I usually enjoy the combination of a mystery/thriller and a romance, but The Search really fell flat with me. Simon Doyle, furniture craftsman, was developed with interesting details, as was Fiona Bristow, trainer of search and rescue dogs and survivor of a kidnapping and attempted murder. Unlike most romances, in which the couple must wait until after the main conflict of the novel is resolved until they can be together as a team, The Search has Fiona and Simon team up halfway through the book and join forces to thwart a serial killer.
As a couple, however, their romance doesn't ring very true. Simon is domineering and borderline verbally abusive. Fiona's strength and indepedence, her best traits, are annoying and infuriating to him. I found myself no longer rooting for them to stay together. Furthermore, there was little suspense in the apprehension of the "bad guy", making the second half of the book quite a disappointment. The first half, however, was enjoyable enough.
All in all, a book I'd have been happier to have gotten in a swap rather than purchased, but I'm happy to give it away knowing I don't have a desire to read it again.
As a couple, however, their romance doesn't ring very true. Simon is domineering and borderline verbally abusive. Fiona's strength and indepedence, her best traits, are annoying and infuriating to him. I found myself no longer rooting for them to stay together. Furthermore, there was little suspense in the apprehension of the "bad guy", making the second half of the book quite a disappointment. The first half, however, was enjoyable enough.
All in all, a book I'd have been happier to have gotten in a swap rather than purchased, but I'm happy to give it away knowing I don't have a desire to read it again.
