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I have enjoyed all the books in this series and was disappointed that this was not a Louis Kincaid book. I find it easy to like Kincaid and think him an honorable man. While A Thousand Bones as a thriller is good, I was disturbed by the ending. Jo's choice of justice was simply wrong. I have to like the hero of the story and Jo's dishonorable decision makes that impossible for me. Just ask the agent who could not accept it either.
I like Parrish's books and will continue to read them. Let's hope the next one I do not have to throw against the wall in frustration when I am finished.

I just finished reading this book and it had me hooked until the very end. The characters were true to life and the situations they found themselves in were very plausible.

This, in my opinion, is one of the better police procedural books as it was set in a time period when DNA was not yet discovered. Thus, murders were solved by honest to God police work. Clues were followed instead of just matching DNA to a person.

A very well written book.

First thing first it astounds me that A: one of these books haven't been made into a movie yet. And B: that these books aren't published in hardcover.

Back to back I read Micheal Connelly's Echo Park and then P.J. Parrish's A Thousand Bones. And I be honest with you A Thousand Bones was every bit just as good if not better.
Every novel these two author's write get nominated for a Thousand awards in the mystery field and every year. And every year I sit there in disbelief when they don't win at least one.
And yet every novel they write is better then the last.
Possibly the best mystery novel of 2007.
I give it a 10 out of 10.

I have only recently discovered this author, but I'm loving everything I've read so far and this is no exception. Compelling story well told.

If you were hoping that the new P.J. Parrish book would be another installment in the Louis Kincaid series, you only get half your wish. Kincaid takes a minor role in this tale that stars his girlfriend, Miami homicide detective Joette Frye. Joe has grown significantly from the young rookie who worked for the Echo Bay Police Department, where even most of the veteran cops had never drawn their weapons in the line of duty. As the story of her rookie year unfolds, so does the character of this determined, capable and unique woman --- a welcome addition to this popular series.

Most of the book takes place as Joe recalls the horrific events that shattered the serenity of Echo Bay and left a town devastated. The woods around this quiet little village held not only the bones of countless victims but also the dark secrets of the monsters who buried them. It was in these woods that two boys found a human bone and triggered an investigation that would still haunt Joe 13 years later.

As we have come to expect from skilled writers, their characters draw us into the story and create a sense of urgency so vital to good police work. While Joe tends to be impulsive, her mentor seems to be overly cautious and the relationship between Joe and Detective Rafsky develops in a most satisfying way as they form a solid bond and strong partnership.

The poignancy with which Parrish (sisters Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols) deal with the parents of the girls who have gone missing over the years is another example of how the authors blend poetry with prose. On the other hand, one is overwhelmed when the mind of the perpetrator is revealed and victims are seen through the eyes of evil. Delving into the psyches of predators can be disturbing, but it definitely adds to the texture of the story. And, regardless of their disappointments and rejections, I want to see them pay for what they have done! And so do the cops who cannot rest until justice is done.

A THOUSAND BONES will hold your attention and run you through a gamut of emotions as the small-town cops work to solve the crimes and bring some resolution to those who have suffered. We look forward to more of Joe Frye and Louis Kincaid as they work through their own histories to bring new freedom into their relationship.

--- Reviewed by Maggie Harding, a substance abuse counselor in Phoenix, AZ who wanted to be Brenda Starr before life intervened. She reviews for www.bookreporter.com and www.faithfulreader.com To contact Maggie, e-mail Magster2@cox.net.

You will absolutely love this book! Ross is both insightful and humorous as he writes about: Michigan football (why their offense is really neither "conservative" or "too predictable"), Michigan basketball and the player who averaged 15 fouls per game (I remember him), Big Ten basketball officiating (he says it is getting better; I'm not sure), Tommy Amaker (he should have asked him who did kill JFK), why UCLA was so good for so long (it actually has less to do with John Wooden than you've been led to believe), and who was the greatest Michigan quarterback ever (read it to find out; Tom Brady is #3). More than anything else, this book reminded me that college sports are supposed to be FUN, no matter who wins. Ross' final chapter in this book is a classic by itself. Buy this book and savor every chapter. The best sports book I've read since "Ball Four" (yes, it's THAT good).

