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Dead Giveaway
One By One
Ellen Wingate thinks she's hit the jackpot when she learns the millions she's inherited comes with a super-exclusive condo in the mountains outside of Las Vegas. But leaving Minnesota for paradise turns out to be the ultimate nightmare. Trapped with her neighbors in a freakish winter avalanche, a chilling discovery at the bottom of an indoor pool signals a frightening turn of events. . .
Until There Were None
A ruthless killer has infiltrated the Deer Creek Condos. With each killing more terrifying than the last, the panicked survivors face almost certain death. Their only hope is to band together to escape the unrelenting pursuit of a deadly intruder, but trusting each other could be their most fatal instinct. . .
Ellen Wingate thinks she's hit the jackpot when she learns the millions she's inherited comes with a super-exclusive condo in the mountains outside of Las Vegas. But leaving Minnesota for paradise turns out to be the ultimate nightmare. Trapped with her neighbors in a freakish winter avalanche, a chilling discovery at the bottom of an indoor pool signals a frightening turn of events. . .
Until There Were None
A ruthless killer has infiltrated the Deer Creek Condos. With each killing more terrifying than the last, the panicked survivors face almost certain death. Their only hope is to band together to escape the unrelenting pursuit of a deadly intruder, but trusting each other could be their most fatal instinct. . .
280 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1990
259 people are currently reading
1042 people want to read
About the author
Joanne Fluke
134 books8,557 followersLike Hannah Swensen, Joanne Fluke grew up in a small town in rural Minnesota where her neighbors were friendly, the winters were fierce, and the biggest scandal was the spotting of unidentified male undergarments on a young widow's clothesline. She insists that there really are 10,000 lakes and the mosquito is NOT the state bird.
While pursuing her writing career, Joanne has worked as: a public school teacher, a psychologist, a musician, a private detective's assistant, a corporate, legal, and pharmaceutical secretary, a short order cook, a florist's assistant, a caterer and party planner, a computer consultant on a now-defunct operating system, a production assistant on a TV quiz show, half of a screenwriting team with her husband, and a mother, wife, and homemaker.
She now lives in Southern California with her husband, her kids, his kids, their three dogs, one elderly tabby, and several noisy rats in the attic.
Series:
* Hannah Swensen
While pursuing her writing career, Joanne has worked as: a public school teacher, a psychologist, a musician, a private detective's assistant, a corporate, legal, and pharmaceutical secretary, a short order cook, a florist's assistant, a caterer and party planner, a computer consultant on a now-defunct operating system, a production assistant on a TV quiz show, half of a screenwriting team with her husband, and a mother, wife, and homemaker.
She now lives in Southern California with her husband, her kids, his kids, their three dogs, one elderly tabby, and several noisy rats in the attic.
Series:
* Hannah Swensen
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 25, 2021
An avalanche traps a group of people in their luxury condo above the mountains of Las Vegas. When some of them go missing, and some wind up dead, they start to wonder if there is a killer among them.
I really enjoyed this book, even though I had a hard time keeping track of the characters at times. Some were likable, and some weren’t. I was really rooting for Betty, one of my favorite characters of the book. It was slow at first, but once the murders started, things picked up.
This is the first book I’ve read by Joanne Fluke and I look forward to reading more by this author.
I really enjoyed this book, even though I had a hard time keeping track of the characters at times. Some were likable, and some weren’t. I was really rooting for Betty, one of my favorite characters of the book. It was slow at first, but once the murders started, things picked up.
This is the first book I’ve read by Joanne Fluke and I look forward to reading more by this author.
December 6, 2020
One of Joanne Fluke's thrillers from before the Hannah Swensen series. A lot of intrigue and twists to keep you guessing.
August 18, 2011
The story line was a little slow for me but it was easy to follow. The setting is Las Vegas . The deer creek condo,s are delightfully secluded an ulta luxory development nestled in the mountains above Las Vegas, you get mobsters, drug smuggling, romance and murder. and its all happening in the condo,s after a violent winter avalanche has trapped the residents. in the building, the residents are dying in fatal accidents that add up to homicide. Only a handful of them are left-neighbors, friends, lovers and one of them is a cold blooded obsessive killer whose job is death. And he knows every way there is to snuff out a human life...
April 29, 2014
Very entertaining. About 3/4 thru the book, subtle hints were given as to "Who" did it. With a small cast of characters trapped in a resort with no way in or out it was reminiscent of a certain Agatha Christie story.
