What do you think?
Rate this book
If She Should Die
Three years have passed since erotic, willful Dara Prince disappeared from Winston, West Virginia, leaving a note saying she's run away. Now a body has been found in the creek. A body, Christine Ireland suspects, that could very well belong to her adopted sister Dara. Deputy Sheriff Michael Winter certainly seems to think so. But if Dara's dead, who's been sending Ames prince the letters he always with a different postmark and always signed with his missing daughter's initial?
When Dara's diary turns up unexpectedly, Christine is plunged into her lost sister's dark and mysterious world. Clearly, in the days before her disappearance, Dara was certain somebody was stalking her. As past melds hauntingly with present, people who knew Dara are meeting tragic fates. Now, someone is watching Christine's every move--perhaps just the way they once watched Dara, right before she died. If, indeed, she really did die...
When Dara's diary turns up unexpectedly, Christine is plunged into her lost sister's dark and mysterious world. Clearly, in the days before her disappearance, Dara was certain somebody was stalking her. As past melds hauntingly with present, people who knew Dara are meeting tragic fates. Now, someone is watching Christine's every move--perhaps just the way they once watched Dara, right before she died. If, indeed, she really did die...
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
15 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
Carlene Thompson
24 books257 followersCarlene Thompson is an author of suspense thriller novels.
Her first book, Black for Remembrance, was published in 1990 by Little, Brown and was well received. Her books are suspense novels, often with romantic elements and many take place in Thompson's home state of West Virginia. Her books often feature animals, which she bases on animals she knows in real life.
Her first book, Black for Remembrance, was published in 1990 by Little, Brown and was well received. Her books are suspense novels, often with romantic elements and many take place in Thompson's home state of West Virginia. Her books often feature animals, which she bases on animals she knows in real life.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 12, 2008
I liked the way this was written. How I knew for sure she was dead from the beginning of the book. The ending was great. I didn't have a clue who the killer would be. I was shocked! Christines 'sister' has been missing for 3 years. When a body turns up the evidence suggests it is the body of Dara. Christine feels compelled to search out the clues to find the murders, someone is watching her, the murderer, will he get to christine first? I look forward to reading more by this author.
May 22, 2020
I have read so many of her books, and I am yet to figure out the murderer. She has the reader going one way and then the next.
If you are afraid of snakes, as I am, don’t read.
If you are afraid of snakes, as I am, don’t read.
May 15, 2017
Dara Prince has been missing for three years. Everyone in Winston, West Virginia believes she ran away. But the discovery of a body, long-dead, wrapped in plastic, and floating in the creek may very well tell another ending to Dara’s story. But if Dara’s dead, who’s been mailing her father all those postcards, supposedly from Dara herself?
Christine Ireland is determined to find the truth and, when Dara’s diary unexpectedly turns up, she discovers Dara believed someone was stalking her. And now, people who knew Dara are dying. Is it possible that Dara herself is the one behind all the murders?
Although several characters appear and then have little to do with the story, readers will find the suspense builds as the story progresses. But the unexpected, out-of-the blue ending may be almost too implausible for some readers to accept.
Christine Ireland is determined to find the truth and, when Dara’s diary unexpectedly turns up, she discovers Dara believed someone was stalking her. And now, people who knew Dara are dying. Is it possible that Dara herself is the one behind all the murders?
Although several characters appear and then have little to do with the story, readers will find the suspense builds as the story progresses. But the unexpected, out-of-the blue ending may be almost too implausible for some readers to accept.
May 18, 2015
I really liked this book! After every chapter, I just wanted to keep reading. I thought the characters were very likable and realistic. The plot and ending came together very well. Definitely a good read. May look into reading more of her books.
June 25, 2010
it captured me at the first sentence i couldent put it down .I divower it in only a day and a half.
February 14, 2012
Good read, kinda creepy at first but it settled down and turned out to be a good suspense that kept you guessing as to who the real killer was.
July 2, 2013
What a thriller. Couldn't put this one down. I kept thinking I knew who did it and kept finding out I was wrong. I thought I was a good detective, but not on this one. A definite page turner.
August 1, 2013
A girl missing a stepbrother whose handicapped a town willing to believe the worst of someone a real shocker of a story really enjoyed and kept me on the edge of my seat.
August 30, 2013
I found myself saying, after each occurrence throughout this book, "oh, of course, that would happen". Like it was made up of unoriginal sub-plots.
March 20, 2015
all her books are excellent in my book diary , read when it first came out
July 1, 2015
Carlene Thompson does not disappoint! Another thrilling and highly suspenseful read!!
May 19, 2009
This was a very good book. I could not put it down..
