Sleeping Beauty

by Phillip Margolin

Seventeen-year-old Ashley Spencer learned what true horror was the night a serial killer invaded her home and brutally murdered her father and her best friend. But the terror did not end there ...

A year after the unspeakable events, Ashley is still trying to piece together what is left of her life. But the nightmare is reawakened at the elite private school that had appeared to be a safe haven for Ashley and her mother, Terri, when a new book called Sleeping Beauty hits the national bestseller lists --- a shattering true account of the crimes that ripped Ashley's world apart. And now Ashley must run for her life again.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 23, 2004

Reviews

[manNie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Phillip Margolin book i have ever read, chosen quite randomly from the bookstore shelf. I must say that I was truly impressed by his writing style in this particular book. He jumped back-and-forth from the present to the past without creating any confusion on my part as the reader. You could create a number of endings as you proceed with the book, and I must say that I was pretty pleased with how the story progressed and presented itself. I was easily absorbed in the story line and finished the book in record time. An absolute must-read for me that I told my husband to read it as soon as he finished his last book. I am sure to be on the look out for more of Mr. Margolin's book on my next trip to the bookstore.

[Lara · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the plot of Sleeping Beauty was intriguing the writing was flat. I could get lost in the plot but when I stepped back and really looked at the prose, it was just so...simple, I guess. The sentences were short and basic. The character development was bland and narrated instead of demonstrated. Again, the plot was interesting and moved it along. A true crime novel about a solved murder sparks a new investigation and more horrors against the heroine who survived the murders the first time. I am someone who always reads the ends of books first, I found this fun because the reader knows the ending. And now we have to figure out the journey.

[Dolceluna ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ashley, diciassette anni.
Una notte un killer penetra in casa sua e le uccide il padre e un'amica ospite. Lei invece riesce miracolosamente a fuggire. La madre verrà uccisa in seguito, durante un colloquio con la preside della scuola di Ashley, che l'aveva convocata per fornirle delle informazioni sul presunto assassino e che, colpita a sua volta dall'aggressore, resta in coma.
L'assassino è noto, o almeno così si pensa. Ma riesce a fuggire, lasciando Ashley traumatizzata e ansiosa tanto da decidere di lasciare gli Stati Uniti e di rifarsi una nuova vita in Europa, lontano da tutto e da tutti. Ma poi l'incubo riprenderà forma, e Ashley sarà costretta a ritornare nel paese natale, e a scoprire, attraverso un copo di scena dopo l'altro, cosa è effettivamente accaduto e perchè è accaduto.
Senza infamia e senza lode, questo mio primo incontro con Phillip Margolin mi ha ricordato un po' i romanzi di Koontz, con trame che ruotano attorno a una giovane figura femminile sola, disperata a traumatizzata, in balìa di un pazzo che, per motivi non ben chiari, ce l'ha con lei. La "Bella addormentata" del titolo, tuttavia, non è Ashley bensì la preside in coma, personaggio centrale per la vicenda.
Qualche momento di tensione c'è, alternato a momenti di stasi e a passaggi di dialoghi svolti fra le aule di tribunale, ma anche a passaggi riguardanti la storia d'amore tra Ashley e il suo legale.
Interessante la "cornice" del romanzo, poichè la storia della protagonista viene a sua volta raccontata da un altro personaggio che ne trae un crime-novel intitolato proprio "La Bella addormentata", e il libro di Margolin si apre proprio con la presentazione di tale libro, da parte dell'autore, in una libreria. Una sorta di libro nel libro, che riesca ad incuriosare il lettore.
In definitiva non è un cattivo thriller, ma non lo definirei memorabile.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an average mystery novel. The plot was interesting and certainly kept me turning pages, but it was overall predictable... I liked the characters and found them to be sympathetic as well. The real downside of this novel was the writing style. It has been probably 8 years since I last read a Margolin novel, and I did not remember the style being so simplistic, with errors in verb tense. While the short sentences did set the book at a faster pace, sometimes it completely pulled me out of the story to marvel at how a book at such a low-reading level was targeted for adults.
This was definitely for a mature audience, as there were some downright creepy scenes. The dialogue was fairly believable and there were a few lines that made me laugh out loud. I liked Joshua's character and his occupation as a writer added a fun twist to the book.
Basically, this is a quick, vacation-read type of mystery. Margolin may not be my favorite mystery writer, but he is a consistent choice for a fun way to pass the time.

[Hlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was told about this book from a perfect stranger I happened to converse with at a discount bookstore. We got to talking about new books and she suggested I give this writer a try, specified this title in particular. And with that, onto my compelling review:


Wow. Chills. That's what I got at the end of this one. Without giving anything away, the author truly gives the reader a sense of utter amazement and shock. Rarely do I read novels that put me into that category, and Margolin did that for me. I had a suspicion on the accusations but I never would have predicted the outcome. The author does such great work at making you feel for Ashley, Norman, and the others. And the emotions that you experience with everyone involved is just awesome. I love when an author can achieve that. The little subtleties throughout the book really put it all together. You think back and realize "OMG, yes!" How the reactions and expressions of the characters really bring the story into another dimension for the reader. I am a true Margolin fan now!! I can't wait to experience more.

[Debbie Oxier · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good legal thriller. Ashley was a witness to the murder of her father and best friend. After the killer performed his evil deed he went downstairs, ate a piece of cake, drank a glass of milk, then came back upstairs to deal with Ashley. But her mortally wounded father had crawled into Ashley's room, cut her loose, and told her to run. She escaped to a neighbor's but the killer remained at large.

The story moves back and forth between past and present. A man has written a book about Ashley's experience and in doing so opens a can of worms. Things come to light that no one knew before and several twists and turns keep you turning the pages. I had my suspicions about how things would end up but didn't know for sure until I reached the conclusion. Very good read.

[Lily Rodríguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro me lo prestó mi roomie y gracias al encierro pude aventarmelo en cuestión de días y no sufrir tanto con la incertidumbre de que pasaría en el siguiente capítulo.
Me mantuvo con esa sensación de querer seguir leyendo hasta terminarlo. Un capitulo más, bueno otro, bueno solo un párrafo y así sucesivamente.
Me gusta la manera en la que esta narrado, me gustaron mucho los personajes y más historias alrededor de ellos.
¿Lo recomiendo? Sí, definitivamente.
¿Me gustó la historia? Sí.
¿Me sorprendió? Bastante y en diversos momentos a lo largo de la trama.
¿Ya se lo regresé a mi roomie? Claro que sí, jaja.

[Aliciaa15_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

El inicio muy potente pero luego se hace muy largo y se intuía que habría un plot twist. El primero, esperable, pero el segundo si que me quedé loquita. Recomendado aunque no engancha tanto como otros, al ser bastante lento en ciertas partes

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serial killer breaks into a family home in the middle of the night. He kills the father by repeatedly stabbing him, assaults, rapes and kills a girl spending the night with their teen aged daughter who manages to escape from him. This is how the novel opens. The girl who escapes transfers to an elite school after her father's death. There, while running one evening, she hears screams and when investigating, sees her Mother's body and that of the school's Dean in the Boathouse. She also sees a teacher from the school in the Boathouse holding a bloody knife. She runs for help and manages to escape once again. Ultimately the teacher is captured, but he escapes from custody while in Court. Years go by and the plot gets even more convoluted with the passage of time. Relationships are uncovered and discovered. No one is quite what they seem to be. The narrative is riveting enough to keep you reading long after you should have stopped. It is an excellent way to spend a long weekend.

[Sharon Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was OK with various twists and turns. But after a while the plot became contrived and convoluted with an ending that was meant to take a surprising turn, but just didn't seem credible.

[Carole Hardinge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margolin’s books are very plot driven and this one was especially so. It centered around a true crime that had been the focus of a book which the author was currently promoting on a book tour. Margolin cleverly flashes back to when the crime was originally committed, then back to the book tour, then back again to significant events that lead to the apprehension of the murderer, always returning to the present. True to form there were several plot twists and hints dropped along the way. I enjoyed this book, also because it is the first stand alone I have read by this author. I recommend this book for someone who wanted to try this author.

