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Fool Me Once
This book was previously published as Elephant in the Room.
Family secrets can be deadly.
Penny Jackson is slowly rebuilding her life after the abrupt end of her marriage when she falls in love with the charismatic hotelier, Robert Carver. When dark unspoken family secrets start to surface, Penny has to re-evaluate everything and rely on her own wits to stay alive.
Family secrets can be deadly.
Penny Jackson is slowly rebuilding her life after the abrupt end of her marriage when she falls in love with the charismatic hotelier, Robert Carver. When dark unspoken family secrets start to surface, Penny has to re-evaluate everything and rely on her own wits to stay alive.
- GenresMystery
221 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
56 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 31, 2016
Penny needed a purpose and she found love after a devastating divorce and a period of total confusion and depression, but Robert was dying and Penny would do anything to make his final moments happy. Penny has been through the worst times of her life, betrayed, cheated on and finding she had given years of her life to her family only to realize that personally, she was like a blank sheet of paper.
Her friends worried that Penny was falling too hard, too fast and that losing Robert would send her over the deep end, again. When Robert asked her to find his missing stepdaughter, how could she not? What Penny didn’t expect was what she would discover once Sophie had been found or how deadly it could be.
Twisted family secrets, abuse and lies, are the backbone of Diana J. Febry’s ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM as Penny tries once again to do for others with no thought to herself. Get ready to ride the rollercoaster of suspense, mental and emotional abuse, and dysfunctional people leading dysfunctional lives. In the past lay dark and horrific deeds that will play with the minds of all involved and Diana J. Febry has set the scenes, turned up the shadows and turned down the lights in this dark and thrilling tale. Who, why and when are the big questions from the past…will they come to light because of Penny’s meddling? Will an unfinished job finally see its end?
Publisher: Wings ePress (January 18, 2013)
Publication Date: January 18, 2013
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Print Length: 380 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Her friends worried that Penny was falling too hard, too fast and that losing Robert would send her over the deep end, again. When Robert asked her to find his missing stepdaughter, how could she not? What Penny didn’t expect was what she would discover once Sophie had been found or how deadly it could be.
Twisted family secrets, abuse and lies, are the backbone of Diana J. Febry’s ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM as Penny tries once again to do for others with no thought to herself. Get ready to ride the rollercoaster of suspense, mental and emotional abuse, and dysfunctional people leading dysfunctional lives. In the past lay dark and horrific deeds that will play with the minds of all involved and Diana J. Febry has set the scenes, turned up the shadows and turned down the lights in this dark and thrilling tale. Who, why and when are the big questions from the past…will they come to light because of Penny’s meddling? Will an unfinished job finally see its end?
Publisher: Wings ePress (January 18, 2013)
Publication Date: January 18, 2013
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Print Length: 380 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
August 19, 2017
I've been a fan of Diana J. Febry's work for quite some time, and was happy to find this book in her backlist. A gripping psychological thriller, Elephant in the Room is one of those books you can't stop thinking about even after the last page is read. Penny is a middle-aged divorcee who meets Robert, a wealthy, charismatic businessman. Robert is dying, and Penny falls instantly in love. Robert asks Penny to help him reunite with his estranged step-daughter, Sophie, before he dies. Eager to help, Penny embarks on a journey that ends up being much more than she bargained for. The sense of urgency intensifies as the story progresses, and the reader is left guessing who the villain truly is. Excellent writing and true to life characters always make this author's work memorable. I highly recommend this book for thriller/mystery fans!
September 13, 2014
Elephant in the Room is something of a departure for author Febry, whose other three books are police procedural murder mysteries. This one is a psychological thriller, and very well done.
Our protagonist, Penny, is a divorced woman, embittered and somewhat in denial as to her role in the marital breakup. She was something of a micromanager type, and thought her long term marriage was secure and stable, when in actuality, her husband had been having an affair with another woman for the last seven years of the marriage, without the courage to leave his wife. He only did so when the other woman called Penny to tell her of the affair.
Penny tries to cope but eventually has a breakdown, and we meet her at a retreat, where she is learning coping techniques. There, she meets the catalyst for the events in the rest of the book, Robert, --wealthy, manipulative and outwardly extremely charismatic, but cruel underneath. And dying. He only has a few more months to live.
He has two sons by his first wife, who was killed in a suspicious car accident, and a step daughter, whose mother killed herself after being admitted to a mental institution. The sons never liked either the daughter or the mother, and the adult step daughter has disappeared from the toxic family, adamantly refusing to have anything more to do with any of them.
