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Вече я виждаш
Докато е на почивка в Ирландия, наскоро разедената Марси Тагарт зърва дъщеря си през витрината на едно кафене. Уловката: предполага се, че дъщеря й се е удавила две години по-рано. Марси е трябвало да бъде в Ирландия, за да празнува двайсет и петата годишнина от брака си, а ето я - разделена със съпруга си, вижда призрака на своята дъщеря и дори най-близките й не знаят, че все пак е отишла на екскурзията. Тя вижда дъщеря си навсякъде и тръгва след нея. Дали халюцинира? Дали, бродейки сама по оплетените улички на чуждата страна, не губи разсъдъка си? Или напротив, е нормална, но е попаднала на нещо още по-ужасно и опасно, отколкото си е представяла.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
161 people are currently reading
2098 people want to read
About the author
Joy Fielding
121 books2,183 followersJoy Fielding (née Tepperman; born March 18, 1945) is a Canadian novelist and actress. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, she graduated from the University of Toronto in 1966, with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. As Joy Tepperman, she had a brief acting career, appearing in the film Winter Kept Us Warm (1965) and in an episode of Gunsmoke. She later changed her last name to Fielding (after Henry Fielding) and began writing novels.
Fielding is also the screenwriter of the television film Golden Will: The Silken Laumann Story.
At the age of 8, Joy Tepperman wrote her first story and sent it into a local magazine, and at age 12 sent in her first TV script, however both were rejected. She had a brief acting career, eventually giving it up to write full-time in 1972. She has published to date 22 novels, two of which were converted into film. Fielding's process of having an idea to the point the novel is finished generally takes a year, the writing itself taking four to eight months. Joy Fielding sets most of her novels in American cities such as Boston and Chicago. She has said that she prefers to set her novels in "big American cities, [as the] landscape seems best for [her] themes of urban alienation and loss of identity. Fielding is a Canadian citizen. Her husband's name is Warren, and they have two daughters, Annie and Shannon. They have property in Toronto, Ontario, as well as Palm Beach, Florida.
Fielding had an interview with the Vancouver Sun in 2007, just after her publication of Heartstopper. She enjoys catching readers off guard with the endings of her stories, but insists that "[it] isn't what her fiction is about", but rather more about the development of her characters. Discussing her novels with the Toronto Star in 2008, she said "I might not write fiction in the literary sense. But I write very well. My characters are good. My dialog is good. And my stories are really involving. I'm writing exactly the kind of books I like to write. And they're the kind of books I like to read. They're popular commercial fiction. That's what they are."
Fielding has been noted as a novelist who is more popular in the United States and foreign countries, rather than in her native Canada. For example, the novel Kiss Mommy Goodbye was more popular in the States, and See Jane Run in Germany. In addition, she had an American agent and publisher, although she has now switched to a Canadian publisher.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, she graduated from the University of Toronto in 1966, with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. As Joy Tepperman, she had a brief acting career, appearing in the film Winter Kept Us Warm (1965) and in an episode of Gunsmoke. She later changed her last name to Fielding (after Henry Fielding) and began writing novels.
Fielding is also the screenwriter of the television film Golden Will: The Silken Laumann Story.
At the age of 8, Joy Tepperman wrote her first story and sent it into a local magazine, and at age 12 sent in her first TV script, however both were rejected. She had a brief acting career, eventually giving it up to write full-time in 1972. She has published to date 22 novels, two of which were converted into film. Fielding's process of having an idea to the point the novel is finished generally takes a year, the writing itself taking four to eight months. Joy Fielding sets most of her novels in American cities such as Boston and Chicago. She has said that she prefers to set her novels in "big American cities, [as the] landscape seems best for [her] themes of urban alienation and loss of identity. Fielding is a Canadian citizen. Her husband's name is Warren, and they have two daughters, Annie and Shannon. They have property in Toronto, Ontario, as well as Palm Beach, Florida.
Fielding had an interview with the Vancouver Sun in 2007, just after her publication of Heartstopper. She enjoys catching readers off guard with the endings of her stories, but insists that "[it] isn't what her fiction is about", but rather more about the development of her characters. Discussing her novels with the Toronto Star in 2008, she said "I might not write fiction in the literary sense. But I write very well. My characters are good. My dialog is good. And my stories are really involving. I'm writing exactly the kind of books I like to write. And they're the kind of books I like to read. They're popular commercial fiction. That's what they are."
Fielding has been noted as a novelist who is more popular in the United States and foreign countries, rather than in her native Canada. For example, the novel Kiss Mommy Goodbye was more popular in the States, and See Jane Run in Germany. In addition, she had an American agent and publisher, although she has now switched to a Canadian publisher.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 522 reviews
February 14, 2013
Well, there’s a few hours I’m never getting back.
I am not a book snob. I like a fast-paced, plot-driven suspense thriller as much as the next girl. Now You See Her, on the surface at least, seems like a book that would be right down my dark alley. Marcy Taggert is on holiday in Ireland. It was supposed to be a second honeymoon, but her husband, Peter, has run off with the golf pro from his country club and so Marcy has gone solo. While enjoying a cup of tea with a man she’s met on her day-trip to Cork, Marcy sees her daughter, Devon. Which isn’t possible because Devon is dead. (cue music)
I really wanted to like Now You See Her. For one thing it’s written by Canadian Joy Fielding (who has had a great deal of success in this genre). For another, I felt like I should be able to relate to Marcy. We’re of the same vintage, at any rate. But nothing about this book spoke to me.
