Split Image

by Judy Mercer

In Judy Mercer's acclaimed suspense novels one thing is nothing is ever quite what it seems. This terrifying premise has entangled Mercer's memorable heroine, TV newsmagazine producer Ariel Gold, in two superb Fast Forward, hailed as "one of the best suspense novels of the year" (Cleveland Plain Dealer ), and Double Take. Now, Judy Mercer ingeniously twists a sensational unsolved murder into a uniquely personal crisis for the determined but vulnerable Ariel.... First there was a phone call, then a chance encounter on a Brentwood street. He tells Ariel his name is Jack Spurling, and he seems astounded that she has forgotten him. But Ariel is a 33-year-old woman with only one year of memory, the rest of her life erased by amnesia. Why should she remember Spurling in particular? Then she learns that he was at the center of one of the most notorious stories she ever covered -- the story of a man who many believe got away with the murder of his wife. With her own missing history aching like a lost limb, Ariel is compelled to reconstruct the events leading up to the trial, which ended in a hung jury. And the closer she gets to Jack Spurling, the more she wants to believe in his innocence. A man of confident, intimate charm, he stirs long-dormant feelings in Ariel -- and her own attraction brings on a powerful compulsion to unearth the truth. But when Ariel digs deeper into Spurting's past, she uncovers a sordid tale -- a party years ago that degenerated into a whirpool of adultery, jealousy, and violence. And the events set in motion that evening, on a yacht far out at sea, are only now coming to a climax...giving Ariel just one chance to decide between what she feels in her heart and what she knows in her gut. A novel of electrifying suspense that snakes to a shocking conclusion, Split Image proves that Judy Mercer is a first-class writer at the pinnacle of her craft.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Romance

476 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Sandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ariel Gold is a 33 year old widow, an amnesiac, a somewhat unwilling TV journalist, the grand-daughter of mega rich B.F., and the sometime girlfriend of wonderful Henry. When called upon to do a story about Jack Spurling, a notorious charmer, handsome and smooth talking.........and a guy a lot of folks think got away with the murder of his wife, Ariel is filled with a sense of dread as well a reporters compelling desire to uncover the truth and get the story.

As her investigation progresses Ariel finds herself torn between the logic of what her head is telling her and the long suppresses feelings that are suddenly surfacing. Is Jack a cold, calculating murderer or the victim of a woman bent on having him, no matter what the cost.

Bursting at the seams with atmosphere, twisted truths, missing memories, a plethora of page turning intrigues, and an ending that lets the reader draw their own conclusion, Split Image illustrates that Judy Mercer is the unparalleled queen of the suspense novel.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was a confusing mess. I didn't like the characters or the way they behaved in the story.

I spent most of the book thinking "You're an idiot" about both main characters and actually hoping the one was the killer and he got killed in the end. sadly this was not the case.

Also, this book made it seem like she had been at this job a while but no one was aware that she didn't remember past a year ago? How is it only 3 people in her life know this? This is so unbelievable that I have a hard time getting past if for the rest of the parts of the story to really come through.

[DAB-E · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book keeps you guessing until the very end. I bought this book in a grab bag from the library and finally had the chance to read it. It is one that I may not have taken out on my own, but so glad I got it and read it.

I guessed from the beginning that this might be part of a series, but there were enouhg details that it stands alone. Now I am anxious to read the books that came before this one.

Great characters and fast paced book.

[Jo Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book.

Yes, it had amnesia, and murder of one - possibly more - spouses, and large inheritances, and probably two crazy women as well, but the characters were legitimate and the story engrossing.

This is the winter that I am reading old mystery and crime stories, and this was one of the good ones.

[ANGELIA · Rating 1 out of 5]

I remember once there was some live event on TV (one of those hokey celebrations that's supposed to convince us all's right with the world after all, yeah sure) and while a lot of people were impressed, I asked my middle school nephew his opinion and he said, "I thought it was dumb!" Well, as far as this book's concerned, I agree with my nephew.

