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Red Leaves
On a New England college campus, the naked body of a beautiful student is found frozen in a bank of snow. Why had she not even been reported missing by her friends?
Spencer O'Malley, the police detective assigned to the case, is soon drawn into the strange world of four friends, Jim, Conni, Albert and Kristina. O'Malley finds that these children of privilege who played, studied, and occasionally slept together also kept secrets of their own, secrets that must be pieced together to form an entirely new picture.
O'Malley is a stranger in this Ivy League environment, yet he feels an affinity with the victim. In her death, he gradually discovers the truth of her mysterious and complex life, and each revelation is more shocking than the last.
Suspenseful, claustrophobic and utterly compelling, Red Leaves puts Paullina Simons in the very front rank of contemporary writers.
Spencer O'Malley, the police detective assigned to the case, is soon drawn into the strange world of four friends, Jim, Conni, Albert and Kristina. O'Malley finds that these children of privilege who played, studied, and occasionally slept together also kept secrets of their own, secrets that must be pieced together to form an entirely new picture.
O'Malley is a stranger in this Ivy League environment, yet he feels an affinity with the victim. In her death, he gradually discovers the truth of her mysterious and complex life, and each revelation is more shocking than the last.
Suspenseful, claustrophobic and utterly compelling, Red Leaves puts Paullina Simons in the very front rank of contemporary writers.
431 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1996
127 people are currently reading
2423 people want to read
About the author
Paullina Simons
47 books5,369 followersPaullina Simons was born in Leningrad, USSR, in 1963. At the age of ten her family immigrated to the United States. Growing up in Russia Paullina dreamt of someday becoming a writer. Her dream was put on hold as she learned English and overcame the shock of a new culture.
After graduating from university and after various jobs including working as a financial journalist and as a translator Paullina wrote her first novel Tully. Through word of mouth that book was welcomed by readers all over the world.
She continued with more novels, including Red Leaves, Eleven Hours, The Bronze Horseman, The Bridge to Holy Cross (also known as Tatiana and Alexander), The Summer Garden and The Girl in Times Square (also known as Lily). Many of Paullina's novels have reached international bestseller lists.
Apart from her novels, Paullina has also written a cookbook, Tatiana's Table, which is a collection of recipes, short stories and recollections from her best selling trilogy of novels, The Bronze Horseman, The Bridge to Holy Cross, (also known as Tatiana and Alexander) and The Summer Garden.
After graduating from university and after various jobs including working as a financial journalist and as a translator Paullina wrote her first novel Tully. Through word of mouth that book was welcomed by readers all over the world.
She continued with more novels, including Red Leaves, Eleven Hours, The Bronze Horseman, The Bridge to Holy Cross (also known as Tatiana and Alexander), The Summer Garden and The Girl in Times Square (also known as Lily). Many of Paullina's novels have reached international bestseller lists.
Apart from her novels, Paullina has also written a cookbook, Tatiana's Table, which is a collection of recipes, short stories and recollections from her best selling trilogy of novels, The Bronze Horseman, The Bridge to Holy Cross, (also known as Tatiana and Alexander) and The Summer Garden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 334 reviews
July 7, 2018
some books should remain out of print,left to molder and rot without curious readers tracking them down and disturbing the wisdom of nature. even ones that have saucy insets like this:
scandalous!
if you had told me that this book was written by an alien from the planet glorp with no familiarity with human behavior, i would have no trouble believing it.
if you told me this was a nanowrimo book, written in one month, without proofreading or author-sleep, i would understand.
if this were the work of a child or a dog who thinks he's people, i could forgive a lot of it.
but.
it's not.
it's just not very good, and occasionally, it is terrible. this is a very distorted depiction of how humans behave and interact, and it is so unintentionally funny in places, i almost feel bad for it.and i am also confused - there is a big reveal at the end of the book that i had taken as a given from the beginning. and then about halfway through, i was like - "oh, wait, are we not supposed to have guessed this yet?" because it was so obvious, that i was sure it was one of those things where the reader is made aware of something that the characters have yet to figure out. but, no. it was supposed to be this big surprise, and when she did reveal it, i felt quite embarrassed, like when ricky martin came out and everyone was like, "duh."
i don't actually feel too bad trashing this, because it is out of print, and the novelist has a successful career writing historical fiction that is well received, so i can just gently rib this book as a youthful indiscretion, like me that one time at that club i got snowed in at in providence.
so many meyerisms, too - why is everyone panting all the time?? it is disconcerting. is the air that thin in new hampshire?? i am concerned because my dad will be moving there, and i want to make sure he will be able to breathe without panting all the time. that was the real mystery: where has all the air gone?
oh, god, and this:
"she lay there naked in the snow?"
"yes." frankie shrugged. "i know it sounds weird. but she was a philosophy major. there are men in tibet who pierce their bodes or eat swords or walk on hot coals and don't get hurt. she had this gift. she successfully steeled her body against the cold."
DID YOU KNOW THAT BEING A PHILOSOPHY MAJOR GAVE YOU MAGICAL POWERS???
young'uns - take note.
there are so many hilarious conversations, confrontations, inexplicable decisions, almost NOTHING in this book makes sense. it is a hoot, but it's not painful to read or anything, it is just sometimes, you will come to a passage and want to smack your forehead a little in groaning glee.
i suppose it is my own damn fault, this book was safely out of print until a readers' advisory assignment for readalikes for secret history led me to stumble upon it, and after learning that the nypl had but one copy of this book in a large print format, which had gone missing, i should have taken no to mean no.
but i can't do that.
and after reading elizabeth's review of another book by the same author which you can see right here, i somehow was made an offer to get this book sent to me by jen - who has already sent me a crappy movie in the course of our friendship, so it was time to be sent a crappy book. our relationship is crap-based.
and i love jen for getting it to me.
and i loved reading it, if mostly for the wrong reasons.
because, really, it's not THAT bad.
but it kind of is.
and it is NOTHING like secret history.
come to my blog!
scandalous!
if you had told me that this book was written by an alien from the planet glorp with no familiarity with human behavior, i would have no trouble believing it.
if you told me this was a nanowrimo book, written in one month, without proofreading or author-sleep, i would understand.
if this were the work of a child or a dog who thinks he's people, i could forgive a lot of it.
but.
it's not.
it's just not very good, and occasionally, it is terrible. this is a very distorted depiction of how humans behave and interact, and it is so unintentionally funny in places, i almost feel bad for it.and i am also confused - there is a big reveal at the end of the book that i had taken as a given from the beginning. and then about halfway through, i was like - "oh, wait, are we not supposed to have guessed this yet?" because it was so obvious, that i was sure it was one of those things where the reader is made aware of something that the characters have yet to figure out. but, no. it was supposed to be this big surprise, and when she did reveal it, i felt quite embarrassed, like when ricky martin came out and everyone was like, "duh."
i don't actually feel too bad trashing this, because it is out of print, and the novelist has a successful career writing historical fiction that is well received, so i can just gently rib this book as a youthful indiscretion, like me that one time at that club i got snowed in at in providence.
so many meyerisms, too - why is everyone panting all the time?? it is disconcerting. is the air that thin in new hampshire?? i am concerned because my dad will be moving there, and i want to make sure he will be able to breathe without panting all the time. that was the real mystery: where has all the air gone?
oh, god, and this:
"she lay there naked in the snow?"
"yes." frankie shrugged. "i know it sounds weird. but she was a philosophy major. there are men in tibet who pierce their bodes or eat swords or walk on hot coals and don't get hurt. she had this gift. she successfully steeled her body against the cold."
DID YOU KNOW THAT BEING A PHILOSOPHY MAJOR GAVE YOU MAGICAL POWERS???
young'uns - take note.
there are so many hilarious conversations, confrontations, inexplicable decisions, almost NOTHING in this book makes sense. it is a hoot, but it's not painful to read or anything, it is just sometimes, you will come to a passage and want to smack your forehead a little in groaning glee.
i suppose it is my own damn fault, this book was safely out of print until a readers' advisory assignment for readalikes for secret history led me to stumble upon it, and after learning that the nypl had but one copy of this book in a large print format, which had gone missing, i should have taken no to mean no.
but i can't do that.
and after reading elizabeth's review of another book by the same author which you can see right here, i somehow was made an offer to get this book sent to me by jen - who has already sent me a crappy movie in the course of our friendship, so it was time to be sent a crappy book. our relationship is crap-based.
and i love jen for getting it to me.
and i loved reading it, if mostly for the wrong reasons.
because, really, it's not THAT bad.
but it kind of is.
and it is NOTHING like secret history.
come to my blog!
