What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Stand #4
The Perfect Couple
One afternoon in May, Zoe Duncan's thirteen-year-old daughter goes missing from her own backyard. The police think Samantha ran away because she's unhappy about her mother's upcoming marriage—but Zoe doesn't believe it. In fact, she's willing to do anything to bring Sam home, even if it means losing her job, her beautiful home, her fiancé. Even if it means divulging all her secrets to a private investigator.
Jonathan Stivers is a P.I. who donates his time to The Last Stand, a victims' charity in Sacramento. He's good at what he does, the best. But never has he had fewer leads to work with—or been more attracted to a client. Jonathan's sure of only one Sam was taken by someone close to the family. He doesn't know how close until he realizes that the "perfect" couple next door is anything but….
Jonathan Stivers is a P.I. who donates his time to The Last Stand, a victims' charity in Sacramento. He's good at what he does, the best. But never has he had fewer leads to work with—or been more attracted to a client. Jonathan's sure of only one Sam was taken by someone close to the family. He doesn't know how close until he realizes that the "perfect" couple next door is anything but….
439 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2009
383 people are currently reading
1609 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Novak
238 books6,961 followersIt was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak’s bestselling author career.
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.”
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-...
“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.”
However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.
Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.
“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”
Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.
Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.
When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she's raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking--she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
February 5, 2017
Decir que me ha parecido una novela perfecta, quizá sería un poco exagerado; pero sólo quizás. Creo que una de las cosas más difíciles de lograr al escribir una novela, es caracterizar a los personajes hasta hacerlos reales; y más si hablamos de un psicópata. Y Novak lo ha conseguido con un realismo perfecto! Es más, no le doy las cinco estrellas, porque quiero que me sorprenda aún más con sus otros libros.
December 23, 2017
4.5-5 ... con un buen epílogo le hubiera dado las 5
No diré que es una novela romántica porque la relación entre ambos me ha parecido totalmente irrelevante y aunque aporta, se queda en poco. Pero merece la pena por ese Colin y todas las relaciones y personajes que aparecen
Me ha llamado mucho más la atención todo lo demás.
El malo es un personaje que me ha encantado, mucho más complejo de lo que parece.
La autora ha conseguido retratar, creo que de forma bastante acertada, la mente y el comportamiento de un psicópata, sin obviar, esa seguridad, inseguridad, orgullo, mente despiadada
y falta total de sentimientos que aún a él mismo le sorprenden y ese carisma capaz de conquistar a los que le rodean. Su relación con la mujer aporta esa realidad de pareja que me ha tenido más atrapada incluso que la pareja protagonista
Trata tantos temas complejos y delicados que te pasas toda la novela con el corazón en un puño y temiendo alguna escena que te pueda hacer saltar el corazón.
Distintos tipos de relaciones, distintas formas de afrontar una mala experiencia (por decirlo suavemente) en el pasado
Lo única que me ha faltado es más peso en la relación... ya no tan solo a lo largo de la novela sino incluso con ese final que me ha dejado
Una lectura muy recomendable a las que gustáis de las novelas policiacas con una pizca de romance
No diré que es una novela romántica porque la relación entre ambos me ha parecido totalmente irrelevante y aunque aporta, se queda en poco. Pero merece la pena por ese Colin y todas las relaciones y personajes que aparecen
Me ha llamado mucho más la atención todo lo demás.
El malo es un personaje que me ha encantado, mucho más complejo de lo que parece.
La autora ha conseguido retratar, creo que de forma bastante acertada, la mente y el comportamiento de un psicópata, sin obviar, esa seguridad, inseguridad, orgullo, mente despiadada
y falta total de sentimientos que aún a él mismo le sorprenden y ese carisma capaz de conquistar a los que le rodean. Su relación con la mujer aporta esa realidad de pareja que me ha tenido más atrapada incluso que la pareja protagonista
Trata tantos temas complejos y delicados que te pasas toda la novela con el corazón en un puño y temiendo alguna escena que te pueda hacer saltar el corazón.
Distintos tipos de relaciones, distintas formas de afrontar una mala experiencia (por decirlo suavemente) en el pasado
Lo única que me ha faltado es más peso en la relación... ya no tan solo a lo largo de la novela sino incluso con ese final que me ha dejado
Una lectura muy recomendable a las que gustáis de las novelas policiacas con una pizca de romance
October 13, 2009
Rating: 2.5 / 5
What an odd, odd book. I'm not sure how to rate it. On one hand, there was a pretty well-written, bone-chilling, thoroughly disturbing story that even though it was so diabolical and creepy, it kept you reading. But on the other hand, I'm a romance reader and in that sense, this book just did not deliver. So I guess if I could, I'd give it a 4 for story, and a 1 for romance.
Series Note: this book is the 4th book in Novak's Last Stand series about a non-profit group that provides assistance to victims of crime. It was started by 3 women who were once victims themselves. I don't think it's entirely necessary to read these in order, but you would miss some backstory.
Summary: Colin and Tiffany Bell come across as the perfect couple. Both good-looking. Colin's a lawyer. They've got a nice house. But beneath that veneer lurks a sadistic predator and a wife who'll do anything to please her husband. They've done so well hiding it, though, that no one even suspects.
So when thirteen year old Samantha Duncan goes missing, who would think to look at the perfect couple next door? Sam's mom Zoe is frantic to find her daughter. She goes to the Last Stand group - whose founders she knows because Zoe was once a victim too - and asks for help. They send P.I. Jonathan Stivers to investigate. But there are no clues, no leads, nothing and Zoe and Jon are left chasing their tales. It isn't until Colin's acts escalate that the cracks begin to show, pointing Jon in the right direction.
Review: The only reason I bought this book, and the other two of this 2nd trilogy, was because I'd read the first trilogy. After I bought them, I kinda looked at them and wondered why I'd bought them because I hadn't enjoyed the first trilogy all that much...it wasn't bad, just wasn't great either. But I hate not finishing a series so that's why I bought them. After reading this first book of the 2nd trilogy, I'm not sure I'll read the other two. This book was just not for me.
Why? Good question. The storyline was of the super creepy variety. Novak gives a deep, dark insight into the mind of a sociopathic, pedophile killer and a woman so lacking in confidence that she'll do whatever her husband wants to keep him happy. It's a disturbing story to read and not one that'll give you pretty dreams at night. I didn't necessarily have a problem with this aspect of the story - I'm a Karen Rose fan, after all, and she tells very dark stories - I actually thought this part of the story was well done and engaging.
But there was something decidedly bizarre about the way this book was set up and written, especially when you consider that it was a romance novel. There are I think five people who have POV scenes in the book: Zoe, Jon (the H/H), Sam (the daughter), and Colin and Tiffany (the bad guys). Of those five, Colin and Tiffany get an inordinate amount of scenes in this book. To the point that it seemed the book was more about them than anyone else, including the H/H of this book labeled as a "romantic suspense." To me, they seemed to be the main focus of the book. Which yes, did up the diabolical factor and make it a more thrilling thriller/suspense, but it really hurt the romance aspect.
Overall, the romance part of the book was really weak. There are some hints of chemistry and acknowledgment by the H/H that they are attracted to each other, but it's not until over 300 pages into the book (it's 439 pages total) that anything really happens between them. And then they jump right into bed. Even after that, the hero is still saying he's in love with someone else (a heroine from a previous book) and the H/H are at odds when the climax of the book happens.
And the ending does nothing to cement the relationship. There's not really any HEA feeling, or even an HFN one. It's more like heroine just thinking there seems to be something there between them. Which made the ending so disappointing from a romance standpoint. I mean, before the climax, Zoe believes Jon is still in love with Sheridan and they are emotionally at odds. Zoe then gets kidnapped and Jon goes after her. The "reunion" is basically a sentence like 'then the police showed up, with Jon in tow'...but there's no big hugging, 'I love you' scene. Just that he showed up with the cops. Then it jumps to an epilogue with Zoe and her daughter talking and Jon watching over them with Zoe thinking something is between them.
What kind of ending is that for a romance novel? It just really cemented the rather unromantic feel of the book. Between that and the strange focus on the bad "guys", this book came off more like a thriller with some romantic overtones.
That's not what I want from a romantic suspense. I've read ones before that were a little more suspense than romance (Karen Rose books) but those still had satisfying romances. This one didn't. Considering that the author has a strong romance background, it's surprising and a bit odd.
