Suspenseful novel that grips you
356359
This novel kept getting better as I got deeper into the book.  There was one point I was so into this book that I read almost 200 pages in one sitting because I needed to know what was going to happen next.  I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an entertaining read that isn't to hard to get through.  The main character is put in a controversial situation and forced him to decide whether or not to put his family first above everything else, including his career

This novel started off a little slow in the beginning but finished off strong.  This is a solid book for the collection.
2330747
A solid 4 Star suspenseful novel. Even though the author tossed some clues early in the story that led to me figuring out the killer, the story was so rich that I wasn't tempted to skip ahead.
4613577
Hoag writes a good suspense novel told from multiple points of view.  The strength of this is in the fact that you get a variety of settings, making the book fuller and richer.  Her characters feel authentic.  They're likable but still real enough to have hard edges.  The ending had an unexpected and melancholy twist and there was true resonance to the aftermath.  I've been reading Hoag for some time and this is one of her best works yet.
700135
An excellent, well-written novel with a plot that truly draws you in. I found myself unable to put the book down after each chapter. As the story unfolded, it went in directions that I didn't expect, and the tension between the characters was often palpable.

The novel delves into a failed marriage between two characters who are both sympathetic and frustrating in equal measure. I found myself rooting for both of the main characters at times, and at times I was angry at both of them. The book also explores a fascinating dynamic between two people who are so close and have so much shared history, and yet are so far away from one another, and how that shared history itself both ties them together and drives a wedge between them. A gripping, well-paced novel that had me thinking about it long after I read the last page.
2263379
Suspenseful with a hint of melancholy,  just enough to make you really feel the emotions of the characters come alive.
1514434
I enjoyed the novel very much. it is well written and suspenseful. I found it hard to put down once I began reading it.
246731
GONE by Karen Fenech is a suspense novel that really delivers on the tension, mystery and the whodunit factor.  The book begins with the execution of FBI Special Agent Clare Marshall's mother by lethal injection in Texas.  Clare didn't go and she hadn't seen her mother for at least 25 years.  Her mother, Jolene, had tried to kill Clare and her sister and was successful in killing their 7-year-old brother all those years ago.  Clare and her sister were split up, and her sister's location was unknown.  Clare manages to find out that her sister might be living in a very small town in South Carolina, so she takes two weeks of vacation time and leaves New York City to look for her and to hopefully reunite with her sister who was a baby when she last saw her.

This book gives the reader much more than just the hunt for Clare's sister.  A closed case that was never solved comes to Clare's attention and is re-opened in light of what Clare finds out when she goes to meet her sister, Kate.  An old flame who Clare never expected to see again makes contact with her, and at every turn there is something or someone trying to stop Clare from accomplishing what she went to South Carolina to do.

I really enjoyed this book and if I had stayed awake I would have finished it in one sitting.  The characters are very well-developed and likeable.  I especially liked Clare's ability to put up with less than ideal living situations in order to accomplish her goals, and her willingness to do whatever she had to do to find her sister.  Despite what others said or did, Clare always knew when she was right and stuck to her guns. Special Agent Jake Sutton is another very likeable character who was reassigned from the New York City office to Farley, South Carolina, although his savvy is a little out of place in such a small town that is barely a dot on the map.

If you like good suspense, GONE is a good choice and I recommend it.  I hope to read more of Fenech's books.
3989442
I recently finished Orange Rain and found it to be well written. The novel unfolds in a non-linear fashion which gives it the feeling of being something fresh and different.

The best part of the novel is how well the author is able to hold the suspense in several key moments to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Chapter 4, where the main characters go to a frat house, is particularly engaging and suspenseful.

The novel is at times absurd, suspenseful, hilarious, but also thoughtful. I don't necessarily prescribe to all of the conclusions the characters come to, but it feels true to them and the journey they experience.

The novel is radical and you need to be prepared for that, as it unabashedly states its case through strong language and very controversial situations. Ultimately, those with an open mind, will get some enjoyment from the novel, whether that's from the subject matter, the humour, or simply because it's well written.
518575
Bad Things Happen is one of those suspenseful novels that not only keeps the reader guessing to the end but inspires the reader to want to compulsively turn pages until reaching the satisfying finish.  It's not what I would call a literary mystery but it's well-plotted and well-paced and a very enjoyable read.

The novel's most intriguing character is the mysterious David Loogan.  The author lets the reader know from the start that Loogan survived a violent incident in his past but does not give away what happened until much later in the book.  By the time it is revealed, the reader has already had ample time to form an opinion of Loogan, though there's always something about him on which one can't quite put a finger.  Loogan is a very well-drawn character because he remains so mysterious throughout the book.  And yet he's not so mysterious that it's difficult for the reader to feel a connection to him.  Dolan does a good job of making David a likable character while still holding back crucial details.

