Helpful Score: 2
Wow!
This book started out with a bang, them I kind of lost interest. I almost put it down, but kept reading. I am soooooo glad I did! They mystery was great and it had an ending I didn't see coming! The author led you in so many directions - when I found out who the "bad guy" was, I was shocked! I think its the only book that when the mystery was revealed, I shouted, "OH MY GOSH!" (yes, sitting in my den alone, I shouted!)
This book started out with a bang, them I kind of lost interest. I almost put it down, but kept reading. I am soooooo glad I did! They mystery was great and it had an ending I didn't see coming! The author led you in so many directions - when I found out who the "bad guy" was, I was shocked! I think its the only book that when the mystery was revealed, I shouted, "OH MY GOSH!" (yes, sitting in my den alone, I shouted!)
Helpful Score: 2
I figured out the 'whodunit' in this book about halfway through (although I didn't find out I was correct until the end), but it was very good. Suspenseful and a bit creepy, I stayed up to finish this book.
Helpful Score: 1
Eight years ago someone broke into the Farr home in Point Pleasant, West Virginia killing the parents and stabbing preadolescent Celeste. Since teenager Teresa Farr was untouched, the police and the media assume she killed her father, stepmother and failed at murdering her stepsister. However, serial killer Roscoe Lee Byrnes confesses to the murders after he is caught. He is convicted and placed on death row awaiting state execution while Celeste has remained silent since the assault.
However, just before Byrnes is to be executed, he renounces his confession in the Farr homicides. Meanwhile Teresa begins receiving notes insisting she will soon face "justice" while mute Celeste recognizes a unique smell and begins to talk for the first time in eight years; insisting her stepsister is not only innocent, she saved her life. However others do not believe the traumatized child including the note writer as someone wants to divert attention to Teresa for the killings; if necessary even set up a murder suicide scenario that will eliminate the survivors while casting culpability on the older soon dead stepsibling
This is a tense suspense thriller that grips readers the moment that Teresa enters her home to find a nightmare that awaits her. Everyone except for Celeste believes she is the cold blooded killer even after Byrnes confessed. The story line is fast-paced as the killer raises the ante to insure no one alive knows the truth. However, fans will be irritated with the heroine's denial that danger is mounting although her reaction seems psychologically realistic since Teri cannot emotionally deal with a second deadly encounter until she has no choice. Still Carlene Thompson provides an engaging romantic suspense thriller.
However, just before Byrnes is to be executed, he renounces his confession in the Farr homicides. Meanwhile Teresa begins receiving notes insisting she will soon face "justice" while mute Celeste recognizes a unique smell and begins to talk for the first time in eight years; insisting her stepsister is not only innocent, she saved her life. However others do not believe the traumatized child including the note writer as someone wants to divert attention to Teresa for the killings; if necessary even set up a murder suicide scenario that will eliminate the survivors while casting culpability on the older soon dead stepsibling
This is a tense suspense thriller that grips readers the moment that Teresa enters her home to find a nightmare that awaits her. Everyone except for Celeste believes she is the cold blooded killer even after Byrnes confessed. The story line is fast-paced as the killer raises the ante to insure no one alive knows the truth. However, fans will be irritated with the heroine's denial that danger is mounting although her reaction seems psychologically realistic since Teri cannot emotionally deal with a second deadly encounter until she has no choice. Still Carlene Thompson provides an engaging romantic suspense thriller.
Helpful Score: 1
Theresa Farr has a serious problem - someone is trying to kill her. Theresa survived an attack eight years ago that killer her father, step-mother and severely wounded her step-sister. Now someone is terrorizing her and dropping pieces of the past on her porch.
I thought I had this figured out early in the book but the author kept throwing out false clues to muddle the air. The ending was truly a surprise but it nicely cleared up the remaining mysteries.
A few times in the book I was frustrated by the unnecessary repetition of things. But overall a good read. I would definitely read Carlene Thompson again.
I thought I had this figured out early in the book but the author kept throwing out false clues to muddle the air. The ending was truly a surprise but it nicely cleared up the remaining mysteries.
A few times in the book I was frustrated by the unnecessary repetition of things. But overall a good read. I would definitely read Carlene Thompson again.
After a long absence, Teresa Farr has returned to her hometown of Point Pleasant, WV, to open a riding academy. Eight years ago, Teresa woke in the middle of the night to discover her father and stepmother brutally murdered. Luckily, she discovered her injured eight-year-old stepsister, Celeste, in time to save her life. People in the small town thought it was suspicious that Teri wasn't killed, but a confession from a serial killer takes away the suspicion. Now the killer has recanted his confession and people are once again looking at Teri. On top of that, Celeste, who hasn't spoken in eight years, is suddenly remembering some things that happened on the night of the murder. When a new body turns up in Teri's barn, she once again finds herself a suspect in a murder.
This book is full of flashbacks and memories, some of which have nothing to do with the plot. I found that distracting, along with some inane conversations about popcorn, architecture, and favorite authors. I assume the author added these tidbits to make the conversations feel real, but they didn't work for me. Teri was another heroine who didn't use her brain. She had several TSTL moments, like when she forgot to call the police after seeing a prowler on her property. I liked the fact that there were several suspects in the murders. I kept jumping between two that I thought may be guilty, but I was wrong about both. My rating: 2.5 Stars.
This book is full of flashbacks and memories, some of which have nothing to do with the plot. I found that distracting, along with some inane conversations about popcorn, architecture, and favorite authors. I assume the author added these tidbits to make the conversations feel real, but they didn't work for me. Teri was another heroine who didn't use her brain. She had several TSTL moments, like when she forgot to call the police after seeing a prowler on her property. I liked the fact that there were several suspects in the murders. I kept jumping between two that I thought may be guilty, but I was wrong about both. My rating: 2.5 Stars.
Loved the book! A good mystery with just enough romance. I couldn't wait to the end to find out "who done it"
Great author, have read several of her books and loved them all.
Great author, have read several of her books and loved them all.
I liked the story, but sometimes the writing style and word choices got in the way. The pace of the story line was twisting and turning, but many times the movement felt forced and frantic. I don't know how else to describe it. This is the first time I've read anything by this author so I don't know if this is her usual style or something unique to this book. There times when particular words, especial adjectives, jumped off the page and disturbed the flow of the prose. At those times I was reminded of when someone uses larger words in conversation not because they really understand the meaning but because they want to appear intelligent and impressive. I liked the plot enough to try something else Ms. Thompson has written, but if this is her usual style I may not give her a third try.
Exceptional
