Wired

by Martha Carr

Will the truth set you free or get you killed?
Mary Elizabeth and Charlie’s marriage is fading away as Charlie tries to just get along and Mary Elizabeth struggles not to disappear completely. A murdered teenager is discovered at the local teenage hangout on a bluff high above main street bringing back memories to Mary Elizabeth that she would rather forget but may hold the key to saving an entire town. But when the bodies keep popping up everyone must struggle with feelings of guilt, shame and redemption.

“Every bit as good as Mary Higgins Clark’s highly successful novels of psychological suspense. Suspenseful and entertaining” The Chattanooga Free Press

“From page one through the last chapter Carr takes the reader on a quick-paced and easy-flowing tour of murder, suspense and steamy romance. Be prepared to stay up past your bedtime with this one.” Library Journal

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

313 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1993

About the author

Okay, I'm a late bloomer who's a big DC comics fan and spent my childhood summers on the Jersey shore but I was born under a wandering star and have lived in different parts of America ever since. That's enough about me. Need to feel inspired today? Looking for something to make you root for an ordinary hero? I'm all about that in everything I write.

I love a good tale that makes me wonder about things and I love a story even more that leaves me feeling inspired or like I'm capable of doing more than I realized. That's my goal with everything I've ever written. Some of the stories I tell involve twisting, turning thrillers and others have a lot of magic.

There's something to be said for getting lost in another world and coming out the other side feeling a little better about yourself or the possibilities in front of you. That's basically the best part of life in a nutshell, no matter what kind of story I'm setting out to tell.

Thank you for checking out my stories!

Reviews

[Melissa Storm]

Will the truth set you free or get you killed? That’s what Martha Randolph Carr sets to find out in her classic thriller Wired.

I’ve had the honor of working with Martha on a bit o’ publicity as she attempts to re-launch Wired almost 20 years after its initial release. “I want to bring Wired to a whole new generation, one that wasn’t reading yet when the book first came out,” says the ever-inspiring Ms. Carr.

What can you expect from Wired? Other than suspenseful bliss?

It’s a cross between Fried Green Tomatoes and Silence of the Lambs, Wired pits the mind of a monster—an electrician nicknamed Blue—against his first victim, the only one that got away, Mary Elizabeth, who’s now a stay at home mom to small Matthew. Interweaving story lines with well-drawn characters playing out the story of a small town overcoming racism and the old way of doing things in order to figure out who is the killer among them.

Did you know that serial killers are born on the moon? Well, at least that’s what an expert claimed in Martha Randolph Carr’s thorough research on the topic. They can’t be understood, just appreciated for what they do well.

But Carr’s monster is not a Martian, er Moon Man; he’s home-grown from the small town of Boothe County and tests the secrets some have been keeping all of their life and at first, let them stay buried.

Denial has worked so well for Mary Elizabeth that people mistake her for cold rather than shut down. It’s just the way she likes it even if it’s driving her husband, Charlie into the arms of an unexpected new love. Their marriage unravels as Charlie finds himself seeking refuge on the other side of town in the home of his clerk, Douglas and falling for Douglas’ sister, Thelma.

Quite predictably, old patterns run deep in Boothe County where the different sides of town rarely meet even when passing each other down the grocery aisle. But with the start of a long, hot summer and the first murdered girl discovered at the local teenage hangout, a bluff high above the main street, the boundaries start to unravel. When a close family friend loses his beloved daughter everyone must struggle with feelings of guilt, shame and redemption.

What’s it like inside the head of a killer? Sometimes, it IS terrifying, chilling, harrowing. Other times, we can almost understand. Wired manages to capture small town life in all of its varieties while killing off several of the inhabitants.

The story will keep you guessing and turning pages till the end, not only to see who did it but how everyone’s life turns out in the end. At times, Wired will make you laugh out loud and then want to lock your front door before you read another page.