February 9, 2015
Plot in the vein of And Then There Were None. Sudden rush of many character intros that I considered writing them down. Good, fast read and enjoyable.
February 25, 2016
This book ... I mean It was so ...boring .
The idea is a group of people are at a party in the mountains and get snowed in and then the murders will start, exciting non? Oh wait some one has a secret too
The story starts at the party, an anniversary party that includes inane presents from people who are the best of friends on only the most pretentious levels.
My god these people are so boring and ridiculous, every line of dialogue I just rolled my eyes. You know when old people try to show you that they have the Weather on their phone? This was the kind of excitement this party held
As the murders started I thought If I were stuck with these losers I might kill them all too.
Not a great sign for my future with this book.
Anyway due to the fact that I cared for NONE of the characters and the plot seemed stilted and the situations contrived I do not in any way recommend this book
The idea is a group of people are at a party in the mountains and get snowed in and then the murders will start, exciting non? Oh wait some one has a secret too
The story starts at the party, an anniversary party that includes inane presents from people who are the best of friends on only the most pretentious levels.
My god these people are so boring and ridiculous, every line of dialogue I just rolled my eyes. You know when old people try to show you that they have the Weather on their phone? This was the kind of excitement this party held
As the murders started I thought If I were stuck with these losers I might kill them all too.
Not a great sign for my future with this book.
Anyway due to the fact that I cared for NONE of the characters and the plot seemed stilted and the situations contrived I do not in any way recommend this book
August 20, 2014
In a way this book reminded of the game and later cheesy movie "Clue." The setting is a luxury highrise condo with many floors and rooms for the rich and famous. People keep dying or disappearing, at first believed to be accidents, later this dense crowd finally figures out something sinister might be at play. An avalanche keeps everyone trapped in the condo building, although people come and go on snowmobiles and helicopters, so they are not that cut-off from the rest of the world.
What I didn't like in the book were all of the characters. None were likeable. They were bad caricatures - again the cast from Clue. A nurse, an invalid, a dumb blond, her impotent older husband, a foreigner who butchers the language, a country singer, the token gay couple, the building super, a buff black guy,a Vegas lounge singer, a lawyer sleeping with his younger associate, a chef, and a businessman. The main character Ellen makes you want to smack her. She allegedly has zero self esteem and spends the whole book putting herself down, I'm so ugly, I have no talent, no one loves me. Boo hoo sister - we all have our issues. I was ready for her to get popped anytime.
I had pretty much figured out the plot by the middle of the book (if that far into), but at least it was an easy read that kept the pages turning.
What I didn't like in the book were all of the characters. None were likeable. They were bad caricatures - again the cast from Clue. A nurse, an invalid, a dumb blond, her impotent older husband, a foreigner who butchers the language, a country singer, the token gay couple, the building super, a buff black guy,a Vegas lounge singer, a lawyer sleeping with his younger associate, a chef, and a businessman. The main character Ellen makes you want to smack her. She allegedly has zero self esteem and spends the whole book putting herself down, I'm so ugly, I have no talent, no one loves me. Boo hoo sister - we all have our issues. I was ready for her to get popped anytime.
I had pretty much figured out the plot by the middle of the book (if that far into), but at least it was an easy read that kept the pages turning.
May 30, 2015
I've never read a Joanne Fluke book that I didn't enjoy. BUT, this one was an absolute bust for me. All of her Hannah Swenson books were great ( I've read them all either in print or audio ) and I loved them all. I decided to listen to her other non series books and see if they were just as good. I've listened to three and liked them very much. But this book...I don't know if it was the voice reading the book or the plot, but the only reason I finished the book was because I paid for it. If it had been a loan from the library, or one that my friends were passing around, I would not have finished it. I only gave it one star so that people wouldn't think I forgot to rate it.
May 11, 2014
This story is reminiscent of a popular Agatha Christie novel. A group of people caught in a avalanche in the mountains above Las Vegas find themselves stranded in their ultra expensive condo complex. As the residents die one by one and two by two, family members separated from loved ones struggle to reach the condo. And the survivors try to figure out who done what. And why. This familiar story is salvaged by likable characters and believable relationships making the tale a pleasant, easy read.
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June 7, 2014I finished the book I was reading and need a new one for a 4 hour flight. I bought this book at a CVS that had ~ 6 to choose from. This books was simply written with quite a few typos missed by the editor. The plot was ridiculous and the characters not believeable at all. That being said, it was an easy and fast read and kept my interest. I figured out who the bad guy was about halfway through the book, so not a great mystery.