August 5, 2018
Το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο αστυνομικό-αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα δεν το λες. Μυθιστόρημα με μια κάποια ελαφριά δόση ίντριγκας, πάλι, ναι το λες. Αξίζει να το διαβάσει κανείς, αλλά αν περιμένει έντονη δράση και συνεχόμενες ανατροπές, θα απογοητευτεί και θα βαρεθεί.
Οπωσδήποτε θέλει τον χρόνο του. Είναι ΠΟΛΥ αργό. Περνάνε περίπου οι 200 πρώτες σελίδες για να γίνει ο φόνος. Και ακολουθούν τόσες κι άλλες τόσες, μέχρι να αποκαλυφθούν τα πάντα. Όλα φαίνονται να κυλούν σε αργούς, ράθυμους ρυθμούς, λες και κανείς δεν νοιάζεται (εκτός από τον έρμο τον αστυνόμο Σπένσερ) να βρει τον ένοχο. Διαθέτει βέβαια ωραία ψυχογραφήματα, αναλύει μέχρι...γεωτρήσεως ο,τι αφορά την παρέα των τεσσάρων (της Κριστίνα και των τριών φίλων της -ωραία τετράδα, τρομάρα τους!) και εστιάζει στις σχέσεις τους και το πώς αυτές επηρεάζονται από τις πράξεις τους πολύ περισσότερο απ' ότι στην ίδια την υπόθεση φόνου.
Είναι ένα πολύ καλό βιβλίο για να περάσει κανείς την ώρα του, αν εν τω μεταξύ δεν βαρεθεί και δεν το παρατήσει. Διάβασα πολλές κριτικές αναγνωστών που δεν άντεξαν τις πραγματικά αργέέέέέές εξελίξεις ή τον τρόπο γραφής και περιγραφής και το παράτησαν πολύ πριν τη μέση. Δεν τους κρίνω, αν και με πόνο ψυχής ορισμένες φορές (ευτυχώς όχι πολλές) έχω ολοκληρώσει κάποιο βιβλίο που με ταλαιπώρησε πολύ, μόνο και μόνο επειδή δεν μου αρέσει γενικά να αφήνω βιβλία στη μέση. Όμως, νομίζω πως αν είχαν την υπομονή να διαβάσουν το συγκεκριμένο μέχρι το τέλος, τελικά θα τους άρεσε. Θα τους ικανοποιούσε η κατάληξή του, έστω. Προσωπικά αυτό ένιωσα. Για τον Σπένσερ Πάτρικ Ο' Μάλεϊ πέρασαν πέντε χρόνια μέχρι να εξιχνιάσει πλήρως την υπόθεση και να αποδώσει δικαιοσύνη, εμένα ίσως μου φάνηκε πως πέρασαν άλλα τόσα ώσπου να το τελειώσω, αλλά τελικά άξιζε τον κόπο!
Οπωσδήποτε θέλει τον χρόνο του. Είναι ΠΟΛΥ αργό. Περνάνε περίπου οι 200 πρώτες σελίδες για να γίνει ο φόνος. Και ακολουθούν τόσες κι άλλες τόσες, μέχρι να αποκαλυφθούν τα πάντα. Όλα φαίνονται να κυλούν σε αργούς, ράθυμους ρυθμούς, λες και κανείς δεν νοιάζεται (εκτός από τον έρμο τον αστυνόμο Σπένσερ) να βρει τον ένοχο. Διαθέτει βέβαια ωραία ψυχογραφήματα, αναλύει μέχρι...γεωτρήσεως ο,τι αφορά την παρέα των τεσσάρων (της Κριστίνα και των τριών φίλων της -ωραία τετράδα, τρομάρα τους!) και εστιάζει στις σχέσεις τους και το πώς αυτές επηρεάζονται από τις πράξεις τους πολύ περισσότερο απ' ότι στην ίδια την υπόθεση φόνου.
Είναι ένα πολύ καλό βιβλίο για να περάσει κανείς την ώρα του, αν εν τω μεταξύ δεν βαρεθεί και δεν το παρατήσει. Διάβασα πολλές κριτικές αναγνωστών που δεν άντεξαν τις πραγματικά αργέέέέέές εξελίξεις ή τον τρόπο γραφής και περιγραφής και το παράτησαν πολύ πριν τη μέση. Δεν τους κρίνω, αν και με πόνο ψυχής ορισμένες φορές (ευτυχώς όχι πολλές) έχω ολοκληρώσει κάποιο βιβλίο που με ταλαιπώρησε πολύ, μόνο και μόνο επειδή δεν μου αρέσει γενικά να αφήνω βιβλία στη μέση. Όμως, νομίζω πως αν είχαν την υπομονή να διαβάσουν το συγκεκριμένο μέχρι το τέλος, τελικά θα τους άρεσε. Θα τους ικανοποιούσε η κατάληξή του, έστω. Προσωπικά αυτό ένιωσα. Για τον Σπένσερ Πάτρικ Ο' Μάλεϊ πέρασαν πέντε χρόνια μέχρι να εξιχνιάσει πλήρως την υπόθεση και να αποδώσει δικαιοσύνη, εμένα ίσως μου φάνηκε πως πέρασαν άλλα τόσα ώσπου να το τελειώσω, αλλά τελικά άξιζε τον κόπο!
June 22, 2012
I don't know what to say about this book. I even had a hard time deciding how many star to grant it. It wasn't good, not really at all. There were parts that were cringe-worthy. But, it had its moments and it was sort of a page turner.
'Red Leaves' is the story of two people at heart; Kristina Kim and Spencer O'Malley. Kristina is on the verge of twenty-one, she's a philosophy major at Dartmouth and shows plenty of promise for the future. Except, she's kind of a completely idiot (more later). She's had the same close knit group of friends since Freshman year; Jim Shaw (her boyfriend), Conni Tobias, and Albert Maplethorpe (Conni's boyfriend with whom she's having an affair). The first section of the novel belongs to her as she goes through the final few days before Thanksgiving break, culminating in her traditional naked walk across an icy bridge with a 70 foot drop (no, this is never really explained). Her part ends abruptly here because her body is found lying in the woods, and Spencer takes over. Spencer met and was intrigued by Kristina in the days leading up to her death. He becomes obsessed with the case and the reader is taken through twists and turns as Spencer hones in on the killer and stirs up secrets from the past.
We'll start with the stupidest character put to paper, Kristina. I've read a lot of negative reviews of this book and most seem to agree on one point, Kristina makes no sense. She's forever changing so her motivation is often confusing. At times I had to wonder if she was even a little slow, or perhaps foreign. When events from her past are revealed I think we were supposed to understand her a bit better, but... I didn't. Also, her reasoning was nonsensical. For example, early in she gets in a car accident that flips and totals her car. While the other driver is searching for help Kristina leave the car and stumbles back to campus, not because she's in shock or drunk, but because she's not a fan of hospitals. She spends the rest of her short life in pain. Why? If we'd been given some hospital related trauma maybe I'd understand it, but we weren't and her obstinance was absurd. And if that's not stupid enough, after she stumbles home she proceeds to immediately get shit faced so if the cops were to arrive, as one might imagine they would, she'd look as if she were drunk.
Spencer made more sense. It might have improved things if the book had belonged entirely to him. Actually, the whole book improved with Spencer's arrival. While wading through the first half I stopped to check if English was perhaps not Ms. Simons' first language. The author is from Russia, but she moved to Queens in childhood so the language explanation seems moot. So, it was a problem. At times it read like a primer. "Kristina got in the car. She started the car. 'I hate this car!' she said." Not good. If the whole thing had been like that I would have quit. Thankfully things improved with the narration switched to Spencer's point of view.
