The Remains

Jun 17, 2011 Lou rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller

A story of suspense, the past is being unearthed and revisited, in a tense knitted tale. There is an autistic artist who is an interesting and a important character in the story, he is trying to assist an unsettled victim by sending messages in an unconventional way. Writing pace is tense and flowing in a page-turning thriller one that you would want to read in one or two sittings.

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Mar 21, 2013 Emily Sch rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Remains by Vincent Zandri was a very exciting book and was not about physical remains like some may guess, but it was about the emotional remains of a fourty year old woman. When the woman, Becca, was eight years old her and her sister Molly went into the woods behind their house, where they weren't supposed to be. They ventured into the woods and got taken by a man who lived in the woods. He attempted to rape and kill them, if Molly wouldn't have gotten them out they both would have died. T...more The Remains by Vincent Zandri was a very exciting book and was not about physical remains like some may guess, but it was about the emotional remains of a fourty year old woman. When the woman, Becca, was eight years old her and her sister Molly went into the woods behind their house, where they weren't supposed to be. They ventured into the woods and got taken by a man who lived in the woods. He attempted to rape and kill them, if Molly wouldn't have gotten them out they both would have died. This man went to jail for killing multipul women, but Molly and Becca never reported the incident. Some years after their attack Molly died from cancer. Now it is thirty years after and the man is being released on parol. This book has a very suspenful but also sort of depressing tone and the theme is ment to keep you on your toes and reading. When the author explains Molly's death you can really feel the theme and tone coming through in his writing through Becca's emotions. Becca is now a art teacher at a local art studio and school. There is a middle aged autistic man that comes in everyday and paints. He is very talented and has been able to paint like a pro sense he was 2 years old. Latly he has been giving his paintings to Becca, she is able to see one of the five senses painted in the center of the paintings that no one else can recognize. After the third painting she realizes that the painting look like the feild in back of her house when she was young and that the third painting is of her and Molly drinking from a stream the day they were taken. She decided to take a trip to her old house, which she hasn't been to sense her parents died. Franny, the autistic painter, lived down the road road from Becca's family when they were growing up. When she got to her house she found that a window had been unlocked from the outside and that there was a picture of her and Molly when they were young, the same picture that their family had sitting above their fire place; but this one was smaller and folded like it had been in a pocket. At this time we see the theme change a little from what seems to be one of a murder novle to a mystery sort of ditective novle. This change took me by suprise because I was still expecting it to turn out as a murder novle. After Becca visited her home she went back to the art studio and starts to question Franny, "'How is it possible you know these things Franny?' Painted on the canvas, an oil portait of two blonde girls, down on their knees at the edge of a stream... The girl to the left-Molly-had her hand dipped in the rushing stream water as though about to take a drink. The girl to the right-me-was looking down at the hand, curious, but at the same time, afraid to drink. At least thats the way it happend in real life." The painting was of the day Molly and Becca were taken in the woods. How coujld Franny have known exactly what happend that day? "'I need to ask tou a few questions Fran.' He rolled his eyes showing recognition... 'Why did you paint Molly and me, Franny'... 'Molly and Rebecca, Molly and Rebecca go into the woods where they don't belong.' My stomach dropped. My pulse picked up inside mt chest and temples. 'What do you know about Molly and me and those woods?'...'Molly and Rebecca go into woods where they don't belong. Monster man in the woods. Monster man does bad things to Molly and Rebecca.'. The conversation between Becca and Franny goes on for a little while longer until Becca accidentally shouted at Franny and he started shaking franticlly; he does this when he gets scared. Becca doesn't find out much after this because Franny became unresponsive. After Becca found out that the man who toke her and her sister got out of prison she felt like she was being followed. She reported what happned at her house to the police and they didn't do anything about it.