January 28, 2015
Ugh. I am a huge fan of the Hannah Swanson mysteries and when I found this book I was extremely excited. However, I was disappointed by the amount of cliches, typos, and the excruciatingly boring dialogue. The characters were one dimensional and the pseudo-romantic scenes were a joke. I have to say that the whole book was a disappointment to me.
July 19, 2020
Mình đọc lại thôi, và vẫn giữ nguyên ý kiến của mình. Quyển này không hoàn toàn tạo cảm giác ly kì giật gân mà đáng lẽ ra nó phải như vậy. Một nhóm người bị mắc kẹt tại khu căn hộ trên núi, một trong số họ là kẻ giết người. Vậy mà... mình thấy tác giả chỉ tập trung chủ yếu vào mối quan hệ tình cảm của các nhân vật, thay vì lưu ý vào việc tạo không khí đáng sợ cho câu chuyện. Đọc quyển này mà mình cảm thấy như đang đọc tiểu thuyết lãng mạn chứa yếu tố ly kì thôi, mà thậm chí cái lãng mạn trong này cũng không làm mình nghĩ là lãng mạn, vì mình không quan tâm.
Trước tiên, nói về cốt truyện thì nghe nội dung có vẻ nghẹt thở, hồi hộp, nhưng đáng tiếc là 2/3 đầu sách gần như chỉ dành cho việc tác giả kể lể các nhân vật khi mắc kẹt trong khu căn hộ này làm gì với nhau. Các cặp đôi thì tương tác với nhau như thế nào, những người độc thân thì có vẻ thích nhau ở đâu, một cặp đôi đã ly dị thì dường như là sẽ nhen lửa cuộc tình... Kẻ giết người, biệt danh là Kẻ Trông Nhà, theo ý đồ tác giả, phải là một kẻ giết người máu lạnh khôn ngoan, nhưng mình chỉ thấy hắn thật là ngu ngốc và ngạo mạn. Xen kẽ vài chương miêu tả cuộc sống các cư dân khi bị mắc kẹt là những cú ra tay của Kẻ Trông Nhà, giết người bịt miệng khi biết ai đó đang sắp phát hiện ra cái gì đó. Mình không cảm thấy giật mình, sợ hãi hay lo lắng cho các nhân vật còn lại. Họ ngu ngốc còn hơn cả Kẻ Trông Nhà. Đến 1/3 cuối truyện thì họ mới bắt đầu thấy những cái chết xảy ra không thể là do tai nạn, mà cũng phải có sự giúp đỡ của một nhân vật duy nhất mà đáng lẽ ra không thể đóng vai trò quan trọng gì (nhân vật này được cho là mắc bệnh mất trí nhớ).
Phần lớn quyển sách là truyện lãng mạn, ngôn tình. Những vụ giết người xảy ra rải rác trong suốt truyện rất nhạt nhẽo và vu vơ, thậm chí là ngớ ngẩn - xét đến thủ pháp ra tay. Vào 1/3 cuối truyện, khi các cư dân phát hiện ra có thể có kẻ giết người, lúc này thì họ có thông minh ra một chút, hành động phản ứng lại, nhưng cũng phải mất thêm một lúc nữa biết kẻ này là ai, và kẻ đó đang truy lùng họ, và đến lúc này thì mình không còn quan tâm đến câu chuyện nữa. Cuối cùng kẻ giết người được xử lý một cách rất nhanh chóng và dễ dàng, càng khiến cho mình khinh thường hắn hơn. Càng đọc mình chỉ càng thấy thêm ấm ức vì sự ngu ngốc của tất cả các nhân vật. Cách kể chuyện đã cho thấy một nhà văn chỉ coi trọng một câu chuyện lãng mạn mà cứ cố gắng nhồi nhét những cái giết người, mưu đồ vào để cho nó hấp dẫn hơn thôi.
Mình không thích bất kì một nhân vật nào trong truyện, thậm chí cả nhân vật chính là Ellen. Cô Ellen đáng lẽ phải hành động như một nhân vật chính thì cả truyện chỉ thấy ngồi thụ động và than phiền về mối tình thất bại trước của mìn, rồi thấy anh này anh kia thật tốt bụng. Rồi các nhân vật còn lại cũng không có gì để nói với nhau ngoài chuyện người này thích người kia. Một đống nhân vật không hề có chiều sâu trong một câu chuyện không có cấu trúc rõ ràng.