July 1, 2017
Carlene Thompson's novel, If She Should Die, was a good read; I liked it, but it was just okay.
Early on, a character is reading, aloud, from a diary.
"She hates Patricia. Can't stand the Amazon. The Amazon would be me."
Had the diary writer been to the Amazon? Was she comparing herself to the Amazon having read about the river in geography class? No, the reader was informing the listener as to identity of a person called "the Amazon."
It is just a little thing, yet when reading a mystery novel, I do not want to stop reading to ponder or guess "the girl felt she was like a wild, raging river?"
There is an over abundance of red herrings in If She Should Die. By novel's end, those red herrings were not explained. Like: where did so and so really go when s/he conveniently disappeared at exact same time of the murder. Thompson threw that character into the story as the possible culprit, yet never returns to give that character an alibi once the murder was solved.
Loose ends, yet I am left wondering, "Well, where was that person at that time?"
The novel was predictable in the boy meets girl department. It was also a bit implausible; "that many people can hide outside the door eavesdropping on conversations without residents' knowledge?" Real life, I would assume most people would set up motion activated lights after the first peeping Tom-like incident.
I also did not get the reason for the title, nor the row boat on the book jacket illustration. There is a river in the novel, but if there was a mention of a row boat, I missed it. A good read, that I liked of which I found minor flaws.
Early on, a character is reading, aloud, from a diary.
"She hates Patricia. Can't stand the Amazon. The Amazon would be me."
Had the diary writer been to the Amazon? Was she comparing herself to the Amazon having read about the river in geography class? No, the reader was informing the listener as to identity of a person called "the Amazon."
It is just a little thing, yet when reading a mystery novel, I do not want to stop reading to ponder or guess "the girl felt she was like a wild, raging river?"
There is an over abundance of red herrings in If She Should Die. By novel's end, those red herrings were not explained. Like: where did so and so really go when s/he conveniently disappeared at exact same time of the murder. Thompson threw that character into the story as the possible culprit, yet never returns to give that character an alibi once the murder was solved.
Loose ends, yet I am left wondering, "Well, where was that person at that time?"
The novel was predictable in the boy meets girl department. It was also a bit implausible; "that many people can hide outside the door eavesdropping on conversations without residents' knowledge?" Real life, I would assume most people would set up motion activated lights after the first peeping Tom-like incident.
I also did not get the reason for the title, nor the row boat on the book jacket illustration. There is a river in the novel, but if there was a mention of a row boat, I missed it. A good read, that I liked of which I found minor flaws.
August 14, 2023
Questo non è il primo libro della Thompson che leggo e prima di questo avrei detto che questa scrittrice mi piace abbastanza.
Certo, non aspettatevi indagini accurate, alibi solidi, moventi perfettamente logici, finali in cui il protagonista con un lampo di genio scopre l'assassino o perfette caratterizzazione dei personaggi.
I libri di Carlene Thompson sono più adatti a chi apprezza le atmosfere da piccolo paese dove tutti si conoscono e il colpevole viene scovato dando ascolto ai pettegolezzi e svelando antichi segreti .
Ma questo libro è qualcosa di imbarazzante.
Dialoghi per lo più insulsi e ripetuti 2 o più volte.
Personaggi orribili, soprattutto le donne, che in questo libro appartengono solo a 2 specifiche categorie : le puttane o le rompipalle.
Un libro in cui non si capisce in che anno siamo. Si fa accenno ai cellulari, ad internet ed al DNA, quindi è presumibile che il libro sia ambientato in tempi abbastanza recenti.
Ma poi si parla di mangianastri e macchine da scrivere, per non parlare di Christine che dice che il padre le ha lasciato dei soldi, ma che ne è potuta entrare in possesso solo a 22 anni, quando, dice sempre lei, si presupponeva che fosse sposata da un pezzo. O ancora si parla di una ragazza che rimasta incinta ha paura di abortire perché non vuole morire, io non sono un' esperta, ma non credo che l'aborto sia un intervento così pericoloso... forse lo era 50 anni fa.
Voglio darle il beneficio del dubbio, e pensare che questo libro sia stato soltanto un brutto scivolone della Thompson.
Il mio consiglio è di evitare questo libro, è così brutto da essere quasi ridicolo.
Certo, non aspettatevi indagini accurate, alibi solidi, moventi perfettamente logici, finali in cui il protagonista con un lampo di genio scopre l'assassino o perfette caratterizzazione dei personaggi.
I libri di Carlene Thompson sono più adatti a chi apprezza le atmosfere da piccolo paese dove tutti si conoscono e il colpevole viene scovato dando ascolto ai pettegolezzi e svelando antichi segreti .