I can't say I have much desire to read the next two books in the series. I'm rather wary of them so I've bumped them onto my "on-hold" shelf. I may still read them, but they may go into "decided-not-to-read" purgatory. I've just got books I want to read much more than these.
So if you're a hardcore romance reader who wants to read romance, then my guess is you'll find this book just a disappointing as I did. If you're someone who likes suspense/thrillers who doesn't mind a bit of romance then you may enjoy this one. For me, it just didn't do it.
What an odd, odd book. I'm not sure how to rate it. On one hand, there was a pretty well-written, bone-chilling, thoroughly disturbing story that even though it was so diabolical and creepy, it kept you reading. But on the other hand, I'm a romance reader and in that sense, this book just did not deliver. So I guess if I could, I'd give it a 4 for story, and a 1 for romance.
Series Note: this book is the 4th book in Novak's Last Stand series about a non-profit group that provides assistance to victims of crime. It was started by 3 women who were once victims themselves. I don't think it's entirely necessary to read these in order, but you would miss some backstory.
Summary: Colin and Tiffany Bell come across as the perfect couple. Both good-looking. Colin's a lawyer. They've got a nice house. But beneath that veneer lurks a sadistic predator and a wife who'll do anything to please her husband. They've done so well hiding it, though, that no one even suspects.
So when thirteen year old Samantha Duncan goes missing, who would think to look at the perfect couple next door? Sam's mom Zoe is frantic to find her daughter. She goes to the Last Stand group - whose founders she knows because Zoe was once a victim too - and asks for help. They send P.I. Jonathan Stivers to investigate. But there are no clues, no leads, nothing and Zoe and Jon are left chasing their tales. It isn't until Colin's acts escalate that the cracks begin to show, pointing Jon in the right direction.
Review: The only reason I bought this book, and the other two of this 2nd trilogy, was because I'd read the first trilogy. After I bought them, I kinda looked at them and wondered why I'd bought them because I hadn't enjoyed the first trilogy all that much...it wasn't bad, just wasn't great either. But I hate not finishing a series so that's why I bought them. After reading this first book of the 2nd trilogy, I'm not sure I'll read the other two. This book was just not for me.
Why? Good question. The storyline was of the super creepy variety. Novak gives a deep, dark insight into the mind of a sociopathic, pedophile killer and a woman so lacking in confidence that she'll do whatever her husband wants to keep him happy. It's a disturbing story to read and not one that'll give you pretty dreams at night. I didn't necessarily have a problem with this aspect of the story - I'm a Karen Rose fan, after all, and she tells very dark stories - I actually thought this part of the story was well done and engaging.
But there was something decidedly bizarre about the way this book was set up and written, especially when you consider that it was a romance novel. There are I think five people who have POV scenes in the book: Zoe, Jon (the H/H), Sam (the daughter), and Colin and Tiffany (the bad guys). Of those five, Colin and Tiffany get an inordinate amount of scenes in this book. To the point that it seemed the book was more about them than anyone else, including the H/H of this book labeled as a "romantic suspense." To me, they seemed to be the main focus of the book. Which yes, did up the diabolical factor and make it a more thrilling thriller/suspense, but it really hurt the romance aspect.
Overall, the romance part of the book was really weak. There are some hints of chemistry and acknowledgment by the H/H that they are attracted to each other, but it's not until over 300 pages into the book (it's 439 pages total) that anything really happens between them. And then they jump right into bed. Even after that, the hero is still saying he's in love with someone else (a heroine from a previous book) and the H/H are at odds when the climax of the book happens.
And the ending does nothing to cement the relationship. There's not really any HEA feeling, or even an HFN one. It's more like heroine just thinking there seems to be something there between them. Which made the ending so disappointing from a romance standpoint. I mean, before the climax, Zoe believes Jon is still in love with Sheridan and they are emotionally at odds. Zoe then gets kidnapped and Jon goes after her. The "reunion" is basically a sentence like 'then the police showed up, with Jon in tow'...but there's no big hugging, 'I love you' scene. Just that he showed up with the cops. Then it jumps to an epilogue with Zoe and her daughter talking and Jon watching over them with Zoe thinking something is between them.
What kind of ending is that for a romance novel? It just really cemented the rather unromantic feel of the book. Between that and the strange focus on the bad "guys", this book came off more like a thriller with some romantic overtones.
That's not what I want from a romantic suspense. I've read ones before that were a little more suspense than romance (Karen Rose books) but those still had satisfying romances. This one didn't. Considering that the author has a strong romance background, it's surprising and a bit odd.
I can't say I have much desire to read the next two books in the series. I'm rather wary of them so I've bumped them onto my "on-hold" shelf. I may still read them, but they may go into "decided-not-to-read" purgatory. I've just got books I want to read much more than these.
So if you're a hardcore romance reader who wants to read romance, then my guess is you'll find this book just a disappointing as I did. If you're someone who likes suspense/thrillers who doesn't mind a bit of romance then you may enjoy this one. For me, it just didn't do it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2010
A pretty good story, well paced and suspenseful, though quite light on the romance. I was kind of intrigued by the backstory of the heroine, Zoe, a somewhat lost and downtrodden young mother with a history of unsuccessful relationships. As the story begins, she is trying to get ahead in life through marriage to a wealthy man and unfortunately, we never do get a chance to see whether she will pull her life together on her own.
But my biggest complaint is that everyone in the story is so gullible and non-suspicious, including the private eye hero, who should be experienced enough to know better. Doesn't pretty much everyone know at this point that someone who tries to be especially helpful about solving a crime is considered suspicious? (This is not a spoiler, since we know from the very beginning of the story who the villains are.) But the private eye doesn't think about this til the book is almost done. And Zoe ignores/excuses all sorts of odd things the villain does, ignoring every inkling that Something is Not Right. And it's a small plot point, but if I were the parents of a child who'd been found after being kidnapped and abused, I wouldn't let any stranger visit him in his hospital room, no matter how good their story was. Obviously the characters of this story don't read enough thrillers.
But my biggest complaint is that everyone in the story is so gullible and non-suspicious, including the private eye hero, who should be experienced enough to know better. Doesn't pretty much everyone know at this point that someone who tries to be especially helpful about solving a crime is considered suspicious? (This is not a spoiler, since we know from the very beginning of the story who the villains are.) But the private eye doesn't think about this til the book is almost done. And Zoe ignores/excuses all sorts of odd things the villain does, ignoring every inkling that Something is Not Right. And it's a small plot point, but if I were the parents of a child who'd been found after being kidnapped and abused, I wouldn't let any stranger visit him in his hospital room, no matter how good their story was. Obviously the characters of this story don't read enough thrillers.
November 13, 2009
This is my first book by Novak and I don't think it'll be my last. The Perfect Couple is the first book in a 3 book series. It's a touchy subject, being mostly about the kidnap and torture of teenage children. It was an emotional roller-coaster for me as the reader with many ups, downs and quick twists.
This isn't one of those where you're constantly trying to figure out who the bad guy is. You already know right from the start who he is. The suspense part comes in with wondering when everyone else will figure out who the monster is. Colin and Tiffany Bell are the perfect couple. Tiffany lives her life to do anything and everything that Colin wants of her. He's controlling and manipulative and found the perfect woman in Tiffany. The book starts out with Tiffany taking care of Colin's most recent "pet." She has been told to get rid of him, but he escaped. So, to rectify her mistake, she finds him a new pet.
Zoe and Anton are the Bell's next door neighbors. Recently engaged, and raising Zoe's young daughter Sam, they don't know anything about the horrors that go on next door to them. When Sam goes missing, Zoe puts her whole life into finding her daughter. The search brings her face to face with her past, her father and the father of Sam. While on her journey, she meets Jonathan. Jon's a private investigator who finds this case so captivating that he jumps in with both feet to help Zoe find Sam. This terrible experience forces Zoe to face the fact that she and Anton aren't meant to be together, and Jonathan makes her feel things that she's never allowed herself before. So, with the attraction between them, the work together on a race against the clock to save Sam.
There were things I liked and things that bothered me about this book. First, after thinking about it for a bit, the subject of the torture against the kids is only what the reader's mind makes it. Novak does an incredible job of weaving the story without actually creating a horrific image. I think that had she actually completely described what was actually implied, I'd have liked this book much less. The ending though is very abrupt. It seems like it just stops without settling a few things. I'd have liked to know a little more about what happened to some of the background characters. Not much, but they were a part of the story, but then disappeared.
Overall, this book sucked me in. I read it much faster than I thought that I would. I found myself staying up later than normal because I just couldn't stop. It's got a fast pace and left me breathless more than once. I could love it and hate it within just a couple pages!
