Edgy, electrifying and dark--a riveting debut
A Beautiful Woman, Missing
New York City, 2005. Thanksgiving weekend. A topless Kate Moss... read full description
reviews
May 02, 2010
Patricia
rated it: 
When a woman’s body is found brutally murdered in East River Park, Detective Darlene O’Hara of the Seventh Precinct rushes to the scene. Darlene has taken a missing person’s report from David McLain who states that Francesca Pena, a beautiful, promising student at NYU did not come home for Thanksgiving dinner. David planned a Thanksgiving dinner for Pena and could not understand why Pena failed to come home. Detective O’Hara feels sure that the victim is Pena. O’Hara and her partner Ser More...
Apr 27, 2009
Sara
rated it: 
In Shadows Still Remain Peter de Jonge (as in the frequent James Patterson co-author) creates O’Hara a beautiful, rash and ambitious detective. O’Hara “catches” her first murder case and is determined to work it so much so that she breaks all the rules of professionalism and police protocol. As she learns more about the victim, Franseca Pena, “the undisputed star…whose approval and messy snorts of laughter the others vie for”, each new clue only begets more questions. Out of her league and damag
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Jul 12, 2011
Sarah
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My copy of this book has a sticker claiming "as good as James Patterson or your money back" and for me it is very much like any given James Patterson (probably unsurprisingly so as Peter de Jonge has cowritten with Patteson several times.
It is an easy to read, fast paced novel. Francesca Pena goes missing from a New York bar and is later found tortured and killed. Detectives O'Hara and Krekorian find themselves with 72 hours to solve the crime before the Homicide Unit tak More...
It is an easy to read, fast paced novel. Francesca Pena goes missing from a New York bar and is later found tortured and killed. Detectives O'Hara and Krekorian find themselves with 72 hours to solve the crime before the Homicide Unit tak More...
Dec 11, 2009
Shadows Still Remain, by Peter de Jonge, B-plus. Narrated by Tina Benko, produced by Harper Audio, downloaded from audible.com.
I believe this is a debut novel and very good for a first novel. The title is a good one because even after the mystery is solved, shadows still remain as to the why of things. Darlene O’Hara is a cop who, when on duty, interviewed a man who walked into the police station and said his roommate, Francesca Pena, was missing. She had gone out the night befor More...
I believe this is a debut novel and very good for a first novel. The title is a good one because even after the mystery is solved, shadows still remain as to the why of things. Darlene O’Hara is a cop who, when on duty, interviewed a man who walked into the police station and said his roommate, Francesca Pena, was missing. She had gone out the night befor More...
Jun 07, 2009
Boof
rated it: 
If you fancy wasting a few hours on an appallingly written, cliched groan-fest of a book - I have found just the one for you!
By the time I reached the bottom of the first page I had rolled my eyes several times. With sentenses like "Pena turns west at fifty-second and with long athletic strides traverses another cheerless block. She passes six-storey walk-ups, a basement dry-cleaner and another cheerless pub...." Tsk tsk! Very sloppy!!
And don't get me star More...
By the time I reached the bottom of the first page I had rolled my eyes several times. With sentenses like "Pena turns west at fifty-second and with long athletic strides traverses another cheerless block. She passes six-storey walk-ups, a basement dry-cleaner and another cheerless pub...." Tsk tsk! Very sloppy!!
And don't get me star More...
Jan 10, 2011
Lois
rated it: 
Hm, not too bad for a first book. The plot did not really flow smoothly, the surprise twist-while surprising failed to really work because the players did not have clear and believable motives. He either should have quit at the first revelation or further explored the second realization. Also character development was ok, but lacked true attachment that makes you really care about what happens to the characters.
Jun 15, 2009
Terry
rated it:
NYU co-ed Francesca Pena disappears one Thanksgiving weekend. When her horribly mutilated corpse is found, NYPD homicide digs in. Detective Darlene O'Hara is this case's maverick investigator: of course she drinks too much and is smarter than all her superiors! Short chapters, snappy dialogue, red herrings, and more--blurbed by Lehane and Patterson. I'd definitely read this author again.
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Jul 07, 2010
Richard
rated it:
Like watching a train wreck...too gritty, seamy, depraved. Mr. de Jonge has collaborated with James Patterson and is a well known author with many magazines, especially New York based, where this novel is set.
I cannot recommend it to anyone, but if you do read it, be warned there are several endings, but only the final one is good.