So Marcy sees Devon and tears off looking for her. Of course, she doesn’t find her. But she returns to Cork and sets up camp and becomes more and more convinced that Devon is not dead. Marcy’s supposition might, in fact, be possible because Devon’s body was never found. She meets various characters along the way, some of whom have nefarious motives, some who want to help her. Some who think she’s crazy and as the book plods along it’s possible that crazy is exactly what Marcy is.
Here’s why the book didn’t work for me:
1. Marcy is stoo-pid. She actually meets a man in a pub and goes off with him after he tells her that, yes, miraculously, he knows her daughter. Really? Really?
2. The writing is clun-ky. Sometimes, apropos of nothing, we get a little history lesson. No one sounds Irish. The transitions are often confusing.
3. There are characters who just appear – out of nowhere – conveniently. Fresh baked muffins, anyone? Also, the characters are not believable. Seriously, wait until the lacklustre denouement, see who plays a part in it and then see how you’ve been mislead all along. But not is a plausible way. Peripheral characters, Marcy’s son, for example, are footnotes.
4. If you are going to weave a tangled web, the spider at the center wants to be believable. Um. Just no.
I don’t know where Now You See Her comes in Fielding’s canon, but I won’t be rushing to read any more of her work.
I am not a book snob. I like a fast-paced, plot-driven suspense thriller as much as the next girl. Now You See Her, on the surface at least, seems like a book that would be right down my dark alley. Marcy Taggert is on holiday in Ireland. It was supposed to be a second honeymoon, but her husband, Peter, has run off with the golf pro from his country club and so Marcy has gone solo. While enjoying a cup of tea with a man she’s met on her day-trip to Cork, Marcy sees her daughter, Devon. Which isn’t possible because Devon is dead. (cue music)
I really wanted to like Now You See Her. For one thing it’s written by Canadian Joy Fielding (who has had a great deal of success in this genre). For another, I felt like I should be able to relate to Marcy. We’re of the same vintage, at any rate. But nothing about this book spoke to me.
So Marcy sees Devon and tears off looking for her. Of course, she doesn’t find her. But she returns to Cork and sets up camp and becomes more and more convinced that Devon is not dead. Marcy’s supposition might, in fact, be possible because Devon’s body was never found. She meets various characters along the way, some of whom have nefarious motives, some who want to help her. Some who think she’s crazy and as the book plods along it’s possible that crazy is exactly what Marcy is.
Here’s why the book didn’t work for me:
1. Marcy is stoo-pid. She actually meets a man in a pub and goes off with him after he tells her that, yes, miraculously, he knows her daughter. Really? Really?
2. The writing is clun-ky. Sometimes, apropos of nothing, we get a little history lesson. No one sounds Irish. The transitions are often confusing.
3. There are characters who just appear – out of nowhere – conveniently. Fresh baked muffins, anyone? Also, the characters are not believable. Seriously, wait until the lacklustre denouement, see who plays a part in it and then see how you’ve been mislead all along. But not is a plausible way. Peripheral characters, Marcy’s son, for example, are footnotes.
4. If you are going to weave a tangled web, the spider at the center wants to be believable. Um. Just no.
I don’t know where Now You See Her comes in Fielding’s canon, but I won’t be rushing to read any more of her work.
February 15, 2013
Review Summary: Shallow, cheap mystery with an extremely outdated and overused plot and a dissatisfying and irrelevant conclusion. If you're really that curious about how this story will play out, just read the first and last parts; everything in between is not necessary, entertaining, or thrilling. Otherwise, I'd avoid this book altogether.
The plot of a parent seeing a glimpse of a child they thought was dead is so old. I cannot stress how old and unimaginative the plot is. I'm surprised Joy Fielding even endeavoured to write an entire book based on that. However, I'd always liked Fielding's writing style before so I thought I'd give this book a chance.
I was severely disappointed. There were red herrings throughout were cheap and the story as a whole was not exciting.
The resolution was not satisfying. When the truths were revealed, it was clear that this uninspired story had an equally uninspired explanation/conclusion. The ending was hardly related to anything else in the story.
This wasn't one of those cases where my dislike for the book was based on my preference for writing style. I simply think this book wasn't worth the number of pages or time it took to read it; it was a big waste of time
The plot of a parent seeing a glimpse of a child they thought was dead is so old. I cannot stress how old and unimaginative the plot is. I'm surprised Joy Fielding even endeavoured to write an entire book based on that. However, I'd always liked Fielding's writing style before so I thought I'd give this book a chance.
I was severely disappointed. There were red herrings throughout were cheap and the story as a whole was not exciting.
The resolution was not satisfying. When the truths were revealed, it was clear that this uninspired story had an equally uninspired explanation/conclusion. The ending was hardly related to anything else in the story.
This wasn't one of those cases where my dislike for the book was based on my preference for writing style. I simply think this book wasn't worth the number of pages or time it took to read it; it was a big waste of time
July 26, 2018
Ich weiß nicht ob das Buch nicht gut ist oder einfach nur nicht mein Fall...
Marcy wird von ihrem Mann verlassen und fährt alleine in die geplanten zweiten Flitterwochen. In Irland sieht sie dann ihre Tochter, nur dass diese eigentlich tot sein sollte...
Sie lernt einige Menschen kennen, trifft eine Menge schlechte Entscheidungen und ist absolut nicht nachvollziehbar.
Der Plot erschien mir interessant und genau das was ich mir erhofft hatte. War dann aber doch nicht so. Wirklich spannend ist es nicht, die Charaktere sind unglaubwürdig und unsympathisch.
Dafür fand ich es trotzdem unterhaltsam und kam relativ schnell durch, weil ich wissen wollte wie es ausgeht.
Das Ende ist dann aber leider auch ziemlich enttäuschend.
