A good story, but not one you don't want to put down
593249
Boyer has chosen a great setting for her first Liz Talbot mystery novel, the Island of Stella Maris on the East Coast of the US, in South Carolina. The atmosphere of the place is portrayed vividly, as well as a variety of characters inhabiting the island. It doesn't sound like a place where a murder could happen, but one does occur - a simple blow to the head. The victim is none other than Liz's grandmother, and Liz is a private investigator. Following the death of her grandma and after inheriting her estate, Liz moves back to Stella Maris and starts leading her own enquiry, in spite of her elder brother, the local law enforcer. Nearly everyone is family or acquaintance on the island, so it is hard to make sense of why someone would want to kill Liz's grandmother. Liz will of course uncover what it's all about, a piece of land with a great potential for development, and it's something most inhabitants, Liz included, strongly oppose. This was for me the first weak point in the novel: the reason for the murders (there's going to be several) is not very compelling - not that's it's never happened - but it doesn't get you too excited or put you on edge. The other thing that didn't gel with me was the high number of characters to remember and differentiate, and they're almost all introduced at the same time. To be honest, it took me forever to know who was who, and after a while I just stopped bothering; it doesn't prevent you from enjoying the story but it did annoy me a little. Boyer's writing is straight to the point. A lot of action and not too much thinking or feeling. I found her style a little too direct and cold; with a little more warmth, it'd be fantastic. The story is good though, well paced and well brought to life. I also loved the role played by Colleen the ghost, one of Liz's old school friends, who comes and goes in the story as if there was nothing unusual about it. This is a great device and one that gives the story an edge.
1746399
An interesting story that I thoroughly enjoyed! I plan to read more books by this author.
1855399
The kind of book that makes you want to keep reading and reading, but you don't want it to end.
2292131
I didn't want this book to end, in part because it was lovely and in part because I felt I was just starting to get to know the characters. While there were a couple of things that bothered me, I still gave this a 5-star (4.5 if that were an option) rating because I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt the characters were surprisingly well-rendered (more on that below).

*No Spoilers*

One of the common complaints about this book is that there are just "too many characters!" which I admit makes me chuckle a little bit. Yes, there are effectively ten main characters of this story: four parents and six children (though they are adults for much of the book). Because the families become blended, it can get confusing to remember which child belongs to which biological parents and siblings. However, it really isn't THAT difficult to set it straight in your mind, especially if you know this going into it. Write it on a post-it and stick it to the inside the cover if you need to; it's really that simple. My point is, please don't let such a triviality keep you from experiencing this story.

The other chief complaint is that the story jumps around too much, across time and between different points of view. When I first started this book I was disappointed by this and almost didn't continue reading it--that first 2-3 chapters have a very jarring structure and you aren't sure where exactly you are in the story. I'm not sure if this is intentional on behalf of the author or just oversight, but thankfully as the story continues it becomes much, much easier to follow along. I actually came to love the format in the second half of the book, as I figured out more of the storyline and grew more attached to the characters. However, if you are a reader that simply does not like stories that jump around through time and perspective, this probably isn't the story for you.

The other thing I heard from readers was that the characters weren't developed enough or that they didn't connect to the characters or couldn't "root for them." I disagree. One of the beautiful things about Patchett's writing is she can tell you everything you need to know about a character in very few words and she doesn't waste your attention by fleshing out every detail. She lets you in on what the characters are feeling only when it is necessary. I found each of the characters in this story unique in all the ways they needed to be. You find out more about some characters than others. I found myself most attached to the point of view of Franny, who is the character with whom we spend the most time. I would have gladly read a novel solely from Franny's perspective, though that would have resulted in an entirely different book. The characters of this story are very human. They aren't overly flawed or overly virtuous; they're just people. I didn't need any other reason to "root for them" than that. They each have to deal with the chaos of their lives, and they do so imperfectly.