I join my fellow alum Mr. Heston in giving high praise to Obscene Diaries. At college I became quite interested in football, and particularly enjoyed Northwestern's successful skirmishes against the University of Michigan. Mr. Ross successfully reveals football as a particularly American blend of theatre and sport, personal drama and statistical analysis, quarterback thrill and coach agonistes.

This wild comic rant about sports is also startlingly original. For hard core sports fans, the book is packed with the kind of fresh insightful analysis of football strategy that is so completely missing from the work of the paid media pundits. (College coaches are already taking this book very seriously, because it shows why they should go for it on 4th down way more than they do.) But for non sports fans, this is also a great book, because Craig Ross really talks more about life than he does about sports -- and he's a fabulously witty writer.

As packed as it is with painstakingly researched sports statistics and wild, wonderful analyses, this book is a humorous and delightful read. Attorney Ross argues the facts, argues the law, AND attacks the opposition, entertaining us all the way.

As an alum of Northwestern, a school whose original nickname was The Fighting Methodists, I can appreciate the quasi-religious fervor of Wolverine fans. Craig Ross joins the ranks of Voltaire and Jonathan Swift in effectively (and humorously)skewering this (large) slice of American culture.

I love this book, but someone ought to tell Bill Goldberg (The Whistle Story)that the Bucky Dent playoff game was 1978 not 1977. What true NYY fan - from the Bronx, no less - not only doesn't know that, but let's it get to print??????????? Pretty shameful if you ask me.

Chicken Soup For The Baseball Fan's Soul is one great book. The stories are about personal experiences, humor, sportsmanship, life lessons, and the fun that baseball provides.

Some of the stories are actually written by the athletes themselves with others by journalists who have covered the games with their views on the game and the players, and other stories by the everyday sports fan just like you and me. Some of the stories are very humorous while others touching. Before each chapter are very inspiring quotations. Added between some of the stories are baseball comics that will make you laugh.

Every story in this book is well worth-reading from the humorous to the serious stories. This book made tears swell in my eyes and laugh out loud in some stories as a baseball player. This book will inspire the true baseball player or fan. This book is easy to get into it and want to keep reading for a long time, but is also a great book to read one story at a time.

This book really shows how hard you have to work to get better at baseball or any sport and how it can pay off. This is a must-read book for any baseball fan who wants to enjoy a great book about a great sport.

this book was very inspiring. The stories are all well written and ammussing. I haven't read any of the other books in the series and I don't plan on reading them either but I really enjoyed this one though and I recomend this book to all baseball fans

As a baseball fan, I thought it was wonderful to read about the many sides of baseball. There are stories from both fans and people actually involved in the baseball world. With baseball having such a depressing last couple of years, and not having the results as we have come to expect, it was wonderful to know that there are people in the world that still love this sport! I am one of them. :o)
(I would have said still the American sport, but since I am Canadian I don't think that always applies...)

The Essential J.R.R. Tolkien Sourcebook by George Beahm is a superbly presented, fan-centered guide to the fantasy world of Middle Earth, a magical land originally envisioned by celebrated author J.R.R. Tolkien in his famous trilogy "The Lord of the Rings" and his other thematically related writings. Featuring information about Lord of the Rings merchandise and collectibles, books about Tolkien, computer software, Tolkien-themed websites, and other online Tolkien related resources, The Essential J.R.R. Tolkien Sourcebook is highly recommended (indeed, an essential reference) for anyone seriously interested in learning more about the fan-culture surrounding this epic and enduringly popular literary saga.

George Beahm's love for Tolkien's work shines through every page of The Essential J.R.R. Tolkien Sourcebook.

Beahm starts with the Lord of the Rings books themselves and their various editions, from "the most elegant edition" to "the cleverest packaging." From there he branches out to chronicle related works by Tolkien and about Tolkien and LotR, and of course he examines the visual adaptations. He is both reverent and critical. He has harsh words, for instance, for the "full-screen" version of The Fellowship of the Ring, which is "severely cropped to fit the conventional television screen," and warns that the binding of one lavish edition "will not hold up after repeated readings." Audio adaptations, printed products, book- and movie-related collectibles, ring replicas, games and miniatures, websites...these and more fall under Beahm's Sauron-like all-seeing eye.