Robert confides to Penny that he is trying to find his step daughter to make amends, to clear things up before he dies. He convinces Penny to take on the job of looking for her, starting in the last place where he had information that she was living. And so begins a search that gradually becomes more and more sinister, ending in what at the time seems like an inevitable shooting death, the one we are sure we should have seen coming.
But what seems inevitable was not. Penny had jumped into other people's business, thinking she could provide all the answers rather than face her own failings. She had failed to realize just how damaged they all were or to consider the possible causes and outcomes.
If thrillers are your thing, you will definitely like this one.
Our protagonist, Penny, is a divorced woman, embittered and somewhat in denial as to her role in the marital breakup. She was something of a micromanager type, and thought her long term marriage was secure and stable, when in actuality, her husband had been having an affair with another woman for the last seven years of the marriage, without the courage to leave his wife. He only did so when the other woman called Penny to tell her of the affair.
Penny tries to cope but eventually has a breakdown, and we meet her at a retreat, where she is learning coping techniques. There, she meets the catalyst for the events in the rest of the book, Robert, --wealthy, manipulative and outwardly extremely charismatic, but cruel underneath. And dying. He only has a few more months to live.
He has two sons by his first wife, who was killed in a suspicious car accident, and a step daughter, whose mother killed herself after being admitted to a mental institution. The sons never liked either the daughter or the mother, and the adult step daughter has disappeared from the toxic family, adamantly refusing to have anything more to do with any of them.
Robert confides to Penny that he is trying to find his step daughter to make amends, to clear things up before he dies. He convinces Penny to take on the job of looking for her, starting in the last place where he had information that she was living. And so begins a search that gradually becomes more and more sinister, ending in what at the time seems like an inevitable shooting death, the one we are sure we should have seen coming.
But what seems inevitable was not. Penny had jumped into other people's business, thinking she could provide all the answers rather than face her own failings. She had failed to realize just how damaged they all were or to consider the possible causes and outcomes.
If thrillers are your thing, you will definitely like this one.
June 9, 2013
This was definitely a unique story. Febry tackled some very, very difficult topics with tact and grace. She wound them together into a conclusion that I couldn’t have imagined in my wildest dreams, and she got us there in a fairly natural manner.
I found that Febry used some very long winded descriptions, almost to excess. Don’t get me wrong. They were brilliant, and you can picture exactly what Febry is seeing. Unfortunately they seemed to take over the story. Overall, the story did still have a coherent flow but you were about 2/3 of the way through the book before anything really happened. There was so much time spent on setup that by the time the story actually began to take off there wasn’t quite enough time for it to redeem itself.
Character development in this novel threw me for a bit of a loop. Some of the characters were developed extremely well. You got to know a great deal about them. You got to know them as real people. Others, however, seemed to be little more than names on the page. They fulfilled their purpose but as a reader you never got to know them.
As a whole this was a very perplexing story. There were some very disturbing moments, yet also many thoughts and actions that redeemed humanity. Unfortunately I spent much more time trying to figure out what should be happening than I did just enjoying the read.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I found that Febry used some very long winded descriptions, almost to excess. Don’t get me wrong. They were brilliant, and you can picture exactly what Febry is seeing. Unfortunately they seemed to take over the story. Overall, the story did still have a coherent flow but you were about 2/3 of the way through the book before anything really happened. There was so much time spent on setup that by the time the story actually began to take off there wasn’t quite enough time for it to redeem itself.
Character development in this novel threw me for a bit of a loop. Some of the characters were developed extremely well. You got to know a great deal about them. You got to know them as real people. Others, however, seemed to be little more than names on the page. They fulfilled their purpose but as a reader you never got to know them.
As a whole this was a very perplexing story. There were some very disturbing moments, yet also many thoughts and actions that redeemed humanity. Unfortunately I spent much more time trying to figure out what should be happening than I did just enjoying the read.
Please note that I received this novel free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2016
“Elephant In The Room” by Diana J. Febry is a cleverly plotted thriller with great characterisation.
Our heroine Penny is a divorced woman in her forties and still recovering from the hurt when she falls for Robert Carver. He is a handsome but dying man whose last wish is to see his step daughter Sophie again to make things right. Infatuated and sure she is the right person for the job Penny agrees without fully knowing what occurred.
The story changes perspective a few times, to let us see Sophie and Penny’s viewpoint as the two women gradually let down their barriers and talk about the past.