I really liked this book, ,it was very engaging and exciting. The change in theme made the book even better than it would have been just left as a mystery novle. The writing style and the overall why it's writen seems like someone younger wrote it put the excitment of the story covers that well. Besides how it's writen the content is ver good, if you pick it apart it is very detailed. It has a lot of the little things added in which make you think a little more than reading a different book. This is what I liked most about it, I like a book that makes me think. Overall it was a a great book, and I gave it a four star rating because it kept me reading throughout the whole book.(less)

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Sep 11, 2012 Robert Beveridge rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: amazon-vine, finished, owned-and-still-own

Vincent Zandri, The Remains (StoneHouse Ink, 2010)

Full disclosure: this book was provided to me free of charge by Amazon Vine.

Vincent Zandri is one of those authors whose name has kept surfacing on my journeys through free press releases, internet message boards, and the like; he's one of those self/vanity/POD-published authors who knows a great deal about marketing, and is capable of treading that very, very fine line between “keeping your name in front of the reader” and “hopelessly oversatura...more Vincent Zandri, The Remains (StoneHouse Ink, 2010)

Full disclosure: this book was provided to me free of charge by Amazon Vine.

Vincent Zandri is one of those authors whose name has kept surfacing on my journeys through free press releases, internet message boards, and the like; he's one of those self/vanity/POD-published authors who knows a great deal about marketing, and is capable of treading that very, very fine line between “keeping your name in front of the reader” and “hopelessly oversaturating your market.” So when I saw that Thomas and Mercer, Amazon's mystery/suspense repub arm, had picked up a lot of Zandri's back catalogue, I wasn't terribly surprised. And when Vine offered up a copy of The Remains, I jumped on it. And I got pretty much what I expected; it's not the best thriller I've read this year (that would be difficult in any year when I pick up a Tom Piccirilli novel), but it's way, way far away from the worst, as well.

Plot: Thirty years ago, Rebecca and Molly Underhill were abducted by the monster who lives in the woods. Rebecca has long blocked the details of that day from her memory; all she knows is that, after a period of captivity, they were let go...and she cannot remember why. Fast-forward to the present. Molly is dead nine years, and Rebecca is an art teacher. She suddenly being receiving odd, slightly disturbing text messages that start kicking the stones in the wall in her head loose, and the nightmares return. Weirder still, one of her students, autistic Franny, a wunderkind who's being courted by a number of major New York galleries, starts giving her a series of paintings that seem to mirror the images in her dreams...

Zandri does a good job of coming up with memorable characters here and placing them in situations that are, for all the magical-realism of the tale, quite believable. The pacing feels a little uneven at the beginning of the book, but Zandri's character development is interesting enough that I was more than willing to cut him a little slack in the pacing department. There are a few leaps I was a little less willing to do that with, though (all of them deal with Rebecca's relationship with her ex-husband, Michael—who, until about halfway through the book, feels less like a character than a plot device). All well and good until we get to the resolution, which feels more than a little convoluted (and more than a lot like “let's gather everyone together in the room and explain how the detective solved the mystery,” despite there not actually being a detective).

Still, Piccirilli and his almost-otherworldly talent aside, this is in the mix with any of the other mystery/thrillers that have crossed my path via Vine this year, better than a few, not quite as good as others. A solid genre offering that will satisfy thriller readers. ***
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Jul 24, 2012 Heath Lowrance rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As young girls, Rebecca and her sister Molly lived through a nightmare abduction, held captive by a madman for three agonizing hours. They only barely escaped. For thirty years they kept this to themselves, a secret bond between sisters, until Molly died of cancer. Now, Rebecca carries the burden by herself.
But the nightmare isn’t over. When she begins getting threatening texts and messages, Rebecca learns that the madman who tormented her and her sister is free, and looking to clear up unfinish...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Vincent Zandri's "The Remains" is a thriller of the first water. As noted in the title, I finished it in a single night; I simply could not stop reading!

Zandri's protagonist is Rebecca Underhill, an art instructor. As a young teenager, she and her late sister, Molly, were abducted by one Joseph William Whalen ... who is released from prison at the beginning of the book. Contemporary with that event, Rebecca starts getting mysterious text messages that either say just her name or "Remember."

On to...more

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May 25, 2012 Victoria rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-thriller, serial-killer, twins

Since Sweet Valley, I have always loved books featuring twins. So when I read the description of this thriller, I immediately became interested. Unfortunately, the book fell a bit flat for me. The biggest mystery of the entire novel was how this divorced couple had remained so amicable over the years. The book was quite straightforward, with no surprises in the plot. And as for the big build-up, to the twins’ traumatic ordeal, well, the most shocking thing about the reveal was how un-horrifying...more

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Mar 14, 2012 Randy Cashner rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This novel was bundled with Sweet Dreams by Aaron Patterson. As BAD as Sweet Dreams was, The Remains made up for that novel. Zandri's novel captured my attention from the start and held my attention throughout the reading. The plot was well conceived, the characters, for the most part, were well developed and the author was able to convey the necessary sense of foreboding and tension. I was particularly enthralled with the character of Franny, an autistic savant. Franny , who had witnessed a cri...more

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Apr 29, 2011 Renée rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Although this book is written with eloquent and evocative prose and does draw one in with a steady and secure unravelling of a gray, ominous and brooding yarn, it wasn't enough for me. When the big reveal came, I expected a power punch. What I got was a finger tweak on the nose.

Really?

For 30 years, the main character, Rebecca, frets and dreads over this??? You have got to be kidding me! I've had and known others who have gone through far worse at a young age and got over it with a few years of...more

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Jan 29, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Remains by Vincent Zandri is an amazing suspense-filled nightmare that does not let the reader out of it's grasps until the final word is read.

Just the cover of The Remains sends chills throughout my body and makes my fingers itch to grab it and delve in. Once I did begin to read, I was instantly hooked and found it very difficult to put down. I have read several thrillers and suspense stories and have to honestly say that this is one of the best that I have read. I was taken by surprise re...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Alan Williams rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime

Joseph Whalen, a convicted sex offender, attacked twin sisters Rebecca & Molly Underhill when they were children. He's been in jail for the last 30 years but now he's been released on parole. A lot has changed in 30 years, Molly has passed away and Rebecca now runs an art centre.

When Rebecca starts receiving anonymous text messages and the artist in residence at the centre Franny, an autistic savant, begins painting her pictures reminiscent of when she was attacked by Whalen, things begin t...more

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Dec 15, 2010 Lori rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, horror-thrillers

There are very few books today that I can honestly open up and read in one sitting. The Remains is one of those books. This book will draw you in from the first page, grab ahold of you and won't let go until the last word.

The plot is a fantastic one, with a 30 year old crime coming back to haunt central character Rebecca in the form of nightmares, flashbacks and text messages. The build up is done expertly and with author Vincent Zandri's subtle hand, making for some suspenseful reading and a f...more There are very few books today that I can honestly open up and read in one sitting. The Remains is one of those books. This book will draw you in from the first page, grab ahold of you and won't let go until the last word.

The plot is a fantastic one, with a 30 year old crime coming back to haunt central character Rebecca in the form of nightmares, flashbacks and text messages. The build up is done expertly and with author Vincent Zandri's subtle hand, making for some suspenseful reading and a few unexpected twists. The Remains is also a horror story, slightly akin to Stephen King as Mr. Zandri expertly weaves together psychological terror but Mr. Zandri also has a restrained and even crafty touch. His terror doesn't show itself freely in the mirror or window but rather whispers ominously in your ear.

I was fulfilled by Mr. Zandri's writing style, which was direct and to the point, without being brutal, and descriptive enough without being considered flowery prose. Story points were intertwined without being farfetched and I liked the relatively liberal use of flashbacks throughout the story, enlightening the reader bit by bit on what Rebecca was facing. As she remembered or learned what she was up against, so did we.

Rebecca herself was a brilliant heroine, a smart and savvy professional who is over forty, who is not stunningly beautiful and yet doesn't know it and she doesn't put herself in harm's way out of ignorance or flat out stupidity. In other words, she's a woman that is easy to relate to and effortless to support. I felt her uneasiness in the book and felt that uneasiness turn into fear. I was sad with her, afraid with her and relieved with her.

Even the cover of the book ties together nicely, being stunning and appropriately creepy.