Then there's Chapter 11, my favorite, that delves into Tolkien-inspired art. Illustrations by Colleen Doran, Tim Kirk, David Wenzel, Steve Hickman, and Donato Giancola enhance an informative chapter on Tolkien artists from the Hildebrandts to Michael Whelan. Doran contributes a number of lovely and delicate full-page illustrations to the book and also provides spot art and illustrated chapter headings, elegant touches that give evidence to Beahm's genuine love for the subject matter.

For fans of Middle Earth, George Beahm's The Essential J.R.R. Tolkien Sourcebook is just that...essential.

George Beahm's new book takes a long overdue look at the world of JRR Tolkien: not the world of Middle Earth itself, but rather the extraordinary industry which has grown up around the writer's creation. Upon perusing this book the Tolkien fan, both expert and novice, will find a wealth of information regarding just how much is available to them. Beahm provides clear and concise reviews of all manner of Tolkien books, art, games, DVDs, collectibles and merchandise; and provides details of various rare editions which the true fan may want to track down.

All this is backed up with in-depth interviews with the best of the Tolkien artists, including Michael Whelan, Tim Kirk and Colleen Doran. Indeed, Doran provides a host of new drawings especially for this book - and magnificent they are too!

For the Tolkien fan wondering where to go next, this book is a must.

Okay ... I don't know what more could be said about this book ... good, bad or otherwise ... but here's my 2 cents worth:

I'm a grandmother, avid reader of all kinds of books. My son gave me the first 4 HP books for Christmas a few years back. My immediate reaction was "ick .. children's books .. did you make a boo-boo?" However, I read them (knowing nothing about HP) and was absolutely delighted. They took me to that place all favorite books do. I was drawn in to the story; the characters became a part of me; and I just had to see how it all turned out. So, there's the history.

I thought JK was spot-on with this book. She tied up all the loose ends, let us see most of our favorite characters again, one last time, and gave us an ending that tied in all of the hints and bits and pieces that came with the first 6 books. IMHO, it was brilliant.

My only objection ... I would have loved one more chapter .. after Harry wonders if Kreacher would bring him a sandwich. I would have loved to see the immediate reactions of the Weasleys (especially Ginny), the Hogwart's teachers, the remaining OotP members, etc. But I'm glad she did the 16 years later chapter. It will have to be enough.

Thank you for a great ride Harry!

This is a good site for great values on what you order. I have all Harry Potter's book and am waiting for additional DVDs as they are released.

Most people, by now, already know about Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. You have probably read it or heard about it. My review is going to foucs on the DELUXE EDITION of the book.

In this edition, you are immediately greeted by a cover box that has the same picture art as the front and back of the dust jacket of the standard edition. The actual dust jacket of this edition has a great four panel artist rendition of the trio flying on the dragon after their daring escape from Gringotts.

The actual book itself has a black cover with red embossed lettering on the spine (very spiffy) as opposed to the standard edition which is goldenrod with red embossing.

Inside there is a great color artist drawing (on slick paper) of the scene outside the Malfoy Manor. Quite cool. In the rear of the book is a blown-up version of all 37 chapter title artworks and the lines from the book in which the artist derived the pictures. It really explains what she was thinking and makes the book quite nice.

Now, I bought this when it was priced at the INCREDIBLE price of $13.00 which made it practically a steal. If you can get it on sale, it's worth it for the avid Harry Potter fan. Seeing as none of the text is different, there's no sense in getting this edition unless it's cheap or you just appreciate the artist's wonderful work.

Picked this book up at midnight on the release date, started reading it the same night, and finished it the next day, couldn't put it down I had to know what happened next. J.K. Rowling did such a great job as a writer over the entire series, growing into the role of a writer and maturing as her characters matured. I only wish she would have gone into more details in the epilogue of the book with the secondary characters and what happened with them, but that didn't take away from the 5 stars this book and series deserved. If after a year since the release, and you still haven't read it you better get out there and get a copy.