Trước tiên, nói về cốt truyện thì nghe nội dung có vẻ nghẹt thở, hồi hộp, nhưng đáng tiếc là 2/3 đầu sách gần như chỉ dành cho việc tác giả kể lể các nhân vật khi mắc kẹt trong khu căn hộ này làm gì với nhau. Các cặp đôi thì tương tác với nhau như thế nào, những người độc thân thì có vẻ thích nhau ở đâu, một cặp đôi đã ly dị thì dường như là sẽ nhen lửa cuộc tình... Kẻ giết người, biệt danh là Kẻ Trông Nhà, theo ý đồ tác giả, phải là một kẻ giết người máu lạnh khôn ngoan, nhưng mình chỉ thấy hắn thật là ngu ngốc và ngạo mạn. Xen kẽ vài chương miêu tả cuộc sống các cư dân khi bị mắc kẹt là những cú ra tay của Kẻ Trông Nhà, giết người bịt miệng khi biết ai đó đang sắp phát hiện ra cái gì đó. Mình không cảm thấy giật mình, sợ hãi hay lo lắng cho các nhân vật còn lại. Họ ngu ngốc còn hơn cả Kẻ Trông Nhà. Đến 1/3 cuối truyện thì họ mới bắt đầu thấy những cái chết xảy ra không thể là do tai nạn, mà cũng phải có sự giúp đỡ của một nhân vật duy nhất mà đáng lẽ ra không thể đóng vai trò quan trọng gì (nhân vật này được cho là mắc bệnh mất trí nhớ).
Phần lớn quyển sách là truyện lãng mạn, ngôn tình. Những vụ giết người xảy ra rải rác trong suốt truyện rất nhạt nhẽo và vu vơ, thậm chí là ngớ ngẩn - xét đến thủ pháp ra tay. Vào 1/3 cuối truyện, khi các cư dân phát hiện ra có thể có kẻ giết người, lúc này thì họ có thông minh ra một chút, hành động phản ứng lại, nhưng cũng phải mất thêm một lúc nữa biết kẻ này là ai, và kẻ đó đang truy lùng họ, và đến lúc này thì mình không còn quan tâm đến câu chuyện nữa. Cuối cùng kẻ giết người được xử lý một cách rất nhanh chóng và dễ dàng, càng khiến cho mình khinh thường hắn hơn. Càng đọc mình chỉ càng thấy thêm ấm ức vì sự ngu ngốc của tất cả các nhân vật. Cách kể chuyện đã cho thấy một nhà văn chỉ coi trọng một câu chuyện lãng mạn mà cứ cố gắng nhồi nhét những cái giết người, mưu đồ vào để cho nó hấp dẫn hơn thôi.
Mình không thích bất kì một nhân vật nào trong truyện, thậm chí cả nhân vật chính là Ellen. Cô Ellen đáng lẽ phải hành động như một nhân vật chính thì cả truyện chỉ thấy ngồi thụ động và than phiền về mối tình thất bại trước của mìn, rồi thấy anh này anh kia thật tốt bụng. Rồi các nhân vật còn lại cũng không có gì để nói với nhau ngoài chuyện người này thích người kia. Một đống nhân vật không hề có chiều sâu trong một câu chuyện không có cấu trúc rõ ràng.
May 6, 2023
Ellen Wingate teaches school in Minnesota as this opens. She’s tired of subzero temperatures and a love life that’s even colder. As you might imagine, she’s not all that happy with her circumstances. But the phone call changes everything.
It seems her Uncle Lyle and Aunt Charlotte are dead. Someone killed them during a New Orleans elevator mugging, at least that’s what the cops told her. Because of their deaths, Ellen now owns an eighth-floor condo on Mt. Charleston near Las Vegas, and she’s a millionaire.
She gives up teaching and opens a manikin manufacturing facility in southern Nevada. Manikins, of all things? Hey, I’m just writing about the book here.
When Ellen arrives in Las Vegas, one of the first people she meets is Johnny Day, a heartthrob singer. He agrees to go into business with her manufacturing manikins, and two years later, the business is successful. Or is it?
What fascinates me about this book is the sheer number of characters you get acquainted with. Fluke can indeed write a plot that is both complex and easily followed. This is a different side of her from the sometimes-almost childish simplicity of the dialogue and plots in some of the Hannah Swensen books, especially the later ones.