Ma questo libro è qualcosa di imbarazzante.
Dialoghi per lo più insulsi e ripetuti 2 o più volte.
Personaggi orribili, soprattutto le donne, che in questo libro appartengono solo a 2 specifiche categorie : le puttane o le rompipalle.
Un libro in cui non si capisce in che anno siamo. Si fa accenno ai cellulari, ad internet ed al DNA, quindi è presumibile che il libro sia ambientato in tempi abbastanza recenti.
Ma poi si parla di mangianastri e macchine da scrivere, per non parlare di Christine che dice che il padre le ha lasciato dei soldi, ma che ne è potuta entrare in possesso solo a 22 anni, quando, dice sempre lei, si presupponeva che fosse sposata da un pezzo. O ancora si parla di una ragazza che rimasta incinta ha paura di abortire perché non vuole morire, io non sono un' esperta, ma non credo che l'aborto sia un intervento così pericoloso... forse lo era 50 anni fa.
Voglio darle il beneficio del dubbio, e pensare che questo libro sia stato soltanto un brutto scivolone della Thompson.
Il mio consiglio è di evitare questo libro, è così brutto da essere quasi ridicolo.
November 27, 2023
Another mystery/thriller from Thompson. This is set in Winston, West Virginia, a small town near the Ohio River. Christine Ireland works in a jewelry store owned by a powerful lawyer, Ames Prince. Dara, the daughter of Ames, has been missing for three years. A body is found downriver, and the police suspect it is Dara's. This is the incident that sets off the story. Christine and her mentally challenged brother, Jeremy, are plunged into a dark, mysterious world. Some reviewers have criticized Thompson's novels as formulaic and predictable. And there's an element of truth those points. I also found the pacing to be slow here and some of the dialogue stilted and stagey. Then again, Thompson knows how to draw the reader in and put her characters in peril. Suspense is one of her traits. There's a good number of red herrings and obstacles in the plot. A worthwhile read.
August 11, 2024
3.4
Classic mystery with multiple suspects who all seem plausible. I was guessing til the very end.
A lot of the events and twists that added to the plot were a bit too convenient for my liking. There were also a lot of unanswered question about some of the characters who were suspects til the very end.
Classic mystery with multiple suspects who all seem plausible. I was guessing til the very end.
A lot of the events and twists that added to the plot were a bit too convenient for my liking. There were also a lot of unanswered question about some of the characters who were suspects til the very end.
February 2, 2026
DNF nach 120 Seiten.
Meine Güte, ist das schlecht geschrieben!! Normalerweise mag ich die Autorin, aber das hier liest sich wie ein schlechter erster Versuch einer Person, die das erste Mal einen Roman schreibt.
Meine Güte, ist das schlecht geschrieben!! Normalerweise mag ich die Autorin, aber das hier liest sich wie ein schlechter erster Versuch einer Person, die das erste Mal einen Roman schreibt.
August 17, 2018
I really enjoyed this book. I thought I had it figured out but I was wrong. Nice twist to it. Characters were fun & they all had their own mystery
November 27, 2019
The book is 306 pages long. The Goodreads description is incorrect.
May 25, 2024
This was a great book. Had me from the begging. I figured it out way before it was done. Did not disappoint.
December 20, 2023
I was looking through some books the library had for sale. I ran across this book and it looked interesting to me. From page one until the end I was hooked. This book was very well written. It kept me wanting to read the next page. I will definately be reading more of her books. I have already ordered my next one. This book is well worth reading.
January 28, 2016
This is a very good mystery, however, out of all of Carlene Thompson's books I have read, this is my least favorite only because, the author usually leaves some pretty heavy cliff hangers between chapters and I didn't really notice as many in this book as in her other works - but I still recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries! If you are not interested in snakes, the poisonous kind, you might want to skip this book! Happy reading!
August 18, 2025
From the very first sentence of this book, I was dying to know what happened. Every single time i thought I knew who-done- it , I was wrong.
We know from the beginning that Darlene is dead. Her diary mysteriously appears again and then people start dying... who is doing the killing? What's the motive? Did they kill Darlene to? I was hooked and asking myself all of these questions. I almost had it right too ;)
We know from the beginning that Darlene is dead. Her diary mysteriously appears again and then people start dying... who is doing the killing? What's the motive? Did they kill Darlene to? I was hooked and asking myself all of these questions. I almost had it right too ;)
September 8, 2015
Carlene Thompson's last chapter was inaccurate. She left out some of the information about the rescue and inserted it into the Epilogue. Otherwise the book was very good.
February 18, 2012
Book #34 read in 2010
This book was ok. A little forgettable.
This book was ok. A little forgettable.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews