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10th out of 17 books
—
68 voters
Spencerville
by
Nelson DeMille (Goodreads Author)
A government agent returns to his hometown and employs his hard-earned skills to rescue the woman he loves from her sadistic husband. 4 cassettes.
Audio Cassette, Abridged, 656 pages
Published
October 18th 1994
by Random House Audio
(first published 1984)
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Nelson Demille arrived on my favorite authors list after reading The Gatehouse, so I was anxious to read another selection and found Spencerville in the library.
Keith Landry finds himself without a job after budget cuts in the federal government force him to review his life and decide what comes next. After twenty years of serving as a soldier and then intelligence for Uncle Sam, he decides to return to his hometown of Spencerville, OH. Though he won't admit it to himself at first, his main obje...more
Keith Landry finds himself without a job after budget cuts in the federal government force him to review his life and decide what comes next. After twenty years of serving as a soldier and then intelligence for Uncle Sam, he decides to return to his hometown of Spencerville, OH. Though he won't admit it to himself at first, his main obje...more
For an intelligence officer the guy was pretty stupid!!!!
FACTS:Orwellian" describes the situation, idea, or societal condition that George Orwell identified as being destructive to the welfare of a free society. It connotes an attitude and a policy of control by propaganda, surveillance, misinformation, denial of truth, and manipulation of the past, including the "unperson" — a person whose past existence is expunged from the public record and memory, practiced by modern repressive governments
T...more
FACTS:Orwellian" describes the situation, idea, or societal condition that George Orwell identified as being destructive to the welfare of a free society. It connotes an attitude and a policy of control by propaganda, surveillance, misinformation, denial of truth, and manipulation of the past, including the "unperson" — a person whose past existence is expunged from the public record and memory, practiced by modern repressive governments
T...more
This novel suffers from mis-categorization. If you begin reading it expecting a thriller in the same vein as Plum Island, Cathedral, or Wild Fire, you will be disappointed, as many of the other reviews here admit. However, if you are looking for a more of a straight fiction, character-driven novel, with lots of backstory, and some bits of action thrown in, then you've come to the right place. DeMille is an excellent writer and has a way of drawing you in no matter what he is writing. I think eve...more
Keith Landry, the protagonist, returns to his hometown of Spencerville in western Ohio.
The willing suspension of disbelief is often a necessary requirement to enjoy well-written fiction. This is a story of the return of a cold warrior from the power centers of Washington DC and Europe. (This story is copyright 1994, well before the rise of Islamic terrorism and threats to western govenments). The cold warrior returns to a farming community in western Ohio, even though he has only distant family...more
The willing suspension of disbelief is often a necessary requirement to enjoy well-written fiction. This is a story of the return of a cold warrior from the power centers of Washington DC and Europe. (This story is copyright 1994, well before the rise of Islamic terrorism and threats to western govenments). The cold warrior returns to a farming community in western Ohio, even though he has only distant family...more
This book was much different than the couple other DeMille books I have read; it was a little like Nicholas Sparks meets Nelson DeMille, I suppose. Keith Landry retires from a career in the Intelligence community to his family farm in Ohio, with the intention of discovering what his high school/college girlfriend is up to twenty-five years later. He soon discovers that she is trapped in an abusive marriage with the town's Chief of Police, and Keith is harassed as he tries to reconnect with Annie...more
wow, this book was one of the best written books I have ever resd, way to go Nelson! Spercerville was a very detailed look into the lives of a man that has returned to his hometown. An abused married woman, and the husbanc (abuser). It is a very detailed look into the lives of these three people and is very interesting. I have never read a book like this before and I loved it. It drew me in,and made be feel emotions for these people. Anger, irritation, and fear. Also love. It reminded me of the...more
Hands down, the silliest DeMille book.
The cold war has ended, the MC (ex-CIA) returnes home to a lost love in the heartland and is almost immediately outwitted by a stereotypical, wife-beatin', cheatin', lyin' and theivin' hick cop.
No, really...I'm serious. It's in the book, honest.