This isn't one of those where you're constantly trying to figure out who the bad guy is. You already know right from the start who he is. The suspense part comes in with wondering when everyone else will figure out who the monster is. Colin and Tiffany Bell are the perfect couple. Tiffany lives her life to do anything and everything that Colin wants of her. He's controlling and manipulative and found the perfect woman in Tiffany. The book starts out with Tiffany taking care of Colin's most recent "pet." She has been told to get rid of him, but he escaped. So, to rectify her mistake, she finds him a new pet.
Zoe and Anton are the Bell's next door neighbors. Recently engaged, and raising Zoe's young daughter Sam, they don't know anything about the horrors that go on next door to them. When Sam goes missing, Zoe puts her whole life into finding her daughter. The search brings her face to face with her past, her father and the father of Sam. While on her journey, she meets Jonathan. Jon's a private investigator who finds this case so captivating that he jumps in with both feet to help Zoe find Sam. This terrible experience forces Zoe to face the fact that she and Anton aren't meant to be together, and Jonathan makes her feel things that she's never allowed herself before. So, with the attraction between them, the work together on a race against the clock to save Sam.
There were things I liked and things that bothered me about this book. First, after thinking about it for a bit, the subject of the torture against the kids is only what the reader's mind makes it. Novak does an incredible job of weaving the story without actually creating a horrific image. I think that had she actually completely described what was actually implied, I'd have liked this book much less. The ending though is very abrupt. It seems like it just stops without settling a few things. I'd have liked to know a little more about what happened to some of the background characters. Not much, but they were a part of the story, but then disappeared.
Overall, this book sucked me in. I read it much faster than I thought that I would. I found myself staying up later than normal because I just couldn't stop. It's got a fast pace and left me breathless more than once. I could love it and hate it within just a couple pages!
August 21, 2020
Una coppia di vicini inquietanti. Una storia d'amore sbocciata tra i soliti due personaggi belli e impossibili (ma perché?). Un detective che indaga, ma non scopre nulla. Non mi è piaciuto proprio 👎
September 26, 2021
Io non capisco tutte queste recensioni positive, questo libro è brutto, ma brutto davvero. Scrittura superficiale, trama inconsistente e veramente sciocca e dei personaggi che definire scialbi e senza alcun senso è un complimento. Se la protagonista "buona" Zoe è dipinta come una vittima che è sopravvissuta ad una vita difficile, anche se tutto ciò non serve a dare nessuno spessore alla giovane, a tratti sembra dimenticarsi della figlia scomparsa presa com'è dalle questioni amorose (alcuni passaggi toccavano addirittura l'assurdo), i "cattivi" Colin e Tiffany, la coppia del titolo originale, sono di una banalità sconfortante: lui il classico sociopatico all'americana bello ma diabolico, con tendenze pedofile (?) E che sembra amare infliggere torture che però non vengono mai descritte, Tiffany invece è la mogliettina succube che si presta alle torture del marito e a rapire minorenni da trattare come cani (nel vero senso del termine), sempre pronta a compiacere il maritino ma che in realtà alla fine della fiera è pazza e colpevole tanto quanto l'uomo. Poi c'è l'aitante detective Jonathan che aiuta Zoe, ovviamente bellissimo e intelligentissimo, tra i due è chiaro che nascerà qualcosa già dal primo incontro. Ma la cosa più sciocca è che sappiamo chi è la vittima e chi il carnefice da subito, mossa che potrebbe essere anche interessante, ma che in questo pseudo-thriller appiattisce tutto fin dalla prima pagina. Zero adrenalina, zero colpi di scena, è tutto previdibilissimo e quindi noiosissimo. Uno pseudo-thriller anche perché gli elementi rosa/erotici abbondano, ma completamente senza senso ed in questo caso la colpa è della casa editrice che lo pubblicizza come Thriller quando invece è un harmony mal scritto. Terribile. Per non parlare del fatto che i protagonisti siano tutti ventenni con vite da pensionati, la cosa più divertente: Colin a 25 anni è sposato, con casa in un quartiere ricco e avvocato in uno studio di successo... come piace mistificare la realtà agli americani nessuno. Bocciatissimo e statene alla larga, io cercavo un thriller di fine estate e mi sono trovato con una puntata di Passioni Criminali scritta con i piedi.
March 26, 2013
I would just say one word for the book - depressing!!
I started the book and stopped it after 10 chapters...its very disturbing!! The characters of Colin and Tiffany - which we know from first are the bad characters - are just disturbed characters. It really freaked me out.....after reading one of Colin's or Tiffany's earlier pov chapter! I wanted to stop it then but, thought may be when the characters of Zoe and Jonathan will be introduced, the book might be good, also wanted to read Jon's romance. But, i did not wanted to read one more villain chapters....so just stopped reading the book itself!
Even though i have become a fan of Brenda Novak from her Whiskey Creek series, i got disappointed with this one...the storyline was not doing much for me....i love sweet stories that are heart warming and makes me happy.
Some books won't click for you from the first... and this was one of that for me from all the books i have read so far!!
I started the book and stopped it after 10 chapters...its very disturbing!! The characters of Colin and Tiffany - which we know from first are the bad characters - are just disturbed characters. It really freaked me out.....after reading one of Colin's or Tiffany's earlier pov chapter! I wanted to stop it then but, thought may be when the characters of Zoe and Jonathan will be introduced, the book might be good, also wanted to read Jon's romance. But, i did not wanted to read one more villain chapters....so just stopped reading the book itself!
Even though i have become a fan of Brenda Novak from her Whiskey Creek series, i got disappointed with this one...the storyline was not doing much for me....i love sweet stories that are heart warming and makes me happy.
Some books won't click for you from the first... and this was one of that for me from all the books i have read so far!!
June 17, 2019
Salve lettori!
Oggi vi parlo di un thriller pubblicato all’inizio del mese da HarperCollins: “La ragazza scomparsa” di Brenda Novak. Sebbene non sia un’accanita lettrice di questo genere, ogni tanto mi piace leggere una bella storia che sappia sorprendermi e tenermi con il fiato sospeso dall’inizio alla fine, intrecciando il mistero e la suspense a un pizzico di paura, e la trama di questo libro è riuscita a incuriosirmi.
Il romanzo di Brenda Novak tuttavia non è stato affatto la storia che mi aspettavo di leggere. Tanto per cominciare la particolarità di questo thriller è che noi sappiamo fin dal primo capitolo chi è il cattivo.
Questo fatto mi ha sorpresa, lasciandomi anche qualche dubbio sul modo in cui sarebbe potuta proseguire la storia, senza quella tensione dovuta all’ansia e alla curiosità di scoprire il colpevole e la verità su quello che è successo alla ragazza scomparsa. Ma andando avanti nella lettura mi sono ritrovata sempre più risucchiata dagli eventi e dai personaggi, come se fossi caduta dentro a una spirale da cui non riuscivo più ad uscire.
Siamo a Sacramento, in California, in un ricco quartiere residenziale dove la vita sembra perfetta. In una di queste ville vive Samantha, una ragazzina di tredici anni costretta a casa da un paio di settimane a causa della mononucleosi.
Nonostante abiti in una bella casa dotata di ogni comfort, Samantha non condivide la decisione della madre Zoe di andare a vivere con il suo compagno, Anton, un uomo rigido e severo, ossessionato dall’ordine e dal rispetto delle regole, che sembra tollerare malvolentieri la sua presenza nella propria casa.
Perfino la madre non sembra più la stessa da quando si sono trasferite lì, tanto da decidere di dare via il suo amato cane solo perché Anton non sopporta avere animali in giro per casa.
Tutto però è destinato a cambiare quando Samantha scompare nel nulla, senza lasciare traccia.
Questo tragico evento mette a dura prova il rapporto tra Zoe e il suo compagno, spingendola a riflettere su se stessa e sulle decisioni che ha preso nella convinzione di fare la cosa giusta per sua figlia, nel tentativo di offrirle la vita che lei non ha mai avuto. E se invece la sua scelta di andare a vivere in quel quartiere all’apparenza tranquillo e perfetto fosse stata la prima di tante mosse sbagliate?
La narrazione in terza persona ci permette di avere un quadro completo di tutta la storia, facendoci conoscere il punto di vista, i pensieri e le azioni di ogni personaggio.
Da un lato abbiamo Zoe, una giovane madre dal passato difficile e doloroso, la cui vita viene nuovamente stravolta dalla scomparsa improvvisa della figlia.