Now since I am Martha’s publicist, I’m gonna share some awesome blurbage down here:

“Every bit as good as Mary Higgins Clark’s highly successful novels of psychological suspense. Suspenseful and entertaining” -- The Chattanooga Free Press

“From page one through the last chapter Carr takes the reader on a quick-paced and easy-flowing tour of murder, suspense and steamy romance. Be prepared to stay up past your bedtime with this one.” -- Library Journal

“Simply enjoy being in the hands of an accomplished writer like Carr, whose lively characters and inviting descriptions of family life and love are the hallmarks of a gifted writer.” -- Grand Rapids Press

Okay, now how excited are you to read Wired?

Bonus Knowledge: Martha has a little poll thingy on her Facebook page asking fans to self-identify with one of Wired’s characters. I got “I'm a Killer - Really Misunderstood, Deadly to be Around.” Totally sounds like me, yes? Or didn’t you know...

Jaws music plays, da da da!

Okay, I’m joking, but it was fun to be Blue for a minute. You’ll get to be Blue for lots of minutes if you read Wired (wink, wink).

[Bri Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blurb

Mary Elizabeth and Charlie’s marriage is fading away as Charlie tries to just get along and Mary Elizabeth struggles not to disappear completely. A murdered teenager is discovered at the local teenage hangout on a bluff high above main street bringing back memories to Mary Elizabeth that she would rather forget but may hold the key to saving an entire town. But when the bodies keep popping up everyone must struggle with feelings of guilt, shame and redemption.

Review

Now those that read this blog know that I am a sucker for romance and thrillers. Well in Wired I got both. Martha Carr's writing is an interesting blend of characterization, plot, and dialogue that is so real and dynamic you think you are reading a movie. Only the screen is in your head. I'll also mention movie rights are being discussed. I'm not surprised.

It is expected in any novel that the reader identify with the main protagonist. That the readers feels what they feel, cries with them, roots for them and just all around connects with them. While you will feel, cry and even root for Mary Elizabeth it is hard to like her...until the end. From the first paragraph I didn't hate her but I didn't like her. Charlie, her husband, was typical yet layered. It's obvious he has a much better relationship with their adorable son. It takes talent to make a reader to feel so strongly about the characters as I did in Wired.

Martha has a craft similar to thriller authors like Vincent Zandri where they reveal a little here and there. And then at some point you start having these moments where things begin to click but still leave you surprised with the ending.

However, her writing of the sexual scenes and thoughts were tasteful yet emotional and poignant like the romance authors I adore some much.

I highly recommend Wired. It's a great read especially for right before Halloween.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, fast-paced book.

[Tammy Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine surviving a brutal attack. One where the obvious conclusion is murder but somehow you get away. Now imagine you are only 15yrs old, terrified to get help from the police and unable to confide in your mother.
Fifteen years in to the future is where you will begin this story. Mary Elizabeth has a family now. A husband and beautiful son but there is something missing in her soul. Her heart doesn't seem complete and those closest to her have begun to distance themselves. Her husband Charlie knows something has been wrong with Mary Elizabeth for some time but is unable to get her to talk with him, so he avoids the problem. Her young son is obviously much more closer to Charlie.
I found the beginning of this thriller to be very dark and oppressive. I identified with Charlie but found I truly disliked Mary Elizabeth. This was at once awkward and authentic to me.
There is an unwritten rule most of us subscribe to when we read a thriller or suspense story like Wired. We will ALWAYS identify and like the main character. Most especially if she is a victim. The problem with this is it isn't always reasonable.
Given the circumstances of Wired and the role Mary Elizabeth has been given by Martha Randolph Carr, there is no way you will believe a strong, loving, sympathetic character.
I promise you this, you will understand her and you will eventually empathize with her.

Here is the book summary:Will the truth set you free or get you killed?
Mary Elizabeth and Charlie’s marriage is fading away as Charlie tries to just get along and Mary Elizabeth struggles not to disappear completely. A murdered teenager is discovered at the local teenage hangout on a bluff high above main street bringing back memories to Mary Elizabeth that she would rather forget but may hold the key to saving an entire town. But when the bodies keep popping up everyone must struggle with feelings of guilt, shame and redemption.