Deshalb 2,5 Sterne
Marcy wird von ihrem Mann verlassen und fährt alleine in die geplanten zweiten Flitterwochen. In Irland sieht sie dann ihre Tochter, nur dass diese eigentlich tot sein sollte...
Sie lernt einige Menschen kennen, trifft eine Menge schlechte Entscheidungen und ist absolut nicht nachvollziehbar.
Der Plot erschien mir interessant und genau das was ich mir erhofft hatte. War dann aber doch nicht so. Wirklich spannend ist es nicht, die Charaktere sind unglaubwürdig und unsympathisch.
Dafür fand ich es trotzdem unterhaltsam und kam relativ schnell durch, weil ich wissen wollte wie es ausgeht.
Das Ende ist dann aber leider auch ziemlich enttäuschend.
Deshalb 2,5 Sterne
May 8, 2018
There was a time long ago when I loved Joy Fielding (heck, I've read 10 of her books after all). After this novel however, I am completely over it. I will never read anything by her ever again.
This book just made me so mad and hate might be a strong word, but the fitting one to describe my feelings towards Now You See Her, which I despise with a burning passion.
The main character was stupid as hell, and every single man she met wanted to have sex with her immediately. Also, there's this one thing no one in the whole story can do, but guess what, she does it in the wink of an eye. Of course she does, no explanation needed.
The other characters adjusted their characters to whatever was convenient for the plot and the red herrings were nothing new, neither was the kind of ending it had. We get it, it's always the same with her books anyway. Was there a single likable character? I don't think so.
This book just made me so mad and hate might be a strong word, but the fitting one to describe my feelings towards Now You See Her, which I despise with a burning passion.
The main character was stupid as hell, and every single man she met wanted to have sex with her immediately. Also, there's this one thing no one in the whole story can do, but guess what, she does it in the wink of an eye. Of course she does, no explanation needed.
The other characters adjusted their characters to whatever was convenient for the plot and the red herrings were nothing new, neither was the kind of ending it had. We get it, it's always the same with her books anyway. Was there a single likable character? I don't think so.
April 15, 2023
Marcy je ženska pri petdesetih. Pred dvema letoma samomor stori njena hčerka. Pa vendarle, trupla nikoli niso našli. In upanje v Marcy še vedno živi.
Ko bi z možem morala iti na drugo poročno potovanje, Marcy odpotuje sama, saj sta se le malo pred tem ločila. Toda na drugem koncu sveta zagleda... dekle, za katero verjame, da je njena hčerka. Iskanje se začne.
Marcy je polna obžalovanj in samoobtoževanja. Med iskanjem hčerke se spominja vsega, kar ni storila prav. Pa tudi zakona, pogovorov s sestro, svojega otroštva, sina, ki ga zapostavlja... Vmes pa se zapleta v mnoge nevšečnosti, zaradi česar kar trikrat pristane na policiji. Zdi se, da le malokdo verjame, da je res uzrla svojo hčer, toda...
Ko ti gre glavna junakinja s svojimi mislimi kar malce na živce... Ko se ti zdi, da res malo pretirava... Ko se ti zdi, da je zelo naivna... Pa vendarle: kljub malce za lase privlečeni zgodbi in zapletom, pa so dobri opisi Irske, tudi njene zgodovine, kar je knjigi v plus. Da je pisateljica ustvarila meni osebno malo zatežen lik: hja, nihče drugi ne bi ustrezal temu, v kar se Marcy zapleta, tako da, ja, kar luštna knjiga za branje.
Ko bi z možem morala iti na drugo poročno potovanje, Marcy odpotuje sama, saj sta se le malo pred tem ločila. Toda na drugem koncu sveta zagleda... dekle, za katero verjame, da je njena hčerka. Iskanje se začne.
Marcy je polna obžalovanj in samoobtoževanja. Med iskanjem hčerke se spominja vsega, kar ni storila prav. Pa tudi zakona, pogovorov s sestro, svojega otroštva, sina, ki ga zapostavlja... Vmes pa se zapleta v mnoge nevšečnosti, zaradi česar kar trikrat pristane na policiji. Zdi se, da le malokdo verjame, da je res uzrla svojo hčer, toda...
Ko ti gre glavna junakinja s svojimi mislimi kar malce na živce... Ko se ti zdi, da res malo pretirava... Ko se ti zdi, da je zelo naivna... Pa vendarle: kljub malce za lase privlečeni zgodbi in zapletom, pa so dobri opisi Irske, tudi njene zgodovine, kar je knjigi v plus. Da je pisateljica ustvarila meni osebno malo zatežen lik: hja, nihče drugi ne bi ustrezal temu, v kar se Marcy zapleta, tako da, ja, kar luštna knjiga za branje.
September 8, 2020
It was ok. Sort of waiting for the other shoe to drop but it doesn't. Left me nonplussed.
August 3, 2018
Ugh. I listened to the audio version. I swear that the main character’s befuddled “What??” every time she was asked a question drove me right up a wall. Enough already. Maybe it’s less noticeable when read rather than listened to, but it put my teeth on edge. The character’s development is almost non-existent. Main character Marcie could have been interesting. Instead she’s annoying and stuck in a hamster wheel way of thinking. I listened to it while driving and almost gave up half way through. The only thing that kept me going was to find out what really happened to her daughter.
March 17, 2019
2 stars. I am a huge fan of Joy Fielding, but this one has completely missed the mark. The plot was boring, the protagonist was a few bricks short of a full stack and this was not even close to being a psychological thriller. I'm hoping her more recent works are far better than this. Extremely disappointed.