[Ashley Vidaurre]

One of the reasons i picked this book is simply because it is a murder mystery which I find relatively interesting and enjoyable to read. I do enjoy the author it didn't have any major awards. I like the types of books he writes and sells. I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys murder mysteries because this book is a good example of one. This book did not receive I am writing this report for Ms.Orona my English four teacher. The title of my book is Sleeping Beauty and the author's name is Phillip Margolin. This book has 329 pages the publisher of this book is Harper The main character in the book “Sleeping Beauty” is a young girl who has bleach blond hair and crystal blue eyes. Her name is Ashley. The reason she is so important in this book is for the fact that all the main part of this story is taken place in her own home. Her best friend was murdered in just the very next room from her in her house. Ashley even though is only a child has to act and think quickly knowing there is a killer in her house and, not knowing if she was going to be there next target or not.

Besides Ashley there is also her best friend who she has known forever and also shared the same compassion for soccer. There's not a thing they would do without one another. She watched all those fun memories wash away as she heard her best friend screaming for help as she was murdered in the very next room.There is also Ashleys dad who was her protector and number one fan on everything she does. She also saw him sacrifice his own life just to try and protect her from getting killed as well.

This book is a mystery book which took place in her own home. The time period this book was written in was now in the present days. The main important place that the event took place in was her house. There were some pretty violent and scary settings in this book there was a brutal murder of Ashley's best friend. Also the killing of Ashley's dad that the killer did without an sympathy. Ashley is trying to find and figure out with this person has done this to her friends and family. The outcome of all this craziness is that there is only one person to blame and that who killed her dad and best friend.
My final thoughts of this book is that I did enjoy this book about a murder mystery which I understood pretty well. I enjoyed how it was an ongoing mystery that you had to figure out. The good points about this book is that it shows the character trying to figure things out and keeping herself together instead of going crazy and possibly getting killed because she can't think. The week points are how she doesn't tell people right away about what happened. What i learned from this book is to be aware anything can happen to you. I would recommend others to read this book for sure if they enjoy mysteries and a thrilling rush while reading.

[Mary Jane Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A convoluted murder mystery. After a teenager's father is murdered and her best friend raped and murdered, the teen manages to escape. As she is a talented soccer player, a private academy offers her a scholarship which outs her right in the thick of further danger.

[Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, why are all the characters of color described as heavyset, chubby, big boned, and large? Second, Jesus, fucking Christ, the scene in the nursing home. Third, who cares about the author, whoever edited this book needs to lose their job.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review to come.

Quick thoughts:

This sounded fantastic- but sadly, it was just ok. Maybe even 2.5 stars.

Better books by him? The Robin Lockwood series.

[Stefani Zoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thriller very fast paced with twists and turns along the way!

[Audra Grenz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, it was fine

[Jerry B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tenth thriller's plot almost too twisty to believe...

We have read and generally enjoyed all nine of Margolin's previous outings, and find that this lawyer turned writer can craft a suspenseful story line along with the best of them. The books that have left us a little cold were ones where the author overpopulates with so many events and characters, doing justice to few of them, that hardly a reader can keep it all straight. Fortunately, in "Beauty", we have a cast of just a few main players to consider:
Ashley Spencer, a teenager who witnesses the brutal murder of her girlfriend and her father, and just narrowly escapes herself;

Joshua Maxfield, the alleged murderer who for much of the book is either a fugitive from the crime or in prison for it;

Miles Van Meter, best-selling author of a true-life account of the Spencer murders and the impact on his comatose sister;

Casey Van Meter, yet another victim who after Terri Spencer (Ashley's mother, who was away during the first attack) is killed in her sight, is struck on the head and spends years in a coma (ergo, the sleeping beauty!);

Randy Coleman, Casey's soon to be ex-husband from a mistaken quickie marriage;

and Jerry Philips, Ashley's attorney, who for a while takes almost too much personal interest in this whole matter.