Also, the book was somewhat steeped in mystery. So many, in fact, that they didn't all get solved adequately. There were also a couple of plot twists that I was sure were supposed to shocking. And it's not as if I saw them all coming, I didn't, but if Ms. Simons wanted to scandalize me she really didn't go far enough. In the end I wasn't really satisfied with the knowledge we were left with, morally ambiguous or no. I understood the facts but not all the motivations and that left me, not exactly unsatisfied by the book, but certainly puzzled. And I'm not sure that's a good thing.
'Red Leaves' is the story of two people at heart; Kristina Kim and Spencer O'Malley. Kristina is on the verge of twenty-one, she's a philosophy major at Dartmouth and shows plenty of promise for the future. Except, she's kind of a completely idiot (more later). She's had the same close knit group of friends since Freshman year; Jim Shaw (her boyfriend), Conni Tobias, and Albert Maplethorpe (Conni's boyfriend with whom she's having an affair). The first section of the novel belongs to her as she goes through the final few days before Thanksgiving break, culminating in her traditional naked walk across an icy bridge with a 70 foot drop (no, this is never really explained). Her part ends abruptly here because her body is found lying in the woods, and Spencer takes over. Spencer met and was intrigued by Kristina in the days leading up to her death. He becomes obsessed with the case and the reader is taken through twists and turns as Spencer hones in on the killer and stirs up secrets from the past.
We'll start with the stupidest character put to paper, Kristina. I've read a lot of negative reviews of this book and most seem to agree on one point, Kristina makes no sense. She's forever changing so her motivation is often confusing. At times I had to wonder if she was even a little slow, or perhaps foreign. When events from her past are revealed I think we were supposed to understand her a bit better, but... I didn't. Also, her reasoning was nonsensical. For example, early in she gets in a car accident that flips and totals her car. While the other driver is searching for help Kristina leave the car and stumbles back to campus, not because she's in shock or drunk, but because she's not a fan of hospitals. She spends the rest of her short life in pain. Why? If we'd been given some hospital related trauma maybe I'd understand it, but we weren't and her obstinance was absurd. And if that's not stupid enough, after she stumbles home she proceeds to immediately get shit faced so if the cops were to arrive, as one might imagine they would, she'd look as if she were drunk.
Spencer made more sense. It might have improved things if the book had belonged entirely to him. Actually, the whole book improved with Spencer's arrival. While wading through the first half I stopped to check if English was perhaps not Ms. Simons' first language. The author is from Russia, but she moved to Queens in childhood so the language explanation seems moot. So, it was a problem. At times it read like a primer. "Kristina got in the car. She started the car. 'I hate this car!' she said." Not good. If the whole thing had been like that I would have quit. Thankfully things improved with the narration switched to Spencer's point of view.
Also, the book was somewhat steeped in mystery. So many, in fact, that they didn't all get solved adequately. There were also a couple of plot twists that I was sure were supposed to shocking. And it's not as if I saw them all coming, I didn't, but if Ms. Simons wanted to scandalize me she really didn't go far enough. In the end I wasn't really satisfied with the knowledge we were left with, morally ambiguous or no. I understood the facts but not all the motivations and that left me, not exactly unsatisfied by the book, but certainly puzzled. And I'm not sure that's a good thing.
June 27, 2008
I have never been so pissed off by the ending of a book!
March 15, 2017
I really had a difficult time getting through this book. The reason I chose it was that it was compared to Donna Tartt’s “The Secret History”. There is no comparison other than the fact that the book involves a group of college friends. There were several times when I wished I could just DNR this book but since I received a free copy from the publisher, I felt obligated to read the whole book in order to review it. Apparently, this book was published by St. Martin’s in 1996 but has been out of print for many years and now William Morrow is re-publishing five of the author’s books over the next three years. The author has received awards for her work so maybe it’s just me.
This story involves a young woman, Kristina Kim, and her very convoluted relationships with Connie, Jim and Albert. You know from the media’s blurbs that Kristina is going to be murdered. She’s the narrator in the first section of the book, which consists mostly of repetitive conversations between the four “friends” about this one loves that one and that one loves this one and that one is cheating and that one wants the relationship to end, over and over and over again. At one point, Kristina meets a policeman, Spencer O’Malley, with whom she has a flirtation. It’s O’Malley who is assigned her murder investigation and he’s determined to find her killer.
There were so many times throughout this book when I thought “What??” Conversations were consistently a bit off, contradictory, stilted and unrealistic. Events just didn’t fit together for me. I didn’t find the end big reveal that shocking. I did enjoy a few small sections of the book but then it would fall apart for me again. I feel the story wasn’t a bad one but it was very poorly written. My apologies to the publisher and author but truly, this book isn’t on par with “The Secret History” and shouldn’t be compared to it as it’s misleading.
This book was given to me by the publisher through Edelweiss in return for an honest review.
This story involves a young woman, Kristina Kim, and her very convoluted relationships with Connie, Jim and Albert. You know from the media’s blurbs that Kristina is going to be murdered. She’s the narrator in the first section of the book, which consists mostly of repetitive conversations between the four “friends” about this one loves that one and that one loves this one and that one is cheating and that one wants the relationship to end, over and over and over again. At one point, Kristina meets a policeman, Spencer O’Malley, with whom she has a flirtation. It’s O’Malley who is assigned her murder investigation and he’s determined to find her killer.
There were so many times throughout this book when I thought “What??” Conversations were consistently a bit off, contradictory, stilted and unrealistic. Events just didn’t fit together for me. I didn’t find the end big reveal that shocking. I did enjoy a few small sections of the book but then it would fall apart for me again. I feel the story wasn’t a bad one but it was very poorly written. My apologies to the publisher and author but truly, this book isn’t on par with “The Secret History” and shouldn’t be compared to it as it’s misleading.
This book was given to me by the publisher through Edelweiss in return for an honest review.
July 10, 2016
The 1st part of the book was quite boring and slow moving... I enjoyed the 2nd part. Quite a catchy story based on a good premise and there were a few really nice twists towards the ending. However I would have liked a clearer explanation in the end. It's supposed to be a murder mystery after all. It should provide a clear explanation after all the guessing.
January 17, 2012
Loved the book. The elegant style it was written in with minimal words made it thoroughly enjoyable. Loved the story and the suspense. To me it was a perfect story.
January 4, 2009
I would not have finished this book if it wasn't for Spencer's character. He's the reason I kept on reading. The Dartmouth students were probably too young for me to appreciate.
April 20, 2019
Questo è il primo libro della Simons che leggo e, sinceramente, non mi ha invogliato a leggerne altri, compresa la famosa trilogia de Il cavaliere d’inverno, che mi sta aspettando da anni. Se è così, la sua scrittura non mi attira per niente.
Non posso dire che sia brutto, è solo parecchio assurdo. Non mi sembra una storia ben congeniata; è tutto troppo sopra le righe.
La prima parte è criptica e non si capisce niente.
Più che altro c’è Kristina che,
Poi, se consideriamo che la sinossi del libro svela il momento clou che avviene a circa metà storia, ecco che anche la suspense viene eliminata dalla lettura (ma perché???)
La seconda parte, quella degli interrogatori, è più avvincente.
È inquietante e deprimente, però, che Epilogo inutile.
Concludendo, che voto dare a questo libro? (e vorrei aggiungere che i capitolo lunghi non aiutano)
L'andamento delle mie valutazione durante la lettura è stato:
prima parte 3 stelle
interrogatori 4 stelle
parte subito dopo 2 stelle
parte finale 1 stella.
Alla fine ho optato per due perché una stella è per le vere e proprie porcherie.
Non posso dire che sia brutto, è solo parecchio assurdo. Non mi sembra una storia ben congeniata; è tutto troppo sopra le righe.
La prima parte è criptica e non si capisce niente.
Più che altro c’è Kristina che,
Poi, se consideriamo che la sinossi del libro svela il momento clou che avviene a circa metà storia, ecco che anche la suspense viene eliminata dalla lettura (ma perché???)
La seconda parte, quella degli interrogatori, è più avvincente.
È inquietante e deprimente, però, che Epilogo inutile.
Concludendo, che voto dare a questo libro? (e vorrei aggiungere che i capitolo lunghi non aiutano)
L'andamento delle mie valutazione durante la lettura è stato:
prima parte 3 stelle
interrogatori 4 stelle
parte subito dopo 2 stelle
parte finale 1 stella.
Alla fine ho optato per due perché una stella è per le vere e proprie porcherie.
April 4, 2024
★★★ ! Red Leaves (stand alone.) Young collage student is found murdered. Thrilling, mysteriously and compelling.
RED LEAVES sucked me in from page one. We already knew the twist beforehand, it was obvious from the very start that it was going to happen at some point. At least if you weren't going into this book completely blind. But we didn't know when or how or why it was going to happen.
That was what kept me glued to RED LEAVES. That and PAULLINA SIMONS beautiful writing. I can't help it. I love the way she writes so much and I have yet to read one book by her I don't like. And just like in every book, all the characters interested me and fascinated me from the start. Especially the two main ones.
I loved Spencer from sentence one. He was so mesmorized with Kristina from the first moment he saw her. I'm so sad that they didn't get to end up together. It was so hard to read that Spencer was so devestated after her death. It was horrible. Thanks to him, the killer got his justice in the end. I really hope he gets the happily ever after he deserves in THE GIRL IN TIMES SQUARE. This was a pretty short book, hence the short review. I mainly read it because I wanted to get to know Spencer more before I read the next. But it turned out to be surprisingly good. I recommend it to everyone who likes a good mystery drama with a touch of romance. ♥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2014
Ένα πρωτότυπο βιβλίο μυστηρίου. Υπόθεση και πλοκή πρωτότυπη. Η αλήθεια είναι ότι το πρώτο μέρος κουράζει αλλά στο δεύτερο η πλοκή ανεβαίνει και εντείνεται ως το τραγικό, απίστευτο μυστικό της πρωταγωνίστριας. Προβληματισμός και μια λύση του δράματος "πέραν του κόσμου τούτου". Δεν κοιμήθηκα ώσπου να το τελειώσω.
Read
April 5, 2017I couldn't get past the 50% mark with the unlikable characters, choppy narrative, and slow moving storyline. If you are expecting something similar in writing or appeal as her later series-The Bronze Horseman-you'll be disappointed.
February 26, 2017
Purtroppo nemmeno questo libro della Simons mi è piaciuto. Le sarò per sempre grata per aver creato la storia de Il cavaliere d'inverno e due personaggi fantastici come Tatiana e Alexander ma credo che rinuncerò a leggere altro di suo.
Le prime 160 pagine sono brutte, ma proprio BRUTTE, tanto che ero quasi tentata a mollare la lettura e sbarazzarmi del libro; non sopportavo i protagonisti, i loro comportamenti e modi di fare. Secondo me, questa prima parte è anche scritta male perchè ci sono scene inverosimili e dialoghi luuunghi in cui si parla del nulla; inoltre, ma questo un po' in tutto il libro, ogni tanto i personaggi se ne escono con risposte poco adatte alle circostanze o alla situazione. Ad esempio, è normale che alla notizia di un ritrovamento di un cadavere, un poliziotto "con gli occhi che brillano di entusiasmo" risponda "Cavolo! Wow!" No comment...
Oppure un detective che, per "rassicurare" un ragazzo che va all'obitorio per riconoscere il corpo della ex, gli dice "Va tutto bene" -.- Piuttosto stai zitto...
E di questi momenti DAFUQ non ce ne sono neanche pochi infatti me li sono annotati su un quadernetto perchè sono troppo ridicoli XD
La storia inizia a farsi interessante quando muore Kristina e cominciano le indagini e gli interrogatori. Si scoprono molte cose riguardo alla sua vita e alla sua famiglia, ma gli indizi vengono rivelati poco alla volta così da mantenere sempre un po' di mistero e tenere alta la curiosità. Questa è la parte che mi è piaciuto di più leggere e che, a parer mio si salva, perchè anche il finale mi ha delusa. Visto il crescendo e tutti i segreti e avvenimenti che si susseguono speravo in un colpo di scena, qualcosa che permettesse di incastrare il colpevole e risolvere una volta per tutte il caso. E invece no. Paullina ha scelto di terminare il libro nel modo più semplice e povero possibile con l'ultima chicca di un dialogo fuori luogo e senza senso in cui si parla di libero arbitrio, di Dio e del demonio... bah. Una volta chiuso il libro non rimane nemmeno la soddisfazione di aver capito come sono andate veramente le cose perché non è spiegato!! Non viene chiarito bene il come e perchè Kristina sia morta, il rapporto tra i quattro "amici" e soprattutto quello tra lei ed Albert.
Con Una valigia piena di sogni, per lo meno, ci ho messo un po' a capire che la storia non mi piaceva e il finale non è stato così brutto; con questo, invece, sono bastate poche pagine per rendermi conto che non era il libro adatto a me...
Le prime 160 pagine sono brutte, ma proprio BRUTTE, tanto che ero quasi tentata a mollare la lettura e sbarazzarmi del libro; non sopportavo i protagonisti, i loro comportamenti e modi di fare. Secondo me, questa prima parte è anche scritta male perchè ci sono scene inverosimili e dialoghi luuunghi in cui si parla del nulla; inoltre, ma questo un po' in tutto il libro, ogni tanto i personaggi se ne escono con risposte poco adatte alle circostanze o alla situazione. Ad esempio, è normale che alla notizia di un ritrovamento di un cadavere, un poliziotto "con gli occhi che brillano di entusiasmo" risponda "Cavolo! Wow!" No comment...
Oppure un detective che, per "rassicurare" un ragazzo che va all'obitorio per riconoscere il corpo della ex, gli dice "Va tutto bene" -.- Piuttosto stai zitto...
E di questi momenti DAFUQ non ce ne sono neanche pochi infatti me li sono annotati su un quadernetto perchè sono troppo ridicoli XD
La storia inizia a farsi interessante quando muore Kristina e cominciano le indagini e gli interrogatori. Si scoprono molte cose riguardo alla sua vita e alla sua famiglia, ma gli indizi vengono rivelati poco alla volta così da mantenere sempre un po' di mistero e tenere alta la curiosità. Questa è la parte che mi è piaciuto di più leggere e che, a parer mio si salva, perchè anche il finale mi ha delusa. Visto il crescendo e tutti i segreti e avvenimenti che si susseguono speravo in un colpo di scena, qualcosa che permettesse di incastrare il colpevole e risolvere una volta per tutte il caso. E invece no. Paullina ha scelto di terminare il libro nel modo più semplice e povero possibile con l'ultima chicca di un dialogo fuori luogo e senza senso in cui si parla di libero arbitrio, di Dio e del demonio... bah. Una volta chiuso il libro non rimane nemmeno la soddisfazione di aver capito come sono andate veramente le cose perché non è spiegato!! Non viene chiarito bene il come e perchè Kristina sia morta, il rapporto tra i quattro "amici" e soprattutto quello tra lei ed Albert.
Con Una valigia piena di sogni, per lo meno, ci ho messo un po' a capire che la storia non mi piaceva e il finale non è stato così brutto; con questo, invece, sono bastate poche pagine per rendermi conto che non era il libro adatto a me...
July 31, 2017
LETTURA DI GRUPPO E&L: novità luglio 2017
Sinceramente non so che dire. L'inizio l'ho trovato confusionario. Troppe cose messe lì in sospeso e non capivo più nulla. Ma mi intrigava. La parte successiva, dove ci sono le indagini mi ha davvero coinvolto. Non riuscivo a staccarmi dal libro. Fino a questo punto quindi tutto a posto.
Purtroppo dopo è stato un calando. Mi aspettavo anche io che l'impedimento al vissero felici e contenti tra Krisitna e Albert fosse quello. Ovvero che erano fratelli. Ma in realtà..non lo sono!!!! Lui è stato adottato! Insomma un casino per niente.
Quello poi che mi ha urtato per davvero è il menefreghismo dei cosiddetti amici e fidanzato di lei. Insomma il giorno del suo compleanno lei arriva in ritardo ed è palese che ha fatto un incidente. E loro che fanno? si arrabbaino con lei perhcè li ha fatti aspettare! Nessuno che si preoccupa di portarla in ospedale. E anche li...la polizia. C'è un incidente. Scompare un'auotmoiblista convolto. Ci mettono 24 ore ad a trovarla? (nella macchina lei ha lasciato i libretto) e quanod la trovano , non la portano in centrale per farle delle domande e\o la portano in ospedale? le dicono di passare lunedì? ma siamo matti??????
L'unico poi che se l'è presa a cuore, e non si sa poi il perché, è il detective. Da un lato posso capire che sia coinvolto emotivamente perché l'ha conosciuta. Ma la fine mi è sembrata eccessiva.
Insomma se all'inizio la storia pur con difetti mi ha preso e le avrei dato 4 stelline, alla fine non mi è piaciuto come la Simons ha voluto sistemare le cose. Mi è dspaiciuto perhcè gli altri suoi libri mi sono piaciuto. Anche "una valigia piena di sogni" era all'inizio strano, ma poi mi ha letteralmente straziato il cuore. Stupendo. Per cui anche da qusto mi aspettavo la stessa cosa. Purtroppo non è stato così.
Peccato perchè davero mi aveva intrippato!
Le do tre stelle e sono buona.
Mia cara Simons i gialli non fanno per te.
Sinceramente non so che dire. L'inizio l'ho trovato confusionario. Troppe cose messe lì in sospeso e non capivo più nulla. Ma mi intrigava. La parte successiva, dove ci sono le indagini mi ha davvero coinvolto. Non riuscivo a staccarmi dal libro. Fino a questo punto quindi tutto a posto.
Purtroppo dopo è stato un calando. Mi aspettavo anche io che l'impedimento al vissero felici e contenti tra Krisitna e Albert fosse quello. Ovvero che erano fratelli. Ma in realtà..non lo sono!!!! Lui è stato adottato! Insomma un casino per niente.
Quello poi che mi ha urtato per davvero è il menefreghismo dei cosiddetti amici e fidanzato di lei. Insomma il giorno del suo compleanno lei arriva in ritardo ed è palese che ha fatto un incidente. E loro che fanno? si arrabbaino con lei perhcè li ha fatti aspettare! Nessuno che si preoccupa di portarla in ospedale. E anche li...la polizia. C'è un incidente. Scompare un'auotmoiblista convolto. Ci mettono 24 ore ad a trovarla? (nella macchina lei ha lasciato i libretto) e quanod la trovano , non la portano in centrale per farle delle domande e\o la portano in ospedale? le dicono di passare lunedì? ma siamo matti??????
L'unico poi che se l'è presa a cuore, e non si sa poi il perché, è il detective. Da un lato posso capire che sia coinvolto emotivamente perché l'ha conosciuta. Ma la fine mi è sembrata eccessiva.
Insomma se all'inizio la storia pur con difetti mi ha preso e le avrei dato 4 stelline, alla fine non mi è piaciuto come la Simons ha voluto sistemare le cose. Mi è dspaiciuto perhcè gli altri suoi libri mi sono piaciuto. Anche "una valigia piena di sogni" era all'inizio strano, ma poi mi ha letteralmente straziato il cuore. Stupendo. Per cui anche da qusto mi aspettavo la stessa cosa. Purtroppo non è stato così.
Peccato perchè davero mi aveva intrippato!
Le do tre stelle e sono buona.
Mia cara Simons i gialli non fanno per te.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2023
Majoritatea cititorilor au auzit de Paullina Simons datorită trilogiei “Călărețul de aramă”. Și deși planific să citesc și eu această trilogie (mă așteaptă cărțile în bibliotecă), mi-am zis să încep cu o carte scrisă înaintea seriei. Nu pot zice că am făcut cea mai fericită alegere. Nu a fost o lectură oribilă, dar nici cel mai fain roman.
De-obicei când citesc un thriller mă aștept ca acesta să mă prindă încă din primele pagini sau măcar după vreo 50 de pagini citite. O prea mare introducere și o tărăgănare a acțiunii poate plictisi și pierde unii cititori. Ori, citind descrierea de pe copertă mi-a trezit curiozitatea: Corpul unei studente este găsit sub omăt într-un campus universitar. Cel mai straniu e că aceasta a stat sub stratul de zăpadă mai bine de o săptămână și nimeni nu a raportat dispariția ei, chiar dacă în campus ea avea un iubit și încă o pereche de tineri cu care erau prieteni la cataramă. Ei bine, această descrierea m-a făcut curioasă și așteptam apariția cadavrului ceva mai devreme de 150 pagini, deci o treime din carte.
Dacă ar mai fi ceva de reproșat ar fi inscripția de pe copertă “some friends are not what they seem…” care inițial mi-a dat ideea unui “big spoiler”. Vă las pe voi să descoperiți dacă totuși a fost un spoiler.
“Red leaves” de Paullina Simons
De-obicei când citesc un thriller mă aștept ca acesta să mă prindă încă din primele pagini sau măcar după vreo 50 de pagini citite. O prea mare introducere și o tărăgănare a acțiunii poate plictisi și pierde unii cititori. Ori, citind descrierea de pe copertă mi-a trezit curiozitatea: Corpul unei studente este găsit sub omăt într-un campus universitar. Cel mai straniu e că aceasta a stat sub stratul de zăpadă mai bine de o săptămână și nimeni nu a raportat dispariția ei, chiar dacă în campus ea avea un iubit și încă o pereche de tineri cu care erau prieteni la cataramă. Ei bine, această descrierea m-a făcut curioasă și așteptam apariția cadavrului ceva mai devreme de 150 pagini, deci o treime din carte.
Dacă ar mai fi ceva de reproșat ar fi inscripția de pe copertă “some friends are not what they seem…” care inițial mi-a dat ideea unui “big spoiler”. Vă las pe voi să descoperiți dacă totuși a fost un spoiler.
“Red leaves” de Paullina Simons
July 13, 2020
Gdl con Edicola & Libreria: le nostre passioni...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Dalla Simons mi aspettavo decisamente qualcosa di diverso.
Il libro nel complesso è una lettura scorrevole ma decisamente non qualcosa di memorabile anzi tutt'altro.
La storia è poco coinvolgente e avvincente per essere un libro di questo tipo, poteva decisamente essere gestito meglio.
In conclusione la Simons con questo libro mi ha lasciato decisamente con l'amaro in bocca mi aspettavo qualcosa di meglio.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Dalla Simons mi aspettavo decisamente qualcosa di diverso.
Il libro nel complesso è una lettura scorrevole ma decisamente non qualcosa di memorabile anzi tutt'altro.
La storia è poco coinvolgente e avvincente per essere un libro di questo tipo, poteva decisamente essere gestito meglio.
In conclusione la Simons con questo libro mi ha lasciato decisamente con l'amaro in bocca mi aspettavo qualcosa di meglio.
April 29, 2017
2.5 I was intrigued by the description of Red Leaves by Paullina Simons...
"In the tradition of Ira Levin’s A Kiss Before Dying and Donna Tartt’s The Secret History comes a suspenseful thriller from the international bestselling author of The Bronze Horseman—an utterly captivating story about four Ivy League students whose bizarre friendship leads to a twisted maze of secrets, lies, betrayal, and murder."
Sounds good right? Kristina is a star basketball player for Dartmouth. We meet her and her four friends playing a pick up game. There's an odd dynamic between the four from the opening chapters - not what you would expect of friends. Kristina leaves as the game is over to make an appointment with a Howard. Again, a very odd dynamic and a reveal. (I'm not going to spoil it in case you plan to read this book.) More oddness - Kristina happens to catch the eye of a police detective as she flounces around without a coat in the cold. (Much is made of her going without warm clothing throughout the book.) The cop's behaviour is not believable at all. Or is Kristina's or anyone else's for that matter.
So, part one is a (repetitive) rehash of the relationship between the four, both past and present that seems to go on and on. I grew tired of the enigmatic, evasive and mysterious circumstances of their friendships, the philosophical wordplay and bantering. (Stop here if you are going to read Red Leaves - spoiler ahead. I can't help it) Part two finds Kristina dead. And guess who's in charge. Yes, that detective. His police work is slipshod and so far removed from actual police procedure that it's laughable. (More spoiling....at one point he has about a dozen Saturday night specials (guns) in his trunk that he hasn't turned in yet from a bust two or three weeks ago.)
Okay, so the murder is (poorly) investigated. But along with that, every character cannot remember or later (two years in one case) admits they lied. This felt like a very convenient plot device much of the time. And the book continued on long after it should have ended. (The whodunit is not surprising)
I found the writing choppy, stilted and clumsy. That comparison made to Secret History the publisher made? Nope, not even close.
What I subsequently discovered was that Red Leaves was originally published in 1996. I'm sure that Simons' work has become more polished as she has since written thirteen more bookS since Red Leaves and garnered much praise. Sorry to say, but this book was a (big) miss for me.
"In the tradition of Ira Levin’s A Kiss Before Dying and Donna Tartt’s The Secret History comes a suspenseful thriller from the international bestselling author of The Bronze Horseman—an utterly captivating story about four Ivy League students whose bizarre friendship leads to a twisted maze of secrets, lies, betrayal, and murder."
Sounds good right? Kristina is a star basketball player for Dartmouth. We meet her and her four friends playing a pick up game. There's an odd dynamic between the four from the opening chapters - not what you would expect of friends. Kristina leaves as the game is over to make an appointment with a Howard. Again, a very odd dynamic and a reveal. (I'm not going to spoil it in case you plan to read this book.) More oddness - Kristina happens to catch the eye of a police detective as she flounces around without a coat in the cold. (Much is made of her going without warm clothing throughout the book.) The cop's behaviour is not believable at all. Or is Kristina's or anyone else's for that matter.
So, part one is a (repetitive) rehash of the relationship between the four, both past and present that seems to go on and on. I grew tired of the enigmatic, evasive and mysterious circumstances of their friendships, the philosophical wordplay and bantering. (Stop here if you are going to read Red Leaves - spoiler ahead. I can't help it) Part two finds Kristina dead. And guess who's in charge. Yes, that detective. His police work is slipshod and so far removed from actual police procedure that it's laughable. (More spoiling....at one point he has about a dozen Saturday night specials (guns) in his trunk that he hasn't turned in yet from a bust two or three weeks ago.)
Okay, so the murder is (poorly) investigated. But along with that, every character cannot remember or later (two years in one case) admits they lied. This felt like a very convenient plot device much of the time. And the book continued on long after it should have ended. (The whodunit is not surprising)
I found the writing choppy, stilted and clumsy. That comparison made to Secret History the publisher made? Nope, not even close.
What I subsequently discovered was that Red Leaves was originally published in 1996. I'm sure that Simons' work has become more polished as she has since written thirteen more bookS since Red Leaves and garnered much praise. Sorry to say, but this book was a (big) miss for me.
December 23, 2021
This was okay, but a bit slow. The second half of the book was much better, once it got more into solving the crime. Not as good as Tully, which I read and loved many years ago.
August 7, 2014
In news that will surprise no-one, I bought this because I read several reviews likening it to The Secret History. Yet again I've fallen victim to lazy comparisons: the books are alike only in that they both deal with the murder of a student at an Ivy League university (and there's the - admittedly very similar - detail that the body isn't discovered until a heavy snowfall has thawed). The writing couldn't be more different. This, along with Little Face, is one of the most odd and baffling books I've read all year, and I don't mean that in a good 'it's full of twists/makes you think' sort of way. Rather, it made me constantly wonder what the hell the characters were all about and think WHAT?! at every turn.
I absolutely couldn't empathise with (or like) a single one of the characters. I particularly struggled with the first half of the book, written from Kristina's point of view, as I found her behaviour and motivations incredibly hard to understand. For example, when she's in a serious car crash but leaves the scene of the accident, abandoning her car and possessions without a care, and goes home - proceeding to act as if everything's normal to her friends - despite the fact that she's seriously injured and in pain. It's not just that the characters do ridiculous things, it's that no justification is given for them within the narrative; as we never learn WHY Kristina chooses this course of action, it simply seems like bad writing rather than character development. The way everyone interacts is similarly strange, and the dialogue is bizarre, with the speakers constantly repeating what someone else has just said, as if none of them understand one another properly, ALL THE TIME. I didn't buy the idea of the four students being really close friends - they all seem uncomfortable around each other from the start, and while a twist near the end of the story explains this in part, it isn't really enough. I know there were plenty of other things that didn't make sense but I don't care enough to go back and check what they were.
The more I think about it, the more I realise how unsatisfying this book actually was; so many unanswered questions. Why do none of Spencer's police colleagues seem to have any interest in what he finds out, despite the fact that he's meant to be the main officer investigating a murder case? Even then, why doesn't he force them to listen - particularly when he makes a discovery about Albert that throws everything into a different light and would surely prompt the police to re-examine all the evidence? Why does he keep the truth about Albert to himself even when he realises that an innocent woman, Conni, has been sent to prison for Kristina's murder? I suppose the ending is supposed to represent Albert/Nathan getting what he deserves, but still, what about Conni?
Some bits of the story were intriguing enough to keep me reading it, but overall I wouldn't recommend this book and wouldn't want to read anything else by the author. Not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as The Secret History, to be honest.
I absolutely couldn't empathise with (or like) a single one of the characters. I particularly struggled with the first half of the book, written from Kristina's point of view, as I found her behaviour and motivations incredibly hard to understand. For example, when she's in a serious car crash but leaves the scene of the accident, abandoning her car and possessions without a care, and goes home - proceeding to act as if everything's normal to her friends - despite the fact that she's seriously injured and in pain. It's not just that the characters do ridiculous things, it's that no justification is given for them within the narrative; as we never learn WHY Kristina chooses this course of action, it simply seems like bad writing rather than character development. The way everyone interacts is similarly strange, and the dialogue is bizarre, with the speakers constantly repeating what someone else has just said, as if none of them understand one another properly, ALL THE TIME. I didn't buy the idea of the four students being really close friends - they all seem uncomfortable around each other from the start, and while a twist near the end of the story explains this in part, it isn't really enough. I know there were plenty of other things that didn't make sense but I don't care enough to go back and check what they were.
The more I think about it, the more I realise how unsatisfying this book actually was; so many unanswered questions. Why do none of Spencer's police colleagues seem to have any interest in what he finds out, despite the fact that he's meant to be the main officer investigating a murder case? Even then, why doesn't he force them to listen - particularly when he makes a discovery about Albert that throws everything into a different light and would surely prompt the police to re-examine all the evidence? Why does he keep the truth about Albert to himself even when he realises that an innocent woman, Conni, has been sent to prison for Kristina's murder? I suppose the ending is supposed to represent Albert/Nathan getting what he deserves, but still, what about Conni?
Some bits of the story were intriguing enough to keep me reading it, but overall I wouldn't recommend this book and wouldn't want to read anything else by the author. Not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as The Secret History, to be honest.
July 24, 2018
Did the audiobook. If you want to listen to 15 hours a train-wreck, go ahead. I’m sure reading the book is even better (said in sarcasm). The following is a play by play after I got about 5 hours into it...
Never been looking foreword to a main character dying before but with this book, there’s a first time for everything! Kristina is horrible! She is irresponsible, and not in a cute, grows on you way but in a non-human, waste of space type of way. So winey and an awful human being. When asked what she wants to do after college with her degree: “what could I do with these degrees? I don’t think I’ll work, or I’ll go back and get more pointless degrees.” Great response.
This group of “friends” is unbelievable. Why are they cheating with each other and unhappy with relationship they are in? Just break up with the girlfriend/boyfriend and start going out with each other. You’re both awful people so you deserve each other. And I’m sure we will figure out why they can’t be with each other in the end. Family somehow?
Yeah, has a head on collision wreck (her fault) and flees the scene. What a great person, makes me like you so much more. Decides to drink alcohol to take the pain away, great idea. Detective that likes her let’s her not have to deal with it until after the holidays-that’s real. Run detective run! You deserve a better love interest.
And who has a bad break up with a boyfriend and then is able to go play poker with the group of “friends,” later that same night. Oh poker game goes horribly wrong? What a shocker (sarcasm)!
Humm, going to walk a icy bridge while she is upset and still hurt from the wreck. Wonder how she will die? Yes, you are crazy.
Can’t believe I am so happy that she is dead! Feel bad for the detective though. But 5.5 hours in and now looking foreword to hopefully liking the book better from here on out. It’s got to be one of her 3 “friends” that killed her.
...
Okay finished the book, was better after she was dead and trying to figure out what happened along with the detective. Still an awful book. Ending is unbelievable, and not in a good way.
Never been looking foreword to a main character dying before but with this book, there’s a first time for everything! Kristina is horrible! She is irresponsible, and not in a cute, grows on you way but in a non-human, waste of space type of way. So winey and an awful human being. When asked what she wants to do after college with her degree: “what could I do with these degrees? I don’t think I’ll work, or I’ll go back and get more pointless degrees.” Great response.
This group of “friends” is unbelievable. Why are they cheating with each other and unhappy with relationship they are in? Just break up with the girlfriend/boyfriend and start going out with each other. You’re both awful people so you deserve each other. And I’m sure we will figure out why they can’t be with each other in the end. Family somehow?
Yeah, has a head on collision wreck (her fault) and flees the scene. What a great person, makes me like you so much more. Decides to drink alcohol to take the pain away, great idea. Detective that likes her let’s her not have to deal with it until after the holidays-that’s real. Run detective run! You deserve a better love interest.
And who has a bad break up with a boyfriend and then is able to go play poker with the group of “friends,” later that same night. Oh poker game goes horribly wrong? What a shocker (sarcasm)!
Humm, going to walk a icy bridge while she is upset and still hurt from the wreck. Wonder how she will die? Yes, you are crazy.
Can’t believe I am so happy that she is dead! Feel bad for the detective though. But 5.5 hours in and now looking foreword to hopefully liking the book better from here on out. It’s got to be one of her 3 “friends” that killed her.
...
Okay finished the book, was better after she was dead and trying to figure out what happened along with the detective. Still an awful book. Ending is unbelievable, and not in a good way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2010
I had previously read another Paullina Simon book and loved it - The Bronze Horseman. This book, however, was not at all similar to that book. It is a murder mystery set on the campus of Dartmouth College over the Thanksgiving holidays in the early 1980s. It started out quite slowly for me. In fact I was somewhat bored and thought it would have to improve to get 3 stars from me.
Well, improve it certainly did. In no way is this murder mystery predictable as so many are. Immediately you know who the victim will be and you may even think you have solved the crime. But even if you choose correctly as to the murderer there is no way that you will have come up with the motive and with what will happen after the fact. Following the murder, it goes in many different directions and any one of several could have been the perpetrator, but until a key factor falls into place you are never really sure. Once that happens, you are simply knocked out of your seat and stay that way until the book comes to a close.
Well, improve it certainly did. In no way is this murder mystery predictable as so many are. Immediately you know who the victim will be and you may even think you have solved the crime. But even if you choose correctly as to the murderer there is no way that you will have come up with the motive and with what will happen after the fact. Following the murder, it goes in many different directions and any one of several could have been the perpetrator, but until a key factor falls into place you are never really sure. Once that happens, you are simply knocked out of your seat and stay that way until the book comes to a close.
February 26, 2014
This is one of the worst books I have read in a long time. The first half of the book is the 'background' of the four intertwined characters. It is a long drawn out section to establish this background and then you kill one of the main characters off? I felt I had just waisted 155 pages of descriptive, ground laying text - groan. I should have stopped there.
Things did get slightly better with the introduction of Spencer the detective investigating the murder. Though he was very unprofessional on all counts, never once did he reveal there was a sightly personal level of involvement with the victim, that affected his ability to carry out his duties impartially as the lead investigator. This could have also got the conviction against the 'accused' overthrown or at the very lest, grounds for appeal. I will not go into the other unprofessional and illegal acts carried out by Spencer but basically this story was so wrong on so many levels.
Do not waste your time reading this book. I have another book of hers to read and it will have to be the very last book in the house before I read it - book exchange, here they come.
Things did get slightly better with the introduction of Spencer the detective investigating the murder. Though he was very unprofessional on all counts, never once did he reveal there was a sightly personal level of involvement with the victim, that affected his ability to carry out his duties impartially as the lead investigator. This could have also got the conviction against the 'accused' overthrown or at the very lest, grounds for appeal. I will not go into the other unprofessional and illegal acts carried out by Spencer but basically this story was so wrong on so many levels.
Do not waste your time reading this book. I have another book of hers to read and it will have to be the very last book in the house before I read it - book exchange, here they come.
May 5, 2020
2.5 stelline!
Un bel libro. Non il miglior thriller mai letto, ma sicuramente la storia è interessante e la trama ben gestita.
La prima parte è un po' ingarbugliata, ho fatto fatica a leggerla sinceramente, ma una volta superata la lettura è stata scorrevole e molto coinvolgente.
La scrittura della Simons è facile da leggere, non mi ha particolarmente colpito ma risulta scorrevole e semplice. Spero di poterla apprezzare maggiormente in altri suoi libri.
I personaggi mi sono piaciuti, sono ben costruiti e l'autrice li ha saputi gestire alla perfezione.
I colpi di scena anche sono stati ben gestiti. Li si intuivano solo nel momento in cui l'autrice dava le informazioni necessarie ad intuirli, anche se alcuni erano abbastanza prevedibili, specialmente se uno è abituato a questo genere.
Il finale l'ho trovato giusto, in linea con quanto raccontato nel romanzo, e l'epilogo risulta essere il modo perfetto per concludere il romanzo.
Unica pecca, molto soggettiva: non mi è piaciuto tutto il sentimentalismo religioso di cui è intriso il finale. Non l'ho trovato in linea col personaggio di Nathan.
Un bel libro. Non il miglior thriller mai letto, ma sicuramente la storia è interessante e la trama ben gestita.
La prima parte è un po' ingarbugliata, ho fatto fatica a leggerla sinceramente, ma una volta superata la lettura è stata scorrevole e molto coinvolgente.
La scrittura della Simons è facile da leggere, non mi ha particolarmente colpito ma risulta scorrevole e semplice. Spero di poterla apprezzare maggiormente in altri suoi libri.
I personaggi mi sono piaciuti, sono ben costruiti e l'autrice li ha saputi gestire alla perfezione.
I colpi di scena anche sono stati ben gestiti. Li si intuivano solo nel momento in cui l'autrice dava le informazioni necessarie ad intuirli, anche se alcuni erano abbastanza prevedibili, specialmente se uno è abituato a questo genere.
Il finale l'ho trovato giusto, in linea con quanto raccontato nel romanzo, e l'epilogo risulta essere il modo perfetto per concludere il romanzo.
Unica pecca, molto soggettiva: non mi è piaciuto tutto il sentimentalismo religioso di cui è intriso il finale. Non l'ho trovato in linea col personaggio di Nathan.
November 7, 2010
Did I really love this book, or is it just because I love Paullina Simons so much that I decide I love her books before I've even read them?
No - I loved this book! What a great story! I loved it because usually with these kinds of books I find I can predict the outcome very easily, but I found myself to be wrong everytime I predicted something and the ending was so different from what I expected! But no less amazing.
You just kind of get thrown into the lives of these four college kids, wondering what their secrets are, what on earth is going on? You just had to keep reading. And sometimes in books I find I skim certain parts, but I didn't miss a sentence in this book. You just couldn't. If you did, you would lose track.
5 stars for another great book by my favourite author. I have almost read all her books now - 2 more to go. The Road to Paradise and The Girl in Times Square. Hope they are both just as amazing!
No - I loved this book! What a great story! I loved it because usually with these kinds of books I find I can predict the outcome very easily, but I found myself to be wrong everytime I predicted something and the ending was so different from what I expected! But no less amazing.
You just kind of get thrown into the lives of these four college kids, wondering what their secrets are, what on earth is going on? You just had to keep reading. And sometimes in books I find I skim certain parts, but I didn't miss a sentence in this book. You just couldn't. If you did, you would lose track.
5 stars for another great book by my favourite author. I have almost read all her books now - 2 more to go. The Road to Paradise and The Girl in Times Square. Hope they are both just as amazing!
April 19, 2019
Not the greatest offering from Paullina Simons, but I still really enjoyed it. Spencer really didn't do much for me - I just remember him as a pervy old man, and his interest in Kristina was a bit off. On the whole it felt like it needed a bit of work, but I still got caught up in the story and read it fairly fast. The characters were a bit iffy and the mystery was more unintentionally mysterious than clever, but it was never going to live up to the standards I had after reading Tully. Not Simons' best, but still not bad.
August 17, 2009
Load of incestious shit! The backwards/forwards dialogue especially at the beginning would be good enough to drive people to violence against the author. Worth recycling for toilet paper.
November 10, 2016
Δεν κατάφερα να φτάσω στο τέλος όσο και αν προσπάθησα... Γεμάτο κλισέ και στερεοτυπικές αντιλήψεις, κουράζει πολύ και υποτιμά τον αναγνώστη.
February 6, 2017
Ho esordito dicendo che nulla è come sembra, e davvero niente lo è.
Già dalle prime pagine si percepisce che qualcosa non va: Kristina è troppo concentrata, troppo attenta, troppo calcolata per essere la ragazza semplice che vuol far credere. Conni è un'amica troppo poco attenta e troppo poco presente per essere una vera migliore amica, Albert è al contrario troppo attento e troppo presente con Kristina per essere il ragazzo di Conni. Jim dal canto suo è invece troppo assente per essere il ragazzo di Kristina… All'inizio sembra solo una recita, una commedia della falsità, in cui gli eventi si susseguono lentamente in maniera quasi noiosa e i personaggi recitano malamente parti che non gli si addicono, fino alla tragedia. Kristina muore in circostanze poco chiare e la polizia indaga.
Da questo punto in poi il racconto diventa veloce e incalzante, il detective O'Malley dipana vari fili da matasse che sono avvolte strettamente tra loro, e soltanto nelle ultime pagine del romanzo, mentre la sua stessa vita ne è quasi stata travolta, riesce a tirare fuori la verità disseppellendola dalle tante bugie.
Questo romanzo è uno spaccato sociale, come uno di quei film che narrano le vicende delle famiglie lungo un paio di generazioni. Mentre leggevo vedevo la superficiale apparenza di una bella famiglia benestante, la visualizzavo come la calma piatta di un mare estivo, tutto uguale, senza onde. Ma sotto sentivo ribollire invece lo scontento di figli adolescenti troppo trascurati, la difficoltà dei genitori di crescere ed essere imparziali con quegli stessi figli. L'impossibilità di voler bene dando sostegno e supporto soprattutto nelle difficoltà. La dura legge della morte sociale, quella che ti condanna senza appello per una leggerezza di gioventù che pagherai per tutta la vita. E infine l'amore, il libro ne è pervaso. Non sono riuscita a cogliere un solo punto in cui non vi fosse amore, presente in ogni tipo e forma possibile. C'è l'amore totalizzante, quello che annienta Kristina e Nathan. C'è l'amore negato da entrambi i genitori attenti solo a salvare le apparenze. C'è l'amore superficiale, fatto di denaro e vizi, ma mai trasmesso con i gesti. C'è quello vero, che i due giovani si donano l'un l'altra per supplire a una mancanza che sentono in maniera completamente differente: Kristina mettendolo davanti ad ogni sua azione, Nathan negandolo sempre.
Poi il finale al cardiopalmo. Ammetto che lì sono rimasta malissimo. Speravo tanto in una piena confessione, che spiegasse ogni gesto e che invece non arriva, lasciandone l'interpretazione al lettore. Continua su CrazyForRomance
Già dalle prime pagine si percepisce che qualcosa non va: Kristina è troppo concentrata, troppo attenta, troppo calcolata per essere la ragazza semplice che vuol far credere. Conni è un'amica troppo poco attenta e troppo poco presente per essere una vera migliore amica, Albert è al contrario troppo attento e troppo presente con Kristina per essere il ragazzo di Conni. Jim dal canto suo è invece troppo assente per essere il ragazzo di Kristina… All'inizio sembra solo una recita, una commedia della falsità, in cui gli eventi si susseguono lentamente in maniera quasi noiosa e i personaggi recitano malamente parti che non gli si addicono, fino alla tragedia. Kristina muore in circostanze poco chiare e la polizia indaga.
Da questo punto in poi il racconto diventa veloce e incalzante, il detective O'Malley dipana vari fili da matasse che sono avvolte strettamente tra loro, e soltanto nelle ultime pagine del romanzo, mentre la sua stessa vita ne è quasi stata travolta, riesce a tirare fuori la verità disseppellendola dalle tante bugie.
Questo romanzo è uno spaccato sociale, come uno di quei film che narrano le vicende delle famiglie lungo un paio di generazioni. Mentre leggevo vedevo la superficiale apparenza di una bella famiglia benestante, la visualizzavo come la calma piatta di un mare estivo, tutto uguale, senza onde. Ma sotto sentivo ribollire invece lo scontento di figli adolescenti troppo trascurati, la difficoltà dei genitori di crescere ed essere imparziali con quegli stessi figli. L'impossibilità di voler bene dando sostegno e supporto soprattutto nelle difficoltà. La dura legge della morte sociale, quella che ti condanna senza appello per una leggerezza di gioventù che pagherai per tutta la vita. E infine l'amore, il libro ne è pervaso. Non sono riuscita a cogliere un solo punto in cui non vi fosse amore, presente in ogni tipo e forma possibile. C'è l'amore totalizzante, quello che annienta Kristina e Nathan. C'è l'amore negato da entrambi i genitori attenti solo a salvare le apparenze. C'è l'amore superficiale, fatto di denaro e vizi, ma mai trasmesso con i gesti. C'è quello vero, che i due giovani si donano l'un l'altra per supplire a una mancanza che sentono in maniera completamente differente: Kristina mettendolo davanti ad ogni sua azione, Nathan negandolo sempre.
Poi il finale al cardiopalmo. Ammetto che lì sono rimasta malissimo. Speravo tanto in una piena confessione, che spiegasse ogni gesto e che invece non arriva, lasciandone l'interpretazione al lettore. Continua su CrazyForRomance
January 16, 2018
Un romanzo che ti fa capire che la morte sta dietro l’angolo, che non ti puoi fidare nemmeno di te stessa, e che la giustizia fa pena!
La Simons descrive i dettagli in una maniera stupenda come se tu sei realmente li oppure l’hai regalmente visto... una storia toccante, mi ha rapita dalle prime pagine.
Ho trovato la trama avvincente ma sono rimasta delusa dal finale 🤨 io speravo nella giustizia e di sapere nel dettaglio come è accaduto invece ho trovato solo una cosa sbrigativa.
Il caro Detective l’ho trovato affascinante e molto astuto e perspicace! Sommato è stata una bellissima lettura 🤓spero di leggere altro della Simons
La Simons descrive i dettagli in una maniera stupenda come se tu sei realmente li oppure l’hai regalmente visto... una storia toccante, mi ha rapita dalle prime pagine.
Ho trovato la trama avvincente ma sono rimasta delusa dal finale 🤨 io speravo nella giustizia e di sapere nel dettaglio come è accaduto invece ho trovato solo una cosa sbrigativa.
Il caro Detective l’ho trovato affascinante e molto astuto e perspicace! Sommato è stata una bellissima lettura 🤓spero di leggere altro della Simons
February 11, 2019
Mi trovo in difficoltà a scrivere la recensione di questo libro. Premetto che conoscevo già l'autrice, avendo letto l'intera trilogia de Il Cavaliere d'inverno. In questo romanzo ho trovato qualcosa di completamente diverso. A parte il fatto che in questo caso ci troviamo di fronte ad un romanzo giallo - thriller.... manca tutto l'approfondimento che invece nella trilogia la faceva da padrona. Più specificatamente: perchè questa ragazza va in giro in mezzo alla neve mezza nuda? perchè le due coppie, ancichè continuare a stare insieme tutti i gg, non si 'lasciano', visto che non si sopportano più? perchè Spencer è così ossessionato da quiesta ragazza, dopo aver passato, se va bene, 2 ore insieme a lei? Tutte domande che purtroppo non trovano nessuna risposta, o per lo meno, una spiegazione logica e chiara. Il libro si lascia leggere,scorre velocemente e la scrittura è lineare e scorrevol. Ma dell'autrice, ho preferito di gran lunga la trilogia.
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