Unfortunately, I read this book immediately after "Word of Honor" and was nearly crippled by story intelligence whiplash. I'm still not sure what the moral of the story was behind this one. Maybe it didn't have one....more
The cold war has ended, the MC (ex-CIA) returnes home to a lost love in the heartland and is almost immediately outwitted by a stereotypical, wife-beatin', cheatin', lyin' and theivin' hick cop.
No, really...I'm serious. It's in the book, honest.
Unfortunately, I read this book immediately after "Word of Honor" and was nearly crippled by story intelligence whiplash. I'm still not sure what the moral of the story was behind this one. Maybe it didn't have one....more
This book to me was very close to five stars, falling just short. There should be a four and a half option.
I enjoyed this book very much. It is by no means one of DeMille's more popular works, in fact it may be his least popular, but I for one thought it was great. The story itself, meaning the plot, was good and kept me ngaged throughout. But where this book shines is the character development. DeMille did a fabulous job of drawing me in to each character very deeply. I hated the bad guy, was...more
I enjoyed this book very much. It is by no means one of DeMille's more popular works, in fact it may be his least popular, but I for one thought it was great. The story itself, meaning the plot, was good and kept me ngaged throughout. But where this book shines is the character development. DeMille did a fabulous job of drawing me in to each character very deeply. I hated the bad guy, was...more
I loved this book. The story itself was really good, and the backdrop was fascinating to me. The main POV leaves his small-town home in Ohio for Vietnam, then works for Intelligence throughout the Cold War before returning to Spencerville. His absence allows a unique look at how much the US has changed since he's left, a look I found incredibly interesting - especially given the date this book was published. DeMille is also great at sucking you into his characters, and I think he's one of the be...more
Very detail and could see everything he was explaining to detail. I loved this book so much that I went out and bought three more of his books.
It was a very heart wrenching story and at times a little disterbing, but thrilling. He builds and builds till the end and then you can not put it down so you can get to the end. I like that he didn't use the heroin to fix all the problems, he uses tact to creat the need to finish something.
I was satisfied at the end.
It was a very heart wrenching story and at times a little disterbing, but thrilling. He builds and builds till the end and then you can not put it down so you can get to the end. I like that he didn't use the heroin to fix all the problems, he uses tact to creat the need to finish something.
I was satisfied at the end.
I was turned on to Nelson DeMille by a Mrs. Anderson who was a customer at the service shop where I was the manager. I have since enjoyed thoroughly everything of his that I have read, and I think I have read all of them. It is difficult to say what genre his books fall in, they are mysteries, human drama, thrillers all at once, and completely good reading. I have recommended Mr. DeMille to many friends since and they have concurred. He is Awesome!
I really like this one. I've read it twice! Different to his others but a terifying portrait of a controlling, obsessed man. I suppose there were issues such as - why had she put up with this for so long, why didn't the kids catch on to what their father was like, but I sort of forgot all that as I read. I love DeMille's quirky humor and there were a few lines that cracked me up. It was a fast paced read and along with The Charm School, one of my favorites.
Kept me on the edge. A slightly Peyton Place-flavored read, heavy on intrigue, and hard to put down. A love triangle with an extraordinary plot and characters. Cliff Baxter made me very angry because of his bullish behavior and everything he did in Spencerville which is easy sometimes in a small town. After spending many years in a small town, I really related to the events in this book. The ending is priceless.
Another great page-turner from DeMille. His characters and settings are very deep, very rich. You'd swear he grew up in this small town, rural atmosphere.
* Couldn't finish
** I had nothing else to do
*** Passed the time, would be **** for genre / author fans
**** Everyone could enjoy this book
***** Everyone should read this book, I'll read it again
* Couldn't finish
** I had nothing else to do
*** Passed the time, would be **** for genre / author fans
**** Everyone could enjoy this book
***** Everyone should read this book, I'll read it again
Some artists can work in different styles without diminishing quality. Michelangelo's work with oils and sculpture come to mind. When it comes to action mysteries with humor, Nelson DeMille's John Corey series is at the top of my list. I gave all but Wild Fire a 5 star rating. However, Spencerville is not an action mystery with humor. It's a slow romance with an action climax. It's Michelangelo standing under a bridge holding two cans of spray paint.