Martha Randolph Carr does and exceptional job in the creation of Mary. The building of tension is felt by all characters and I felt it as well. As most people who have read my reviews know, I put great stock in characters. I just have to believe them in most cases. There is always the exception but if you feel as I do, pick up this fantastic read!

[Pamela Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Elizabeth has a secret.
A big, bad, hairy secret that won't stay quiet.
All the myriad joys in her life - a baffled husband who loves her, an adorable child, neighbors who stand guard, but don't pry, a garden lush in bloom, and a special friend full of patient wisdom - can't stand up to the

lone evil dark ugly pervasive overwhelming caustic repulsive noisy hateful violent wicked unholy sick

secret that has never left her. Indeed, it has grown and festered in her psyche, hard as she's tried to control it and live with it in a dusty corner of her memories.
But now that secret is manifesting itself again, and wreaking havoc with the people in the small town where Mary Elizabeth and Charlie call home.
It's more skilled and efficient now, and it's hit too close to home.
How this couple exorcises the secret Mary Elizabeth holds is the journey you take when you pick up Wired.


Wired is like a roller coaster -- a slow climb up, ...up... u p ... until you reach the peak...
... and then one long, whip-fast, twisting, emotional ride all the way down to the final resolution.

Charlie is the rollercoaster car the reader rides along in, identifying and sympathizing with his emotions - indignation, bafflement, frustration - and turns them into self-discovery, wonderment, joy, and finally, a satisfying resolution. The reader can't help but root for this hero who comes to learn more about himself in the midst of devastating loss than he ever did in the tedium of safe, everyday life. Ms. Carr takes us through a wringer of a journey in learning Charlie's essence and the stuff he's made of.

Mary Elizabeth's character arc doesn't disappoint either - like kudzu that can overwhelm a garden, until a gardener appears to prune and shear and manicure it into submission.

Mentors and temptations appear for both characters on their journeys, which makes for a satisfying analysis if anybody wants to talk Vogler's journey or Hauge's plot structure over some wine with this writermason.

Get Wired. Be prepared to be tense and just as tightly coiled as Mary Elizabeth - I actually got a headache.
But savor it on a long rainy afternoon when you don't need to do anything else.
And wait for a movie, because if this isn't a candidate, I don't know what is.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

“A life Daddy. I want a life. A good one this time.”

"Charlie smiled to himself and pulled out the little yellow knife with a sailboat on it, and handed it to Matthew. “No, this is a wiggily life. I want the life that doesn’t wiggle.”

You can’t help but immediately feel a connection to Charlie Eames, his wife Mary Elizabeth Eames and their adorable son Matthew from the very beginning of Martha Randolph Carr’s novel, Wired. Carr’s conversational and familiar writing style takes you to the heart of the home within the first few chapters. Set in a rural community of small town America, in 1989, this struggling marriage is not unlike so many families we see today. Charlie and Mary Elizabeth were high school sweet hearts, shuffling along life’s unpaved road for fifteen years, laboring to travel together. They seem lost and disconnected from each other. It is clear that their marriage has been failing for years, and that each spouse is only going through the motions.

"When Mary Elizabeth was feeling kindly toward him, she admitted to herself that he was big and sweet and when she wasn’t, she was sure he was stupid."

"He (Charlie) watched her lift her shirt over her head and flip her hair back and felt a sadness that spread through him. He didn’t really know this woman and he couldn’t bring himself to try harder or to hate her."

At first glance, this novel is about a husband and wife trying to find their way back to each other. Mary Elizabeth is privately battling past demons; horrors only alluded to in small doses to keep the reader questioning what could have happened to her twenty years earlier. We are left wondering what could have been so life altering, following her into her adulthood and in to her marriage. Early in the story, she says to herself, “Less of me exists every year”, a sinking feeling I think many stay at home moms can relate. Charlie is a small business owner, oblivious to the true needs of his wife, perhaps even content to live in ignorance. He appears to just allow life to happen around him, rather than really be a part of anything. Another pivotal character in this novel is Douglas, an older black man that works for Charlie. He is the voice of reason, an unexpected father figure and a true friend to the Eames family. Each of these characters must make a personal journey, exploring their perspective about life, love and friendship through a series of hard decisions, heartbreak and honesty.

I think what makes this book so entertaining is its multifaceted story line. Carr combines a raw description of life and marriage with a brutal series of murders and the journey to solve these crimes. Clues are dropped cleverly throughout each conversation, interaction, character and scene description in a very Alfred Hitchcock kind of way. The reader doesn’t even realize that they have been gifted important insight into future events. Several times, I had an “a-ha” moment, recalling a previous passage that suddenly became very relevant, like a harmless nickname or nervous twitch. Carr also does a great job of throwing the reader a few distractions, so that the true killer and unresolved secrets are not revealed too quickly, allowing the reader time to savor each plot development.

Although a minor character, Douglas’ sister Thelma became my favorite. She brought an element of whimsy and joy to an otherwise dark and depressing plot. I found myself wanting to get to know her better, learn more of her story and understand what made her so desirable. Her relationship with her brother and Charlie was both believable and necessary in order for each of these men to gain personal growth and maturity. In Thelma, I saw optimism and the possibility of a fruitful future, something all of the main characters were in search of, reminding me of Matthew’s sweet way of calling a knife, a life and Charlie’s response of, “I want the life that doesn’t wiggle.”

I could relate to many of the characters in this novel. It is not hard to imagine a stay at home mom searching to find her identity or a husband hoping that ignorance will be bliss. Prejudices and prejudgments about people’s skin color, economic background, religion or politics is always a struggle, which has been evident throughout history, as well as in this book. And perhaps, one of the most unfortunate and believable elements of this novel is the ease in which the killer was able to lure his victims. As a parent of two girls, it definitely gave me something to think about in regards to talking to my children about being safe.

It was also surprising how easily Carr was able to weave together the perspectives of so many different characters without confusing the reader. And it was refreshing how she manipulated romantic scenes in a way that was sexual without being obscene, as well as reveal certain sexual elements of the murders without being overly graphic. Carr allowed just enough exposure in each situation to be either stimulating or heartbreaking, but never uncomfortable. The story line unraveled quickly and did not waste time with unimportant details. This book was a very fast read, and definitely worth recommending to a friend.

If I had to choose one quote to summarize this novel, it would be the description of Charlie and Mary Elizabeth’s neighborhood. It was a flashback about their realtor when they first moved in to their starter home. She described the neighborhood as “nearly dead or newlywed”, something that struck me at the beginning of the novel, but then took on a whole new meaning by the end.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Wired” by Martha Carr

It is 1989. Living in a small town, we meet High School Sweethearts, and now married for fourteen years, Charlie and Mary Elizabeth, who have a beautiful son named Matthew. They seem to be living the American Dream. Mary Elizabeth is a stay-at-home Mom, and Charlie runs and owns the local shoe store downtown. All of a sudden, we see Mary Elizabeth starting to experience some difficulties with her life. Something is bothering her in as terrible way, and she is acting out in strange ways. We are left in the dark and can’t see exactly ‘what’ it is that is bothering her, yet we can tell something absolutely horrific had to have happened because of the severity of what might seem to be flashbacks that she is experiencing. The story does not tell us exactly what is going on. We are left in suspense over this perplexing problem she is going through. Eventually, the problems she is experiencing start to become too difficult for her to handle, and she needs some time to herself to get through this. Instead of leaning on her husband to help her, she ends up asking her husband, Charlie, to move out. He is dumbfounded. He cannot understand why or what happened along the way for things to get this severe. He moves out, reluctantly. He is concerned about the safety of his wife and son because recently a serial killer seems to be in the area they live after being gone for so many years. Charlie ends up living with his employee’s family until he can get on his feet. This arrangement is working out very well for Mary Elizabeth, and she seems to be thriving and working things out in her life. She does become aware that there is a serial killer on the loose, and takes preventative steps to keep her and their son safe, yet . . . then she starts acting out again, the severity starts to escalate and she can’t figure out what is going on. She finds out something about her husband which she cannot believe he did. He finds out something about her which he thinks she has done and they are both at odds with each other. The serial killer is going wild at this point. All of a sudden, with this knowledge, her acting out, everything finally become crystal clear to Mary Elizabeth.. She knows what she has to do. No, she knows what she must do. She acts on it. We are now left on the edge of our seats flipping page after page after page. We have to find out what happens next. The intensity keeps building and building. Then, . . .

