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barbi312's review against another edition
4.0
Slightly hysterical. Utterly ludicrous. Still, I enjoyed all but the last 50 pages. I guessed part of the twist ending but not all of it. Fast, enjoyable read.
arathi's review against another edition
4.0
Good book, nice read - didnt expect the twist in the end
mikekaz's review
4.0
I had a great time reading this novel. It was a great "race against time" novel with a twist ending that I suspected but didn't really see coming.
Elizabeth Piccioni had a good life until her husband was arrested by the FBI as a serial killer. During the trial and publicity, Elizabeth runs away to try to give her son a normal life. Now five years later, her son's life is at risk by a psycho who wants the trophies from her husband's murders. Elizabeth has 100 hours to race back to her old life and try to find the trophies so that her son can be saved.
The story was exciting and gripping as the characters raced to the end. As I mentioned, I suspected a twist at the end since a few things during the story seemed too easy and obvious. The degree of the twist though was something that I did not expect. However, nothing was out of character for anyone. There was no sacrifice to the reality of the story in order to achieve the surprise. Instead the characters were all three-dimensional, easy to picture and equally easy to care about. Well, I did find that her son was a bit of a caricature. He didn't really have any personality; considering though that for 95% of the book he was solely in the background as a threat and motivation to the main character, I didn't really mind. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Swartwood.
Elizabeth Piccioni had a good life until her husband was arrested by the FBI as a serial killer. During the trial and publicity, Elizabeth runs away to try to give her son a normal life. Now five years later, her son's life is at risk by a psycho who wants the trophies from her husband's murders. Elizabeth has 100 hours to race back to her old life and try to find the trophies so that her son can be saved.
The story was exciting and gripping as the characters raced to the end. As I mentioned, I suspected a twist at the end since a few things during the story seemed too easy and obvious. The degree of the twist though was something that I did not expect. However, nothing was out of character for anyone. There was no sacrifice to the reality of the story in order to achieve the surprise. Instead the characters were all three-dimensional, easy to picture and equally easy to care about. Well, I did find that her son was a bit of a caricature. He didn't really have any personality; considering though that for 95% of the book he was solely in the background as a threat and motivation to the main character, I didn't really mind. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Swartwood.
tristanrobinblakeman's review
4.0
I just finished reading Pretty Little Things and decided to take a break from serial killers, and began reading Fiona Davis' The Address, as it's been recommended to me by several people. After the first fifty or so pages it hadn't grabbed me yet, so I decided to switch over and pick up a serial killer stand-by...there's never anything like a blood-thirsty whackjob to get my reading interest piqued!
This turned out to be a real page turner! I will admit, there were some jumps (leaps?) over reason and logic - and the heroine/victim/protagonist does a couple really stupid things. However, these books aren't written for the doctoral thesis crowd, and I can deal with them. If you can't get past the "they did what?!" syndrome, skip this one. But, if the occasional lack of judgement on the part of the characters doesn't bother you, go for it!
I really felt that I was almost watching a thriller film. The tension and suspense is palpable in the reading - and I would find myself straightening up and reading fast and furiously during certain moments of danger. Looking back, it's kind of funny. But, who cares? It's supposed to be a thriller/psychological action mystery and it is.
Of course, children in danger is always a good hook - and maniac's families are always rather forgotten characters in the real life world of serial killers, and they probably do have a remarkably difficult time dealing with their history and their own sense of guilt and naivete.
The author has written a taut, terse book which has a maximum of violence potential and deeds with a minimum of gore descriptions. I don't remember the language being particularly vulgar or offensive, if that sort of thing bothers you.
I recommend this to anybody who wants a fast, suspenseful, tense read with a good twist ending and a few surprise corners to turns along the way. Don't expect The Alienist - it's not. But, not every book has to be. Especially during the dog days of summer!
This turned out to be a real page turner! I will admit, there were some jumps (leaps?) over reason and logic - and the heroine/victim/protagonist does a couple really stupid things. However, these books aren't written for the doctoral thesis crowd, and I can deal with them. If you can't get past the "they did what?!" syndrome, skip this one. But, if the occasional lack of judgement on the part of the characters doesn't bother you, go for it!
I really felt that I was almost watching a thriller film. The tension and suspense is palpable in the reading - and I would find myself straightening up and reading fast and furiously during certain moments of danger. Looking back, it's kind of funny. But, who cares? It's supposed to be a thriller/psychological action mystery and it is.
Of course, children in danger is always a good hook - and maniac's families are always rather forgotten characters in the real life world of serial killers, and they probably do have a remarkably difficult time dealing with their history and their own sense of guilt and naivete.
The author has written a taut, terse book which has a maximum of violence potential and deeds with a minimum of gore descriptions. I don't remember the language being particularly vulgar or offensive, if that sort of thing bothers you.
I recommend this to anybody who wants a fast, suspenseful, tense read with a good twist ending and a few surprise corners to turns along the way. Don't expect The Alienist - it's not. But, not every book has to be. Especially during the dog days of summer!
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