What a series. And to cap it off the way J.K. Rowling did - truly unbelievable.

Harry Potter must set out on a mission with his two friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, to find and destroy Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes, the pieces of soul that are keeping Voldemort immortal. Only after the destruction of the Horcruxes can Voldemort be defeated forever. In the story, Harry faces difficult surroundings, adversity, persecution, tragedy, losses, adventure, bravery, and most importantly, love.

J.K. Rowling has gone to new lengths with this incredible series. You can find pieces of the story littered around all seven of the books. I get excited when I find hints, clues, and pieces of foreshadowing that are later discussed and are essential pieces of the puzzle in the other books. J.K. Rowling is a master at the linking of the story, one which she began writing in 1991 on napkins in the local cafe because of her poverty, to other pieces of the story. She has truly opened up the eyes of all of the doubters and all of the people who once said that such an amazing feat was an impossible task. J.K. Rowling started off with nothing, struggling to live a normal life, sometimes having to go hungry in order to feed her baby daughter. She has become a woman who is the highest grossing author in history.

Most importantly, the Harry Potter series has led hundreds of millions of children to start reading and also gave children, and adults as well, a friend and a comfort in the characters of Harry Potter. It is sad that the Harry Potter series cannot continue, but all good things in life must eventually come to an end. We should all praise the work ethic and efforts of J.K. Rowling, a person who has shown that anything is possible with just a little stroke of magic.

I read this book and I liked it. It inspired me to read more of Stephen King`s books.
The scene that stood out for me the most was when
Annie hobbled Paul. It was so attentive to detail that it felt like I was looking at a picture inside of the book.
This scene showed just how deep Annie`s paranoia went. Paul hadn`t done half the things she was accusing him of and his legs were healing, but what she did to him pushed him back to the beginning of his torture.
You should read this book because it is so good that once you pick it up you can`t put it down.

~submitted by my student Jake

Another excellent Stephen King book. Hard to read sometimes because of the nature of the story but, very well done.

No reason not to read this book...you like King, you like gore? you like horror? Suspense? Mystery? Insanity? Then this is the book for you, recommend, but don't get nightmares!! Loved it!1

This is a great read and essential "King." The story draws you in quickly and keeps you reading, never wanting to put it down until the very end. You can almost feel the pain as you read; this is a must for any fan of thrillers and horror.

This book is a gripping from first page to the very last. It starts with a renowned author getting in a near fatal car crash. Just before he leaves his hotel he finishes the first work of his he has been proud of in a very long time. The book is a break for the series of books he makes his income and bankable name off of the series is named Misery. He is "saved" from the crash from his number 1 fan Annie Wilkes. She nurses him to health by feeding him through an IV and getting hooked on a pain killer Norvil. She then makes it her mission from "God" to have him write Misery books and she has many nasty ways of motivating him taking away his pill, a leg crushing blow, and then she can get real persuasive

Again, another literary winner from James Patterson. Judge and Jury will keep you riveted to the edge of your seats. Patterson is so fabulous, that I always pre-order his books before publication and as far as i am concerned he can't write fast enough.

D. Sellitti
Staten Island, NY

I enjoyed the book very much. You cannot predict the ending until you get there. Therefore, a person feels
like you have to keep on reading until the end. Very good suspense novel.

This book has it all - murder, mayhem, romance, and a thick plotline that kept me engaged all the way through. Patterson's characters are well-developed and their motives believable. He's created a couple of villains that had me cheering once they met their ultimate demise.

There are enough loose ends here to warrant a sequel. There had to be some repercussions from Nick and Andie's actions, and I think those could be the foundation for another visit to these characters.

Patterson's writing style is spare and he doesn't waste a lot of words. I appreciate that quality and always find his books to be a quick, yet worthwhile read. 'Judge and Jury' is no exception.

This was a nice easy read- I liked the story line. Takes you on an emotional ride with the characters involved. Serving on a jury takes on a whole new meaning.

