Summer of Storms

by Judith Kelman

Thirty years after her five-year-old sister had been murdered during a hurricane, photojournalist Anna Jamieson, then three years old, returns to New York City, the scene of the unsolved crime, to expose the dark underbelly of the glittering city and finds herself on a collision course with her terrifying memories and with a fiendishly clever killer. By the author of After the Fall. Reprint.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Book Club

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[M.E. Aster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summer of Storms is a mystery novel with an exciting premise but an anticlimactic ending and lots of filler in between.

This book was tough to get through. The only reason I kept going was because I wanted to know who the killer was but when the big mystery was finally revealed I found myself thinking “that’s it?”

I also thought the pacing was jarring. The constant POV switches (many of which were unnecessary in my opinion) were hard to keep up with and made it difficult to connect to any one character.

I don’t think I will pick up another book by this author.

[Melissa Boufounos · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really need to learn to stop reading a book if I don’t enjoy it. But, I hate quitting.

After reading 1-2 books per week for the last 3 months this book stopped my streak dead in its tracks. This took me 3 weeks to get through because I never got hooked on it and never wanted to jump back into it at night before bed.

I found it SO dry.

Until the last 100 pages where it got better. But, the switch flipped so quickly.

The most boring build up ever for what happens in the last dozen or so pages.

And even then, it just...ends...

[Dale Safford · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to try several times to get going with this book. The beginning just didn't flow too easily. The book is also outdated since it talks about photography without acknowledging digital formats. Almost quit reading it. Maybe printing the book in a less formal font would have helped.

Anna Jameson was just three years old when her only sister was murdered on a stormy night in her own bed in their house as the family slept. Now grown, Anna is eager to leave her dead-end photography job in hometown Charleston, North Carolina for better opportunities. She accepts a photojournalist job in New York City, but the boss is nasty, she can't afford a very nice place to live, and she is suspended for a week from her job. There is danger where she lives as she is attacked and rescued one night, and she feels like the killer who was never caught will be coming after her now. Will her suspicions prove to be unfounded, or is danger really headed her way?

[Kristine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book lived up to everything I expected going into it: a nice suspenseful mystery to read during a summer vacation. Though the plot wasn't overly original, I liked the set up of following the protagonist but having another group of people solve the mystery surrounding her. There were some parts that were confusing or left hanging (maybe I'm crazy, but it never comes out who actually doctored the photo?), and some plot points crossed over into forced when they were meant to add tension.

The book is first person, with most chapters from the main female's point of view. It's fairly fast-paced, with a lot of dialogue. Fans of the genre or those looking for a light beach read should enjoy.

[Purple Iris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost gave up on this book several times. It is super slow at the beginning. There are too many characters, too many story lines the author wants to develop. Plus, the translation sucks. I don't think I'll be reading Kelman again.

[Anne Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been thirty years since Anna Jamieson's sister Julie was murdered in the middle of the night back when the family lived in an apartment in New York City. The family lives in South Carolina now. When an opportunity for a photography job comes along thanks to Uncle Eli who has connections, Anna decides to take it even though it's back in New York City. Anna soon finds out that her dream job isn't all that it's cracked up to be. Her outspoken boss wants to see what kind of job she can do before he hires her, and she has to find a place to live since her friend Shelby is having too many family problems to take her in. Luckily, a guy from work, Dixon, helps her find a place. It's not in the greatest location, but is doable. In the meantime, the Arcanum, a group that tries to solve old unsolved murder cases, decides to take on the Julie Jamieson case because one of the members received a disturbing phone call about it. Instead of contacting any of the Jamieson family members, the group focuses on the phone call, and soon a murder of a group member takes place as well as a threat to one of the member's children. By the time anyone thinks to contact Anna, it's too late, and she has to witness not only who the murderer is, but the loss of a beloved relative because he felt too guilty of the past crimes to move on.
Final thought: it was nice to have Anna volunteer at a school to help out her friend's kindergarten class to show them how to take pictures. But this book, published in 2001, should have been more realistic. Parents need to give permission to have their children being photographed, Anna was taking her chances photographing children outside of a playground, and no permission needed from the principal to do a photography workshop?

[Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was rough for me; took me almost a month to get through because I wasn’t enjoying it at all. It really seemed like the author had too many ideas, and rather than paring them down she threw them all into one book in an extremely poorly-executed way. There were an obscene amount of characters in this book, but none of them were flushed out to the point where there was any emotional attachment to their outcomes. It also wasn’t clear by the end of the novel how all the characters related to each other or what the point of most of them were. The twist wasn’t predictable, but I really think that’s just because it was so outlandish compared to where the book was going that nobody would have thought it would’ve ended that way.

I’m just going to stop there because I really don’t have anything good to say.

[Shania · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't bad. But it wasn't good. I found it quite boring as well as difficult to follow with all the characters, especially when the author is using the first name to identify them at times and their last name during other times.

The last 100 pages or so weren't as bad but I still had to drag myself to finish this book. Any book that I read after this will surely be a breath of fresh air I'm sure of it.

[Janiere James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly a page turner hands down! Funny as well as intriguing and intense! Al Elisson got me!! I did not figure out the killer, but it was so obvious!!! This book is one of the best books I have read! Great from beginning to end!

[Linda Dezenski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a page-turner. Every chapter had something exciting that kept the story moving. In the story Anna is confronted with the return of the man who murdered her sister. The only thing I did not like was that the story wrapped with a romantic twist that was not needed.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great story line but hard to love a book when the main character is annoying & exasperating which I found happened too much.

[Michelle Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Surprise ending

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very disjointed with many subplots that made it difficult to follow. I liked the main character and would have liked her to have grown in the book.

[Shenique · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started this book; currently only on the first chapter and I can’t get pass it. Maybe it’s because I’m not into this genre.

[Jenn Mull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe 3.75? Good mystery, kinda figured out the antagonist, but didn't exactly figure it out, if you know what I mean. Scary, without being too scary.

[Terri Bernhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent story, but why use 10 big flowery words when 3 will do? I felt like the author cared more about showing off her impressive vocabulary than advancing the plot.

[Kristi Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. I couldn't believe who the killer was.

[Sara Best · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very suspenseful!

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light mystery about a girl whose sister was murdered when she was six. Entertaining, without a lot of substance.

[NIWAMANYA DESIRE · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was the best book that i have read so far

[Annabelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kelman has a gritty writing style juxtaposing out-of-the-ordinary, vivid word choices to capture attention. However, sometimes it seems a little forced. The main character, Anna, a fledging photographer, living with her parents in Charleston after graduation and is shooting portraits at a down home, cheesey store. Her sister was murdered in at night in her home when she was a toddler, and it haunters her family and makes her mother controlling, obsessive and generally crazy. Anna moves to New York to work for an Enquirer-like, arrogant, punitive publisher, finding a cheap apartment in Brooklyn in the prostitute area. There is a journalist, Dixon, who is a mild love interest. Creepy things start to happen to Anna, and an elite cold case think tank, take on the old murder. The standard formula happens with the heroine fighting at the end and getting wounded, but triumphing getting a better job and possibly getting together with a love interest. I liked it, it dragged, but the plotting and writing kept up the interest.

[Marti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quite a nicely written book, with a long ago murder, and present murders. Anna Jameson's five year old sister was killed in New York City years ago when Anna was only three. The case was never solved. The family moved to Charleston, South Carolina where Anna, now grown up, feels that she has to move away from the relationship with Kebin Moultrie, her former fiance. Her uncle Eli is very helpful--sets up an interview with a publisher for a job for her as a photojournalist. Her best friend from school lives in NYC, but their lives have changed immeasurably. A new friend at the paper helps her find an apartment in Brooklyn. A group called the Arcanum takes on cold cases, and the Sleeping Beauty one is now current. Who is killing people now? Why? Read this book and find out.

[Judi Stroud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two storylines that meet for the final outcome. Really enjoyed this. Had a thought the killer was Anna's cousin but thwarted by apparent death in car crash. Uncle made it up to protect his wife, but ultimately caused his death as well as the killer cousin.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unfamiliar with this author, but I did enjoy this book. Will look for others by her.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed the suspense; tough-to-put-down book. Found a great quote-"Sometimes things simply slip off the careful course you set."

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are one to try and guess the outcome or the killer of the story this is a good one for you. Kept me guessing

[Patti Quiring]

Great book.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story. Well written. Love surprise endings!

[Jackie Simons]

Read 8/03