Febry has written very real characters with flaws and multiple sides to them, which I loved. The story admittedly took a while to take off but I persevered because the author makes us too curious to find out what it was that actually happened. The characters have a lot of emotions and depth but despite those emotional insights the secrets remain a mystery for most of the book. The story picks up pace soon enough and throws in a few surprises and turns into the mix to end up a gripping read.
Our heroine Penny is a divorced woman in her forties and still recovering from the hurt when she falls for Robert Carver. He is a handsome but dying man whose last wish is to see his step daughter Sophie again to make things right. Infatuated and sure she is the right person for the job Penny agrees without fully knowing what occurred.
The story changes perspective a few times, to let us see Sophie and Penny’s viewpoint as the two women gradually let down their barriers and talk about the past.
Febry has written very real characters with flaws and multiple sides to them, which I loved. The story admittedly took a while to take off but I persevered because the author makes us too curious to find out what it was that actually happened. The characters have a lot of emotions and depth but despite those emotional insights the secrets remain a mystery for most of the book. The story picks up pace soon enough and throws in a few surprises and turns into the mix to end up a gripping read.
April 29, 2013
This was a good book. A little scattered at first, but if you stick it out, it is worth the read! Takes some re-reading of a passage so so to understand where you are at!
January 21, 2021
I usually love how this author creates a story with masterful strokes, so I kept reading hoping this one would get better. What I liked about it: a story full of real-life struggles people go through. What I didn't like about it: Penny, the main character was too undecided about everything. She kept repeating her angst out loud or in her head and it got so so tiresome. I understand she was struggling with all the things in her past that every single person on the planet has also dealt with at some time or other, but her indecisiveness made me want to reach into the story and slap her.
The other novels this author has written are super.
The other novels this author has written are super.
August 27, 2020
I usually enjoy Dian Febry books. However this one left me questioning why I continued to read it. Robert and Penny met at a retreat. She agrees to help find his stepdaughter without any back ground information. WHAT? While on the search, Penny's hotel room is trashed and she doesn't want the police involved. Not even after threatening notes are delivered to her. To me the story wasn't believable and I had a hard time following the plot One bad book out of so many good ones isn't bad.
July 4, 2018
This was an interesting psychological thriller, which became more exciting as the story progressed. Characters were particularly well developed, and the plot leaves you guessing until close to the end. I enjoyed the read very much.
October 20, 2020
Awful
Psycho Babble the whole book. Ending trite. Couldn’t care about any of people. Other books by author much better. Junk!
Psycho Babble the whole book. Ending trite. Couldn’t care about any of people. Other books by author much better. Junk!
April 15, 2013
What I have discovered in reading Febry’s books is that she excels at people watching, and asking the questions, or providing answers about their motivation. Each character has a complete set of flaws and insecurities that provide an insight into their motivations and actions. Refreshingly unapologetic, those who behave badly are given solid background that explains their reasoning, if not a clear empathy, for those acts.
In this story the narration is mostly provided by Penny, a woman in the midst of a personal crisis who is diverting her attention to her own issues to help the man she feels is giving her reason to live. A twisting and complex plot, with several players with their own secrets, all seeking to use Penny’s willingness to help and her seemingly innocent belief in all that she is told to manipulate a situation to their own advantage.
Full of twists and turns, Penny is seeking to bring a family reconciliation to a family that is torn asunder by secrets and lies, some important enough to kill for. Emotionally gripping, the story is a chase through the countryside that causes Penny to question everything she thought she knew, and forces her to face reality in a way she never dreamed possible.
If you are a fan of mysteries that are chock full of characters to love and hate, even some you want to slap some sense into, than Diana J. Febry is the writer for you. You will not be disappointed in this story.
I was fortunate to be a beta reader for Ms. Febry, and she was gracious enough to provide me a paperback copy of the final version of this book. I was under no obligation to review this book, and do so honestly without compensation. All conclusions are my own responsibility.
In this story the narration is mostly provided by Penny, a woman in the midst of a personal crisis who is diverting her attention to her own issues to help the man she feels is giving her reason to live. A twisting and complex plot, with several players with their own secrets, all seeking to use Penny’s willingness to help and her seemingly innocent belief in all that she is told to manipulate a situation to their own advantage.
Full of twists and turns, Penny is seeking to bring a family reconciliation to a family that is torn asunder by secrets and lies, some important enough to kill for. Emotionally gripping, the story is a chase through the countryside that causes Penny to question everything she thought she knew, and forces her to face reality in a way she never dreamed possible.