Though Patchett doesn't spell everything out for you (which I love her for), there is a subtle theme of forgiveness/redemption in this story that I found beautiful and a little heartbreaking. The members of these two families don't live in perfect harmony, but they also don't harbor any dramatic grudges, which I found refreshing. I would have gladly read another 300 pages of this story.
3246910
This is an engrossing, sometimes excruciating story, but well told and worth the read.
473249
It was a good read, but not a "I can't put this book down!" kind of read that I was hoping for.
4571656
Unique story that will keep your interest to the end.
4927012
The story was quite good, however, I don't like "cliff-hangers" that end in the middle of a story.  That's why I didn't rate this book as a "5".
873808
This is an engaging and original story, and I kept reading and enjoying it.  The characters are interesting, but the end result needed a bit more supporting evidence for me.  In any case, it's worth reading.
2654352
First of all, let me say, this is not a typical read for me. Like, way outside my comfort limits, but I want to rate the book on its merits and not the story, because I think others will like the the story.

Jules is the daughter of a Muriel Avenue slut--women paid for sex, but much classier than prostitutes--and one day hopes to become one herself. But life gets complicated when she finds out her best friend is getting raped by one of their gentlemen between activities. She's horrified and desperate to do something to stop it. So when she hears it happening, she rushes to her friend's rescue and does the only thing she can think of. He falls off the balcony to his death, and only she and her best friend know what really happened.

The secrets are eating at her, and she finds herself drawn to Greta, the daughter of the man who died. Jules gets pulled into Greta's darkness, and after a few mistakes, she finds herself on the run from the FBI. How can she get her life back without bringing down Muriel Avenue and those she loves so much?

This story has it all - sex, murder, secrets, and danger. And there's enough swearing in there to tide over even the saltiest of sailors. :) I think a lot of people would enjoy this kind of thing, even though it wasn't exactly my bag. The characters are well-developed and very realistic. The setup feels like a real life situation - the sluts, the stories, the magical crisper drawer... There is an incredible amount of detail that sets this book up as great storytelling.

My biggest qualm--other than the fact that I would never recommend this book to any young adult--was the ending. But it's not a moral story, so I supposed there doesn't need to be a moral to the story, I just wonder what ideas some people will get reading it.

Otherwise, if the story sounds like one you'd like, pick it up. It has a definite Pretty Little Liars feel to it, though darker, and it actually has a conclusion.

I received an ARC of the book with no obligation to review.
3594859
I really enjoyed thus book. The story grabs you so that you want to keep reading. The author includes some sensitive issues that are integral to the story, not just added for shock value.
1096037
The story has some "of course" sections but most is not predictable.  The author's descriptions come alive in your mind.
4894848
There are two stories going on about the main character, a then and know. But I found it to be a book I didn't want to put down.. Definitely worth the time to read it..
1250743
This is an interesting story with a story that is intriguing and well played out. Lynne succeeds in narrating the story without straying from the plot. The main characters are well thought out and well placed in the timeline and their respective roles. The protagonist is street smart and has the ability to handle herself pretty well. The story follows her as she tries to find out the truth behind her bosss murder, a murder for which she was initially framed, and works on deciphering clues that may lead to a treasure.

I did find the story a little difficult to get into at first but as it progressed I could see that it was definitely worth the read. There were a few scenes in the story that I felt were a little too drawn out or had way too much of drama that didn't seem to fit in with the story. However, those do not draw attention away from the story.

Once again, Lynne demonstrates her passion for art through this story as she has done in her previous books. It is not surprising to see that her protagonist in this story is not only an art lover but has a wonderful eye for decoration and detail. I personally loved reading about the artists that Amanda, the protagonist encounters, and the detailed insight into their crafts.

Overall I believe that anyone who enjoys a novel which has romance mixed with mystery should definitely pick this book up!
4807994
Yes, this book isn't perfect.  It's long, and for those who want neat endings - this isn't it.  But it is well written with well-developed characters and the story brings the reader in and will not let you go.  I stayed up much too late with this one.
1863918
wonderful story,  Hated to put it down, hated to reach the end.
2668947
This is a fascinating story and well told, however, I found it a bit difficult keeping the various times and places in perspective. It is a book that is better read quckly without putting it down for a day or so.  It is easy to loose the story pattern.