The Night Bus

by Janice Law

A few months ago, Cath Tolland ran away from her life. Boarding a night bus with no credit cards or identification, using the last of her meager cash to buy a one-way ticket to Florida, Cath left behind her home, her friends, and a seemingly happy marriage--for reasons that not even she can remember.

But now Cath is back home in Connecticut, in the arms of her loving, if distant, husband Derek-and watched over, perhaps a bit too closely, by her critical sister-in-law, Yvonne. Told that her mysterious disappearance was merely another symptom of ongoing mental problems, Cath tries her hardest to piece together her fragmented memories and make sense of her sudden flight.

But why, if she has always suffered from mental problems, can, Cath remember ever speaking with a therapist? Why, if she and Derek have always had a happy marriage, is Cath beginning to remember evidence of "other women"? And-most terrifying-why does Cath feel that she should fear her husband? How much can Cath trust the vague terror that fills her memories now-the terror that may have bought her a seat on a night bus to Florida?

349 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2000

About the author

Janice Law (b. 1941) is an acclaimed author of mystery fiction. The Watergate scandal inspired her to write her first novel, The Big Payoff (1977), which introduced Anna Peters, a street-smart young woman who blackmails her boss, a corrupt oil executive. The novel was a success, winning an Edgar nomination, and Law went on to write eight more in the series, including Death Under Par (1980) and Cross-Check (1997).

After Death Under Par, Law set aside the character for several years to write historical mysteries The Countess (1989) and All the King’s Ladies (1986). After concluding the Peters series, she wrote three stand-alone suspense novels: The Night Bus (2000), The Lost Diaries of Iris Weed (2002), and Voices (2003). Since then, Law has focused on writing short stories, many of which appear in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine. Fires of London (2012) is her most recent novel. She lives and writes in Connecticut.

Reviews

[Lauren]

This book was simply awful! For one, there's little character development, the plot goes nowhere, too much symbolism, very little character interactions with each other, poor,poor poor writing skills and overall it's just a very boring book.

[Shelly Lunsford]

I had a really tough time getting into this book. A pretty dull read up until about the last 5 chapters. Loved it after that!

[Amy L. Campbell]

While this is not my typical fair, I rather enjoyed the lyrical writing style Law employed. The plot was not completely predictable, although I felt it was somewhat drawn out in places and the "night bus" metaphor was used as more of a bludgeon than a subtle undertone. I think the amnesia thing has also been beaten over the head, but Law uses it as a method of slowly revealing bits and pieces of important memories, as well as allowing for some truly wonder detailed descriptions that we might not see otherwise.

Not a bad read, I don't regret reading it, although I probably won't actively seek out more of her work either.

The reviewer is a graduate of Kent State University's Library Science program, an Antioch College alumna, and the author of the blog A Librarian's Life in Books.

[Rebecca]

A quiet introspective mystery, but with enough “whodunit” to keep you interested. I enjoyed the classical music metaphors, though at times they felt a little too drawn out. I wouldn’t recommend you run out and buy it, but if you see it at the library, give it a try.

[Heather]

This book was an interesting trip inside of the protagonist's head, as both she and the reader try to unravel the mystery of her life and what really happened prior to her ride on the night bus.

[haidyn]

It was very boring and I just feel there could have been more ups than the same old thing the whole book.