May 15, 2022
This might be the stupidest book I’ve ever read.
Poor main character- so silly. Poor dialogue. Weird facts thrown in randomly throughout the book.
Really nothing much happens and the ending is, well… not very well done. This was a waste of time.
Poor main character- so silly. Poor dialogue. Weird facts thrown in randomly throughout the book.
Really nothing much happens and the ending is, well… not very well done. This was a waste of time.
August 19, 2024
Sehr enttäuschend... Unnötige Länge, 350 Seiten lang ist essentiell nichts passiert... Der Plot war billig, null Spannung, oberflächliche Charakter, schlechte Dialoge... Konnte leider nichts gutes daran finden.
August 26, 2011
This book was weird, I think it had great potential and I kept waiting and waiting for "it" but it let me down, especially how it ended.
February 11, 2013
Like Blanche DuBois in A Streetcar Named Desire, Marcy Taggart has chosen to depend on the kindness of strangers. Following the death of her daughter Devon two years ago (the body was never found) and the departure for greener (and younger) pastures by her husband of 25 years, she has gone to Ireland alone on the vacation that was to have been a second honeymoon of sorts for she and her husband.
Marcy's has experienced feelings of unrelenting guilt since her mother committed suicide several years ago, and now with her daughter's death these feelings have escalated. Like most people who lose a loved one Marcy continually carries on internal conversations in which she relives every unkind thing she has ever said or done to her mother and her daughter. Normal, right??
She seems to veer off the road to normal when she begins to hears voices and lose track of her surroundings as she spaces out. Between her dreams, which she feels are trying to tell her something, the mental games she plays with herself, and her willingness to believe anything anyone tells her that validates the certainty she feels concerning her daughter, the reader begins to wonder if this woman is as crazy as her husband and her sister believe her to be.
I say this because for a 50 year old woman Marcy is very immature and trusting....not to mention insecure and gullible when it comes to the men she meets. We find her jumping into the sack with the first sympathetic man she encounters on her trip then confiding her life story to a bartender at the local pub, and willingly getting into cars with virtual strangers who may or may not have seen her daughter. I guess we are supposed to believe love for a child and the anguish brought on by that child's questionable death makes one put logical thinking on hold.............. or perhaps we should surmise that being married (and out of circulation) for 25 years destroys your functioning grey matter when it comes to men and their motives.
While I am an admitted Joy Fielding fan, the dialog is repetitive and it is my humble opinion that her Marcy Taggert creation is not someone most readers can relate to or even sympathize with. Now You See Her is definitely not one of her better books and its contrived ending is just a little too forced.
Marcy's has experienced feelings of unrelenting guilt since her mother committed suicide several years ago, and now with her daughter's death these feelings have escalated. Like most people who lose a loved one Marcy continually carries on internal conversations in which she relives every unkind thing she has ever said or done to her mother and her daughter. Normal, right??
She seems to veer off the road to normal when she begins to hears voices and lose track of her surroundings as she spaces out. Between her dreams, which she feels are trying to tell her something, the mental games she plays with herself, and her willingness to believe anything anyone tells her that validates the certainty she feels concerning her daughter, the reader begins to wonder if this woman is as crazy as her husband and her sister believe her to be.
I say this because for a 50 year old woman Marcy is very immature and trusting....not to mention insecure and gullible when it comes to the men she meets. We find her jumping into the sack with the first sympathetic man she encounters on her trip then confiding her life story to a bartender at the local pub, and willingly getting into cars with virtual strangers who may or may not have seen her daughter. I guess we are supposed to believe love for a child and the anguish brought on by that child's questionable death makes one put logical thinking on hold.............. or perhaps we should surmise that being married (and out of circulation) for 25 years destroys your functioning grey matter when it comes to men and their motives.
While I am an admitted Joy Fielding fan, the dialog is repetitive and it is my humble opinion that her Marcy Taggert creation is not someone most readers can relate to or even sympathize with. Now You See Her is definitely not one of her better books and its contrived ending is just a little too forced.
June 23, 2011
Joy Fielding is an author I tend to avoid, simply because her writing reminds me of the way music swells in dramatic moments of a movie. I always come away from Fielding's books feeling vaguely dirty and definitely manipulated. Part of it is the subject matter of her books, always geared for maximum intensity of emotion, part of it is the way she writes them.
Which is to say she is very good at what she does.
But that doesn't mean I have to like it.
Every once and awhile I pick up one of her books just to see if she's still on her game, and to bolster myself against the legions of fans who looooooove what she writes. I probably would, too, if I enjoyed gut-wrenching sobbing. But it makes my eyes all puff up for days and frankly, some of her plots are just too far gone to be credible.
This is one of those. Picked up because I needed a good cry at recalcitrant daughters who vanish and won't speak to you (personal reasons, too complicated for here), and this story fit the ticket. Tellingly, I bought the e-version, always a hint that I don't want a book lingering on my shelves.
I lost patience with this plot. As first, it gets all mysterious, and then this silly woman who is looking for her daughter and who obviously has not the slightest rudimentary knowledge of horror films (I mean, c'mon, where does this woman live? A storage room?) or police procedure or let's see, sense - heads off to sleep with strangers in a strange country (who might be nice cos she feels all cozy cuddled up with them but might be fooling her cos he keeps following her around), drives off with others, doesn't even pause to think throughout. I find it hard to believe any woman who parented such a child could be so totally out of it. And the revelations at the end just made me want to throw my ereader against the wall. What a silly silly woman. One should feel sympathy for her and really it dissolved into total exasperation.
