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carolsnotebook's review against another edition
3.0
I don't really know what to say about this book. I didn't like any of the characters. It kept telling me how scary the bad guy was, but I never really felt it. The characters did mature, but since I didn't really care about them, it didn't matter. On the other hand, I couldn't put the book down; it kept me hooked.
saylorrains's review against another edition
3.0
This was good to pass time and I found the plot enjoyable, certain disguises and twists that the "perfect husband" comes up with to evade police were very clever and thought out and even made me thing "oh!" to myself when I read the reveal. The crime portion and the way he was getting away with everything for so long was interesting.
As for the romance:
I think that while we got the tragic backstories of both the main character, Theresa, and the ex-marine that are designed to make you feel empathy for them, we didn't get enough to really fall in love with the characters by the end. It wasn't enough for me to understand the "I love you" by the end of the book, because what had Theresa learned about the ex-marine that we hadn't that made her feel anything other than lust or possibly infatuation? I think the book was too fast paced for there to not be more substance in that aspect.
I also found the ending to be quite rushed, and a part of it that I don't want to spoil I found unnecessary for the furthering of the plot, it appeared to be mostly for the shock and anticipation. From the climax onward everything is summed up in just a few extra pages including a cut to Theresa's future that I just find to be too fast-paced.
I would definitely be open to reading more from the author in the crime genre, like I said, I enjoyed that side of the book. I just didn't find the romance to be as organic and true.
As for the romance:
I think that while we got the tragic backstories of both the main character, Theresa, and the ex-marine that are designed to make you feel empathy for them, we didn't get enough to really fall in love with the characters by the end. It wasn't enough for me to understand the "I love you" by the end of the book, because what had Theresa learned about the ex-marine that we hadn't that made her feel anything other than lust or possibly infatuation? I think the book was too fast paced for there to not be more substance in that aspect.
I also found the ending to be quite rushed, and a part of it that I don't want to spoil I found unnecessary for the furthering of the plot, it appeared to be mostly for the shock and anticipation. From the climax onward everything is summed up in just a few extra pages including a cut to Theresa's future that I just find to be too fast-paced.
I would definitely be open to reading more from the author in the crime genre, like I said, I enjoyed that side of the book. I just didn't find the romance to be as organic and true.
sayjay12's review against another edition
4.0
I want to give it 5 stars but there’s just something missing??
I totally could have read this in one sitting if I wasn’t in a reading slump
I totally could have read this in one sitting if I wasn’t in a reading slump
tcole7's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good reread as I did not remember the plot at all.
lady_icarus's review against another edition
4.0
Was this perfect? No. Was it a completely enjoyable read? Absolutely. I actually really liked the story line a lot. It was a little long and probably could have done with a little more serious editing. It was over 400 pages and could have easily been trimmed down to 325-350. We meet Theresa. She’s pretty, she’s obedient and she’s young. She eventually marries Jim, a handsome officer who seems like a great catch. Turns out he’s controlling, abusive and a serial killer. She puts him away but he escapes. She goes on the run with her young daughter. She ends up finding JT and now goes by the name of Angela. I loved the relationship between JT and Angela. I was completely and totally rooting for them. JT was horribly broken and Angela was scared. Jim was pretty terrific as a villain (though maybe a little over the top and a little too omniscient). I get that he was a cop and therefore could be a step ahead of the police/FBI but there were a few little hiccups that didn’t make sense. If this guy was as bad as he’s portrayed, it seems strange that you’d have a task force meeting where he’d be able to dress up like a cop and attend the meeting. But, it was a relatively minor gripe. I loved JTs sister, Marion, and was genuinely disappointed that she ends up dead by Jim’s hand. The storyline of JT’s and Marion’s broken relationship caused by their demanding and abusive (physically to JT and sexually to Marion) really worked for me. Like I said, not a perfect book but definitely an enjoyable read.
obsidian_blue's review against another edition
1.0
Did Not Finish--page 85
I love me too much to keep reading this.
I love me too much to keep reading this.
chocolatee2000's review against another edition
5.0
Although I started this book on the 17th it wasnt until the 19th that I actually read it, and, when I did, I could not put it down. Brilliant, gripping and a little terrifying.
scoobielaura23's review against another edition
5.0
I would not advise staying up late to read this book. That's probably true for any of Lisa Gardner's books, but let me tell ya, this will not give you good dreams :)