I cannot recommend it to anyone, but if you do read it, be warned there are several endings, but only the final one is good.
Jul 10, 2010
Andrea
rated it: 
Really 2.5 stars. Clearly, the author is not a woman and does not have any clue as to what motivates women - so many of the victim's actions made no sense whatsoever. Same goes for the detective and even the dean of NYU. And whatever happened to the victim's geeky boyfriend?? This could have been so much better, and I'm disappointed that it wasn't.
Jul 23, 2009
Renee
rated it:
This mystery/thriller was well written, with original characters. Detective O'Hara is brilliant, dedicated and horribly flawed, just the way I like her. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys the unexpected and unique endings.
Perfect Summer read. Be warned, not for the youngsters.
Perfect Summer read. Be warned, not for the youngsters.
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Apr 17, 2011
Skip
rated it:
NYC police detective Darlene O'Hara investigates the vicious slaying of an NYU student, Francesca Pena, who seems to be a popular girl from an underprivileged background, who has flourished; however, O'Hara's dogged determination uncovers a seedy story, inclduing the murderer.
Jul 04, 2011
Ellie
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Liked that it was only 275 pages long & I couldn't put it down. It is a murder mystery novel w/a woman cop as the main character. I do read longer books but can't resist murder mysteries no matter how short as long as it isn't preditictable...
Jan 07, 2010
Jeannie
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This book was just okay. I'm always looking for new authors but was disappointed in this book. Not exactly sure why I was disappointed but the writing wasn't up to par with some of the more well known writers like Kellerman, Grisham, Cornwell.
Jul 01, 2010
Beth
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I enjoyed this quick-read mystery. Yes, some of the writing is a little cheesy, but what good police procedural doesn't have some cringe-worthy material. This was good enough to make me want to finish in a day.
Jan 03, 2010
Annie
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Not bad, although the main character's struggle with alcohol seems extraneous and false--too stereotypical a character flaw for a strong female lead, with not much explanation for it.
Aug 18, 2011
Mark
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I'd already read this authors collaborations with James Patterson so when I found this book in my local library I thought I'd give it a go. A good read with a decent plot, but basically just your run of the mill average crime novel.
Feb 08, 2011
Barb
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3 1/2. hard-working, likable, and flawed female detective who had a son at a young age (naming him axl rose!, interesting involved plot, mysterious tattoo, good read.
Sep 10, 2009
Susan
rated it:
This author has co-written several novels with James Patterson--who is not one of my favorites, but an easy-to-read-in-one-day sort of fellow--and I like his work better when he works alone. The main character is certainly flawed but likable, and the different paths the thriller took actually surprised me, and I'm usually pretty good at figuring out how stories will play out!
Oct 16, 2009
Kate
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Decent detective crime novel - Not very captivating, but I liked the main character, how short and quick-to-read the chapters were and the twist at the end.
Jul 05, 2009
Christiane
rated it:
Fairly fluffy, somewhat intriguing. Definitely not the most exciting Detective fiction I've read, but the twist at the end was a nice touch.
Jul 05, 2009
Jack
rated it:
Nicely wrought police procedural, featuring some of the darker sides of Manhattan, with well-drawn characters.
Dec 08, 2010
Susan
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Whoa -- so did NOT see the end coming! Or the end after the end! If only there were a sequel....
Oct 23, 2009
TJ
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I tried to read this, but just too much. Too many bad cliche's and bad dialogue. So I gave up
Jun 27, 2011
Jennifer
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maybe 2.5, but not quite 3 stars. the story was okay. however, none of the characters were particularly likable, and the main character just wasn't a very good detective (and it didn't seem like it was written that way intentionally). took me three tries picking this up and starting it, finally got through it. i don't think i'd read anything else of this author's.
Jun 02, 2011
Stacey
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I liked this book, it was the first time in a while I wasn't ahead of the mystery. It completely surprised me!
Oct 20, 2009
Susan
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I read this in 2 settings....couldn't put it down-really satisfying mystery.
Dec 19, 2009
Emily
rated it:
WP end-of-2009 list
Fast-paced detective thriller/murder mystery set in NYC and involving an NYU student.
Fast-paced detective thriller/murder mystery set in NYC and involving an NYU student.
Oct 01, 2009
Mat
rated it:
Decent thriller (police procedural). Saw it blurbed in NYT. Nice twist at end. Would make a fine beach (aka light) book, diverting but not a masterpiece. (3.5 stars)