I enjoyed this book very much. It seemed like things did not make sense at times, but as you keep reading, the author did this intentionally, which made the book that much more suspenseful. At the end, things escalate so highly, the intensity is unbelievable. This is a MUST READ! 5 out of 5 stars in my opinion! Get your copy today! This ebook is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords and Goodreads!
At Amazon, this ebook is available by using this LINK: http://www.amazon.com/Wired-Martha-Ra...

I obtained this book through Novel Publicity (Novel Publishing Group, LLC.), for FREE to read and write review for this Virtual Book Blog Tour. I was not compensated with any monies whatsoever, just the pure enjoyment of getting to read this great book. This is in compliance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

[Sharayah P. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A picture-perfect life is seldom what it seems. This is no truer than in the lives of Mary Elizabeth and Charlie, who play their parts perfectly but would admit with little reluctance that they are both just going through the motions. 14 years of marriage may wear down the sharp edges of passion for anyone, but when Mary Elizabeth unexpectedly asks Charlie to move out it becomes evident that something is terribly wrong. Why is she digging feverishly in her garden at ridiculous hours of the morning? Why does she rub at her wrists whenever she becomes anxious? Why is connecting with her adorable son such a foreign experience to her?

As if an imploding marriage were not enough, the town itself seems to be imploding as it is stricken by a series of horrifying murders. On the town bluff usually reserved for necking, the naked, tortured bodies of young teen girls have begun to appear, their throats slit and evidence of strong bindings around their wrists and ankles. They have all been sexually assaulted, and the police have nothing to go on. Whispers and murmurs float on summer air that has become thick and stifling with fear.

As the very fabric of their lives seems to unravel, Mary Elizabeth and Charlie take very different steps to regain control of their lives. Control is a recurrent theme throughout the novel, particularly the lack thereof. Every character deals with their desire for control in a different way: one has a nervous breakdown in his grief while another uses technical knowledge and brute strength to exert control over those weaker than him. In fact, the only characters in the novel who seem to have their lives in control are those who have found it only by letting it go:

Douglas, Charlie's older coworker, lives in a home that is constantly being invaded by relatives. Everyone always finds their way over for dinner and the atmosphere is boisterous and carefree. There is very little in the way of what one might consider "control", and yet the happiest characters of the novel are found within his household. And this brings me to my last point (go ahead and breathe a sigh of relief):

The "thriller" part of the novel is the string of murders, but the heart of the novel (and the real meat of the story) is in the relationships that form and change and how the characters navigate them. This brings me back to my earlier point that I enjoyed this book so much because I could actually relate to the characters. They are clueless in regards to those relationships, and yet every character (with perhaps the exception of Mary Elizabeth's monster mother Rose) makes a genuine effort to understand and relate to everyone else in a meaningful way. Hearts are broken and relationships permanently altered, but each character is truly like the people you might expect to find in a small town: well-meaning, perhaps a little lost, but genuine in their efforts to pick up the pieces- not just for themselves, but for their loved ones as well.

I would recommend this novel not only for those who love thrillers, but for anyone who is harboring a secret. Wired explores the notion of how we become wired to our past and how sometimes taking control of the wire cutters and breaking free requires drastic measures, but true peace only comes in complete openness and communication with the ones we love.

[BonSue Brandvik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wired - Martha Randolph Carr - I have mixed feelings about this book. The characters are believable and the author does a great job of using various points of view to let us experience the elements of the story from several different perspectives. However, for me to really enjoy the story, I have to care about what happens to one or more of the characters, and I simply didn’t.