La sparizione di Samantha si rivelerà, inaspettatamente, l’occasione giusta per fare pace con il suo passato, ritrovare se stessa e capire che cosa vuole davvero per sé e per sua figlia. Ad aiutare Zoe nella ricerca disperata della figlia subentra Jonathan Stivers, un investigatore privato che inizia a occuparsi del caso di Samantha. Fra i due si instaura all’istante un legame intenso e particolare che, unito a un’attrazione a cui diventa sempre più difficile resistere, li aiuterà a mettere insieme i vari pezzi del puzzle e a riprendere in mano la propria vita con maggior consapevolezza e la voglia di rimettersi in gioco.
Dall’altro lato abbiamo una coppia di vicini che non è quello che dice di essere. Colin e Tiffany Bell sono i primi personaggi che conosciamo e ci vengono presentati subito senza maschere e senza filtri.
Il romanzo infatti ha inizio con Tiffany che sta trasportando un cadavere nel bagagliaio con l’intento di andarlo a seppellire il più lontano possibile.
Ma qualcosa va storto: la persona chiusa nel bagagliaio è ancora viva. Tiffany non riesce a impedirle di scappare, commettendo un errore che, a lungo andare, costerà un caro prezzo non solo a lei ma, in modo diverso, a tutti i personaggi.
Samantha, quella ragazzina curiosa che è a casa da scuola da settimane e chissà quali cose può aver visto, sembra offrirle il modo migliore per sottrarsi alla furia di Colin e distrarlo dall’errore che ha commesso. Ma questo gesto dà il via a una catena di eventi e situazioni che si ingarbuglierà sempre di più, fino a sfuggire da ogni controllo e portare a un inevitabile e sofferto epilogo.
Il fatto di sapere perfettamente dove si trovi Samantha e di conoscere passo per passo le mosse e le intenzioni del colpevole non è stato un problema come temevo all’inizio. È vero che in questo modo la tensione e il mistero che caratterizzano di solito questo genere vengono un po’ a mancare, ma questo succede perché il fulcro della storia non è la scomparsa di Samantha, non è scoprire che cosa le è successo e perché.
Il rapimento della ragazzina è in realtà il pretesto per raccontare la storia di tutti questi personaggi che si ritrovano legati gli uni agli altri e che si fanno simboli e portatori di tematiche importanti. Depravazione sessuale, delirio di onnipotenza, insicurezza, mancanza di affetti e di punti di riferimento, rapporto teso e conflittuale con la propria madre, la ricerca della perfezione, il bisogno assoluto di controllo, i mille modi in cui può piegarsi la mente umana a seconda degli eventi e dei traumi a cui viene sottoposta, sono alcuni dei temi che vengono affrontati e raccontati in questo romanzo.
Per una volta siamo noi lettori ad avere in mano ogni aspetto della situazione e a essere sempre un passo avanti rispetto ai personaggi, che al contrario di noi sono all’oscuro l’uno dei piani dell’altro.
In questo modo è facile lasciarsi trasportare dall’incalzare degli eventi, sperando che i buoni giungano presto alle giuste conclusioni e non cadano invece nelle trappole organizzate alla perfezione per ingannarli. È una corsa contro il tempo che si fa sempre più serrata, capitolo dopo capitolo, tanto che da metà romanzo in poi diventa quasi impossibile smettere di leggere perché è troppa la voglia di scoprire che cos’altro succederà e quali saranno le sorti dei nostri cari personaggi.
La narrazione non è mai pesante o noiosa, le pagine scorrono in modo fluido e incalzante e i personaggi si mostrano a noi attraverso le loro azioni e le loro parole, quasi mai attraverso flussi di coscienza o flashback sul loro passato.
“La ragazza scomparsa” è un romanzo avvincente che consiglio anche a chi non ama le storie che mettono troppa angoscia o paura, perché questo è un thriller adatto a tutti, senza dettagli troppo crudi o scene particolarmente spaventose.
Purtroppo una pecca evidente di questo romanzo è la quantità di refusi che ho trovato. Un paio di errori o di sviste ci possono stare, ma quando queste mancanze si presentano più volte nell’arco di un romanzo è impossibile non accorgersene e, a tratti, sono anche fastidiose da leggere.
Per il resto mi sarebbe piaciuto conoscere meglio il passato di Colin e Tiffany, soprattutto quello di quest’ultima, perché per me è stato il personaggio più interessante, nonché quello che mi ha sorpresa e colpita di più.
Voto: 4
Oggi vi parlo di un thriller pubblicato all’inizio del mese da HarperCollins: “La ragazza scomparsa” di Brenda Novak. Sebbene non sia un’accanita lettrice di questo genere, ogni tanto mi piace leggere una bella storia che sappia sorprendermi e tenermi con il fiato sospeso dall’inizio alla fine, intrecciando il mistero e la suspense a un pizzico di paura, e la trama di questo libro è riuscita a incuriosirmi.
Il romanzo di Brenda Novak tuttavia non è stato affatto la storia che mi aspettavo di leggere. Tanto per cominciare la particolarità di questo thriller è che noi sappiamo fin dal primo capitolo chi è il cattivo.
Questo fatto mi ha sorpresa, lasciandomi anche qualche dubbio sul modo in cui sarebbe potuta proseguire la storia, senza quella tensione dovuta all’ansia e alla curiosità di scoprire il colpevole e la verità su quello che è successo alla ragazza scomparsa. Ma andando avanti nella lettura mi sono ritrovata sempre più risucchiata dagli eventi e dai personaggi, come se fossi caduta dentro a una spirale da cui non riuscivo più ad uscire.
Siamo a Sacramento, in California, in un ricco quartiere residenziale dove la vita sembra perfetta. In una di queste ville vive Samantha, una ragazzina di tredici anni costretta a casa da un paio di settimane a causa della mononucleosi.
Nonostante abiti in una bella casa dotata di ogni comfort, Samantha non condivide la decisione della madre Zoe di andare a vivere con il suo compagno, Anton, un uomo rigido e severo, ossessionato dall’ordine e dal rispetto delle regole, che sembra tollerare malvolentieri la sua presenza nella propria casa.
Perfino la madre non sembra più la stessa da quando si sono trasferite lì, tanto da decidere di dare via il suo amato cane solo perché Anton non sopporta avere animali in giro per casa.
Tutto però è destinato a cambiare quando Samantha scompare nel nulla, senza lasciare traccia.
Questo tragico evento mette a dura prova il rapporto tra Zoe e il suo compagno, spingendola a riflettere su se stessa e sulle decisioni che ha preso nella convinzione di fare la cosa giusta per sua figlia, nel tentativo di offrirle la vita che lei non ha mai avuto. E se invece la sua scelta di andare a vivere in quel quartiere all’apparenza tranquillo e perfetto fosse stata la prima di tante mosse sbagliate?
La narrazione in terza persona ci permette di avere un quadro completo di tutta la storia, facendoci conoscere il punto di vista, i pensieri e le azioni di ogni personaggio.
Da un lato abbiamo Zoe, una giovane madre dal passato difficile e doloroso, la cui vita viene nuovamente stravolta dalla scomparsa improvvisa della figlia.
La sparizione di Samantha si rivelerà, inaspettatamente, l’occasione giusta per fare pace con il suo passato, ritrovare se stessa e capire che cosa vuole davvero per sé e per sua figlia. Ad aiutare Zoe nella ricerca disperata della figlia subentra Jonathan Stivers, un investigatore privato che inizia a occuparsi del caso di Samantha. Fra i due si instaura all’istante un legame intenso e particolare che, unito a un’attrazione a cui diventa sempre più difficile resistere, li aiuterà a mettere insieme i vari pezzi del puzzle e a riprendere in mano la propria vita con maggior consapevolezza e la voglia di rimettersi in gioco.
Dall’altro lato abbiamo una coppia di vicini che non è quello che dice di essere. Colin e Tiffany Bell sono i primi personaggi che conosciamo e ci vengono presentati subito senza maschere e senza filtri.
Il romanzo infatti ha inizio con Tiffany che sta trasportando un cadavere nel bagagliaio con l’intento di andarlo a seppellire il più lontano possibile.
Ma qualcosa va storto: la persona chiusa nel bagagliaio è ancora viva. Tiffany non riesce a impedirle di scappare, commettendo un errore che, a lungo andare, costerà un caro prezzo non solo a lei ma, in modo diverso, a tutti i personaggi.
Samantha, quella ragazzina curiosa che è a casa da scuola da settimane e chissà quali cose può aver visto, sembra offrirle il modo migliore per sottrarsi alla furia di Colin e distrarlo dall’errore che ha commesso. Ma questo gesto dà il via a una catena di eventi e situazioni che si ingarbuglierà sempre di più, fino a sfuggire da ogni controllo e portare a un inevitabile e sofferto epilogo.
Il fatto di sapere perfettamente dove si trovi Samantha e di conoscere passo per passo le mosse e le intenzioni del colpevole non è stato un problema come temevo all’inizio. È vero che in questo modo la tensione e il mistero che caratterizzano di solito questo genere vengono un po’ a mancare, ma questo succede perché il fulcro della storia non è la scomparsa di Samantha, non è scoprire che cosa le è successo e perché.
Il rapimento della ragazzina è in realtà il pretesto per raccontare la storia di tutti questi personaggi che si ritrovano legati gli uni agli altri e che si fanno simboli e portatori di tematiche importanti. Depravazione sessuale, delirio di onnipotenza, insicurezza, mancanza di affetti e di punti di riferimento, rapporto teso e conflittuale con la propria madre, la ricerca della perfezione, il bisogno assoluto di controllo, i mille modi in cui può piegarsi la mente umana a seconda degli eventi e dei traumi a cui viene sottoposta, sono alcuni dei temi che vengono affrontati e raccontati in questo romanzo.
Per una volta siamo noi lettori ad avere in mano ogni aspetto della situazione e a essere sempre un passo avanti rispetto ai personaggi, che al contrario di noi sono all’oscuro l’uno dei piani dell’altro.
In questo modo è facile lasciarsi trasportare dall’incalzare degli eventi, sperando che i buoni giungano presto alle giuste conclusioni e non cadano invece nelle trappole organizzate alla perfezione per ingannarli. È una corsa contro il tempo che si fa sempre più serrata, capitolo dopo capitolo, tanto che da metà romanzo in poi diventa quasi impossibile smettere di leggere perché è troppa la voglia di scoprire che cos’altro succederà e quali saranno le sorti dei nostri cari personaggi.
La narrazione non è mai pesante o noiosa, le pagine scorrono in modo fluido e incalzante e i personaggi si mostrano a noi attraverso le loro azioni e le loro parole, quasi mai attraverso flussi di coscienza o flashback sul loro passato.
“La ragazza scomparsa” è un romanzo avvincente che consiglio anche a chi non ama le storie che mettono troppa angoscia o paura, perché questo è un thriller adatto a tutti, senza dettagli troppo crudi o scene particolarmente spaventose.
Purtroppo una pecca evidente di questo romanzo è la quantità di refusi che ho trovato. Un paio di errori o di sviste ci possono stare, ma quando queste mancanze si presentano più volte nell’arco di un romanzo è impossibile non accorgersene e, a tratti, sono anche fastidiose da leggere.
Per il resto mi sarebbe piaciuto conoscere meglio il passato di Colin e Tiffany, soprattutto quello di quest’ultima, perché per me è stato il personaggio più interessante, nonché quello che mi ha sorpresa e colpita di più.
Voto: 4
September 4, 2015
To describe this book in one word? Disturbing! Not an easy book, especially for those with children. The villians are downright creepy. The romance wasn't what I had hoped for and left me a little dissatisified at the end. I can only hope the future books revisit them and let us know how they are doing. But it still grabbed me and held on to see the outcome.
January 25, 2016
This book wasn't for me. I don't enjoy reading about pedophiles.
April 28, 2016
Too gory
March 16, 2021
Premesso che io adoro Brenda Novak, conosciuta grazie alla serie Alaska, ho letteralmente divorato questo libro in neanche due giorni! La trama è abbastanza semplice: la tredicenne Samantha viene rapita da due vicini di casa sadici e psicopatici e la madre Zoe si affida alle tecniche investigative di Jonathan. Si sa fin dall’inizio chi è la vittima, chi il colpevole. ma quello che più interessa qui non è tanto l’evolversi delle indagini (che tirano in ballo il patrigno della ragazzina, promesso sposo di Zoe; il padre biologico di Sam, che anni prima aveva stuprato Zoe; il nonno materno, col quale la donna non ha un buon rapporto) quando la sottile psicologia che motiva le scelte e le azioni dei personaggi. C’è Colin, uno psicopatico crudele e sadico che gode nell’umiliare chiunque, dalle sue vittime alla moglie; c’è Tiffany, la moglie trofeo che deve essere magra e perfetta e truccata e rifatta per piacere all’esigente marito; c’è Zoe, con un passato di violenza alle spalle (pare che tutte le protagoniste dei romanzi di Brenda Novak siano state stuprate in gioventù e convivano con queste cicatrici che le portano a non fidarsi totalmente del prossimo) e una serie di relazioni fallite perché non riesce ad aprire il suo cuore a nessuno; c’è Jonathan, l’investigatore, da sempre innamorato e non ricambiato, che però ora inizia a provare sentimenti nuovi per la sua cliente. Le loro vicende ci parlano di relazioni tossiche, di donne che si sviliscono per il proprio compagno o che ne sfruttano denaro e posizione perché è il loro lasciapassare per un mondo nuovo e splendente, che le porta via dalla miseria della loro vita precedente; di piccoli uomini che per sentirsi grandi devono infliggere dolore e umiliazione a chiunque sia loro intorno; di mostri capaci di cose inenarrabili solo perché le trovano “divertenti”. Tutto ciò viene a creare un intreccio mozzafiato che incolla il lettore alle pagine fino alla drammatica conclusione. Consigliatissimo!
July 23, 2021
This is one of those books that is hard to put down in spite of the violence that is graphically described. Colin and Tiffany seem to be a couple that has everything. He’s a lawyer, they have a big house in a nice neighborhood and they seem to be happily married. Then, the teen daughter next door disappears and their secrets slowly unravel. My heart was in my throat for a lot of this book because the action was so intense and unbelievably realistic. The atrocities that this couple committed for their own pleasure were horrific and mind-boggling. I enjoyed the book and especially liked getting to know Zoe. Jonathan Stivers, the private investigator from “The Last Stand” series plays a prominent role in this book and it was good to get to know his vulnerable side. This book is hard-core mystery and suspense with many twists that kept me reading in spite of the descriptions that turned my stomach.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I own a copy of this book in my personal library and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I own a copy of this book in my personal library and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.
August 19, 2018
This was a totally nerve wracking story.
The pacing was a bit wonky when someone mentioned “it’s been a week”, I was shocked.
The mystery was more of a ‘race against time’.
The romance was as gentle as possible so as to not interfere with the desperation of the situation. So I guess I’d say, very low burn.
The kid was fine enough and I had to remind myself she was very protected so she wasn’t as street smart as some kids.
Again, I wish Novak integrated past characters better.
The bad guys were evil, dangerous, gullible, sad and without redemption.
Zoe was determined even though I wanted to scream at her a few times.
Jonathan was slow to see the forrest for the trees but still a good male character.
This was about crimes against children and Novak did a solid job not terrorizing her readers. but still making us worry a lot.
The pacing was a bit wonky when someone mentioned “it’s been a week”, I was shocked.
The mystery was more of a ‘race against time’.
The romance was as gentle as possible so as to not interfere with the desperation of the situation. So I guess I’d say, very low burn.
The kid was fine enough and I had to remind myself she was very protected so she wasn’t as street smart as some kids.
Again, I wish Novak integrated past characters better.
The bad guys were evil, dangerous, gullible, sad and without redemption.
Zoe was determined even though I wanted to scream at her a few times.
Jonathan was slow to see the forrest for the trees but still a good male character.
This was about crimes against children and Novak did a solid job not terrorizing her readers. but still making us worry a lot.
January 20, 2020
I thought this was a pretty good one by Brenda Novak, but not as good as others I've read by her. It had a strong suspense storyline, with villains who are about as depraved as imaginable. I thought the romance was a much weaker aspect to the story. I never felt like the two main characters really cared that much for one another.
Even, so I enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
Even, so I enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
June 21, 2020
A fast and exciting murder mystery about Zoe Duncan and her missing daughter. Sam was conceived by rape when Zoe was fifteen. Now she was
Taken and with the help of P. I. Jonathan Stivers Zoe hopes to find her
Daughter alive. The book is filled with twists, suspense, and murder. I
Enjoyed this book and author and recommend it.