If you are a fan of mysteries that are chock full of characters to love and hate, even some you want to slap some sense into, than Diana J. Febry is the writer for you. You will not be disappointed in this story.
I was fortunate to be a beta reader for Ms. Febry, and she was gracious enough to provide me a paperback copy of the final version of this book. I was under no obligation to review this book, and do so honestly without compensation. All conclusions are my own responsibility.
July 12, 2013
What I have discovered in reading Febry’s books is that she excels at developing characters. She delves into motivations, character reasoning, emotions and problems like few authors out there. Each character seems so human and relatable because of the flaws and insecurities.These characters are brash and unrepentant at times, but it works because that's how people behave in real life.
This story is told mostly from the POV of Penny, a woman who is suffering from an emotional breakdown after learning of her husbands affair. She becomes involved with another man after a time, hoping to put the balance of her life back in order. To try and fulfill his dying wish she agrees to help him find his step daughter Sophie. At this point the players of the book become clear they are all hiding skeletons and secrets, and many seek to use Penny’s willingness to help and her naivete to manipulate the situation for their own gain.
Trying her best throughout the book, Penny is seeking to bring this dysfunctional family that has been divided by so many secrets and lies, back together. This story is packed with emotions, and the turns the book takes will cause Penny to begin to lose a bit of her innocence and start question everything she thought she knew, and kinda slaps her in the face with the harsher realities of life.
This was a great book to read, there were a few slow parts here and there, but overall the conclusions of the book were well worth the read. It gave me a fresh new insight on why people in the world sometimes are the way they are.
This story is told mostly from the POV of Penny, a woman who is suffering from an emotional breakdown after learning of her husbands affair. She becomes involved with another man after a time, hoping to put the balance of her life back in order. To try and fulfill his dying wish she agrees to help him find his step daughter Sophie. At this point the players of the book become clear they are all hiding skeletons and secrets, and many seek to use Penny’s willingness to help and her naivete to manipulate the situation for their own gain.
Trying her best throughout the book, Penny is seeking to bring this dysfunctional family that has been divided by so many secrets and lies, back together. This story is packed with emotions, and the turns the book takes will cause Penny to begin to lose a bit of her innocence and start question everything she thought she knew, and kinda slaps her in the face with the harsher realities of life.
This was a great book to read, there were a few slow parts here and there, but overall the conclusions of the book were well worth the read. It gave me a fresh new insight on why people in the world sometimes are the way they are.
August 17, 2015
So this book follows the main character of Penny who after the demise of her previous marriage has found love again.
The man she has falling for is Robert, who already has children of his own including a step daughter who Robert doesn’t have contact with.
Penny offers to track down this step daughter in the hope she can convince her to reconcile with Robert.
As you can guess there is more to this situation than Penny is aware of and an interesting tale unfolds. Telling you anything would take away the enjoyment of reading the book but in my opinion the story flows well and you are constantly left wondering what is going on and why the step daughter doesn’t want to see Robert or his family again…who doesn’t like a bit of suspense!
I really enjoyed the book and the ending didn’t disappoint for me. This is the second book I’ve read of Diana’s and it’s of the same quality and a very engaging read. To explain this is must point out Penny is by far the most annoying character I’ve ever read about. She makes you want to scream… but as you near the end of the book you start to see why. She really does have her heart in the right place but she’s blinded to the truth which I guess we all are when we fall in love.
This really was a good book to read, my 4 star rating is simply because at times Penny was too annoying verging on stalker and I felt at this point the step daughter would have called the police rather than had a conversation with the woman.. or maybe had a bit of a cat fight.
If you like a bit of mystery or suspense I think you’ll enjoy this book.
The man she has falling for is Robert, who already has children of his own including a step daughter who Robert doesn’t have contact with.
Penny offers to track down this step daughter in the hope she can convince her to reconcile with Robert.
As you can guess there is more to this situation than Penny is aware of and an interesting tale unfolds. Telling you anything would take away the enjoyment of reading the book but in my opinion the story flows well and you are constantly left wondering what is going on and why the step daughter doesn’t want to see Robert or his family again…who doesn’t like a bit of suspense!
I really enjoyed the book and the ending didn’t disappoint for me. This is the second book I’ve read of Diana’s and it’s of the same quality and a very engaging read. To explain this is must point out Penny is by far the most annoying character I’ve ever read about. She makes you want to scream… but as you near the end of the book you start to see why. She really does have her heart in the right place but she’s blinded to the truth which I guess we all are when we fall in love.
