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Deborah Robinson lived on a quiet street in a small town with her handsome husband and darling twins. It was the picture-perfect life---until the day Deborah's husband vanished without a trace.
Or For Worse...
Before he disappeared, Steve had been on edge. When he told her he was distracted by work, Deborah is scared. She's heard about the sadistic murders of several local women, and she can't shake the horrible feeling that the killings are somehow connected to Steve's disappearance.
Until Death Do Us Part...
Torn by guilt, tormented by suspiciou, Deborah begins to delve into the shadowy secrets of her husband's past. What she finds will chill her to the bone. Dor Deborah no longer knows who or what her husband was. But she does know that someone is watching the Robinson house, someone who has ruthlessly killed---and is only waiting for the perfect moment to stike again...
Or For Worse...
Before he disappeared, Steve had been on edge. When he told her he was distracted by work, Deborah is scared. She's heard about the sadistic murders of several local women, and she can't shake the horrible feeling that the killings are somehow connected to Steve's disappearance.
Until Death Do Us Part...
Torn by guilt, tormented by suspiciou, Deborah begins to delve into the shadowy secrets of her husband's past. What she finds will chill her to the bone. Dor Deborah no longer knows who or what her husband was. But she does know that someone is watching the Robinson house, someone who has ruthlessly killed---and is only waiting for the perfect moment to stike again...
348 pages, Paperback
First published March 2, 1995
17 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Carlene Thompson
22 books254 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 6, 2015
I really like this book! Carlene Thompson has done it again with another page turner with a lot of suspense! There are a lot of red herrings and plot twists which keep the story very interesting! This is only the second book I've read by Carlene Thompson, the other one being "Black for Remembrance" which was excellent also! Anyway, I'm definitely going to keep reading this author's books! I highly recommend her work!
March 22, 2023
Sie schreibt die besten Krimis!! Die sind einfach alle eins zu eins gleich aber ich liebs jedes Mal wieder, die besten sind die die in den 90ern rausgekommen sind
October 14, 2025
Super quick read, full of twists and turns!
January 18, 2014
The book has an interesting plot that makes you wanna read it in as fast possible but I feel the way of presenting the subject is not nearly as captivating. I see it as a good story but quite a mediocre way of putting it into life (eg, dialogues).
January 30, 2018
Un thriller psicologico costruito molto bene, dove la tensione aumenta pagina dopo pagina e dove sono i rapporti interpersonali il centro dell'indagine. Una conferma per la Thompson, nelle mie letture.
July 4, 2010
Loved it! This was a great mystery that kept me guessing into the last few chapters of the book. Carlene Thompson is a great author and I really enjoy her books.
September 24, 2010
It was a really good book.
October 19, 2010
This was another thriller by Carlene Thompson. I had a hard time putting it down. I can't wait for another good thriller from Thompson.
August 13, 2016
My first Carlene Thompson read. All the male characters could have been the perp. Kept me guessing right to the end.
August 11, 2016
fast moving, well written mystery. It was nice seeing the characters develop & trying to guess the "bad guy".
June 22, 2015
Highly entertaining! Kept me guessing until the very end!!
March 20, 2015
read when it first came out
August 12, 2018
Come sei bella stasera di Carlene Thompson viene presentato come un thriller psicologico, ma la definizione non è del tutto calzante. Manca quella sottile inquietudine dove tutto viene messo in dubbio, a cominciare dalla percezione degli eventi da parte del personaggio principale.
Di fatti, Deborah Robinson si trova ad avere a che fare con un pericolo molto più tangibile, fatto di telefonate minatorie, regali recapitati sull'uscio di casa, strani movimenti di notte, aggressioni e minacce all'incolumità dei suoi figli.