Taken and with the help of P. I. Jonathan Stivers Zoe hopes to find her
Daughter alive. The book is filled with twists, suspense, and murder. I
Enjoyed this book and author and recommend it.
March 17, 2017
Great book it's a bit dark but I loved it
March 14, 2021
Sono sempre stata del parere che conoscere già dalle prime pagine il nome del colpevole fosse penalizzante per la storia. Devo dire che Brenda Novak mi ha fatto cambiare idea. 👏
September 3, 2024
This Summary/Review was copied from other sources and is used only as a reminder of what the book was about for my personal interest. Any Personal Notations are for my recollection only.
**
Brenda Novak’s novel, however, was not the story I expected to read. To begin with the peculiarity of this thriller is that we know from the first chapter who is the villain.
This fact surprised me, leaving me also some doubts about the way in which the story could continue, without that tension due to the anxiety and curiosity to discover the culprit and the truth about what happened to the missing girl. But going forward in reading I found myself more and more sucked into events and characters, as if I had fallen into a spiral from which I could no longer get out.
We are in Sacramento, California, in a rich residential neighborhood where life looks perfect. In one of these villas lives Samantha, a thirteen-year-old girl who has been at home for a couple of weeks due to mononucleosis.
Despite living in a beautiful house equipped with every comfort, Samantha does not share her mother Zoe’s decision to go and live with her partner, Anton, a rigid and stern man, obsessed with order and respect for the rules, who seems to tolerate unwillingly presence in her home.
Even the mother no longer seems the same since they moved there, so much so that she decided to give away her beloved dog just because Anton can’t stand having animals around the house.
But everything is destined to change when Samantha disappears into thin air, leaving no trace.
This tragic event puts a strain on the relationship between Zoe and her partner, prompting her to reflect on herself and the decisions she made in the belief that she is doing the right thing for her daughter, in an attempt to offer her the life she never had. What if his choice to live in that seemingly quiet and perfect neighborhood had been the first of so many wrong moves?
The third-person narrative allows us to have a complete picture of the whole story, making us know the point of view, thoughts and actions of each character.
On one side we have Zoe, a young mother with a difficult and painful past, whose life is again turned upside down by her daughter’s sudden disappearance.
Samantha’s disappearance will unexpectedly prove to be the right opportunity to make peace with her past, to find herself and to understand what she really wants for herself and her daughter. To help Zoe in the desperate search for his daughter comes in Jonathan Stivers, a private investigator who begins to deal with the case of Samantha. Between the two there is an intense and particular bond that, combined with an attraction to which it becomes increasingly difficult to resist, will help them to put together the various pieces of the puzzle and to take back their lives with greater awareness and the desire to get back into the game.
On the other hand we have a pair of neighbors who are not what they say they are. Colin and Tiffany Bell are the first characters we know and are presented to us immediately without masks and without filters.
The novel begins with Tiffany who is transporting a corpse to the trunk with the intent of going to bury him as far as possible.
But something goes wrong: the person locked in the trunk is still alive. Tiffany can’t stop her from escaping, making a mistake that, in the long run, will cost a heavy price not only to her but, differently, to all the characters.
Samantha, that curious little girl who has been at home from school for weeks and who knows what she may have seen, seems to offer her the best way to escape Colin’s fury and distract him from the mistake he made. But this gesture gives rise to a chain of events and situations that will tangle more and more, to the point of escaping from all control and leading to an inevitable and suffered epilogue.
Knowing perfectly where Samantha is and to know step by step the culprit’s moves and intentions was not a problem as I feared at the beginning. It is true that in this way the tension and mystery that usually characterize this genre is a bit lacking, but this happens because the fulcrum of the story is not the disappearance of Samantha, it is not to find out what happened to her and why.
The kidnapping of the girl is actually the pretext to tell the story of all these characters who find themselves linked to each other and who become symbols and bearers of important issues. Sexual depravity, delirium of omnipotence, insecurity, lack of affections and points of reference, tense and conflictual relationship with his mother, the search for perfection, the absolute need for control, the thousand ways in which the human mind can bend according to the events and traumas to which it is subjected, are some of the themes that are addressed and told in this novel.
For once, we readers have every aspect of the situation in our hands and always be one step ahead of the characters, who, unlike us, are in the dark about each other’s plans.
In this way it is easy to get carried away by the pressing of events, hoping that the good will soon reach the right conclusions and do not fall instead in the traps organized to perfection to deceive them. It is a race against time that is getting tighter and tighter, chapter after chapter, so much so that from half a novel onwards it becomes almost impossible to stop reading because it is too much the desire to discover what else will happen and what will be the fate of our dear characters.
The narrative is never heavy or boring, the pages flow smoothly and pressingly and the characters show up to us through their actions and their words, almost never through streams of consciousness or flashback on their past.
“The Missing Girl” is a compelling novel that I recommend even to those who don’t like stories that put too much distress or fear, because this is a thriller suitable for everyone, without too raw details or particularly scary scenes.
Unfortunately, an obvious flaw of this novel is the amount of typos I found. A couple of mistakes or misgivings can be there, but when these shortcomings occur several times in the arc of a novel it is impossible not to notice it and, at times, they are also annoying to read.
For the rest I would have liked to know more about the past of Colin and Tiffany, especially that of the latter, because for me he was the most interesting character, as well as the one that surprised me and struck me the most.
Rating: 4
**
A pretty good story, well paced and suspenseful, though quite light on the romance. I was kind of intrigued by the backstory of the heroine, Zoe, a somewhat lost and downtrodden young mother with a history of unsuccessful relationships. As the story begins, she is trying to get ahead in life through marriage to a wealthy man and unfortunately, we never do get a chance to see whether she will pull her life together on her own.
But my biggest complaint is that everyone in the story is so gullible and non-suspicious, including the private eye hero, who should be experienced enough to know better. Doesn't pretty much everyone know at this point that someone who tries to be especially helpful about solving a crime is considered suspicious? (This is not a spoiler, since we know from the very beginning of the story who the villains are.) But the private eye doesn't think about this til the book is almost done. And Zoe ignores/excuses all sorts of odd things the villain does, ignoring every inkling that Something is Not Right. And it's a small plot point, but if I were the parents of a child who'd been found after being kidnapped and abused, I wouldn't let any stranger visit him in his hospital room, no matter how good their story was. Obviously the characters of this story don't read enough thrillers.
**
**
Brenda Novak’s novel, however, was not the story I expected to read. To begin with the peculiarity of this thriller is that we know from the first chapter who is the villain.
This fact surprised me, leaving me also some doubts about the way in which the story could continue, without that tension due to the anxiety and curiosity to discover the culprit and the truth about what happened to the missing girl. But going forward in reading I found myself more and more sucked into events and characters, as if I had fallen into a spiral from which I could no longer get out.
We are in Sacramento, California, in a rich residential neighborhood where life looks perfect. In one of these villas lives Samantha, a thirteen-year-old girl who has been at home for a couple of weeks due to mononucleosis.
Despite living in a beautiful house equipped with every comfort, Samantha does not share her mother Zoe’s decision to go and live with her partner, Anton, a rigid and stern man, obsessed with order and respect for the rules, who seems to tolerate unwillingly presence in her home.
Even the mother no longer seems the same since they moved there, so much so that she decided to give away her beloved dog just because Anton can’t stand having animals around the house.
But everything is destined to change when Samantha disappears into thin air, leaving no trace.
This tragic event puts a strain on the relationship between Zoe and her partner, prompting her to reflect on herself and the decisions she made in the belief that she is doing the right thing for her daughter, in an attempt to offer her the life she never had. What if his choice to live in that seemingly quiet and perfect neighborhood had been the first of so many wrong moves?
The third-person narrative allows us to have a complete picture of the whole story, making us know the point of view, thoughts and actions of each character.
On one side we have Zoe, a young mother with a difficult and painful past, whose life is again turned upside down by her daughter’s sudden disappearance.
Samantha’s disappearance will unexpectedly prove to be the right opportunity to make peace with her past, to find herself and to understand what she really wants for herself and her daughter. To help Zoe in the desperate search for his daughter comes in Jonathan Stivers, a private investigator who begins to deal with the case of Samantha. Between the two there is an intense and particular bond that, combined with an attraction to which it becomes increasingly difficult to resist, will help them to put together the various pieces of the puzzle and to take back their lives with greater awareness and the desire to get back into the game.
On the other hand we have a pair of neighbors who are not what they say they are. Colin and Tiffany Bell are the first characters we know and are presented to us immediately without masks and without filters.
