Salem Falls

Oh, Jodi. I can't seem to get enough of Jodi Picoult's books. They draw me in and won't let me go until I finish them and find out what really happened. This book - Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult is a classic example.

Jack St. Bride has been framed. That much is clear. Or is it? Something has happened in his past that isn't made clear from the beginning. As he puts his life back together, and settles in Salem Falls, New Hampshire, he stands out as the handsome stranger who currently works at the local diner. He finds himself falling in love with the owner of the diner - Addie, who has a fuzzy background as well. As their relationship takes a giant step forward, so does Jack's past.

Jack was accused of raping a teenage girl in his past life. He claims to have been framed by the girl, but finds it difficult to support this argument when a girl in Salem Falls - Gillian - makes the exact same claim. Its like a reoccurring nightmare for Jack, who has now been labeled once again and is at a standstill in his relationship with Addie.

One of the things that I enjoy so much about Jodi's books is that she constantly keeps you guessing. Just when you think you know what must have happened, or how it must surely end - BAM! She switches everything up, and a plot that you never could have dreamed of appears. Additionally, you don't have the luxury of knowing all of the facts up front. Its great.

If you're new to Jodi Picoult's writing, give it a try. If you are a long-time fan, make sure you visit this one.

The Pilot's Wife

The Pilot's Wife by Anita Shreve has been out for quite a few years, but I just read it this summer. My soon to be mother-in-law let me borrow it after she and my father-in-law both read it and couldn't put it down. (so this books appeals to both females AND males!) Even thinking about it now, months later, I can still remember the suspense and driving sense of curiosity I felt throughout the whole book.

Kathryn is the wife of pilot Jack Lyons. After being married for 16 years, their relationship has had its ups and downs, but has been manifested in the form of their fifteen year old daughter, Mattie. When Jack is tragically killed in a flight that he was manning, and the black box reports that it was the fault of the pilot, Kathryn starts down a path from which there is no turning. She begins to uncover the truth behind her husband's death and more importantly, his entire adult life.

Shreve's writing is quick and deep, never leaving you wanting for descriptions or plot. As a reader, I often delve too deeply into books and find myself intertwined with the fictional characters. This makes the pain felt by the characters something tangible, and the situations something to struggle with mentally. I couldn't help wondering what I would have done in Kathryn's situation. Would I have handled the news with such grace? Would I have been able to move on from such deception?

Not unlike Jodi Picoult's works, this book will stay with you from start to finish and afterwards. Enjoy!

Patterson, James. Honeymoon.

Title: Honeymoon
Author: Patterson, James and Howard Roughan
Publication Date: 2005
Number of Pages: 400
Genre: Suspense
Geographical Setting: Connecticut, Boston
Time Period: Present day

Plot Summary: Nora Sinclair is a beautiful, successful interior designer with many secrets – least of which is the truth about her multiple husbands that she keeps stashed around the country, both dead and alive. When large amounts of money begin leaving her deceased husbands’ accounts, John OHara, FBI agent, is assigned to monitor her every move. Is Nora killing her husbands, or is it mere coincidence? Who tipped the FBI off to the transfer of the money, and named Nora as a suspect? With fast-paced intensity and page-turning necessity, James Patterson and Howard Roughan follow the case of Nora (alias “Olivia”) Sinclair as she ensnares new victims with her irresistible sensuality and poisonous games.

Similar Authors and Works (Fiction): Massey, Sujata -Girl in a Box (undercover cop, romance on the job, murder investigation); Stewart, Mariah – Dead End (death of fiancé, murder investigation); Martinez, Michele – Most Wanted (marital infidelity, attraction to FBI agents).

Similar Authors and Works (Nonfiction): DeNevi, Don and John H. Campbell - Into the Minds of Madmen: How the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit Revolutionized Crime Investigation (a real-life look at the work of FBI agents); Trestrail, John H. - Criminal Poisoning: Investigational Guide for Law Enforcement, Toxicologists, Forensic Scientists, and Attorneys (discussion of poison used in murder); Emsley, John – The Elements of Murder: A History of Poison (historical look at the use of poison).