[Jānis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tīri izklaides krimiķītis ar ne pārāk samežģītu sižetu, bet interesi spēja uzturēt.
Viņa (tur pat ar sižetu nebija baigā saistība) pakāsusi dvīņu māsu, atmiņu par to, kas bijis agrāk par gadu un savu vīru.

Viņš - apvainots sievas slepkavībā, bet nenotiesāts... Nu un meklējam vainīgos :D

[Muff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the ambiguity of the end. Ariel is a conundrum sometimes, complicated and confused by the lack of a past, but smart and honorable. I wonder if we'll ever learn what happen to her memories.

[Lone Jørgensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meget dårlig dansk oversættelse. Ordenen flyder slet ikke; mange sætninger må læses igen for at få meningen frem.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donated to Friends of the Library 2019

[Lindsay Clair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, I flew through it. Kept my mind guessing until the end and had a few “what?!” moments.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again, not a bad read, but not the greatest. This is the third in a line of four. This is an improvement from the first one written. I do wonder why the author took basically the same route as in the first book-Ariel, while doing a story for the show she works, gets involved with the subject of her investigation. It didn't go well in the first story, so lets put it in another one and see where it goes. Again, at times there was confusion during the story lines. While investigating the story of who really murdered Jack's wife two years ago, Ariel becomes sort of involved with him, starts falling for him, his charm, his concern for her, even becoming sort of possessive over her. All the while, she is in some sort of relationship with Henry, from work, that had started few months back. She, basically tosses him aside, forgetting her feelings for him and falling into the charms of Jack. Things happen to her once again, graffiti on her house, messages being left on her machine, even one tossed through her mail slot. Jack believes it is the woman he claims that is responsible for his wifes murder. And that Ariel is being targeted because of her "involvement" with Jack. She is also investigating another story about a cult leader that she blames all this on. She thinks it has ended when the one person breaks into her house-here we go again-and confronts her, only to be taken in by the police. Ariel ends up back in Colorado with Jack when he receives a call to inform him his father in law had been murdered. While there, she becomes suspicious of Jack and thinks maybe he may have done everything being accused of. While Jack was gone, a visitor comes to the house, it was then that Ariel realizes it is the missing woman whom Jack claims killed his wife. She tries to convince Ariel he is guilty, wants to kill her if he finds her there and will probably kill her as well if she doesn't leave with her. He returns, finds the woman there, orders Ariel to leave, which she doesn't, then he does a turn around and starts to show affection towards this woman, still trying to get Ariel to leave. Ariel hears a shot, sees Jack back up and the woman slump to the floor. She wants to call the police, he doesn't want her too. He wants to leave. Then, in some sort of confusion to the reader, apparently there is more shots, from the woman who we assumed was dead. She manages to shoot Jack, but not Ariel for whatever reason. Then, Ariel is back home, working on the story for her show, asks Henry for his opinion, and perhaps, maybe they may get back on track with their relationship, whatever it may be. Will be reading the fourth one, I had originally started with that awhile back and realized there were three preceding it. I can only hope this one will be better. This one ended, not knowing really if Jack was innocent or not about killing his wife and what his true intentions were with Ariel. Was she just another conquest for him, or did her really have feeling for her?

[DAB-E · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book keeps you guessing until the very end. I bought this book from a grab bag at the library and am so glad I got a chance to read it. I might not have picked it out otherwise, since there are so many books to chose from.

From the beginning I realized that this must be part of a series, but the details backfill enough that the book stands on its own. Of course, I now want to go back and read the others.

This is hard to put down. Great characters and fast-paced.

[RiverShore · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would make a good suspense movie. Keeps you wondering about "who done it".

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay book....feel like I've read a similar story line (murder on a boat, unable to locate the body)...or seen it on a TV show.

[Gerry Durisin · Rating 3 out of 5]

TV producer Ariel Gold’s investigation of an unsolved murder is complicated by her attraction to the accused murderer.

[Martha]

last third of book is very slow

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised how much I like this series. It was a impulse purchase and I'm glad I made it.