The only downsides to The Remains (and there were only two brief ones) were that Rebecca's friend Robyn seemed to have an interesting potential sideline story that was either not fully developed or somewhat dropped - - which may have been just my viewpoint and opinion - - and the handful of misspellings and typos that I noticed in the book. I am a stickler for accuracy and misspellings and typos drive me absolutely crazy. Fortunately, The Remains is such a solid, well-told story that I was able to overlook the mistakes and enjoy the thrilling ride.

This was the first book I have read by author Vincent Zandri but based on this book, it won't be the last. He is most certainly an author to watch.

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Sep 24, 2010 Christy Gibbon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely a story that I did not want to put down. Not knowing the story of what happened to Molly and Rebecca until almost the end of the book kept me wondering what had really happened to them. And of course I imagined the worst, as the author wanted me to. I still wanted to hear about it and wasn't disappointed even though it was not what I expected. I was really drawn into this story and the characters. I cried with them and screamed with them. The only do...more

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Jun 04, 2012 Tina Hayes rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: vine

"The Remains" by Vincent Zandri is a thriller about a woman haunted by a man who tormented her and her now deceased twin sister when they were 12 years old, a crime they never reported or spoke of, until now. After he spends 30 years in prison, he's as free as a bird, and he knows where Rebecca lives.

The prolog definitely captured my interest, but the first part of the book moved a bit too slowly for a thriller. The cast of characters was excellent, and I felt connected to them as I read. Parti...more

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Dec 15, 2010 Molly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to Molly by: puyb

Shelves: book-review

Vincent Zandri has got to be one of the greatest authors when it comes to writing mainstream AWESOME, riveting suspense. I had the pleasure of reviewing his suspense novel, Moonlight Falls, and really enjoyed his work with that one. Now, Zandri is back and better than ever with this new novel, The Remains. It's captivating, page turning, and roller coaster emotional!

The Remains has a well thought out and researched plot with gripping characters. Rebecca's character was FANTASTIC. Of course, you...more Vincent Zandri has got to be one of the greatest authors when it comes to writing mainstream AWESOME, riveting suspense. I had the pleasure of reviewing his suspense novel, Moonlight Falls, and really enjoyed his work with that one. Now, Zandri is back and better than ever with this new novel, The Remains. It's captivating, page turning, and roller coaster emotional!

The Remains has a well thought out and researched plot with gripping characters. Rebecca's character was FANTASTIC. Of course, you can't go wrong with a character named Molly either ;-)! Rebecca's personality, her struggles with being abducted 30 years ago, her fear, all her thoughts....I felt as though it was so real that I was becoming the character in the book. The story gripped me THAT much. And dear Franny...bless his heart. He added depth to character as an artistic autistic savant who can tap into the spirits to help warn Rebecca of circumstances. VERY interesting!

But, above all the characters, the thing that hooked me most, was the thrill of reading a suspense novel that good. It felt like I was watching a movie every time I opened the book. I would gasp when the characters gasped, I would fear when they feared, all of those things that come with a fabulous suspense novel or movie. I literally lost some sleep over this novel. I just HAD to push through to the next page. My heart sped up at each new twist at the end of the chapters. At every turn in the plot I found my self further on the edge of my seat with a white knuckled grip. Wowsers! That kind of blood pumping, thrilling suspense is THE best!

Vincent Zandri's books are wonderful for all readers, from young adult to older adult. It's got all the thrills of Hitchcock and Christie with some mysteriousness of King mixed in, but best of all, while it's blood pumping, hold your breath captivating, it's a clean cut novel. There aren't any sex scenes or language. That's why I will continue to go back and read Zandri's novels. He writes 5 star worthy books that can be read by ANYONE! Less than 5 stars for this novel would be unjust. I am highly recommend this novel to EVERYONE-mystery lovers, Stephen King lovers, Hitchcock or Christie lovers and just plain book lovers! It's one that is NOT to be missed! (less)

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Aug 10, 2010 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I can sum up my thoughts on this book in three very simple words. Masterful. Suspenseful. Amazing.