Which one of these is really the killer? We're lead down many a path before all becomes clearer toward the end. Even with the big twist that gets to be a little foreseeable, a further twist right at the very end is good for a pretty shocking climax. Interesting courtroom drama helps break up the more violent action of much of the novel.

Most will find Margolin's latest a pleasing puzzler. We were not totally enamored by the telling of the story through flashbacks alternating with current time scenes where Miles is entertaining a crowd at a book signing. But the plot proceeds at a good pace, the characters are portrayed well enough, and the ending will catch many off guard. Guess that's what a thriller is all about!

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great murder mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.

[Garth Slater · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to end this review on a positive note since there are many. To me, this is both a 2 star and a 4.5 star book. First the 2 star.
While grilling the survivor of an attempted rape and murder where she witnessed her best friend being murdered, the detectives needed to know what the perpetrator had touched in the kitchen in order to get DNA. Why not get a sample from the victim. Another reference right at the end of the book was similar. I personally am offended by the detailed sexual references. Too graphic for my taste. I needed an excel spreadsheet to keep track of all the characters.
I found the chapters about the courtroom section anticlimactic.
On the 5 star side, amazingly creative story line. I found it intriguing how the reader kept getting moved from present and past through the writing of the character. That was masterful. The book within a book concept was highly creative and artfully orchestrated. I really enjoyed the main characters and the fact they weren't overly developed. I am able to create my own concept of what they look like.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

From a blog post I wrote in 2005:

I got hooked on Phillip Margolin when I read Gone, But Not Forgotten. Spoiler alert - the bad guy actually got away which made me crazy and nervous. I don't do well with serial killer books where the villian isn't dead or locked up at the end of the story. It just creeps me out but that's a problem with my imagination that tends to run wild.


Margolin's latest bad guy is a serial rapist/murderer who attacks a young high school girl and kills her father. Her mother is then apparently killed by the same man and the girl goes on the run since the police are doing a crappy job of protecting her.

There are several plot twists, a few that I did not see, but I pegged the killer from the beginning. Margolin's story telling is always entertaining and he does a good job of portraying the evil that men (and woman) do. If you like James Patterson, you'll enjoy Phillip Margolin.

[Lynne Curry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how the author established character and setting details and had great plot twists. I'd like to have given it 5 stars but couldn't. Twice, he created contrived plot turns, where a likable protagonist didn't go to the police and agreed to meet someone in a secluded area without thinking to at least alert the police and thus got herself killed. It moved the plot along but lost me as a a reader.
I'm a budding novelist and reading this book sent me back to my own work in progress to cut out a character I loved but who didn't have enough meaning, that i was crafting a plot to keep her in it. I'd like my own novel ratings -- when I get there -- to match my nonfiction book ratings. So if you're also a writer, this is a great book to remind you what to do and don't do.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I made it to page 200 before quitting this book, after almost quitting a time or two earlier on. It wasn't horrible - I pushed through it because the plot was good, I liked the settings, and there were a handful of creepy/suspenseful moments that I enjoyed. The writing style, however, really annoyed me from the beginning. Many of the words, thoughts, and actions of the characters felt unrealistic to me... definitely not behavior you would expect after losing loved ones to the hands of a serial killer! I'm unsure whether I'll try anything by this author again; he seems to have a lot of fans who give his books pretty high ratings, so perhaps I'll give him one more chance.

[Mary JL · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most of Phillip Margolin's book, this is a quck, easy suspense page-turner. A competent job and the writing is acceptable.

Admittedly in the first few chapters, when everyone is introduced, you must pay close attention to who is who. And the ending of the book is a little rushed. Also,--well like most mysteries some of the coincidences are surprising.

For example, when Ashley Spencer returns after five years, Casey Van Meter ---another key witness--just happens to come out of her coma this week!!

Nevertheless, a qucik, light summer suspenseful novel that will please most readers. Recommended for mystery fans.