The novel begins with Tiffany who is transporting a corpse to the trunk with the intent of going to bury him as far as possible.
But something goes wrong: the person locked in the trunk is still alive. Tiffany can’t stop her from escaping, making a mistake that, in the long run, will cost a heavy price not only to her but, differently, to all the characters.
Samantha, that curious little girl who has been at home from school for weeks and who knows what she may have seen, seems to offer her the best way to escape Colin’s fury and distract him from the mistake he made. But this gesture gives rise to a chain of events and situations that will tangle more and more, to the point of escaping from all control and leading to an inevitable and suffered epilogue.
Knowing perfectly where Samantha is and to know step by step the culprit’s moves and intentions was not a problem as I feared at the beginning. It is true that in this way the tension and mystery that usually characterize this genre is a bit lacking, but this happens because the fulcrum of the story is not the disappearance of Samantha, it is not to find out what happened to her and why.
The kidnapping of the girl is actually the pretext to tell the story of all these characters who find themselves linked to each other and who become symbols and bearers of important issues. Sexual depravity, delirium of omnipotence, insecurity, lack of affections and points of reference, tense and conflictual relationship with his mother, the search for perfection, the absolute need for control, the thousand ways in which the human mind can bend according to the events and traumas to which it is subjected, are some of the themes that are addressed and told in this novel.
For once, we readers have every aspect of the situation in our hands and always be one step ahead of the characters, who, unlike us, are in the dark about each other’s plans.
In this way it is easy to get carried away by the pressing of events, hoping that the good will soon reach the right conclusions and do not fall instead in the traps organized to perfection to deceive them. It is a race against time that is getting tighter and tighter, chapter after chapter, so much so that from half a novel onwards it becomes almost impossible to stop reading because it is too much the desire to discover what else will happen and what will be the fate of our dear characters.
The narrative is never heavy or boring, the pages flow smoothly and pressingly and the characters show up to us through their actions and their words, almost never through streams of consciousness or flashback on their past.
“The Missing Girl” is a compelling novel that I recommend even to those who don’t like stories that put too much distress or fear, because this is a thriller suitable for everyone, without too raw details or particularly scary scenes.
Unfortunately, an obvious flaw of this novel is the amount of typos I found. A couple of mistakes or misgivings can be there, but when these shortcomings occur several times in the arc of a novel it is impossible not to notice it and, at times, they are also annoying to read.
For the rest I would have liked to know more about the past of Colin and Tiffany, especially that of the latter, because for me he was the most interesting character, as well as the one that surprised me and struck me the most.
Rating: 4
**
A pretty good story, well paced and suspenseful, though quite light on the romance. I was kind of intrigued by the backstory of the heroine, Zoe, a somewhat lost and downtrodden young mother with a history of unsuccessful relationships. As the story begins, she is trying to get ahead in life through marriage to a wealthy man and unfortunately, we never do get a chance to see whether she will pull her life together on her own.
But my biggest complaint is that everyone in the story is so gullible and non-suspicious, including the private eye hero, who should be experienced enough to know better. Doesn't pretty much everyone know at this point that someone who tries to be especially helpful about solving a crime is considered suspicious? (This is not a spoiler, since we know from the very beginning of the story who the villains are.) But the private eye doesn't think about this til the book is almost done. And Zoe ignores/excuses all sorts of odd things the villain does, ignoring every inkling that Something is Not Right. And it's a small plot point, but if I were the parents of a child who'd been found after being kidnapped and abused, I wouldn't let any stranger visit him in his hospital room, no matter how good their story was. Obviously the characters of this story don't read enough thrillers.
**
December 29, 2024
For as much as I enjoy Brenda's writing, this book really did have problematic things in it. Starting with the obvious -- the husband and wife that lived next door. The violence in this book was just one of the things that was unsettling for me. I will no go into details as it is rather graphic here and there; but that was also the nature of the story. The second problem was the wife. I understand that people are in those types of relationships that are depicted in the story all of the time with no way out until it is too late. I just wish that maybe she would've realized that the relationship she had with her husband wasn't a great one earlier on. Where perhaps she could've started a new life. Unfortunately that wasn't the case here. All in all despite the few problematic areas I noticed I did enjoy the plot and the happy ending that occurred.
July 21, 2020
Sentí mucha pena por Franky.
May 4, 2013
3.5
After being raped at the age of 15, Zoe couldn't imagine what could happen to her daughter 13 years later in the nice suburbs she managed to get in.
Zoe was always poor. Her mom left when she was a newborn, and her father took care of her as much as an addict and sometimes drug dealer could. She got pregnant at 15 when she was raped in her dad's trailer by a junky. She kept her baby, and fought to raise her good. Now she' engaged to a nice and good man and is finally able to provide her daughter, Samantha with what she didn't have growing up: Security, stability.
Samantha is lured ouf of her house by a crazy woman, her own neighboor. Her neighboor, Tiffany is married to a sadist serial killer, and since their last victim managed to run from her, she grabs Samantha as a treat to Colin, her husband. Colin, however can't help but being a crazy sadist. He wants Zoe. He's wanted her since the first time he saw her, and now is the perfect opportunity for him to show her how good and nice he can be.
The Last Stand is a charity in the city that helps victims of different crimes. Zoe met one of the owners once, and called her to help. By help, she got P.I. Jonathan Stivers, an former cop who does pro bono work at The Last Stand. He's instantly moved by Sam's disappearance, and will do just about everything in his power to help Zoe get her daughter back.
This book got me hooked from the start. In this genre I like my villains bad and a tad crazy, and they were just that. I also liked that both main characters weren't falling in love/bed right at the first chapter. It was a well paced and well developed story.
I just felt it was a bit rushed in the end. I think this part is always the most important part of the book, because it's a trick situation. Lifes are in danger, and someone needs to stop the bad guy. I wasn't expecting to be like that, but it was definitely a surprise.
After being raped at the age of 15, Zoe couldn't imagine what could happen to her daughter 13 years later in the nice suburbs she managed to get in.
Zoe was always poor. Her mom left when she was a newborn, and her father took care of her as much as an addict and sometimes drug dealer could. She got pregnant at 15 when she was raped in her dad's trailer by a junky. She kept her baby, and fought to raise her good. Now she' engaged to a nice and good man and is finally able to provide her daughter, Samantha with what she didn't have growing up: Security, stability.
Samantha is lured ouf of her house by a crazy woman, her own neighboor. Her neighboor, Tiffany is married to a sadist serial killer, and since their last victim managed to run from her, she grabs Samantha as a treat to Colin, her husband. Colin, however can't help but being a crazy sadist. He wants Zoe. He's wanted her since the first time he saw her, and now is the perfect opportunity for him to show her how good and nice he can be.
The Last Stand is a charity in the city that helps victims of different crimes. Zoe met one of the owners once, and called her to help. By help, she got P.I. Jonathan Stivers, an former cop who does pro bono work at The Last Stand. He's instantly moved by Sam's disappearance, and will do just about everything in his power to help Zoe get her daughter back.
This book got me hooked from the start. In this genre I like my villains bad and a tad crazy, and they were just that. I also liked that both main characters weren't falling in love/bed right at the first chapter. It was a well paced and well developed story.
I just felt it was a bit rushed in the end. I think this part is always the most important part of the book, because it's a trick situation. Lifes are in danger, and someone needs to stop the bad guy. I wasn't expecting to be like that, but it was definitely a surprise.
June 9, 2010
3.0 out of 5 stars Short on suspense and heavy on romance, December 5, 2009
This review is from: The Perfect Couple (The Last Stand) (Mass Market Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This was a fast-paced but predictable thriller with way too much romance for me. I liked the premise: attractive young couple next door as murdering pair of psychos -- but the whole angle involving the "love at first glance" bit between the mother of the kidnapped girl and the private investigator hired to find her was just too distracting and took away from the suspense in the narrative.
Sam is lured away by the next door neighbors and held prisoner while her mother, Zoe, and various other characters try to find her. The action moves along well, but with no surprises. Colin and Tiffany are not the perfect couple -- they are not even perfect psycho killers. They make one mistake after another as they try to outwit the detectives and others assigned to the abduction investigation. Jonathan Stivers, the PI who donates his time to a victims' organization, is called into the case to help the police. He probably would have been better at detecting had he been less interested in Zoe and she in him. The other characters in the story are not well-developed and are stereotypes of the sadistic psychopath and the abused wife. The actual investigation is never fully explained as the police don't make any headway in finding the girl even though she is right next door. I simply felt in a hurry to get to the conclusion of the story knowing how it would all end.