Before I found this book on Pump Up Your Book Promotions, I had never heard of Vincent Zandri or his other popular books. Can I please say that I am so glad that this has been remedied? From the moment I turned on my Nook and read the first page of The Remains, I was hooked. Completely and utterly committed to finishing this entire book in one sitting no matter what else was going on around me. So,...more I can sum up my thoughts on this book in three very simple words. Masterful. Suspenseful. Amazing.

Before I found this book on Pump Up Your Book Promotions, I had never heard of Vincent Zandri or his other popular books. Can I please say that I am so glad that this has been remedied? From the moment I turned on my Nook and read the first page of The Remains, I was hooked. Completely and utterly committed to finishing this entire book in one sitting no matter what else was going on around me. So, that's exactly what I did!

The Remains is the epitome of the mystery/suspense genre. The story flows beautifully, stringing the reader along with a mixture of past memories and current events combined. I know that in my mind sometimes this can be distracting, but Zandri accomplishes it with such ease. I was never confused, yet always attempting to anticipate what would happen next. Also, Rebecca Underhill is such a well written protagonist that I had an instant connection with her. Her love for her sister Molly, her confusing relationship with her ex-husband, her utter love for art, all of this created a character that I absolutely loved.

When the story started to pick up pace, and Rebecca found herself in danger, I felt myself flinch more than once at the predicaments she was put into. Zandri is an expert at writing scenes that literally buzz with the suspense contained within them. A few times, I will admit, I audibly gasped at what happened on the page in front of me. This in turn caused me to flip as quickly as I could to the next page. What I'm trying to explain here, likely in too many words, is that "page-turner" doesn't even begin to do this book any justice.

Lest I ramble on, I'll simply end with saying that this book is one of my new favorites. I know that I will be buying a bound copy of this book as well so that I can share it around my bibliophile group of friends. If you are a reader of mysteries, a lover of suspense, this is definitely a book for you! Go ahead, give it a read.(less)

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Jan 14, 2011 Susan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mycollection, first-reads, 2011read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 16, 2011 Dawn Rhoads rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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Nov 27, 2010 Dorothy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Before I read The Remains I had never heard of Vincent Zandri . But after reading this book I am a huge fan.
I just loved everything about the book the artwork on the cover fits perfectly with the story line.
The plot is intense creepy scary and believable, yes believable I love creepy and scary story lines but most the time they are not believable. I think that is what really makes this book good. Kind of a thriller horror story.
The characters are strong and realistic and the plot is good.
I was...more

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Dec 07, 2010 Theresa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who enjoys Stephen King or just a good thriller!

Shelves: favorites, fiction, horror, review-copy, suspense, thriller

Vincent Zandri is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I had read "Moonlight Falls" (see my review here) and loved it. My expectations were high for this book, but Mr. Zandri left me breathless when he surpassed all my expectations with "The Remains"!

"The Remains" is a suspenseful and downright chilling tale that absolutely captivated me from the beginning. When I picked the book up, my intention was only to read a chapter or two, and go to sleep. Half way through the book, I discovered...more

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Sep 13, 2012 Kirsty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime, free-amazon-vine-books, thriller

A fast and intense thriller that spans thirty years. Twins Molly and Rebecca were abducted when they were children, now three decades later their tormenter is being released from prison...

I thought this was a well planned, and very atmospheric suspense novel. It had me hooked from the prologue all the way to the last page, with plenty of apprehension and anxiety in between!

Whalen was a very unnerving character. The way he stalks and taunts Rebbeca throughout the book created a slow burning tensi...more

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Jul 28, 2010 Giovanni Gelati rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don’t have an ereader so I had to borrow one from a friend of one of my daughters to read this. I had never held one before, let alone used one before this. I liked it. That’s for another post though. The main focus of the post is to impart my enjoyment of Vincent Zandri’s The Remains. If you follow Mr. Zandri at all you know he is not an overnight sensation as some have painted him with the success of this novel. He has The Remains at the top of the Kindle charts and I am sure it is going to...more I don’t have an ereader so I had to borrow one from a friend of one of my daughters to read this. I had never held one before, let alone used one before this. I liked it. That’s for another post though. The main focus of the post is to impart my enjoyment of Vincent Zandri’s The Remains. If you follow Mr. Zandri at all you know he is not an overnight sensation as some have painted him with the success of this novel. He has The Remains at the top of the Kindle charts and I am sure it is going to enjoy a nice long stay there.
We, my wife and I, have a set of identical twin girls, so this really grabbed my interest. The question in my mind was Zandri going to be able to crawl into the minds of these girls and be in touch with their “twinness”. I have witnessed this phenomenon many times throughout the lives of my girls and it is a difficult thing to quantify let alone describe. Unless you are a twin how can someone describe that connection, those feelings, the looks they give each other, the silent communication? The Remains delivered on all counts and I was very pleased to have spent the time to have read this. The novel is hard to pigeon hole as to what one may call it, so I am going simply with kick%^&, and leave it at that. Making this bad boy a fright flick would be easy, fun and good.
Do I think the novel is injured by coming out in e-version first before paper? No, not at all. My guess is that the publisher saw what they had and didn’t want to sit on it any longer than they needed to. This novel contains great characters and depth, a brilliant storyline, and a hook that is original and gripping. Don’t wait for paper to read this novel. Go outside yourself if you have to and read it on the computer, your cellphone or borrow an ereader like I did. This is a taunt read that has no comfort zone. This novel currently resides in the Amazon “Hot New Release” Top Ten and has a Hollywood scout shopping it around. Keep your fingers crossed.
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Dec 15, 2010 Jael rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After decades in prison a creepy man, Joseph William Whelan, is coming out of prison. You don't know what he did, but in reading the opening of The Remains by Vincent Zandri you know it was something bad. Need to wash your hands bad. He's a creepy man who speaks in rhyme. He has plans for revenge. His revenge is part of the mystery surrounding the book. What he's done and to whom are slowly revealed. The slow reveals leave you wanting for more.

Rebecca Underhill is a "semi-divorced" artist living...more After decades in prison a creepy man, Joseph William Whelan, is coming out of prison. You don't know what he did, but in reading the opening of The Remains by Vincent Zandri you know it was something bad. Need to wash your hands bad. He's a creepy man who speaks in rhyme. He has plans for revenge. His revenge is part of the mystery surrounding the book. What he's done and to whom are slowly revealed. The slow reveals leave you wanting for more.

Rebecca Underhill is a "semi-divorced" artist living in Albany. Her ex-husband Michael, a struggling writer, is still in the picture. She is forever haunted by the death of her identical twin sister Molly, who died from cancer more than eight years ago. Thirty years ago something happened to Molly and Rebecca, something sinister at the hands of Whelan. They wandered into the woods behind their home, despite the being told not to by their father. He knows danger lurks in the woods, but kids being kids they don't listen. They come upon a creepy, dilapidated house. I kept waiting for the big reveal, but Zandri just teases you throughout the novel. Little nuggets are dropped in each chapter.

Whatever happened it was terrible enough to scare Molly and Rebecca into submission. They never told anyone, it's a secret between sisters, fearing Whelan could come back for them.

The fear effects everything Rebecca does, including her work life. She becomes convinced an artistic artist named Franny is sending her messages through his paintings. Are they warnings from Franny? Is Franny trying to frighten Rebecca? Is Franny Whelan's messenger? Or are they messeages from Molly from beyond the grave? Cryptic notes and cellphone texts do nothing to ease Rebecca's fear. What would Molly do? Molly was always the strong one, she would know what to do.

"I find myself just staring at my sister who is me in every way, but so different at the same time."

Zandri's writing style draws you in. He creates a fine balance between Rebecca's past and future. What really happened isn't revealed until the end, and you will be left guessing what happened throughout. Towards the end I found myself speed reading the end because of the mounting suspense. It's definitely a book to read with the lights on!

Rating: Superb

Notes: I received a copy of the book from Pump up Your Book (http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/) as part of a blog tour. For more information on author Vincent Zandri visit: http://www.vincentzandri.com/(less)

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Sep 07, 2010 Lydia Presley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, fiction, thriller, suspense

I knew just looking at the cover of this book that it would be creepy so would someone please explain to me why I would decide to pick it up after the sun had gone down?