If you love Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie, or John le Carre (as I do), I recommend that you steer clear of James Patterson; but if what you want is a distraction for a few hours, "Judge and Jury" might do it for you. I've only read one other Patterson ("First to Die"), so I can't rank this book among his many others. ("First to Die" did not make me want to read more of his books.) I picked up "Judge and Jury" in the process of researching books in which jurors appear as significant characters.

The book begins slowly with the jury-selection process for a mob trial. I probably wouldn't have finished the first 20 pages if it weren't for my interest in juries. However, I was hooked when the issue of jurors at risk from defendants and their associates popped up. (I served on a jury where this became a serious concern for me.)

Here are some of the elements that engaged me in "Judge and Jury": romance with minimal, graphic sex; a bright, gutsy heroine and a principaled, strong hero; multiple, unusual settings, including Israel and "the End of the World" (Terra del Fuego); one villain so unappealing that I actually wanted the protagonists to punish him severely; another villain who defied all cliches; and a couple of clever, believable plot twists.

I should say I don't believe in reviewing books I hated, and I can't think of any purpose for a bad review of any fiction. Every novel has an audience, even if it's a small one. Warning people off a book that might be exactly what they would enjoy is unnecessary. (However, I do think that nonfiction ought to be red-flagged, especially technical nonfiction in which factual errors and typos are inexcusable.)

Why four stars? I give five stars to a perfect book (which this is not). I give four stars to a book I actually finished and enjoyed reading (like this book). I give three stars to a book I wanted to enjoy but found to be very, very flawed. I would never review a one-star or two-star book--mainly because I never finish reading them. The fact is that I picked up this book expecting not to enjoy it, but I couldn't put it down once I got past the "Prologue" (yawn) and "Part 1" (the jury section).

"Judge and Jury" is far from perfect. I can find fault with some "technical" issues in it (and have done so in my blog at

http://blog.ccmambretti.com.)

But these are details that I was able to overlook in the end, because the plot was compelling, and I liked the characters.

If you like short chapters--so you get a sense of accomplishment even after a five-minute bus-ride to work--then this book should satisfy you. (At first I liked the chapter length, because it helped keep the plot fast-paced, but eventually I just felt a bit cheated on description and atmostphere.) The prose is very terse, too.

If you like gritty, graphic violence occasionally, this book has it, including what I consider to be gratuitous violence against minors. I excused it because the violence justified the ending, and it was brief.

That said, the short chapters, shifting point-of-view and narrator, and the "child at risk" scenarios are all among the list of "absolute-must-never-do's" that certain of my writing colleagues and coaches warned me against when I started writing fiction. It just goes to show you--never listen to people who make up rules about art.

I recommend you buy the inexpensive Kindle edition: Judge & Jury

Picked this up for another trip to Europe and eagerly finished it. I continue to enjoy the interplay of the four women. I do wish that Jill's character was developed just a little more. There were a few pieces that even after finishing confuse me, but perhaps that's part of the mystery. I'm curious to see if the Aaron Winslow character continues in the series.

James Patterson has done it again. This sequel is fast paced easy to read and I could not put the book down. I love the Women's Murder Club and the characters to me are believable. These women have problems of their own and that is woven brilliantly into the story. If you like true to life crime stories with women in charge than this is a must book to read.

My daughter-in-law enjoys James Patterson's books. So I sent her 2nd Chance. The book was in great shape when she received it. Thanks

Fast Reading and holds your attention until you finally make yourself put it down. I really like his style of writing. Short chapters and good plots all make the book a great read.

I finished 2nd chance last night. The title.... 2nd chance for the father? poor title. The father didn't have quite enough to do with the story to win the title, yes he saved her but she forgave him just a little too quick and in the end didn't even seem to mind that he was guilty. May not have choked anyone but he was still guilty. Patterson doesnt seem to know what a female would really think about her father after all that time. He might want to stick to men.