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Classic love triangle story from DeMille - with plenty of suspense and good old fashioned jealousy fueling the plotline. Easily likable characters - and a villian you can't help but despise. I enjoyed this novel - not my favroite DeMille effort, but he always weaves a great story with thoughtful and witty dialouge.
Really good DeMille book. A complete stranger in a used book store suggested it and I could hardly put it down! DeMille's writing has a wonderful way of pulling you INTO his settings and stories...you can not only picture it, you feel as if you're an actual observer of what is going on. Great read, even though it's a little dated as far as technology goes.
started off a bit slow, but upon rating i realized i must have really liked it, since i took it upon myself to tell chris the whole story, which never happens. a bit disturbing, but i was told i would like nelson demille and i definitely do. i think he speaks my language.
something about de mille that is long, yet kept interesting. this is a tough book about spousal abuse, the hero comes home to eventually save the day and how being a town bully is feared by all, including himself.
Keeps you turning the pages to see if it'll all turn out ok. DeMille's books don't always! Graphic violence against women by a pig of man while everyone looks the other way. Not my favorite of his books.
It is not the best written story, but I really enjoyed reading this. It all happens in Ohio where I grew up, so it was fun to read about Ohio State, Bowling Green State University and the area along 75.
If Nicholas Sparks ever writes a sappy police procedural, this is what it will be like. Perhaps better. It was ok reading, but not one I'll pick up again. (Yes, I re-read books from time to time.)
I've enjoyed most of Nelson DeMille's books, but this one was an exception.
Spencerville is a standalone story unrelated to some of the author's recurring characters. Keith Landry is an ex-CIA agent who returns home to the rural Ohio town that gives the books its title. Landry still has the hots for his high-school sweetheart, but she’s now married to the abusive and misogynistic small-town sheriff. Can you see where this is headed? Me, too.
The central character is well-drawn, but there’s little...more
Spencerville is a standalone story unrelated to some of the author's recurring characters. Keith Landry is an ex-CIA agent who returns home to the rural Ohio town that gives the books its title. Landry still has the hots for his high-school sweetheart, but she’s now married to the abusive and misogynistic small-town sheriff. Can you see where this is headed? Me, too.
The central character is well-drawn, but there’s little...more
One of my favorite authors. How this same DeMille could write Cathedral is a critics question. I felt I was reading a very bad romance with a tiny bit of elementary evil thrown in.
Not many books have me caring about the main character like this one did. As a woman, some parts were tough to get through, but it was fanastic and very hard to put down.
Is it just me, or does DeMille really have a problem with women? I read several of his books when he first began publishing and stopped because I didn't like the way he handled his female characters. Then I thought I'd try this one because I was on a trip and desperate for a page-turner, it wasn't one of his military titles, and it took place in small town America. I figured it might be okay. Instead the entire ending revolves around the abuse--pages and pages of it--of the errant wife, far more...more
TOTAL ENTERTAINMENT
After this book, Demille became one of my favorite authors. This is a real thriller that I enjoyed a lot. I have only one word, terrific !
After this book, Demille became one of my favorite authors. This is a real thriller that I enjoyed a lot. I have only one word, terrific !
Felt like it was a wimpy guy's fantasy of what he'd do if some bully was bothering him and his girl. Didn't like it as much as some of his other books.
As always, DeMille is witty and humorous- even when the situation doesn't call for it. He spins a good tale and is an author well worth reading.
As escape reading, this fills the bill more or less. There are many other plots similar to this, so there's no event you don't see coming.
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Nelson Richard DeMille was born in New York City on August 23, 1943 to Huron and Antonia (Panzera) DeMille. He moved as a child with his family to Long Island. In high school, he played football and ran track.
DeMille spent three years at Hofstra University, then joined the Army and attended Officer Candidate School. He was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army (1966-69) and saw action as an...more
More about Nelson DeMille...
DeMille spent three years at Hofstra University, then joined the Army and attended Officer Candidate School. He was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army (1966-69) and saw action as an...more
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Apr 14, 2012 01:27pm