Di "psicologico", quindi, ci sono soprattutto i dubbi che cominciano ad attanagliare Deborah dopo la scomparsa di suo marito Steve: possibile che qualcuno desideroso di vendetta l'abbia ucciso? Oppure, ipotesi ancor più agghiacciante, Steve è fuggito di sua volontà, sentendosi ormai braccato dal FBI sulle tracce dello Strangolatore del Vicolo, un serial killer che picchia selvaggiamente, violenta e strangola giovani donne, tutte molto somiglianti proprio a Deborah? Nell'arco di una settimana Deborah vede la propria vita andare a rotoli, e proprio a pochi giorni dal Natale e con due bambini di cinque anni a cui è davvero difficile spiegare la situazione, anche perché lei stessa non riesce a capire cosa stia succedendo. Pian piano, però, si convince che l'unica cosa da fare sia indagare su qualcosa successo 20 anni prima, e che ha segnato per sempre Steve e la sua famiglia...
Nonostante il tanto fumo negli occhi gettato, non è difficile capire chi sia davvero il misterioso assassino, non solo per i chiari indizi disseminati nel corso della narrazione, ma anche perché nel momento in cui vengono fornite così tante piste e così tanti papabili colpevoli, è naturale eliminare praticamente a priori le alternative più scontante e quasi di prassi in questo genere di racconti.
In positivo, una prosa molto agile e la quasi assenza di momenti morti.
Sufficiente si, ma nulla di più.
Di fatti, Deborah Robinson si trova ad avere a che fare con un pericolo molto più tangibile, fatto di telefonate minatorie, regali recapitati sull'uscio di casa, strani movimenti di notte, aggressioni e minacce all'incolumità dei suoi figli.
Di "psicologico", quindi, ci sono soprattutto i dubbi che cominciano ad attanagliare Deborah dopo la scomparsa di suo marito Steve: possibile che qualcuno desideroso di vendetta l'abbia ucciso? Oppure, ipotesi ancor più agghiacciante, Steve è fuggito di sua volontà, sentendosi ormai braccato dal FBI sulle tracce dello Strangolatore del Vicolo, un serial killer che picchia selvaggiamente, violenta e strangola giovani donne, tutte molto somiglianti proprio a Deborah? Nell'arco di una settimana Deborah vede la propria vita andare a rotoli, e proprio a pochi giorni dal Natale e con due bambini di cinque anni a cui è davvero difficile spiegare la situazione, anche perché lei stessa non riesce a capire cosa stia succedendo. Pian piano, però, si convince che l'unica cosa da fare sia indagare su qualcosa successo 20 anni prima, e che ha segnato per sempre Steve e la sua famiglia...
Nonostante il tanto fumo negli occhi gettato, non è difficile capire chi sia davvero il misterioso assassino, non solo per i chiari indizi disseminati nel corso della narrazione, ma anche perché nel momento in cui vengono fornite così tante piste e così tanti papabili colpevoli, è naturale eliminare praticamente a priori le alternative più scontante e quasi di prassi in questo genere di racconti.
In positivo, una prosa molto agile e la quasi assenza di momenti morti.
Sufficiente si, ma nulla di più.
October 24, 2023
I picked this one up at a book sale because I really like this author. I was disappointed in this story though. The majority of the story takes place though conversations at the main character's home. There is very little of the story that takes place elsewhere and little to no action or movement on the part of the characters. They literally just sit at the house talking about the husband's disappearance. Theories, fears, will he ever be found? But no meal movement of the story. As a matter of fact, the main part of the mystery...the MEAT of the story...doesn't unfold until about the last 70 pages. I was really disappointed as I have really come to depend on this author for thoughtful and clever stories with a flair for thrilling the reader.
November 25, 2024
Uno dei gialli più belli a tema natalizio, la regina del thriller.
Credo che ogni persona che ami il thriller psicologico deve assolutamente conoscere questa autrice perché è davvero brava.
Deborah ha una vita molto ordinaria mamma di due gemelli m, con un marito che la ama. Tutto va benissimo fin quando due giorni prima di Natale il marito sparisce nel nulla. Nel frattempo in giro c’è un killer spietato, viene chiamato lo strangolatore del vicolo, adesca le vittime le picchia, strangola e stupra.