This really was a good book to read, my 4 star rating is simply because at times Penny was too annoying verging on stalker and I felt at this point the step daughter would have called the police rather than had a conversation with the woman.. or maybe had a bit of a cat fight.
If you like a bit of mystery or suspense I think you’ll enjoy this book.
June 22, 2013
Reviewer: Tyeesha
Rating: 3 out of 5 Fairies
Penny is a fortyish year old divorcee who is overcoming heartache and mental breakdown after her husband's infidelity. At a retreat to find herself, she becomes involved with Robert Carver, a successful business man. Robert is dying and has a final wish of seeing his estranged step-daughter Sophie, before he dies. He enlists Penny to find Sophie, although he has hidden many dark secrets as to why Sophie left in the first place. Robert's two sons Josh and Harry are completely against bringing Sophie home, as they feel she is crazy, and it will just bring stress to their father bringing her back. Penny does find Sophie, and the truth is revealed, but she was not prepared for the truth.
For me personally, this book was a little slow getting to the point. The author had a tendency to over describe the emotions, and daily events of each character. Penny was at times frustrating; she was a nosey, pushy woman. Her character drove me a little CRAZY...leave well enough alone already Penny! Although, she did have some redeeming qualities. I was a little frustrated with the ending. It climaxed, then nose-dived into a cliff. I think this book would be a good read for someone more age appropriate to the characters, mid 40's, but for myself, (30) this book was just too long.
Disclosure: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an HONEST and not necessarily positive review.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Fairies
Penny is a fortyish year old divorcee who is overcoming heartache and mental breakdown after her husband's infidelity. At a retreat to find herself, she becomes involved with Robert Carver, a successful business man. Robert is dying and has a final wish of seeing his estranged step-daughter Sophie, before he dies. He enlists Penny to find Sophie, although he has hidden many dark secrets as to why Sophie left in the first place. Robert's two sons Josh and Harry are completely against bringing Sophie home, as they feel she is crazy, and it will just bring stress to their father bringing her back. Penny does find Sophie, and the truth is revealed, but she was not prepared for the truth.
For me personally, this book was a little slow getting to the point. The author had a tendency to over describe the emotions, and daily events of each character. Penny was at times frustrating; she was a nosey, pushy woman. Her character drove me a little CRAZY...leave well enough alone already Penny! Although, she did have some redeeming qualities. I was a little frustrated with the ending. It climaxed, then nose-dived into a cliff. I think this book would be a good read for someone more age appropriate to the characters, mid 40's, but for myself, (30) this book was just too long.
Disclosure: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an HONEST and not necessarily positive review.
May 29, 2013
Penny is a fortyish year old divorcee who is overcoming heartache and mental breakdown of her husband's infidelity. At a retreat to find herself, she becomes involved with Robert Carver, a successful business man. Robert is dying, and has a final wish of seeing his estranged step-daughter Sophie, before he dies. He enlists Penny to find Sophie, although he has hidden many dark secrets as to why Sophie left in the first place. Robert's two sons Josh and Harry are completely against bringing Sophie home, as they feel she is crazy, and it will just bring stress to their father bringing her back. Penny does find Sophie, and the truth is revealed, but she was not prepared for the truth.
For me personally, this book was too slow getting to the point. The author dragged on and on with the emotions, and daily events of each character. One chapter literally took 6 paragraphs to get to the point. Penny was a boring, nosey, pushy woman. Her character drove me CRAZY...leave well enough alone already Penny! I also hated the way the book ended. It climaxed, then nose-dived into a cliff. I think this book would be a good read for someone more age appropriate to the characters, mid 40's, but for myself, (30) his book was just too long, boring and drab. 380 pages of my life I will never get back!
For me personally, this book was too slow getting to the point. The author dragged on and on with the emotions, and daily events of each character. One chapter literally took 6 paragraphs to get to the point. Penny was a boring, nosey, pushy woman. Her character drove me CRAZY...leave well enough alone already Penny! I also hated the way the book ended. It climaxed, then nose-dived into a cliff. I think this book would be a good read for someone more age appropriate to the characters, mid 40's, but for myself, (30) his book was just too long, boring and drab. 380 pages of my life I will never get back!
May 12, 2014
Elephant In The Room is a heartfelt story with many unexpected twist,turns, secrets and lies. There are so many life-like emotions that made me feel like I was reading a reality based story. I was pulled in and didn’t want to walk away from this saga.