The other characters are stereotypes. My feeling was that Fielding mailed this one in. I gave it a star, because, for all the implausibility, I still read it right through till the end. She IS good at these sorts of stories. But she can do better.
Which is to say she is very good at what she does.
But that doesn't mean I have to like it.
Every once and awhile I pick up one of her books just to see if she's still on her game, and to bolster myself against the legions of fans who looooooove what she writes. I probably would, too, if I enjoyed gut-wrenching sobbing. But it makes my eyes all puff up for days and frankly, some of her plots are just too far gone to be credible.
This is one of those. Picked up because I needed a good cry at recalcitrant daughters who vanish and won't speak to you (personal reasons, too complicated for here), and this story fit the ticket. Tellingly, I bought the e-version, always a hint that I don't want a book lingering on my shelves.
I lost patience with this plot. As first, it gets all mysterious, and then this silly woman who is looking for her daughter and who obviously has not the slightest rudimentary knowledge of horror films (I mean, c'mon, where does this woman live? A storage room?) or police procedure or let's see, sense - heads off to sleep with strangers in a strange country (who might be nice cos she feels all cozy cuddled up with them but might be fooling her cos he keeps following her around), drives off with others, doesn't even pause to think throughout. I find it hard to believe any woman who parented such a child could be so totally out of it. And the revelations at the end just made me want to throw my ereader against the wall. What a silly silly woman. One should feel sympathy for her and really it dissolved into total exasperation.
The other characters are stereotypes. My feeling was that Fielding mailed this one in. I gave it a star, because, for all the implausibility, I still read it right through till the end. She IS good at these sorts of stories. But she can do better.
March 2, 2011
In Joy Fielding's latest novel Now You See Her, we meet 50 year old Marcy Taggart as she's on a tour bus in Ireland. This trip was supposed to have been a 25th anniversary trip with her husband Peter. However, their marriage fell apart after their daughter Devon died. Marcy has never accepted that her bipolar daughter committed suicide - her body was never found. Peter has left her for another woman and divorce proceedings are underway. Marcy has taken the trip anyway - why not?
While sitting in a pub, looking out the window after the tour, Marcy is stunned - she is sure she has seen Devon walking by. But as she races into the street, the girl has disappeared. Could it be true - could Devon still be alive? Maybe she faked her own death? Marcy is determined to track her down. New acquaintances such as the local bartender and another passenger from the bus tour are eager to help Marcy with her search. Too eager?
Fielding does an admirable job with Marcy's character, weaving the spectre of mental illness, grief and anguish into her storyline with thought and consideration.
Many red herrings and plot twists keep the story moving along very quickly. Although Marcy may be blinded by her desperation, I did question some of the decisions and choices she makes - some of them were downright dangerous. But this added to the question - is Marcy of sound mind herself?
An engaging read that will keep you turning pages to see if Devon is alive or not.
Fans of Mary Higgins Clark and Iris Johansen would enjoy Joy Fielding.
While sitting in a pub, looking out the window after the tour, Marcy is stunned - she is sure she has seen Devon walking by. But as she races into the street, the girl has disappeared. Could it be true - could Devon still be alive? Maybe she faked her own death? Marcy is determined to track her down. New acquaintances such as the local bartender and another passenger from the bus tour are eager to help Marcy with her search. Too eager?
Fielding does an admirable job with Marcy's character, weaving the spectre of mental illness, grief and anguish into her storyline with thought and consideration.
Many red herrings and plot twists keep the story moving along very quickly. Although Marcy may be blinded by her desperation, I did question some of the decisions and choices she makes - some of them were downright dangerous. But this added to the question - is Marcy of sound mind herself?
An engaging read that will keep you turning pages to see if Devon is alive or not.
Fans of Mary Higgins Clark and Iris Johansen would enjoy Joy Fielding.
February 23, 2011
Marcy Taggart has been hit with an emotional wallop, but she has not fallen. First her daughter was killed in a canoeing accident two years ago. The body was never found, so Marcy has never truly accepted her daughter's death. Her husband has moved on and left her for another woman. At fifty, Marcy is taking a tour of Ireland that was meant to be a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary trip. During a break at a pub, Marcy thinks she sees her daughter Devon walk past. Could her daughter still be alive and hiding out in Ireland to make a new start?
Marcy sets out on a journey to find her daughter and along the way meets others who either seem too eager to help her or want to hide vital information. It is hard to know who to trust and where the truth lies.
As a long time fan of Joy Fielding, I was thrilled to get an early copy of NOW YOU SEE HER to read and review. As a mature woman myself, it was refreshing to have a heroine who had been through life's trials. Ms. Fielding has crafted a mesmerizing novel with touches of melancholy and madness, but ultimately an ode to women who overcome adversity.
The Irish setting gave an extra dimension to the tale and the vivid descriptions made me feel I was right in the middle of the landscapes.
If you have never read Joy Fielding's books before, you need to start with this one and work your way through her back list.
Marcy sets out on a journey to find her daughter and along the way meets others who either seem too eager to help her or want to hide vital information. It is hard to know who to trust and where the truth lies.
As a long time fan of Joy Fielding, I was thrilled to get an early copy of NOW YOU SEE HER to read and review. As a mature woman myself, it was refreshing to have a heroine who had been through life's trials. Ms. Fielding has crafted a mesmerizing novel with touches of melancholy and madness, but ultimately an ode to women who overcome adversity.
The Irish setting gave an extra dimension to the tale and the vivid descriptions made me feel I was right in the middle of the landscapes.
If you have never read Joy Fielding's books before, you need to start with this one and work your way through her back list.
