Category: C

4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, C, Fiction, Read in 2008, SERIES

Marker by Robin Cook

Tara
Marker
by Robin Cook
Copyright: 2005
Pages: 658
Rating: 4/5
Read: May 7-19, 2008
Challenge: Suspense & Thriller Challenge – Medical thriller; Celebrate the Author Challenge; Triple Eight – 500+ Pages category

First Line: In the wee hours of February 2, a cold, steady drizzle drenched the concrete spires of New York City, shrouding them in a dense swirl of purplish-pink fog.

Medical Examiner Dr. Laurie Montgomery’s relationship with fellow colleague Dr. Jack Stapleton begins to crumble when she wakes up and realizes that Jack simply cannot make a commitment to her and that her proverbial clock is ticking if she wants to have a family. So in order to distract herself during this turbulent time she dives into her work. But she soon realizes that there might be a serial killer over at Manhattan General Hospital preying on young, seemingly healthy, patients who are in the post-operative stage after elective surgeries. However, convincing her fellow medical examiner colleagues that there is a series going on is going to be harder than it sounds. Although she slowly begins to unravel the mystery, it won’t be until Laurie herself has to have emergency surgery at Manhattan General that the mystery will finally be solved.
I’m going to be honest, medical thrillers are not really my cup of tea, but I’m starting to get used to them. I enjoyed this one even though it took me forever to finish! I recommend this one. I find Robin Cook to be rather readable and enjoyable, I will probably be looking for more of his in the future.
4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, C, Nonfiction, Read in 2008, U-V-W

Mistaken Identity by the Van Ryn & Cerak Families

Tara
Mistaken Identity: Two Families, One Survivor, Unwavering Hope
by Don & Susie Van Ryn and Newell, Colleen & Whitney Cerak

Copyright: 2008
Pages: 261
Rating: 4/5
Read: May 11-14, 2008
Challenge: Triple Eight – Bio/Autobio Category

First Line: Colleen Cerak woke up with a start to the sound of the phone ringing.

April 26, 2006. A date that the community of Taylor University will never forget. Returning from a banquet, a university bus carrying students and staff were hit by a truck. The accident scene was terribly violent and chaotic. Five people died. One survived. Laura Van Ryn’s family couldn’t believe that their little girl survived the terrible accident. Whitney Cerak’s family struggled to cope with the loss of their loved one. As Laura began the grueling healing process, her family was there to witness every moment. For five weeks after the accident she was showing amazing progress and the Van Ryn family thought that they were well on their way to returning to normalcy. Then it happened.
“Okay, Laura, I would like for you to write your name for me, the occupational therapist said. … W-H-I-T-N-E-Y…” (pg. 165-167)
The Van Ryn’s simply could not believe it. Had they been caring for Whitney Cerak for the past five weeks under the impression that it was their precious Laura?! Had the Cerak family actually buried their baby girl thinking it was Whitney?! Slowly, they began to remember strange things that “Laura” had recently been saying. Getting names wrong, not recognizing people. Just little things here and there. But it all made sense: “Laura” was actually Whitney!
Once the dental records did indeed confirm the fact that the girl who survived the horrific accident was actually Whitney Cerak, the Cerak family was contacted with amazing news.

“We have reason to believe that the girl identified as Laura Van Ryn is, in fact, your daughter Whitney Cerak.” (pg. 3)

Colleen Cerak could not believe her ears. Could they really have buried a girl other than Whitney? Could they have buried Laura instead?! No one in the family had the strength to view the body before burial … then Colleen began to think, five weeks!?!? How had five weeks gone by without the truth being obvious?! When the Cerak’s were reunited with their daughter, Whitney, everything was perfect.
But then, the Cerak’s wondered, how are the Van Ryn family coping?! They were the ones who, five weeks ago, felt amazingly blessed that their daughter survived a horrific accident in which she should have died. Now they were feeling the despair and heartbreak that the Cerak family had been experiencing for the past five weeks. And to make it worse, the Van Ryn’s were caring for a girl that they believed to be their daughter when in fact it was a stranger to them. How is something like that even possible?!
This book tells their story. It is heartbreaking. It is uplifting. It is amazing. I enjoyed it. Although I am not particularly religious, I understood that their story had to be told from that aspect since both of the families faith is a huge part of their life as well as this story. I highly recommend this book to anyone. It’s a must read.
3/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, C, Charlie Parker, Fiction, Read in 2008, SERIES

Dark Hollow by John Connolly

Tara
Dark Hollow
by John Connolly
Copyright: 2000
Pages: 504
Rating: 3/5
Read: April 18-22, 2008
Challenge: No challenge; personal read

First Line: I dream dark dreams.
Charlie Parker returns to the house his grandfather raised him in. But he cannot escape the feeling that something is not quite right when a good friend of his and her baby are brutally murdered. He sets out to find out who was behind the murder. But he’s still reeling from the murder of his own wife and daughter the year before. His emotions will undoubtedly get the better of him from time to time in the chase for the madman.
I’m going to be honest. I was not really impressed by this book. Maybe it was because I was trying to read it when I was trying to get everything situated for our big move to Kentucky. Whatever the reasoning, I just didn’t care for it. I had trouble concentrating and it took me way too long to finish it. I had read The Killing Kind last year and loved it, but this one was definitely a disappointment for me.
4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, C, Fiction, Read in 2008, T