This well-written story was filled with mystery and intrigue and with a plot line that was unpredictable and at the same time relatable. I loved all the details and layers that kept me enthralled all the way through. I like that the characters are realistically flawed. That was so invigorating. We all have insecurities and quirks.
Penny, overwhelmed with anger and resentment following her divorce from her husband Matt. She had become consumed by her emotions and became out of control. That was until she met a man named Robert. Someone she felt she could trust. More than anything, he taught her how to love again. But everything is not as it seems.
This emotional tale resonated with me and moved me. It was so honest and at times so sad but then there were also moments that were so funny that I couldn't help laugh to myself. Savoring the moment by re-reading the lines.
I enjoyed this book so much that I read in a fury wanting to know more.
This well-written story was filled with mystery and intrigue and with a plot line that was unpredictable and at the same time relatable. I loved all the details and layers that kept me enthralled all the way through. I like that the characters are realistically flawed. That was so invigorating. We all have insecurities and quirks.
Penny, overwhelmed with anger and resentment following her divorce from her husband Matt. She had become consumed by her emotions and became out of control. That was until she met a man named Robert. Someone she felt she could trust. More than anything, he taught her how to love again. But everything is not as it seems.
This emotional tale resonated with me and moved me. It was so honest and at times so sad but then there were also moments that were so funny that I couldn't help laugh to myself. Savoring the moment by re-reading the lines.
I enjoyed this book so much that I read in a fury wanting to know more.
June 20, 2016
This is indeed a dark, psychological thriller at its best. I’m not going to lie, in certain places it was a very disturbing read, but this made it even more of a valuable literary work. I’ve read almost all works by the talented Ms. Febry, and this one is quite different, as it centers not so much on the investigation of a crime, but on psychological portraits of both the perpetrator(s) and the victim, all connected in a tangled knot of dark secrets by a woman, Penny, who still goes through her personal hell of betrayal and shattered trust, but yet tries to help the ones around her. Little does Penny know that by offering Robert, a wealthy businessman, to track down a runaway daughter, Sophie, she will open Pandora’s box, which will release too many demons of the family’s past.
In this particular novel the author really did a wonderful job in characterization: her characters come alive from the pages of the novel as real people, which makes their crimes and vile minds even more troubling. Penny’s personal struggle was also masterfully written, and I couldn’t help but sympathize with Sophie and her mother and the situation they found themselves trapped in. An amazing work! Highly recommended for all lovers of the psychological thriller genre.
In this particular novel the author really did a wonderful job in characterization: her characters come alive from the pages of the novel as real people, which makes their crimes and vile minds even more troubling. Penny’s personal struggle was also masterfully written, and I couldn’t help but sympathize with Sophie and her mother and the situation they found themselves trapped in. An amazing work! Highly recommended for all lovers of the psychological thriller genre.
July 5, 2014
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM tells the story of Penny, having found herself falling in love with Robert whilst away learning to deal with the aftermath of her divorce. She finds herself asked to track down Robert's estranged step-daughter because he is dying and wishes to make amends before he passes. Head over heals in love, Penny goes along with it, desperate to reconnect the two before it's two late. Along the way the truths about the proverbial elephant in the room start to become clear and Penny struggles to find the answers she wants and needs to be able to go back and spend Robert's last days as a happy couple. Things are not always as they seem.
Diana Febry has written an excellent story with twists and turns that will keep you riveted to the book as the words tell the tale and the plot unfolds. Even when you think you have it all figured out you'll find yourself surprised as something else crops up to change the direction in which you thought you were going. Overall, an excellent book which one comes to expect from a great writer such as Diana. Highly recommended!
Diana Febry has written an excellent story with twists and turns that will keep you riveted to the book as the words tell the tale and the plot unfolds. Even when you think you have it all figured out you'll find yourself surprised as something else crops up to change the direction in which you thought you were going. Overall, an excellent book which one comes to expect from a great writer such as Diana. Highly recommended!
June 28, 2016
Febry is a master when it comes to twisting plots. I've read some of her other books and honestly, I think this one was my favorite. It's really dark, which surprised me. Febry's other books have a lot of mystery, and this one did too, but this one is quite the thriller.
This book was put together so well.
Febry set the story up and made the characters and settings seem so real, I felt like I was living it through their eyes. At one point, I was so caught up in the story, I had to get up and turn more lights on, and I rarely get scared while reading. This book has some serious grit to it, and I loved the raw emotions and dark feel of the story.
