The Stolen Heart: A Novel of Suspense

by Lauren Kelly

From Lauren Kelly, "a writer of formidable talent" (Scott Turow), comes the page-turning story of Merilee Graf, whose past and present mysteries converge in a revelation too painful, and too shocking, for her to accept. Sixteen years ago, a vivacious fifth-grade classmate of Merilee Graf was abducted from a park in Mt. Olive, New York. Haunted by the memory of the eleven-year-old "gypsy-looking" girl whose disappearance has never been explained, Merilee returns home to keep a vigil at the bedside of her dying father, a prosperous importer of exotic goods and a former, popular mayor of the upstate New York town on the Chautauqua River. After Mr. Graf's death, Merilee finds herself an "heiress" in more ways than one as she becomes involved, with both dread and fascination, with two very different men from her Mt. Olive past -- the elusive older brother of her missing classmate and her own seductive "Uncle Jedah," executor of her father's estate. Past and present mysteries converge in a revelation too painful, and too shocking, for Merilee to accept, and in a sudden act of reckless courage she frees herself of the terrifying obsessions of the past.

Genres: Mystery, Suspense, Fiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

There is more than one author with this name in the GR database. This is Lauren^Kelly, one of the pseudonyms used by Joyce Carol Oates.

Reviews

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: sixteen years ago, a classmate of Merilee Graf was abducted. Years later Merilee returns home to care for her father. She's still haunted.

[Kassidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Stolen Heart by Lauren Kelly was fantastic! It kept you on the edge of your seat throughout the whole novel. I personally got into it right away and had a hard time putting it down. However, I wish it was longer and Kelly added more to the end. I felt that the book wasn't completely finished, but I loved what was there!

[Nicolas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I nudged this up to 4, because, despite its faults, I found it engrossing and difficult to put down. Another haunting ending courtesy of Joyce Carol Oates.

Podcast spotlight on Joyce Carol Oates: https://soundcloud.com/allthebooks/ep...

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unbelievable, scared me...

[Callie Tinnes · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was horrible... it was a struggle to get into this book. I didn’t even finish it, which bums me out because I always finish a book even if I am not completely into it. This book was a miss!

[Yume Katoya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written by Joyce Carol Oates under a pseudonym. Given my love for JCO, and her ability to create a feeling of ominousness (is that a word?) with even the most innocent turn of phrase i expected more. Much more. Not only was the book not particularly suspenseful, I had figured the ending out a little less than halfway through. Not only that, the story itself wasn't very interesting. All in all, JCO's beautiful writing is present and always but the story leaves much to be desired.

[Lauren · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe Joyce Carol Oates wrote this book under a pseudonym because it's awful. Just a thought.

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

stupid protagonist, and the past is very unclear.

[Melissa]

NOBODY READ IT! IT WAS A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME! it was completely aweful! it doesnt even deserve a one star!

[Margot Note]

Joyce Carol Oates has yet another pseudonym!

[Marleen Meuleman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zeer verwarrend verhaal. Niet mijn stijl

[Julia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Totally predictable from the very beginning.