The primary protagonist is a wife/mother who is suffering from memories of a traumatic attack in her distant past, which she has kept hidden from everyone in her life, including her husband. She is cold, withdrawn, and only likes sex when her husband is pretending to be asleep. She wants to care about her young son, but he bothers her and she is jealous of his close relationship with her husband.

When news reports of murders in the small town bring back memories of the trauma, rather than tell anyone what is going on, the protagonist forces her loving husband to move out of their home, leaving their little boy behind with her (even though she mostly ignores the child while she plants a large flower garden as an emotional outlet.) Her husband winds up exploring the strong, though previously ignored, racial divides in their town when his black, long-time, employee discovers he is sleeping at the shoe store and invites him into his home. Tension mounts when more murders occur and both the protagonist and her husband seek comfort in the arms of others. Despite strong similarities between her attack and the current murders, and the fact that a friend's child is killed, it doesn't occur to the protagonist that she might be able to prevent additional murders by going to the police or telling someone about her experience.

Pressure continues to build, but then, rather than an explosion at the end, the book fizzles to an unsatisfying close. The murderer is killed, but in a kind of boring way. Once he is dead, we still have no clear idea about the motivation of the killer, or what split second-decision the the protagonist made so many years ago that allowed her to get away. The protagonist and her husband decide to give their marriage a second try, but neither is all that happy about it. With the exception of the black employee, who is allowed to buy a partnership in the shoe store, no positive changes occur with regard to the other characters in the book. Unless a sequel holds the answers, this book needed a few more chapters before "The End."

[Peter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am glad I can't remember who recommended this book because I might have to question their judgement. It is possible to distinguish between a story and how it is written. In Wired, the main character, Mary Elizabeth, who has been married to Charlie, the owner of a shoe store, for 14 years, is still struggling with having been raped as a teenager. That fact makes her a sympathetic character. Women in particular may emphasize with her turmoil, but when examined closely, Wired contains flaws which in fact undermine the story.

What has brought her past, about which she has failed to tell her husband, to the fore is that the man who raped Mary Elizabeth has come back to town and is raping and killing young women. Mary Elizabeth is so distraught that she tells Charlie to move out of their house, but she does nothing for most of the book to deal with the difficulty she's having admitting to herself that what is happening now is connected to what happened to her when she was a teenager.

The middle of the story focuses instead on Charlie who blames himself for his wife's psychological problems (without any cause, which undermines the reader's respect for and interest in his character). Charlie finds himself when his black employee, Douglas, brings him home to his family where he immediately begins an affair with Douglas' younger sister.

As the story evolves, the author must repeatedly find reasons for her characters not to act like any normal person would act. When Charlie puts together the connection between his wife's problems and the chain of murders, does he call the police? Of course not. When Douglas figures it out, does he call the police? Of course not. Why? If any of these characters acted normally, the author couldn't bring us to the inevitable cathartic ending.

Then there is the villain. Despite the forces that are driving him to kill these young girls––forces which I don't think appear in any psychiatric textbook, he is smarter than the police and is able to continue to use the same M.O. including leaving his victims in the same location. Oh, and then there's the book's title––Wired. What's the connection? The villain is an electrician who electrocutes his victims before he rapes them.

So, if you like feeling sorry for characters whose behavior will drive you mad but which can be excused because they are trying, this is the book for you.

[Lissette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Elizabeth has a secret. One that she’s held on to for the past 20 years. When a serial killer infiltrates the city, she starts losing sight of who she is and the secrets that she’s held inside threaten to slip out. This also succeeds in alienating her husband, although she has no trouble in giving every ounce of her love to their little boy, Matthew.

Her husband, Charlie, has no idea as to what’s bothering his wife. He only knows that the recent murders have added to their troubles. He finds himself fretting over his wife’s cold manner and her outright indifference, something that he’s having trouble in accepting. This inadvertently throws him into the arms of a woman he’d never expected to have feelings for.