Febry's writing is superb, and I never know what to expect from her books. I always feel like solving the mystery is within my reach, but she's one step ahead of me, keeping the truth just barely out of grasp.
A must read for fans of psychological thrillers and suspense! This is one of the best books I've read all year! I definitely recommend it. And if you're a Febry fan and haven't read this one, go get it!
This book was put together so well.
Febry set the story up and made the characters and settings seem so real, I felt like I was living it through their eyes. At one point, I was so caught up in the story, I had to get up and turn more lights on, and I rarely get scared while reading. This book has some serious grit to it, and I loved the raw emotions and dark feel of the story.
Febry's writing is superb, and I never know what to expect from her books. I always feel like solving the mystery is within my reach, but she's one step ahead of me, keeping the truth just barely out of grasp.
A must read for fans of psychological thrillers and suspense! This is one of the best books I've read all year! I definitely recommend it. And if you're a Febry fan and haven't read this one, go get it!
June 3, 2015
This book had merits and challenges. Several times I had to put it down and read other books, for various reasons, but I was determined to finish it. I did have trouble with the length of the story, and found myself losing the thread more than once while the character in current POV also got lost in introspection.
That said, Febry is wonderful at characterization. The characters were well drawn and I didn't find them stereotypical at all. Yes, the protag (Penny) wasn't always likeable, but that doesn't mean she's a bad heroine. I felt the book was a bit slow during first half but picked up in the latter. The story itself was interesting and realistic, just took a while to get there. Perhaps could have used a little more aggressive editing.
I am definitely interested in reading more by Ms. Febry, especially her books in other genres. I can see where she'd be a fabulous mystery author. 3.5 stars.
That said, Febry is wonderful at characterization. The characters were well drawn and I didn't find them stereotypical at all. Yes, the protag (Penny) wasn't always likeable, but that doesn't mean she's a bad heroine. I felt the book was a bit slow during first half but picked up in the latter. The story itself was interesting and realistic, just took a while to get there. Perhaps could have used a little more aggressive editing.
I am definitely interested in reading more by Ms. Febry, especially her books in other genres. I can see where she'd be a fabulous mystery author. 3.5 stars.
October 9, 2015
I love the very real feel to the characters. These are not perfect people and the flaws show. This is a story about Penny, a middle-aged person trying to get her life back on track after an unexpected betrayal and divorce. She has lived a sheltered life and is not perhaps as streetwise as she ought to be at her age, believing with a sweet nativity what people tell her on face value. When she meets and subsequently falls for Robert, a widower and a man with a terminal illness, she offers to help him find his estranged step-daughter.
This is not the first book I have read by this author and I have come to expect the very excellent twists and turns happening in the course of the story. This certainly lives up to my expectations. It is a very powerful book with some raw emotions just smoldering under the surface. What is truth and what are lies? Highly recommended.
This is not the first book I have read by this author and I have come to expect the very excellent twists and turns happening in the course of the story. This certainly lives up to my expectations. It is a very powerful book with some raw emotions just smoldering under the surface. What is truth and what are lies? Highly recommended.
January 27, 2019
Fool me once
This is a psychological thriller with twists and turns a plenty. I've read a number of books by this author, and I'm continually impressed with her versatility and story-telling ability. This story is centred on Penny Jackson who is rebuilding her life after the end of her marriage. She falls for hotelier, Robert Carver and when dark family secrets start to surface, Penny must think fast to stay alive in the face of betrayal and treachery. Plotting is perfectly set to produce a page-turner that kept me wanting to solve the mystery. The cast of characters are natural, well-drawn, flawed, insecure, believable and easy to identify with. In a psychological thriller, I like to know where characters are coming from to explain why they are doing what they do, and in this book you find out, which makes for a much more rounded story. Highly recommended.
This is a psychological thriller with twists and turns a plenty. I've read a number of books by this author, and I'm continually impressed with her versatility and story-telling ability. This story is centred on Penny Jackson who is rebuilding her life after the end of her marriage. She falls for hotelier, Robert Carver and when dark family secrets start to surface, Penny must think fast to stay alive in the face of betrayal and treachery. Plotting is perfectly set to produce a page-turner that kept me wanting to solve the mystery. The cast of characters are natural, well-drawn, flawed, insecure, believable and easy to identify with. In a psychological thriller, I like to know where characters are coming from to explain why they are doing what they do, and in this book you find out, which makes for a much more rounded story. Highly recommended.