I raced through this book. Once I'd started there was no going back (and thankfully it's short enough to handle in one setting).

While the plot was a bit predictable and there were some editing bloops the main story had enough "thriller" in it to keep me interested and biting at my nails (although not in the same way Michael bite...more

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Sep 22, 2012 Dorel Anderson rated it 1 of 5 stars

This is the first book I read by Vincent Zandri. This book started off good but than it got very dry, slow & boring. So honestly I stopped at chapter 4. I am happy it was free because I dont think its worth buying.

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Apr 11, 2013 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Nov 21, 2010 Brenda Casto rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Remains by Vincent Zandri is one of those books that starts out great and just keeps getting better,this was my first chance to read anything he has written, and I am now his newest fan!

Rebecca Underhill and her twin sister Molly were only twelve years old when they were abducted and held hostage by a man whose house sat in the woods behind their house. After three horrendous hours they were able to escape. They decided to keep it a secret, because they wanted to protect their parents. Short...more The Remains by Vincent Zandri is one of those books that starts out great and just keeps getting better,this was my first chance to read anything he has written, and I am now his newest fan!

Rebecca Underhill and her twin sister Molly were only twelve years old when they were abducted and held hostage by a man whose house sat in the woods behind their house. After three horrendous hours they were able to escape. They decided to keep it a secret, because they wanted to protect their parents. Shortly after their abduction the attacker was apprehended for the abduction and attempted rape of another woman. Sentenced to thirty years in prison the girls just assumed he would die there.

Fast forward thirty years, Molly died ten years earlier from cancer, and her parents died shortly thereafter, leaving Rebecca to carry the burden of her secret alone. Within a week of the thirtieth anniversary of the abduction Rebecca starts receiving strange text messages, and having dreams, flashbacks really of what happened all those years ago, and when an autistic artist tries to warn Rebecca by sending messages in the only way he knows how, will Rebecca continue to think that it is Molly trying to communicate with her, or will she finally realize that the man whom she thought had died is back!!!
The author's writing skills has the story literally flowing off of the pages, drawing you into the life of the main characters so well that became totally immersed in whats was going on, I could actually feel the bond that Mr. Zandri brings to life between the sisters. I really enjoyed how he didn't give us the account of what actually happened to the sisters until late in the book, allowing the reader to jump to all sorts of conclusions.

If your looking for a superbly written, fast paced psychological thriller,with a storyline that will keep you on the edge of your seat then you should buy this book. A word of warning, it's a book you won't be able to put down,and a story you will continue to think about long after you read the last page!

Even though I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes it in no way alters my opinion of this book!

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Sep 13, 2010 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle-books

Teenagers Rebecca and Molly Underhill are abducted by a man in the woods near their home. After several hours of torture, the girls manage to escape. They never speak of it to anyone except each other.
Thirty years later and the memories return, along with anonymous texts and haunting paintings. Is that monster back or is Rebecca losing her mind?
This is an excellent fast paced thriller. I could not put it down.
I continued to think about the characters and the story even after I had finished t...more

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Jan 17, 2011 Elizabeth A. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

For a quick moment I thought about looking into the rear view. But I resisted the urge. Better not to see what was behind me; what might have been stalking me. - Rebecca Underhill

Painter and art instructor Rebecca Underhill is not sure who or what is stalking her, but for six months she's been receiving odd and disconcerting text messages. Initially they simply said her name, but most recently have consisted of a single word: Remember. She may have been able to dismiss the messages as just a pra...more For a quick moment I thought about looking into the rear view. But I resisted the urge. Better not to see what was behind me; what might have been stalking me. - Rebecca Underhill

Painter and art instructor Rebecca Underhill is not sure who or what is stalking her, but for six months she's been receiving odd and disconcerting text messages. Initially they simply said her name, but most recently have consisted of a single word: Remember. She may have been able to dismiss the messages as just a prank, except that she has been remembering. She's been having nightmares about a horrific event that she and her twin sister, Molly, experienced thirty years prior.