Il sospetto ricade su Steve che è scomparso e nessuno sa dove sia finito.
Sarà sua moglie a scoprire la verità.
Credo che ogni persona che ami il thriller psicologico deve assolutamente conoscere questa autrice perché è davvero brava.
Deborah ha una vita molto ordinaria mamma di due gemelli m, con un marito che la ama. Tutto va benissimo fin quando due giorni prima di Natale il marito sparisce nel nulla. Nel frattempo in giro c’è un killer spietato, viene chiamato lo strangolatore del vicolo, adesca le vittime le picchia, strangola e stupra.
Il sospetto ricade su Steve che è scomparso e nessuno sa dove sia finito.
Sarà sua moglie a scoprire la verità.
February 22, 2023
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story was great and it really put me on edge, I was guessing the whole way through but by the end I was happy that everything was properly tied up. Would read another by Carlene Thompson anytime.
September 6, 2025
Tre stelle e mezzo.
A me questo libro è generalmente piaciuto. Scritto bene, senza troppe pretese, con una scrittura lineare ma carica di suspance che ti fa venir voglia di vedere quale sarà l'epilogo. Lo consiglio, anche se ho letto di meglio.
A me questo libro è generalmente piaciuto. Scritto bene, senza troppe pretese, con una scrittura lineare ma carica di suspance che ti fa venir voglia di vedere quale sarà l'epilogo. Lo consiglio, anche se ho letto di meglio.
March 29, 2019
a good story! kept you wondering which one was the killer.
April 15, 2020
The story makes me want to read all in one night...
April 14, 2021
Major gripe about this book is that more than half of the things that happened in this book are unbelievable. The suspense in the story was good but was easy to figure out.
March 10, 2022
Good read
Fast paced. Caught your attention at the first page. Kept b you in suspense till final chapter. I would recommend this book
Fast paced. Caught your attention at the first page. Kept b you in suspense till final chapter. I would recommend this book
September 16, 2023
Éponge jetée, comme pressenti, après lectures des premiers chapitres.
September 6, 2025
This book is every bit as good as Black For Remembrance. The setting is in winter and I was going to wait until cold weather to read it but once I picked it up I could not put it down.
March 5, 2024
I read this one about three times. It was fast paced and compelling and kept me guessing. I allowed many years to pass before reading it again. The first read was the best of course but the others were enjoyable also.
I read it in one sitting, quickly turning the pages until the ending came all too quickly. It was written in a way that I wanted the story to be longer. Not that it was incomplete, I just didnt want to say goodbye to the story.
I read it in one sitting, quickly turning the pages until the ending came all too quickly. It was written in a way that I wanted the story to be longer. Not that it was incomplete, I just didnt want to say goodbye to the story.
October 18, 2015
This is my first book by Carlene thompson and I absolutely love her. I am looking for another of her books to read next. This is an older book, but it is still relevant, except no cellphones. The husband disappears and someone is murdering young women in town. There were many twists and turns that kept me reading through the night. I wanted to sleep, but I couldn't until I found out "who did it." I highly recommend this book.
December 30, 2016
This is the very first book by Carlene Thompson. From the first part of this book I knew that I wanted to read more from this author! Within a few books she my favorite author and had remained there for at least 10 years, and still does, only with the addition of one more favorite authors, Emerald O'Brien. This book has all of the twists and turns anyone could ask for. She had me hooked within the first few chapters, I had to stay awake a many a night reading this book.
November 8, 2016
This was my first read by Carlene Thompson and I loved it! I was hooked all the way to the end. At some point or another throughout the entire book every male character becomes a suspect. I knew all along Joe wasn't the killer but never, ever suspected Pete! I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves a good suspenseful page-turner!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2013
davvero niente di che questo gialletto psicologico pieno di colpi di scena: parte bene ma poi si affloscia miseramente e si capisce l'identità del serial killer più o meno a metà libro. peccato, sarebbe potuto essere più avvincente.
December 19, 2013
as usual, the real killer is the and somewhat deranged as well.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews