have tried Nora Roberts twice in the past (a 3-star read and a DNF). I was hoping for a different result this time, but no such luck!
Oh well, on to the next!
library loan- ebook
This book was just not for me. It has really great ratings; a 4.29 average rating with over 14,000 readers. THAT is pretty amazing. So take my review with a grain of salt. I am in the minority with my rating- so don't let me stop you from picking this up.
The blurb got my attention as well as the stellar ratings. But, in the end I am left here scratching my head. It took me over a week to finish this book. The beginning was intense and moved along quickly but the rest really dragged. The ending was anti-climatic and wrapped up too neatly. I felt that the book could have been shorter and could have used more editing.
I have tried Nora Roberts twice in the past (a 3-star read and a DNF). I was hoping for a different result this time, but no such luck!
Oh well, on to the next!
library loan- ebook
debahe's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
ishtar's review against another edition
3.0
Empieza con un ritmo trepidante, pero desaparece a los pocos capítulos y luego no termina de recuperarse. Entretiene y tiene sus momentos, pero...