Really, all of Dolan's characters are interesting and his cast is quite varied.  They are all written in such a way that they seem very real, like the type of people you might actually meet on the street or that you may already know.  Their dialogue sounds natural and this is something for which Dolan has a particular ear.  Even when there's a lot of exposition to a character's speech (and this is particularly true when David tells his story in his own words), the dialogue sounds like something an actual person would say.

As for the plot, it is quite intricate.  It's difficult to write about it without revealing too much but suffice it to say that this isn't a novel that deals with one single, straight-forward crime.  Just when it seems that everything has been revealed, Dolan throws in a fresh twist that casts events in an entirely new light.  I think a valid argument could be made that the plot is, at times, more complex than it needs to be.  I didn't find this to be the kind of mystery novel that has a true-crime novel feel because it is far-fetched at times.  Indeed, it seems like Dolan is himself poking fun at his own devices when he has his author characters expound on crime and mystery novels.  Still, I liked the convoluted plot.  It made for an interesting and enjoyable ride.
3564662
2015 has only just begun, and already we may have one of the year's best suspense novels on our hands. This book follows Rachel, an alcoholic who has developed a fantasy life in her head for an attractive couple she sees in their home from her commuter train every day. When the wife of said couple goes missing, she can't help but involve herself in the mystery, which rather unsurprisingly winds up further complicating her life. The story moves back and forth in time, and is told from the perspectives of Rachel, her ex-husband's new wife Anna, and the missing woman Megan (who Rachel initially refers to as Jess in her fantasy). No one in the story seems to be trustworthy, as they all hide information and/or outright lie to each other in order to achieve their goals, which makes getting to the bottom of things that much more challenging for everyone, including the reader. Despite all the characters being heavily flawed, most of them come across sympathetically, which helps one actually care about their fates. Rachel in particular is well fleshed out, and comes the closest to being outright likable, which is quite a feat considering how unbalanced she is. The plot moves along at a very brisk pace and builds up to such a suspenseful conclusion that it is a hard book to put down. It may be a little dark for some people's tastes, but I found it to be one of the most entertaining books I've read in a long time.
REVIEW ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON GOODREADS
107241
The reader is instantly drawn into a web of suspense that has the chilling realism to it that it could happen to any one of us. One of the best suspense novels I've read lately, it definately falls into the "can't put it down" category.  I am looking forward to Alan Jacobson's  upcoming novel, The Hunted.
635216
A well paced novel exploring the mystery surrounding an apparent suicide, and the turmoil of a family finding their footing under rocky circumstances in a new town. The town's inhabitants are not the easiest to get along with... especially with a killer amongst their midst. This novel had me staying up late at night to find out who and how and had twists that I did not see coming. A thoroughly enjoyable read that I would recommend to lovers of suspense.
2427360
This is a suspenseful mystery novel, and not just for women either. The author provides plenty of detail to keep you in touch with the characters and the plot. Once you start its hard to put the book down, that is what you call a good read. Much credit goes to Judy Nedry. I recommend this novel to any reader. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
2904826
One of the most suspenseful and interesting novels I have read in recent years.  You cannot go wrong with this book.
3990202
The lives of two teens are thrown into chaos when their fates intersect in a terrible accident.  On the fourth of July, Michael receives his grandfather's rifle as a birthday gift and fires a single bullet into the air.  In another part of the neighborhood, the bullet falls and strikes Jenna's father, killing him instantly.  Swallowing Stones tells the story of how each character reacts and comes to terms with the incident, alternating to show both Michael and Jenna's points of view.  Michael hopes that the police will never be able to trace the bullet to him and does everything he can to cover up his role in the killing.  Jenna struggles to deal with her grief, going through the classic stages of denial, guilt, and anger.  Although Michael and Jenna didn't know one another at school, their paths begin to cross at the pool where Michael lifeguards and at summer parties.  As the police continue to search for the killer, Jenna's suspicions grow.  Will the truth be revealed?  At what cost?  These characters felt very real to me, and I sympathized with all of them.  The novel is suspenseful and engrossing, so I would highly recommend it.
4393285
This was really an engaging and suspenseful book. At first I wasn't so sure because to me some of the initial pop culture references seemed to be a bit off, but once the author really got into the story, I couldn't put it down!
1950281
THIS BOOK HAS THE QUALITY THAT DOES NOT PERMIT YOU TO PUT IT DOWN. I FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP MYSELF FROM PEEPING TO FIND OUT THE WAY THE BOOK WOULD END, SUCH WAS THE LEVEL OF SUSPENSE THAT HAD BEEN CONJURED. THERE ARE TWISTS AND TURNS IN ALMOST EVERY PAGE AND THE READER IS LEFT GUESSING ABOUT THE OUTCOME TILL THE VERY END. A BOOK DEFINITELY WORTH READING. I FELT SORRY FOR MANI AT THE END THOUGH!!