[Jo-Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sleeping Beauty is gripping right at the start when, at 17, Ashley Spencer's life is changed. Her home is broken into and her father is brutaly murdered. Her best friend Tanya is raped and murdered also. Her mother who wasn't at home that night convinces Ashley months later to go to a private school where tragedy follows them.

This is not your average murder novel. There are lots of bad guys and disorder but the plot twists are fantastic. As usual, Phillip Margolin came up with a captivating storyline.

I recommend this book for anyone who likes mystery or detective novels.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book only b/c I recorded the Unabridged Audiobook of it. I found it to be an interesting thriller - but then again, I had to be connected to every single character in the book - in order to "play" them when recording. Other thriller fans would probably disagree about the quality of the story and the writing. But, honestly, I was very connected to the main character and really enjoyed the twists and turns.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice plot, good pacing, decent character development. And an unexpected ending. I only wish he didn't have such a fascination with the word "which."

[Bryan Davis · Rating 2 out of 5]

A "run of the mill" murder/suspense story with not so shocking revelations and twists. It's good, easy to read, and entertaining, but not much makes it stand out from other murder/suspense works.

[Juveria · Rating 5 out of 5]

6 out 5.
Rarely do you read a book that leaves reeling for more, or from you wanting to shut it. Rarely do you come across a book makes confused as to what you want to do with it - "Should I read it? Should I just stop?" Are maybe some of the questions one might ask when reading this thriller. (I'm not sure whether I want to put this novel in this particular genre, but it seems that for now it should just stay there.) Rarely do you come across that makes you want to promote the novel to the next person you see, and make them also feel the pain and the thrill that you went through just so that you can talk about this book.

Phillip Margolin is a criminal defense lawyer, so it makes sense that he would get the details of this story right to make the reader cringe.

The story is about a girl, Ashley Spenser who went through an ordeal, where a man entered her home, killed her father, raped and murdered her friend (and the best cringe-worthy incident), went downstairs to the kitchen to eat a slice of cake, to only come back finish off our protagonist. Ashley runs away and gets help. Several months later, she joins a private school on scholarship from her soccer days. There she meets Joshua Maxfield, who murders her only living relative, and puts the dean of the school in a coma. The Police have discerned that her mother was doing some kind of investigation into Joshua Maxfield. Maxfield was hailed as a god amongst the literary circle, due to the fame of his book, "The Tourist of Babylon" and his second book did not do so well. He became a teacher to teach creative writing to students and adults who are looking to get published. This where the story begins, as Ashley's mother investigates Maxfield as he read an excerpt from a book that described the scene that happened at the Spencer home just a few months ago. What ensues is a trial to make sure that Maxfield is accredited for the murder/s he committed so that he could be given capital punishment by the law.

It was an amazing book. I truly had a hard time putting this book down. (I read a chapter, then I realized that due to a gap in the middle I had to reread the initial chapters all over again to get a proper feel for it.) It took me a good part of the day to finish reading it. I was hanging to dear life like Ashely through out the book.

Its totally worth it. I've already recommended this book to many people already.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

SLEEPING BEAUTY is the 8th Margolin novel I have read. I was hesitant at first after looking at the chapter names: Book Tour - the present; Part One (6 years earlier) including Chapters 1-16; Book Tour - the present; Part Two (2 years earlier) including Chapters 17-28; Book Tour - the present; Part Three (one year earlier) including Chapters 29-33; Book Tour - the present; Part Four - 3 1/2 weeks earlier including Chapter 34-27; Book Tour - the present; Part Five -Sibling Rivalry - 2 hours earlier including Chapter 38; and Epilogue - one year later.
My initial thoughts included "Just how am I going to keep all this straight?" It definitely was a challenge but all part of what made reading this mystery an intriguing read. One of Margolin's best.
SLEEPING BEAUTY is about books that were written by different authors but are similar....or are they? I turned the pages rapidly, checking each chapter as I read to make sure I understood whether it was the present, 6 years before, or just what and when.
When I finished the book, I felt drained.
SLEEPING BEAUTY is a spellbinder! I am certainly glad I overcame my doubts and enjoyed turning the pages as this unusual mystery ran its course.