April 23, 2017
This book grabbed me from the beginning. After the tragic loss of her daughter and upcoming divorce a woman goes on what she thinks will be a healing trip to Ireland. She sees her daughter, alive and well ... or does she? Good fast read. Great character depiction by the author. A riveting story of a woman on a dangerous quest for the truth.
February 27, 2025
Page 2, the Irish spelling for cork is corcaigh not corcach and it most certainly is not pronounced kar kax.
A quick google could have told you that. A family member of mine here in Germany got this book from our local library for me as it is the only English book they have, would of been disappointed to of spent any money on it, I can tell it would be a painful read as an Irish person.
A quick google could have told you that. A family member of mine here in Germany got this book from our local library for me as it is the only English book they have, would of been disappointed to of spent any money on it, I can tell it would be a painful read as an Irish person.
July 7, 2017
Rated 3.5 stars
September 18, 2022
3 Sterne = ganz gut, aber muss man nicht unbedingt gelesen haben
Die Geschichte hat mich zwar gefesselt und ich mochte den Schreibstil und die Protagonistin, aber es war einfach nichts Besonderes. Das Ende hat mich dann auch nicht wirklich zufriedengestellt, sodass ich hier leider nur 3 Sterne vergeben kann.
Die Geschichte hat mich zwar gefesselt und ich mochte den Schreibstil und die Protagonistin, aber es war einfach nichts Besonderes. Das Ende hat mich dann auch nicht wirklich zufriedengestellt, sodass ich hier leider nur 3 Sterne vergeben kann.
December 17, 2020
3.5 Stars...
March 16, 2021
Eine Hoffnung die stirbt und ein Täter Dr unscheinbarer nicht sein kann. Typisch Joy Fielding
April 25, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, totally different yet somewhat the same as her other works. I'm glad I read it. I recommend it. Reading Fielding would not be complete, if you don't.
August 26, 2021
Filled with lots of twists and turns, some of which didn’t always feels necessary for plot or character development. But had a heartwarming ending so worth a read.
February 2, 2016
In ‘Now You See Her’, Marcy goes on a vacation in Ireland alone as her marriage of twenty-five years has ended in an unexpected divorce. Despite what her loved ones think, she’s convinced that her missing daughter Devon is alive. When she’s sightseeing in Cork, she catches a glimpse of someone who looks very much like Devon. From that moment onwards, she continues searching for her even when that leads to danger.
I’ve enjoyed many of Fielding’s books hence I expected to like this one. Unfortunately, I really disliked it and it’s hard for me to believe that this was written by her at all. Reading this was a truly mind-numbingly boring and painful experience. The writing was extremely poor as there was so much repetition. For instance, Marcy kept calling room service to order food (with plenty of details about what exactly she ate). Besides that, the author had to remind the reader that she disliked uniforms and she had very curly hair. How interesting *stifles a yawn*.
Marcy was an incredibly boring and annoying main character. She was also terribly immature. Although she was fifty years old, she behaved more like a paranoid, insecure fifteen-year-old. She instantly poured her heart out to complete strangers about Devon, even to the extent of showing them photographs. That was a stupid thing to do. Everyone could see how vulnerable she was, coupled with the fact that she was alone hence making her the perfect victim. The endless questions going on in her head were unbearable. She obviously needed to calm down, think rationally and plan her moves.
I couldn’t stand how she constantly relied on men to help her. It didn't help that she fainted or fell down multiple times throughout the story. Speaking of men, this was one of the most glaringly unrealistic things in the whole book. Despite her being boring and having emotional baggage, two men instantly like her when they first meet. Vic (who’s seven years older than her) gets into bed with her and is caring and protective. Then there’s 35-year-old Liam who conveniently likes older women and flirts with her. If Marcy had been interesting in any way, I could at least somewhat believe in this ‘love triangle’ but she wasn’t. Therefore, it was unintentionally hilarious.
Marcy’s quest to find Devon was just as boring as her. I didn’t like how there were too many convenient coincidences which finally led her to discover the truth behind everything that was happening. When a book relies heavily on coincidences, it’s definitely one that wasn’t written thoughtfully and carefully. Besides that, there was numerous irrelevant content. At one point, a taxi driver suddenly gave Marcy free history lessons about Ireland. . I would have laughed if I wasn't already fed up with the dull and repetitive story. Then there’s the incident in which she followed a stranger home. It served no purpose except to highlight how stupid and naïve she was.
The ending was abrupt but I was so glad I finally completed this book. Overall, ‘Now You See Her’ was highly unrealistic, long-winded and monotonous. If you’re having a hard time falling asleep, read this. Otherwise, skip this and read Fielding’s other works such as ‘Whispers and Lies’, ‘Missing Pieces’, ‘Grand Avenue’ and ‘The Deep End’ which are actually memorable and wonderful.
I’ve enjoyed many of Fielding’s books hence I expected to like this one. Unfortunately, I really disliked it and it’s hard for me to believe that this was written by her at all. Reading this was a truly mind-numbingly boring and painful experience. The writing was extremely poor as there was so much repetition. For instance, Marcy kept calling room service to order food (with plenty of details about what exactly she ate). Besides that, the author had to remind the reader that she disliked uniforms and she had very curly hair. How interesting *stifles a yawn*.
Marcy was an incredibly boring and annoying main character. She was also terribly immature. Although she was fifty years old, she behaved more like a paranoid, insecure fifteen-year-old. She instantly poured her heart out to complete strangers about Devon, even to the extent of showing them photographs. That was a stupid thing to do. Everyone could see how vulnerable she was, coupled with the fact that she was alone hence making her the perfect victim. The endless questions going on in her head were unbearable. She obviously needed to calm down, think rationally and plan her moves.