November 27, 2013
Penny is fortyish and a divorcee. She is at a retreat trying to overcome heartache and a mental breakdown after finding out about her Husbands affair. She meets Robert Carver and becomes involved with him . Robert a successful business man is dying. His final wish is to see Sophie his estranged Step Daughter before he dies. He asks Penny to find Sophie, Josh and Harry his two sons are against it they feel Sophie is crazy. And bringing her home will just bring more stress to there father. Penny finds Sophie and the truth is revealed about why she left, but Penny was not prepared for the truth. An emotional read, plenty of family secrets, and lies. Penny kind of gets slapped in the face with the harsher aspects of life. I look forward to reading more books by Diana Febry
June 27, 2014
By Robert
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Elephant In The Room (Kindle Edition)
Review by Robert K. Swisher Jr.
ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM is true to the core - pain, hurt, depression, hope for love and that love will too be gone through a cruel twist of fate - real people with real problems looking for solutions when all life tosses at them are more troubles - troubles of the murdering kind. Diana Febry writes with a raw talent, telling her stories vividly and emotionally, at times I wonder if it is her soul that lives on the pages of her books. This is the second book I have read of Ms. Febry's. They were both thought provoking and worth my time. Give her a read, you will not regret it.
December 2, 2014
I really enjoyed Diana Febry's The Skeletons of Birkbury, so I was more than glad to read another of her books. Elephant in the Room is an interesting, unique tale filled with mystery. The main character, Penny, is getting over a divorce and starting to pick up the pieces. She meets a man named Robert, who she falls head-over-heels in love with. He tells her he is looking for his daughter... and that's where the mystery begins. There are plenty of twists and turns that keep the pace of the book moving right along. I had a hard time putting it down! I loved Penny's character and the way Febry wrote her, I felt as if she was a long-lost friend. The supporting cast also were very well-developed and interesting. Mystery lovers everywhere will really enjoy this well-written tale!
May 4, 2013
I read this book because Diana asked for reviews but didn't write one because I didn't want to disppoint her, especially after she was so happy to get someone's five stars. But when she asked again for "honest reviews" I felt I had to respond. It's a pleasant read but I thought there simply weren't enough interesting characters. Penny bored me, Robert seemed indeed too good to be true, and the brothers were awfully stereotyped. And there weren't enough possible villains: we exonerate possible abuser number one, then possible abuser number two, leaving only one more possible villain, who was indeed the abuser, no surprise. Maybe the title was too apt.
September 12, 2014
I started to read this story.
I was given this book for an honest review by the author
Honesty is what I do. I loved her style of writing, the layout of the book and the characters she had brought to life. However, I couldn't stick them altogether, and in some parts I found it quite tedious to read. I just think the story lacked 'something' but being an author I just can't put my finger on what it is that would capture my interest more and keep me reading more than half the book.
I've not read Diana's books, she's new to me, but I really do believe that this author will grow, and when she does, I'll be inline at the queue for another go.
I was given this book for an honest review by the author
Honesty is what I do. I loved her style of writing, the layout of the book and the characters she had brought to life. However, I couldn't stick them altogether, and in some parts I found it quite tedious to read. I just think the story lacked 'something' but being an author I just can't put my finger on what it is that would capture my interest more and keep me reading more than half the book.
I've not read Diana's books, she's new to me, but I really do believe that this author will grow, and when she does, I'll be inline at the queue for another go.
July 29, 2015
This book evokes deep feelings and for me, at least, a emotional resonance that pervaded my dreams. The characterisations are slow and careful, to the point that you feel you actually know the characters, before the story even really gets started. After that it's fast moving and builds to a dramatic conclusion. I can't say much about the story line without spoilers, so I won't. But my dreaming subconscious knew what was going on before my awake self did! Impressive. A great read that I couldn't put down until the end, had to know how it all turned out.
June 23, 2016
Elephant in the Room by Diana Febry is an enjoyable mystery/thriller that examines the relationships within a dysfunctional and blended family through the eyes of an outsider. Penny, was brought into the situation, by the Father who is dying, to try and locate his estranged step-daughter Sophie. The action goes from there.
An action-packed adventure that has plenty of twists and turns. I enjoyed this book a lot. I would definitely recommend this to fans of mystery/thrillers. It has a lovely uniquely British feel to it, which I enjoyed.
An action-packed adventure that has plenty of twists and turns. I enjoyed this book a lot. I would definitely recommend this to fans of mystery/thrillers. It has a lovely uniquely British feel to it, which I enjoyed.
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May 12, 2014its cool and heartwarming i really feel sorry for her
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