As the murders continue, Mary Elizabeth starts questioning her sanity. She denies vehemently that she knows nothing in regards to why they’re taking place. Yet deep inside, she also knows that’s not true. She does know, but she’s refused to deal with her traumatic past all this time.

As the danger escalates, she and her husband are thrown in different directions. This, of course, is because of her own doing, but she chalks it down to the fact that she needs more space in order to make sense of her dark thoughts and feelings. Little does she know, time is running short.

Driven to the edge of insanity, Mary Elizabeth takes things into her own hands. She wants only to make things right. To set the ghosts of her past to rest once and for all. Although she’s pushed herself, and husband, to the point of no return, she knows that there’s still hope. She, alone, has the power to make the killer go away. But only if she sets aside her doubts and insecurities. Only then will she able to see the light at the end of that dark tunnel.

While this book may seem to have a bit of a slow start, don’t let that fool you. It’s one of those diamonds in the rough. I enjoyed reading this story and discovering what happens between Mary Elizabeth and her husband. The story is both bittersweet and heart-felt. I think we can all relate to the situations in which the characters find themselves. Definitely worth reading!

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Thoughts:
Well now, I love a good mystery/suspense novel and most I have read so far have been pretty good, some even GREAT, but it takes a great plot and characters to make a GREAT mystery/suspense. Dean Koontz is one my all time favorite and I have to say this novel is right up there with any of Dean Koontz's novels.

Martha Carr's writing style is superb, from creating a cast of characters you will be able to relate to, almost hate but them empathize with in the end. I really like Charlie and their son Matthew. I was amazed at how the author was able to give us so many different perspectives of the characters without being lost and confused, but she made it work. It was a fast action book with romance scenes that you knew were sexual without going overboard to the point of too graphic, it let our own imagination take each one of us where WE wanted to go with it. This novel pulled you right in from the very first chapter and would NOT let you go until the very last page, I will be in line for her next book guaranteed, It gave me a battery of emotions going through this book, and just when you think you have it all figured out, no way, the author throws at you a curve to throw you off the track and make you think its someone different than what you thought. It's twists and turns and around and around and not once getting lost, I am very in awe at how she did this and wove a fantastic story at the same time. It's suspense, dark, intense with the right amount of chills.

I recommend this book to EVERYONE it is a fantastic book and you will be missing out if you don't grab your copy to read, I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. Enjoy!!

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full, non-spoiler review courtesy at Book & Movie Dimension a Blog

A lifetime of suffering has plagued Mary Elizabeth, a mother and wife. As her her marriage keeps deteorating she must come to terms with her past. A past filled with memories wanting to be shared. Mary Elizabeth has to since she just might be the only one who can stop a serial killer who is perfect in alluding. Thanks hopefully to the love between her husband, Charlie, she might be able to have the strength to survive to reveal a sick killer.
Our main character Mary Elizabeth is such a tortured soul that wants to feel a connection to her life again that has been forever altered by a traumatic event. There are so many well-constructed characters also. The movement of of the story is very neat which moves perfectly right. Loved how there is this signature in the writing of narration that tells us what's happening with care. Immensely entertaining thriller!

Overall: Touching read
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Thriller
Recommend Ages: 17 and Up

[Junying · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written, engaging read. A slow start leading to a fine build-up of suspense and satisfying ending. Touching at times and likeable characters. An interesting glimpse of small town America for me.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and the relationships between the characters. Mary Elizabeth frustrated me, but I think that's the point! I really liked Charlie & Douglas, and to be honest the supporting characters were excellent too. Despite the storyline the characters gave the book a 'happy' feel.

[Mj · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty good, i even go to a point where i was scared to finish it. i really wanted ME to do something with Mark, he seemed like he was hot lol she deserved it! (in my opinion) but i am happy that they were able to work everything out. so it was a pretty good read

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic tale of love and redemption set against the backdrop of serial murder.

[Christine Webb-Curtis]

I enjoyed this book. Liked the premise and the characters. It could have used a little more careful copy editing. But I recommend it.