I enjoyed the book, give it a 3 - 3 ½ maybe. Its those ladies. Its unrealistic and drives me nuts. This club is cheesy and far fetched and illegal. 3 of the 4 just met! And they relate and talk as if they are life time buds. Yes women connect fast but come on! The way they talk to each other. No way. I still read the series because it's the just of the book that carries me through, but let me tell you one more little annoying thing. In the 1st book, 1st to die, Buttercup didn't get it right the 1st time who the murder was, and had to convince everyone to go back and find the real murder, and now again in book 2 she puts her sites on a guy that turns out to be `the wrong guy'. If I was her chief she would hold no credibility after the 2nd. Hope this doesn't happen in the 3rd. I really hope Patterson would have been better than that to copy like that. Both books having the murder turn out to be guilty but not, having something to do with it but not, then having the real murder but I made a mistake sir.... No. Goes well with one book but don't keep doing it. Now that I think about it, didn't we have the same `guess who the murder is' type stuff in Mary Mary. And didn't Double Cross think the murder was one guy and it turned out to be another. Too much of that. Of course going with all these choose who the murder is we could call the book 2nd choice!

Oh, and does a cop follow such a hard core criminal without a phone, vest or anyone knowing? Who is known to be with the most vicious gang there is, and such a ruthless sharp shooter? And then get caught doing it! Unrealistic.

For some reason I enjoyed the book. I could put it down, I could get sleep, It did annoy me but I still enjoyed it for the most part. Recommend it.... Ah yeah I suppose. We'll see after I read the 3rd one.

Enjoy,
Heidi avid reader everything from Dickens to Deaver
iwannabaduck@yahoo.com

Recommend in this genre: Jeffery Deaver, Iris Johansen, Thomas Laird, Dan Brown, Jonathan Kellerman, Karen Rose, Maggie Shayne,

I got this for my trucker husband for father's day. He loved it! He told me to buy out Mary Higgins Clark.

Like most of Mary Higgens Clark's books, they're full of suspense and surprise. In, "You Belong To Me", Clark writes about a young radio talk show psychiatrist named, Dr. Susan Chandler, who explores a mystery that is occuring on cruise ships.

Throughout this thrilling novel, Clark introduces many characters which gives supporting background to all of the events in the book. At times the writing seemed a little too simple, but Clark still kept the tone sophisticated enough to make it seem more challenging.

Overall Clark keeps you interested until the very end. If you are a fan of past books written by Clark then you will for sure enjoy this delightful thriller as well.

Not a bad book, the bad guy is not obvious until the end. A bit contrived, but not bad.

This is one of her best. The title appealed to me because I remember watching Gizelle MacKenzie perform this song, 'You Belong To Me' on YOUR HIT PARADE on t.v. while Dorothy Collins pretended to be Rosemary singing 'Come On To My House.' This cruise was not going to the Nile ("See the pyramids....").

Did you ever dream of meeting someone special on a cruise ship? Not I, as I am not a swimmer, I would never take a chance on someone throwing me overboard. Well, you almost had your chance. He had been tooted to be a host on one to Alaska in July of this year but plans were changed. A few years back, he and his dual personna got together to charm the old ladies on one. He didn't have to pursue the lonely rich women on board, just sit back and let them come to him. After all, for his age, he had that California look. He should -- he'd been there most of his life. And was used to old widows of "stars" long dead making plays toward him. Even Kitty Kallen (surely not her real name), the has-been singer acted like a comedian to get his attention at a luncheon for singers who in their elder years need financial aid. Doris Day will be next. Not Mr. Perfect, as she'd thought; he was definitely Mr. Wrong.

Regina disappeared and Karen gives clues to the person responsible on a talk show. The hostess of the program also knew the suspect. He was well known in L.A. and though her show was out of New York, she did not feel safe anymore. Sometimes a mild-mannered older man can turn into a ferocious predator with the right bait. Now, the cat-and-mouse game to catch him.

Others of her novels using songs as titles include 'Pretend You Don't See Her,' 'I'll Be Seeing You,' 'We'll Meet Again,' 'The Second Time Around,' and 'Let Me Call You Sweetheart.' Sharyn McCrumb uses Appalachian ballads for her novels but does not use the actual title for her book.

I keep saying I'm not reading any more books by Mary Higgins Clark, but I can't resist picking up the next one. When will I learn??? She is hit or miss with the quality of her stories recently and it's getting to be very frustrating!

YOU BELONG TO ME centers on Dr. Susan Chandler who is a clinical psychologist and host of a morning call-in radio station. She has quite a following and deals with a variety of topics. The radio show that starts her troubles is her interview of Dr. Donald Richards, a psychiatrist and author of a bestselling book, Vanishing Women dealing with lonely women who have disappeared. During his visit on the show, Susan brings up the disappearance of an acquaintance, Regina Clausen. Seems Regina disappeared several years before on a cruise ship. The questions raised are heard by the killer who realizes he must silence Susan and others before his identity is found out.

Higgins Clark writes the story identifying three possible villains. These include Donald Richards (the author), a wealthy philanthropist (Alex Wright), and a sly lawyer (Douglas Layton). Each is under developed and two of the three pursue a romantic interest in Susan. To be perfectly honest, if all of her dates were that mundane, she should give up the dating scene. Talk about a boring life! She's suspicious of each of them but the reader is never told why she has strange feelings and cannot trust or be comfortable around any of them. Leaving it at that is a bit of a let down and made me bored with the entire story.

Susan Chandler was well developed, but her family which were the biggest group of support cast, were almost strangers to the reader. Her sister Dee is mentioned and a few pages have their relationship glossed over. Her parents and step mother are also given a few pages and again nothing pertinent comes out of it. If they are so important to the story, then Ms. Clark should definitely spend a little time letting us get to know what makes them tick!

As for the story line itself, it leaves a lot to be desired. The three possible scoundrels were so dull that I couldn't care less which one was actually the serial murderer. Even though I had figured it out from the beginning, it didn't matter when his identity was revealed. There were no twists or turns with any meat for the reader to bite into; there was only endless dribble about boring dinner dates and family squabbles.

A professional reviewer stated "The fast-moving story line and easily digestible plot of YOU BELONG TO ME is vintage Mary Higgins Clark." I have to disagree completely. Vintage Mary Higgins Clark has much more to offer than 317 pages of a boring and unexciting story line.

After the terrible, terrible experience I had with Eleventh Hour (Random House Large Print) (overall assessment: don't read that book even if you are forced to), I had to come back with a decent mystery. I had read Where Are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark a while back and greatly enjoyed it so figured this one would redeem the genre.

Plot:
Maggie Holloway is a successful photographer in New York. She reunites with her beloved step-mother, Nuala Moore, at a family reunion and is invited to spend two weeks with her step-mom in Newport, Rhode Island. However, just as Maggie comes, Nuala is murdered. As Maggie settles into Nuala's home, she begins to realize that maybe the murder wasn't random and that maybe it was connected to the death of Greta Shipley, one of Nuala's friends living at a retirement center, Latham Manor.

Good:
Mary Higgins Clark writes and writes well. In Eleventh Hour, there were so many writing issues--missing transitions, juvenile writing--that are pleasantly absent in Mary Higgins Clark's writing. Her characters are real and not cardboard cutouts. The dialogue they speak makes sense given their personality, education, background, etc. She describes the surroundings well and knowledgeably (particularly when relating to the eccentric professor, Earl Bateman, and his monologues about death and its rituals).
Further, Moonlight Becomes You begins with an absolutely heart-stopping foreshadowing. I cannot see how anyone could read that beginning and not want to continue reading. I was a little hesitant about a mystery, but after that beginning, I was hooked. The middle was kinda slow (see below), but took off after the 250 page point and didn't stop until the very end. And the end--wow! I had predicted who one of the perpetrators was but the other was a complete surprise.
My favorite character is a tie between Neil and Earl. It was sweet to see how Neil liked Maggie and tried hard to find where she went on vacation. Then, to see Neil and his father hunt for Maggie--it was great and completely genuine. Also, I loved the relationship he had with his parents. And Earl Bateman was so different from the average man. His obsession--death--may seem odd (as every character mentions in the book), but is it that much different from people who are obsessed with video games? Comic books? Trading cards? Food? Cars? (You get the point.)

Bad:
Overall, a good book, but I still have a few complaints:
1. Slow plot. After the heart-racing beginning, it takes almost 2/3 of the book before the mystery really advances (of course, when it does, it is *awesome*!). In the meantime, we have two people get murdered and a woman who continually is too tired to investigate the things she comes across until the very end. I mean, if I heard something fall on the floor, I would hunt around until I find it not go "Oh, well, I'll get that later". Or when I find dirt in a pocket, not say, "Hmmm, better leave it there". Had Maggie been half as curious as she becomes in the end at this time, the book would have lost about 100 senseless pages that don't really go anywhere other than elaborate what the reader already knows (that someone is scamming people out of money, Latham Manor is creepy, the enormous cast, etc.).
2. Maggie Holloway. Our heroine is great, but not that awesome. She is rather stoic (somewhat understandable to others as she lost a spouse, but to the reader?) and icy. I don't see why she gets so chummy so quickly to Greta Shipley or to Laura Bainbrigde. I have no clue why Greta takes such a shine to an aloof, somewhat pleasant (when in social situations) woman. I mean, Greta meets Maggie twice and says, "I can see why Nuala was so excited to see you again". I just wished Clark would have told the audience how Greta knew this after two meetings. I see nothing particularly out of the ordinary about this woman. She got better at the end, but I really didn't care much about her at all.
3. Too many characters. While it is kinda neat to do the whole Murder on the Orient Express thing, I think that the number of viewpoints should have been halved. It is too hard to balance all that is going on and to bebop from Maggie to Greta, to Douglas to Janice to Dr. Lane to Neil to Neil's dad to Malcolm... I liked thinking, as I read the viewpoints, "Now, who is the bad guy?" but did Clark have to have almost a dozen different character viewpoints?

Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Very extremely minor (one or two d*** and other crass words). I didn't perceive anything sexual in nature (other than a mention that Odile Lane, Dr. Lane's wife, had a boyfriend). Violence includes a woman bludgeoned to death and five women dying in their sleep. A woman is buried alive.

Overall:
Much better than Eleventh Hour but too slow. It takes too long to get to the mystery part, and there are too many characters. Also, the heroine was rather shallow, making it hard for me to be that invested in her. Probably a 3.5 stars, but since I can't give half stars, I'll be kind and round up to 4.

Enjoyed this book. She is an excellent writer and did not read a book I did not like. She is up to standard on this book also.

I am finally on the last chapter. I have been using this book for two weeks now, to put myself to sleep at night. While there seems to be an interesting plot beneath the surface, the surface is cluttered with two-dimesional cliched "nice" and "not nice" characters. I was surprised at the occasional sterotypical ignorant way charaters viewed people working in the funeral business - I don't think all people view them as creepy, etc., I think a certain percent realize what they do for society and are grateful some people take on the job of taking care of our loved ones after death. The one actually interesting charater in the book is from a family of morticians and is interested in death as it pertains to various cultures. Unfortunatley, he is pretty much dismissed as a creepy red herring. The other male characters are so bland I had a hard time telling them apart the first few chapters. The heroine is incredibly banal and perfect. I am to the point where every time I read about her sipping at her non-fattening drink (tea, etc.) and "nibbling" at her food it makes me roll my eyes. Of course she is thin, beautiful, wealthy, and incredibly talented. And apparently sexless. The plus is its a formulaic read - I've read at least two books by this author before and from what I can recall they are indeed great for a light pleasant read inbetween more meaty, absorbing and memorable books. I strongly recommend you check books by this author out from the library and spend your money on something with more depth like "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time". Now that is a book that stays with you.

This is the second time that I read this book and found it well written and a quick read. Unfortunately, I remembered the identity of the killer halfway through the book but I still enjoyed it. Mary Higgins Clark is an excellant mystery writer and seldom disappoints. It is good enough not to be ready to put into the donation pile.

Moonlight Becomes You is full of high suspense, spooky highlights and romance. Just what you would expect from the Queen of Suspense.
This is one of Mary Higgins Clark's top thrillers I've read in a while, and I have read almost all of her books.
You will not be disappointed in the twist and turns in this book nor the outcome. In fact, the only time you will be disapointed is when you finish the book.