The two sisters were abducted for a harrowing afternoon by a man who lived in a remote cabin in the woods surrounding their family's farm. The girls escaped and, having been playing somewhere they weren't supposed to be, made a pact not to tell their parents about what had happened. Any doubt they had about their decision was removed when the man was arrested for another crime shortly after their ordeal and sentenced to thirty years in prison. Thirty years seemed like an eternity to the young girls; surely the monster would die in prison and they'd be safe. And they were, for awhile. But ten years ago Molly passed away from cancer and the girls' parents died not too long after. Now Rebecca is alone with her nightmares. Or is she?

As with his previous release, the wonderful Moonlight Falls, author Vincent Zandri demonstrates that he's most comfortable blazing his own trail and writing in areas that aren't easily categorized. One would be hard pressed exactly how to describe The Remains. It's part mystery, part thriller, part suspense, and even has a little touch of the supernatural. What there's no mistake that it is, however, is gripping. The cast of characters is tight, with Rebecca and one of her fellow artists, autistic savant and childhood friend Franny, taking center stage. Zandri very skillfully interweaves the current events vexing Rebecca with the past events haunting her, slowly building tension and revealing the depths of her nightmares and torment bit by tantalizing bit as the book unfolds.(less)

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May 23, 2011 Benjamin Sobieck rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: hard-boiled crime, thriller or paranormal fans

I don't throw around the word "Hitchcockian" a lot, because I think it's overused and cliche. But if any book I've read deserves it, it's this one. The atmosphere Zandri creates from the get-go is pitch perfect. The characters are believable and the mystery is gripping to say the least.

What struck me the most was the originality of the plot. An autistic savant starts painting pictures of a crime committed 30 years. It turns out his art teacher was the victim. What's going on here? I'm not reveal...more

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Jun 08, 2011 Tiffany Cole rated it 4 of 5 stars

*If you'd like to win the book in a 'Comment Giveaway Contest,' all you have to do is visit http://fuisti.blogspot.com/2011/06/re... by June 15th!*

When Rebecca Underhill was thirteen and her twin sister Molly was still alive, they ventured into a forest their parents warned them against and explored a creepy, old house they thought could become their 'home away from home.' Turns out it was already claimed...and not by a particularly sane man either. Thirty years later, Rebecca is a painter and...more *If you'd like to win the book in a 'Comment Giveaway Contest,' all you have to do is visit http://fuisti.blogspot.com/2011/06/re... by June 15th!*

When Rebecca Underhill was thirteen and her twin sister Molly was still alive, they ventured into a forest their parents warned them against and explored a creepy, old house they thought could become their 'home away from home.' Turns out it was already claimed...and not by a particularly sane man either. Thirty years later, Rebecca is a painter and art instructor living a pretty lonely life with her ex-husband. No one knows about the terrible things that happened those three hours. She still wrestles with the memories, though - even moreso this year.

There's the mystery text messages and phone calls, for one. But nothing alarms her more than Franny's specialized paintings just for her.

Franny's art is top-of-the notch beautiful and phenomenal. It's expected, what with his title of gifted, autistic art savant. His coming to Rebecca's art center is more a matter of comfort than anything else, since he certainly doesn't need artistic assistance. For the first time, Franny paints a picture specifically for Rebecca, and it's more than a gift. There's a word in there - Listen - that only she and Franny can see. Not her ex-husband. Not her best friend. Just Rebecca and Franny.

As the days go on, there's more paintings, more mystery texts and phone calls, more questionable moments where Rebecca feels as though she's being watched and followed.

Maybe what happened all those years ago isn't as over as she thought.

I remember my first impression of the prologue and the first chapter. I felt a sense of confusion, dread, and excitement for what was ahead. Vincent Zandri's writing is eloquent, easy-flowing, confident and mature. His sentences are as carefully chosen as his words, and I love how realistic his characters are. The story's foundation is steadied by pacing and build-up - the type that makes you ask questions from the get-go.

I wanted to know exactly how a man getting out of jail, a letter to a long gone sister, and a woman who runs an art center connected. Zandri did me the favor of quickly making that clear, yet maintaining mystery in various parts throughout. A lot of the story is step-by-step build up, so don't expect constant action. However, be prepared for a fun, scary ride when it all comes together.
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