All in all - not a terribly exciting mystery thriller even with the grisly details.
This review is from: The Perfect Couple (The Last Stand) (Mass Market Paperback)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This was a fast-paced but predictable thriller with way too much romance for me. I liked the premise: attractive young couple next door as murdering pair of psychos -- but the whole angle involving the "love at first glance" bit between the mother of the kidnapped girl and the private investigator hired to find her was just too distracting and took away from the suspense in the narrative.
Sam is lured away by the next door neighbors and held prisoner while her mother, Zoe, and various other characters try to find her. The action moves along well, but with no surprises. Colin and Tiffany are not the perfect couple -- they are not even perfect psycho killers. They make one mistake after another as they try to outwit the detectives and others assigned to the abduction investigation. Jonathan Stivers, the PI who donates his time to a victims' organization, is called into the case to help the police. He probably would have been better at detecting had he been less interested in Zoe and she in him. The other characters in the story are not well-developed and are stereotypes of the sadistic psychopath and the abused wife. The actual investigation is never fully explained as the police don't make any headway in finding the girl even though she is right next door. I simply felt in a hurry to get to the conclusion of the story knowing how it would all end.
All in all - not a terribly exciting mystery thriller even with the grisly details.
November 30, 2015
I love a good lunatic, and this book had a nice pair of 'em.
Zoe Duncan's 13 year old daughter, Sam, goes missing. Zoe and her fiance are beside themselves and immediately contact the police. There are no leads. Skye from the Last Stand charity (Skye was introduced in a previous Last Stand novel, Trust Me) contacts Jonathan Stivers, a PI involved with the charity, to help Zoe find her daughter. Still no leads. Colin and Tiffany Bell are the "perfect" neighbors, and Colin immediately rushes to Zoe's side to help with the search. Such helpful neighbors, or are they?
I really liked this book, I like how everything happens at the beginning. Sam gets taken immediately, and we know of the villain from the start. There was a good amount of suspense, but also a fair amount of general clueless-ness. Several times, the good people suspected the perfect neighbors, but immediately banished all ill thoughts of them. Not cool, it added a great bit of frustration for the reader, but in a good way. The torture that the victims had to succumb to was pretty sick...collars...dog food...using a cat litter box as a toilet...Ms. Novak has one hell of an imagination, and that makes for a great, suspenseful read.
I will definitely be finishing out the series. This title is book 4 in a 6 book series called The Last Stand. They can be read as standalones, the author does a good job of informing the reader of some background information on characters that may have happened in another book. I always just read them in order regardless, but you can read them out of order and not feel like you are missing too much.
Zoe Duncan's 13 year old daughter, Sam, goes missing. Zoe and her fiance are beside themselves and immediately contact the police. There are no leads. Skye from the Last Stand charity (Skye was introduced in a previous Last Stand novel, Trust Me) contacts Jonathan Stivers, a PI involved with the charity, to help Zoe find her daughter. Still no leads. Colin and Tiffany Bell are the "perfect" neighbors, and Colin immediately rushes to Zoe's side to help with the search. Such helpful neighbors, or are they?
I really liked this book, I like how everything happens at the beginning. Sam gets taken immediately, and we know of the villain from the start. There was a good amount of suspense, but also a fair amount of general clueless-ness. Several times, the good people suspected the perfect neighbors, but immediately banished all ill thoughts of them. Not cool, it added a great bit of frustration for the reader, but in a good way. The torture that the victims had to succumb to was pretty sick...collars...dog food...using a cat litter box as a toilet...Ms. Novak has one hell of an imagination, and that makes for a great, suspenseful read.
I will definitely be finishing out the series. This title is book 4 in a 6 book series called The Last Stand. They can be read as standalones, the author does a good job of informing the reader of some background information on characters that may have happened in another book. I always just read them in order regardless, but you can read them out of order and not feel like you are missing too much.
October 16, 2009
Colin and his wife, Tiffany are the perfect couple. They are nice, thoughtful and ready and willing to lend a helping hand when needed. Well that is what they want you to think.
Zoe Duncan came home to discover her daughter, Samantha missing. Zoe contacts the authorities but they aren’t taking her serious at this time. Even Zoe’s boyfriend believes Sam ran away. Zoe has a mother’s instinct and she feels it in her heart that something terrible has happened to her daughter.
Jonathan Stivers is a private investigator. He donates his time for The Last Stand, a charity that helps victim’s families in locating their loved ones. Jonathan has a bad feeling about Zoe’s neighbors, Colin and Tiffany. They seem too perfect.
The Perfect Couple is the first book in the Perfect series. Brenda Novak produces another good read! From the first moment I picked up this book and started reading it, I was hooked. The suspense level stayed high-octane all the way till the end. It was no secret what had happened to Sam but I didn’t care about that. I was more interested in what Colin and Tiffany’s intentions were with Sam. The scariest factor of all was that Colin and Tiffany could be anyone...from your next door neighbor, friend, co-worker, or even the mailman. When I think of heroes, Jonathan falls into this category. I am going to buy the other two books in this trilogy.
Zoe Duncan came home to discover her daughter, Samantha missing. Zoe contacts the authorities but they aren’t taking her serious at this time. Even Zoe’s boyfriend believes Sam ran away. Zoe has a mother’s instinct and she feels it in her heart that something terrible has happened to her daughter.
Jonathan Stivers is a private investigator. He donates his time for The Last Stand, a charity that helps victim’s families in locating their loved ones. Jonathan has a bad feeling about Zoe’s neighbors, Colin and Tiffany. They seem too perfect.
The Perfect Couple is the first book in the Perfect series. Brenda Novak produces another good read! From the first moment I picked up this book and started reading it, I was hooked. The suspense level stayed high-octane all the way till the end. It was no secret what had happened to Sam but I didn’t care about that. I was more interested in what Colin and Tiffany’s intentions were with Sam. The scariest factor of all was that Colin and Tiffany could be anyone...from your next door neighbor, friend, co-worker, or even the mailman. When I think of heroes, Jonathan falls into this category. I am going to buy the other two books in this trilogy.
September 11, 2009
As a parent, this book was so disturbing. Unfortunately, it's about something that could happen to anyone (and I think it did a good job bringing that point to light). The evil villians in this book (the perfect couple) were just plain sick. Novak did an excellent job putting you in their heads. What a bunch of whack jobs! Unfortunately, it just proves that people you think are normal on the outside are the worst child predators.
I enjoyed the relationship between Jonathan and Zoe. They didn't rush right into bed or anything, which was a nice change of pace. In fact the romance in this book is a very small part compared to the suspense.
I have one complaint though (and why I only gave 4 stars) - the way the book ended. I didn't feel like there was any closure with Jonathan and Zoe. What the heck happens next? What happens with Zoe and her daughter, Sam? I'm hoping the next book in the series, The Perfect Liar, brings some sort of closure.
I enjoyed the relationship between Jonathan and Zoe. They didn't rush right into bed or anything, which was a nice change of pace. In fact the romance in this book is a very small part compared to the suspense.
I have one complaint though (and why I only gave 4 stars) - the way the book ended. I didn't feel like there was any closure with Jonathan and Zoe. What the heck happens next? What happens with Zoe and her daughter, Sam? I'm hoping the next book in the series, The Perfect Liar, brings some sort of closure.
March 10, 2016
Otra buena historia de la serie Ángeles Vengadores. Me ha gustado mucho como se ha ido enrevesando la historia e incluso hay un momento en el que no le ves solución y al final la autora consigue darle un desenlace a la altura de la trama.
A destacar una vez más la mente pérfida y retorcida de los malos.
Mi puntuación 8.
A destacar una vez más la mente pérfida y retorcida de los malos.
Mi puntuación 8.
March 14, 2018
The Perfect Couple
Wow! This book kept me on the edge of my seat starting at page 3! I put it down a couple of times and just stared at but I couldn't let it go unread, I had to find out what happens in the end. I don't want to give anything away!
This is an excellent thriller! Brenda Novak can really make a story come alive!
Wow! This book kept me on the edge of my seat starting at page 3! I put it down a couple of times and just stared at but I couldn't let it go unread, I had to find out what happens in the end. I don't want to give anything away!
This is an excellent thriller! Brenda Novak can really make a story come alive!
November 3, 2012
I didn't like the female lead character from the start. I couldn't finish the book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews