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The Divided Child
Sunny Greece turns deadly....
All Christine Stewart wants is a relaxing vacation on the beautiful Greek island of Corfu. Then she meets nine-year-old Michael Redfield and saves him from being crushed by a falling piece of Byzantine stone.
Invited to spend the rest of her holiday at the luxurious villa where Michael is staying with his family, Christine soon realizes something is wrong with the Redfield clan.
Michael's stepmother is openly hostile, her brother is charmingly seductive, and Michael's handsome uncle seems obsessed with the death of his brother--Michael's father.
Christine has no desire to become even more deeply embroiled in the family's problems, but how can she abandon Michael when she learns he is the pawn in a nasty custody battle...and the target of a killer?
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2001
14 people are currently reading
185 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 15, 2023
plot twists fit for a movie
Each chapter surprised me as I read new and unexpected discoveries as the story unfolded. In the end I determined the story would make a perfect romantic suspense movie.
Each chapter surprised me as I read new and unexpected discoveries as the story unfolded. In the end I determined the story would make a perfect romantic suspense movie.
March 5, 2022
This book started fine and ended well, but that middle dragged. The dialogue so high school and much repeating. I was very glad to finish this book.
September 5, 2013
This is reminiscent of Mary Stewart, perhaps because it's set on Corfu the locale of one of my favorite Stewart stories. Even the plot seems familiar. But that doesn't keep it from being thoroughly enjoyable.
When our heroine meets up with a nine-year-old boy and rescues him from a falling piece of concrete, she finds herself suspected in a bitter custody battle between the boy's step-mother and his uncle.
The step-mother thinks she's a spy for the uncle; the uncle thinks she's a spy for his sister-in-law. Oh, and throw in the step-mother's brother, a handsome playboy who's attracted to our heroine. And who seems perfect for a villain.
Even if the uncle is pretty darned appealing.
Trying to figure out what's going on and who's telling the truth and who she can trust, our heroine goes down one path and then another.
There are some parts that kind of stretch belief, but on the whole, this is a good read to while away an evening.
If you like romantic suspense/mystery in the style of Phyllis Whitney and Mary Stewart--no sex but plenty of intrigue--you'll enjoy this story.
When our heroine meets up with a nine-year-old boy and rescues him from a falling piece of concrete, she finds herself suspected in a bitter custody battle between the boy's step-mother and his uncle.
The step-mother thinks she's a spy for the uncle; the uncle thinks she's a spy for his sister-in-law. Oh, and throw in the step-mother's brother, a handsome playboy who's attracted to our heroine. And who seems perfect for a villain.
Even if the uncle is pretty darned appealing.
Trying to figure out what's going on and who's telling the truth and who she can trust, our heroine goes down one path and then another.
There are some parts that kind of stretch belief, but on the whole, this is a good read to while away an evening.
If you like romantic suspense/mystery in the style of Phyllis Whitney and Mary Stewart--no sex but plenty of intrigue--you'll enjoy this story.
January 5, 2015
Who should she trust? When Christine goes to Corfu she meets young Michael and soon discovers it's hard to know who wants to protect him and who wants to kill him. There are several "accidents" and the alibis are weak -- was it Demetria (the stepmother), Spiro (her brother), Helen (the nanny), Geoffrey (the uncle), Paul (the gardner), Robert (the family lawyer), or even the police.
I was first drawn to the book because the action took place on the Greek island of Corfu and I have fond memories of a long ago visit. Ms. Nikas vividly portrays the warmth of the people and describes the beautiful beaches and the various shades of blue in the sea surrounding the island.
If Corfu drew me in it was the interesting people and the many twists and turns in the story that kept me turning the pages.
No sex
No violence
I was first drawn to the book because the action took place on the Greek island of Corfu and I have fond memories of a long ago visit. Ms. Nikas vividly portrays the warmth of the people and describes the beautiful beaches and the various shades of blue in the sea surrounding the island.
If Corfu drew me in it was the interesting people and the many twists and turns in the story that kept me turning the pages.
No sex
No violence
September 17, 2012
I was looking for this book for sometime and a friend recently found it in his library and gave it to me. I remember reading it a dozen years ago and enjoying it, but on this re-read am finding it more of a Mary Stewart pastiche than an homage. I'm only a few chapters in and need to read some more and see if it improves.
June 16, 2015
Good summer beach read. This combination mystery/suspense/romance novel set on a Greek island held my attention although the main character's actions were sometimes improbable. Free read via Amazon Prime Kindle Lending Library.
January 22, 2016
Entertaining
This was a quick read, I was able to finish it in a couple of days. Aside from a few grammatical errors (discreet and discrete are NOT interchangeable!), it was a halfway decent story.
This was a quick read, I was able to finish it in a couple of days. Aside from a few grammatical errors (discreet and discrete are NOT interchangeable!), it was a halfway decent story.
March 20, 2015
Good read
I completely enjoyed this book.Easy to read..good mystery.....liked the characters. I'd recommend this to anyone.Will read this author's work again.
I completely enjoyed this book.Easy to read..good mystery.....liked the characters. I'd recommend this to anyone.Will read this author's work again.
April 11, 2015
A good story and enjoyable read. It was reminiscent of some of Mary Stewart's books.
April 17, 2015
Divided Child
Good story, characters, and plot. Sometimes drawn out more than needed. Overall a good read. Why do these reviews have to be 20 words?
Good story, characters, and plot. Sometimes drawn out more than needed. Overall a good read. Why do these reviews have to be 20 words?
May 23, 2016
Great read
I could hardly put the book down. It kept me wondering til almost the very end. Has Ms. Nikas written any more?
I could hardly put the book down. It kept me wondering til almost the very end. Has Ms. Nikas written any more?
March 23, 2016
More of a suspense novel that had a tiny bit of romance and was a bit convoluted.
April 14, 2014
Entertaining light-weight romance/mystery set in Greece.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews