Message from Dean - May 8th 2007

I am currently testing out a new version of the APF Bridge Component - If you notice any errors within this demo store please drop me a line.

Binding: Paperback
EAN: 9780752893686
ISBN: 0752893688
Label: Orion
Manufacturer: Orion
Number Of Pages: 448
Publication Date: June 12, 2008
Publisher: Orion
Studio: Orion

---

Alternate Versions: Click to Display

Related Items:

• The Outcast
• The Forgotten Garden
• The Private Lives of Pippa Lee
• The Resurrectionist
• The Road Home
• see more

Browse for similar items by category:

• Books > Special Features > Regular Stores > Richard & Judy's Book Club
• Books > Subjects > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery > Mystery > General AAS
• Books > Subjects > Crime, Thrillers & Mystery > Thrillers > General AAS
• Books > Subjects > Fiction > General
• Books > Subjects > Fiction > General AAS

---

Rating: - Better start than finish
Really got into this book quickly, good starting suspense. Found the last third of the book a little lacking.

---

Rating: - Lazy writing
The book starts with a decent premise but the conclusion is steeped in cliche and the whole plot becomes lazy - you want there to be a really clever, suitable ending but the actual end leaves you feeling disappointed and cheated. Seen it all before in bad novels and TV movies. Read Harlem Coben instead - clever writing and innovative twists and turns.

---

Rating: - Much better than expected
Having bought this book by accident (long story!) I thought I would give it a read. I had no expectations, and the fact that it was a Richard and Judy summer read lowered my expectations further!

The opening is superb; it captures your imagination from the very beginning. Let's face it we've all been a teenager, and we can only imagine the situation Cynthia finds herself in.

The middle part, the build-up, gains momentum every chapter and there are no disappointing lulls.

The ending is very dramatic and filled with action - and I had tears in my eyes at the very end of the book, so there is emotional involvement as well.

The narrator is superb; an utterly believable character who tells the story in such an accessible way. There are also some great characters along the way who are described so little and yet become so deep and believable.

The only disappointment that makes this a 4/5 is that I guessed both of the twists!

---

Rating: - No time for goodbye
A nicely paced thriller and hopefully there will be more to come from this promising author. The plot moves along at pace although the explanation once revealed is slightly unlikely. I was also disappointed with the explanation of who was responsible for what happened to Tess & the private detective. It just never held water for me. I loved the character of Vince & I cared more about him than all the others.
Quite well written but I found the injection of humour to occasionally be mis-placed and slightly annoying.
More plusses than minuses & I can't wait to read his next novel.

---

Rating: - Disappointing
After a very brief browse at an airport, I bought this. I knew nothing about it and didn't have any expectations - though one always hopes for something readable. This was the most poorly written book I have read. As others have mentioned, the colloqualisms and grammar are dreadful. If it's supposed to be representative of the way the characters speak - I pity the students the husband teaches. If it is simply how Linwood Barclay writes, then he does not deserve to be published.
Unbelievable plot and characters. Very frustrating.

---