The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason

Tara

The Rule of Four

by Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason
Copyright: 2004
Pages: 446
Rating: 4/5
Read: Feb. 29-March 2, 2008
Challenge: Numbers Challenge
First Line: Like many of us, I think, my father spent the measure of his life piecing together a story he would never understand.
The Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, a Renaissance text, and Tom Sullivan have always had a love-hate relationship. This book consumed his father’s life. And during his final year at Princeton, he finds the book consuming him and his roommate, Paul Harris. As Paul tries to figure out all the pieces to the puzzle of this book, the deadline for his senior thesis hovers above him. But then, a long-lost diary is found and Paul believes he has solved it. But before he has time to finish his thesis and state his conclusions, thereby revealing the final pieces to this mysterious puzzle, he has to fight forces that are against him. With the help of Tom and their two roommates, Gil and Charlie, they embark upon a journey that might kill them all.
I really enjoyed this book. Although it does seem to lag in certain places, overall I felt myself rushing through it because it was so suspenseful! I could hardly wait to get to the end of it. I have read that some people are likening it to The Da Vinci Code, but I wouldn’t. I felt that in a way it was much better than Dan Brown’s book, whereas in other places (like the writing style) it did sort of lack what Brown’s book had. It’s hard to describe, but definitely an enjoyable read!
4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, C, Fiction, Read in 2008

Class Reunions are Murder by Taffy Cannon

Tara
Class Reunions are Murder
by Taffy Cannon

Copyright: 1996
Pages: 290
Rating: 4/5
Read: Feb. 6-7, 2008
Challenge: No challenge; personal read

First Line: There were probably, Nan thought as she walked into the Spring Hill Inn, a thousand more odious ways to spend an August Saturday night.

L.A. Attorney Nan Robinson returns to her hometown of Spring Hill, Illinois for her twentieth high school reunion. She is surprised to see the Class Tramp Brenda Blaine waltz in. Although she is surprised by Brenda even showing up, she is completely unprepared when Brenda is murdered just outside the reunion. Instincts set in and Nan can’t help but want to solve the murder herself. What she finds out will be the surprise of a lifetime and some things that a lot of surprising people want to keep hidden forever.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was a quick and easy read. It was a great break from what I consider the heavier books that I’ve been reading lately. I usually don’t like books like this, but sometimes it’s nice to have a little change in pace. Besides, I thouroughly found myself enjoying this one. And I was very shocked with the ending! Very good book!!

3/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, C, Fiction, Read in 2008

The Serpent Club by Tom Coffey

Tara
The Serpent Club
by Tom Coffey
Copyright: 1999
Pages: 402
Rating: 3/5
Read: Feb. 4-6, 2008
Challenge: What’s in a Name Challenge – Animal Category
First Line: There’s a body at the top of Sepulveda Pass.

Journalist Ted Lowe lands the assignment to cover the Megan Wright murder. However, he begins to realize that the things that he is uncovering and reporting in his articles are things that certain people would prefer to forget about completely. The police are doing all they can (seemingly), yet the district attorney’s office seems to be dragging its feet. Either way, Ted Lowe keeps coming closer and closer to the truth, but when he is suddenly removed from the case, his life apparently spins out of control in his quest to find the truth behind young Megan Wright’s death.
I have considerably mixed feelings toward this book. On the one hand I thouroughly enjoyed the plot line and ending. On the other, I really disliked how Coffey jumped back and forth between first and third person. I found myself confused more than a few times in regards to who was talking. I gave this book a 3 out of 5 because I’m just not sure.
5/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, C, Fiction, Read in 2008

Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark

Tara
Two Little Girls in Blue
by Mary Higgins Clark
Copyright: 2006
Pages: 390
Rating: 5/5
Read: Jan. 10-11, 2008
Challenges: What’s in a Name (Color category); Numbers Challenge; Triple Eight Challenge,
From my TBR Shelf category
First Line: “Hold on a minute, Rob, I think one of the twins is crying. Let me call you back.”
Margaret and Steve Frawley’s three year old twin daughters, Kelly and Kathy, have been kidnapped from their own room, their babysitter knocked unconscious. When the ransom note comes in for eight million dollars, the money is put up by Steve’s employers. Unfortunately, only Kelly comes home safely. But when Kelly begins to voice concern that Kathy is not dead, as was widely assumed, Margaret goes frantic trying to bring Kathy home safely.
I loved this book! It was great!!! The twists and turns were wonderful. I love reading Mary Higgins Clark … she never disappoints! This book read rather quickly and was enjoyable. Another A+ effort by MHC!
4/5, AUTHOR, Book Review, C, Fiction, Read in 2008

No Second Chance by Harlan Coben

Tara
No Second Chance
by Harlan Coben

Copyright: 2003
Pages: 420
Rating: 4/5
Read: Jan. 2-3, 2008
Challenge: Numbers Challenge; Celebrating the Author Challenge

First Line: When the first bullet hit my chest, I thought of my daughter.

Dr. Marc Seidman wakes up in the hospital to find that twelve days earlier his wife, Monica, was shot dead in their home, and their daughter, Tara, is missing. When the ransom note arrives, Marc’s hopes go through the roof. But when the drop goes bad, everything around him spirals out of control. Eighteen months later, another ransom note is delivered. Instead of contacting the police and doing the “right” thing, Marc takes matters into his own hands. With the assistance of his ex-girlfriend, they chase down the clues to Tara’s disappearance, only to realize that there’s more to the story than meets the eye.

This story was well plotted and fast paced. I was sucked in with the first sentence and could barely wait to figure out if Tara was still alive. The revelations at the end are shocking, to say the least. The ending came out of left field to me. This was only the second Co (the first I read years ago) and I thoroughly enjoyed it.