I couldn’t stand how she constantly relied on men to help her. It didn't help that she fainted or fell down multiple times throughout the story. Speaking of men, this was one of the most glaringly unrealistic things in the whole book. Despite her being boring and having emotional baggage, two men instantly like her when they first meet. Vic (who’s seven years older than her) gets into bed with her and is caring and protective. Then there’s 35-year-old Liam who conveniently likes older women and flirts with her. If Marcy had been interesting in any way, I could at least somewhat believe in this ‘love triangle’ but she wasn’t. Therefore, it was unintentionally hilarious.
Marcy’s quest to find Devon was just as boring as her. I didn’t like how there were too many convenient coincidences which finally led her to discover the truth behind everything that was happening. When a book relies heavily on coincidences, it’s definitely one that wasn’t written thoughtfully and carefully. Besides that, there was numerous irrelevant content. At one point, a taxi driver suddenly gave Marcy free history lessons about Ireland. . I would have laughed if I wasn't already fed up with the dull and repetitive story. Then there’s the incident in which she followed a stranger home. It served no purpose except to highlight how stupid and naïve she was.
The ending was abrupt but I was so glad I finally completed this book. Overall, ‘Now You See Her’ was highly unrealistic, long-winded and monotonous. If you’re having a hard time falling asleep, read this. Otherwise, skip this and read Fielding’s other works such as ‘Whispers and Lies’, ‘Missing Pieces’, ‘Grand Avenue’ and ‘The Deep End’ which are actually memorable and wonderful.
August 18, 2025
Found there was a lot if superfluous writing and had to skim through certain parts. It was interesting enough that I wanted to finish it, but a very typical story of late and the name indicates that.
October 15, 2025
Main character was just too exhausting
February 18, 2015
Full review and more at: http://bookserinread.blogspot.ca/
Here's the thing: I couldn't put it down. I NEEDED to know the ending. I HAD to know what everything would lead to. It took me two days to read it.
Although I couldn't put it down, and had to know the end, I'm conflicted because I actually don't think I liked it.
I hate saying that because I want to like most books, especially when I already like the author. I've read many books by her.
This book was frustrating. Both in the way it was written and the plot line.
I'll start with the way it was written. The character had SO MANY thoughts going on in her head at once. She was written to be thinking back to one conversation, while at the same time, conversing with somebody else from a conversation she had even earlier. It made my head hurt. Seriously. I don't see why it was needed. She can have memories without having memories during her memories of a conversation an hour ago. If that sounds confusing, it is.
As for the main character, I don't know that I liked her. For somebody who spent her time watching other people with mental illness, I think she could have used some counselling.
She took a trip to Ireland by herself in what was planned to be a second honeymoon for her and her husband before he left her. She didn't tell anybody she was going. That's strange. Her own son didn't know she was in Ireland. I mean, I get going on your own. I think that's brave. I didn't understand why people were shocked and upset that she was there until I got to know her a little better.
She made a lot of poor decisions. A lot of them. She was desperate, and apparently trusted everybody to help her, even if she only knew them for five seconds.
I do admit that I didn't know how it would end. I wondered at times, and guessed who I thought was involved with what, but I didn't completely understand.
Mostly, I found this book to be frustrating. Really frustrating.
I'll continue to read her books, but I'm not going to read this one again.
Here's the thing: I couldn't put it down. I NEEDED to know the ending. I HAD to know what everything would lead to. It took me two days to read it.
Although I couldn't put it down, and had to know the end, I'm conflicted because I actually don't think I liked it.
I hate saying that because I want to like most books, especially when I already like the author. I've read many books by her.
This book was frustrating. Both in the way it was written and the plot line.
I'll start with the way it was written. The character had SO MANY thoughts going on in her head at once. She was written to be thinking back to one conversation, while at the same time, conversing with somebody else from a conversation she had even earlier. It made my head hurt. Seriously. I don't see why it was needed. She can have memories without having memories during her memories of a conversation an hour ago. If that sounds confusing, it is.
As for the main character, I don't know that I liked her. For somebody who spent her time watching other people with mental illness, I think she could have used some counselling.
She took a trip to Ireland by herself in what was planned to be a second honeymoon for her and her husband before he left her. She didn't tell anybody she was going. That's strange. Her own son didn't know she was in Ireland. I mean, I get going on your own. I think that's brave. I didn't understand why people were shocked and upset that she was there until I got to know her a little better.
She made a lot of poor decisions. A lot of them. She was desperate, and apparently trusted everybody to help her, even if she only knew them for five seconds.
I do admit that I didn't know how it would end. I wondered at times, and guessed who I thought was involved with what, but I didn't completely understand.
Mostly, I found this book to be frustrating. Really frustrating.
I'll continue to read her books, but I'm not going to read this one again.
February 5, 2017
I have to say Ms Fielding is one of THE most consistently good authors I've read. I have read around a dozen by her now in the past 2 decades and I've always scored 4 or 5*. Very impressive. See Jane Run remains one of my most favourite books ever. This one wasn't her best but it was still an enjoyable read and full of twist and turns.
Marcy, our female lead got on my nerves. She's a bit of a flake.She had this aversion to men in uniform, supposedly including the mailman which was never explained but a bit bonkers. I liked Liam a great deal, though. It was a shocker of an ending which makes any book worthwhile. From what we learned about Devon, I wasn't sure why Marcy was looking for her. I think I'd be relieved she'd gone !! I felt very sorry for her brother, Darren as well.
It wasn't without mistakes. It's a rare day indeed I pick up ANY e-book that's error-free.......pretty disappointing, especially when these are supposedly well regarded publishers. Could do better.
She mentioned Ireland being the second most dangerous place to drive in Europe which shocked me and it's not true. It's Bulgaria with Romania being the worst.
She wrote frame less which needs a hyphen or to lose the space, one WHOLE paragraph regarding Judith's marriages was repeated in its entirety quite bizarrely a few pages apart, she lost his in this sentence-"Her son, Darren, had taken it all in stride", Marcy knocks on a red door which was purple when she was across the road, she wrote En-gland, then Hay-field which was Hayfield every other time it was written, stand in' doesn't need a space, either.....these annoyances should have all been spotted and corrected.
I'll still be reading more by her, though. It would be nice to see an error-free e-book but I don't see that happening anytime soon whether by this author or any other, sadly.
Marcy, our female lead got on my nerves. She's a bit of a flake.She had this aversion to men in uniform, supposedly including the mailman which was never explained but a bit bonkers. I liked Liam a great deal, though. It was a shocker of an ending which makes any book worthwhile. From what we learned about Devon, I wasn't sure why Marcy was looking for her. I think I'd be relieved she'd gone !! I felt very sorry for her brother, Darren as well.
It wasn't without mistakes. It's a rare day indeed I pick up ANY e-book that's error-free.......pretty disappointing, especially when these are supposedly well regarded publishers. Could do better.
She mentioned Ireland being the second most dangerous place to drive in Europe which shocked me and it's not true. It's Bulgaria with Romania being the worst.
She wrote frame less which needs a hyphen or to lose the space, one WHOLE paragraph regarding Judith's marriages was repeated in its entirety quite bizarrely a few pages apart, she lost his in this sentence-"Her son, Darren, had taken it all in stride", Marcy knocks on a red door which was purple when she was across the road, she wrote En-gland, then Hay-field which was Hayfield every other time it was written, stand in' doesn't need a space, either.....these annoyances should have all been spotted and corrected.
I'll still be reading more by her, though. It would be nice to see an error-free e-book but I don't see that happening anytime soon whether by this author or any other, sadly.
July 9, 2011
This wasn't a bad book. But it wasn't good either. It's a plot we all read a million times. Marcy takes a trip to Ireland on what should have been her 25th anniversary. But her husband left her for another women, and she goes anyway. People seem to think this odd, but if you have ever made travel arrangements, you know if you have no travel insurance, and you don't go on the vacation, you pay for it anyway. So why not go? Anyway..
Marcy and Peter's Daughter Devon was presumed dead when her overturned canoe was found and her body never was. Marcy has never come to terms with her daughter's death, in fact, she still thinks she is alive, and this is partly why the trip to Ireland. Devon was bi-polar, making home life very difficult when off her meds. But considering her illness, it is possible she wanted to disappear, as she was so unhappy. Marcy and Peter can no longer communicate after this terrible incident, hence the breakup.
Marcy's behavior is so bizarre while in Ireland that I was beginning to wonder if her character was bi-polar too. She is walking up to virtual strangers in all kinds of unsafe places, showing them Devon's picture. She attracts the attention of the Garda (police) many times, and in general makes some very foolish choices, like following and spying on people she imagines may know where Devon is. She gets involved with two men she just met too, when she barely knows a thing about them. I suppose after the divorce it made her feel attractive. She sort of pulls herself together at the end, but I don't want to spoil the story for you. If you like this author, you will probably like the book.
Marcy and Peter's Daughter Devon was presumed dead when her overturned canoe was found and her body never was. Marcy has never come to terms with her daughter's death, in fact, she still thinks she is alive, and this is partly why the trip to Ireland. Devon was bi-polar, making home life very difficult when off her meds. But considering her illness, it is possible she wanted to disappear, as she was so unhappy. Marcy and Peter can no longer communicate after this terrible incident, hence the breakup.
Marcy's behavior is so bizarre while in Ireland that I was beginning to wonder if her character was bi-polar too. She is walking up to virtual strangers in all kinds of unsafe places, showing them Devon's picture. She attracts the attention of the Garda (police) many times, and in general makes some very foolish choices, like following and spying on people she imagines may know where Devon is. She gets involved with two men she just met too, when she barely knows a thing about them. I suppose after the divorce it made her feel attractive. She sort of pulls herself together at the end, but I don't want to spoil the story for you. If you like this author, you will probably like the book.
July 6, 2011
The novel opens with an introduction to 50 year old Marcy who is on a tour bus in Ireland. Actually, she is on a 25th wedding anniversary trip without her husband. He left her after their daughter died in a boating accident because he couldn't deal with all their emotions. (Wimp, in my opinion!) The authorities are sure that Devon, their daughter committed suicide but Marcy can't accept that answer because she thinks she sees Devon in crowds everywhere. While in Ireland, she is positive she sees Devon walking down the street and she takes off leaving the tour behind her. Marcy thinks, somehow, Devon has faked her own death and has hidden out in Ireland. Devon gets away from her and Marcy sets out, determined to find her. Another passenger and a very friendly Irish bartender are very eager to help her in her search. Hmmm, something "fishy" about these two.
Many surprises pop up in her search and some people turn sinister before the plot is untangled. Although the book is a light entertaining read, I did not enjoy this as much as some of Joy Fielding's other light mysteries that she has written. I read through to to end because Fielding was able to arouse in me the curiosity of finding out if Devon was dead or alive.
Many surprises pop up in her search and some people turn sinister before the plot is untangled. Although the book is a light entertaining read, I did not enjoy this as much as some of Joy Fielding's other light mysteries that she has written. I read through to to end because Fielding was able to arouse in me the curiosity of finding out if Devon was dead or alive.
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