I love mysteries where guests are unable to escape their fate, and one by one, someone murders them. That’s essentially what happens in this book. Ellen’s high-priced condo becomes her worst nightmare, and the mysterious Caretaker is quietly obliterating the tenants one or two at a time. Don’t you just hate those pesky avalanches that make eliminating human targets that much easier?
This is an excellent read, and the audio narration is a brilliant fit.
It seems her Uncle Lyle and Aunt Charlotte are dead. Someone killed them during a New Orleans elevator mugging, at least that’s what the cops told her. Because of their deaths, Ellen now owns an eighth-floor condo on Mt. Charleston near Las Vegas, and she’s a millionaire.
She gives up teaching and opens a manikin manufacturing facility in southern Nevada. Manikins, of all things? Hey, I’m just writing about the book here.
When Ellen arrives in Las Vegas, one of the first people she meets is Johnny Day, a heartthrob singer. He agrees to go into business with her manufacturing manikins, and two years later, the business is successful. Or is it?
What fascinates me about this book is the sheer number of characters you get acquainted with. Fluke can indeed write a plot that is both complex and easily followed. This is a different side of her from the sometimes-almost childish simplicity of the dialogue and plots in some of the Hannah Swensen books, especially the later ones.
I love mysteries where guests are unable to escape their fate, and one by one, someone murders them. That’s essentially what happens in this book. Ellen’s high-priced condo becomes her worst nightmare, and the mysterious Caretaker is quietly obliterating the tenants one or two at a time. Don’t you just hate those pesky avalanches that make eliminating human targets that much easier?
This is an excellent read, and the audio narration is a brilliant fit.
June 18, 2018
I love the Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke but I was seriously disappointed by this book. While the Hannah Swensen books are very clean, this one had people jumping into bed left and right. It had more detail than I needed or wanted. There was also a homosexual couple and a lot of adultery going on. It also took forever to get to the murders; there was so much detail about all of these characters that I had a hard time even caring about. The one thing I really liked about the story was when it was told from the point of view of a lady who was bedridden with a degenerative disease. She had access to security cameras but her confused mind thought they were movies so she saw what was happening but didn't really understand. Definitely not up to par with her other series.
April 20, 2020
This was a good story. I kept second guessing myself on things & I must say I was wrong in my thoughts. Unlike her other books the editor did a much better job with this one so there weren’t as many typos as usual. I was a little confused with the beginning but things did get tied up so the connection was made clear. The best part of this book I think was the ending. No sappy stupid declarations of let’s get married right now. A romance or two may have blossomed but the author didn’t hurry to do anything more with them. I hate books where it always seems the main character has to get married at the end.
November 22, 2023
At the onset of this book, I was not very captivated by it. As we progressed through the chapters, and I became more acquainted with the characters it had more and more appeal. It was difficult for me to figure out who the villain was going to be and what the good guys really were. Very well written. Amazing read! I would recommend to other readers.
June 28, 2017
Dead Giveaway is very different from Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swenson mysteries. This book started a bit slowly, but kept me on the edge of my seat through most of it. Filled with intrigue and mystery, it was definitely worth my time. I hope Ms. Fluke continues with another, similar mystery.
November 12, 2020
Not at all what I am used to. Joanne fluke steps away from her Hannah Swensen series and writes a mystery that most interesting, but for me not as interesting and compelling as her series. Would I recommend this one, probably not.
October 15, 2022
truyện đọc chơi chơi cũng hay nhưng cũng không có gì quá ngạc nhiên... có nhiều đoạn tác giả viết hơi gợi ý quá, nếu bỏ đi chắc sẽ hấp dẫn hơn. Truyện hơi hướng kinh dị hơn những truyện khác đề tài này.
June 16, 2023
I loved it! The atmosphere was claustrophobic and creepy even though they are in a huge condo building! I would recommend it but it is has some racist parts in it. I took a star off for that even though the story was good.
July 20, 2025
Couldn't finish the book. It was so boring and way to much jumping around. I normally like her books but not this one. It was way too confusing with way too much details that were rather boring. Not recommend.
August 8, 2017
Joanne Fluke should stick to the Hannah Swenson Murder books. I had 2 more of her books and returned them to the library without reading them. Just did not find her that great with the other books.
July 15, 2018
I didn't guess who did it and was suprised!
August 1, 2019
OK! Thought I would try Joanne Fluke's other books. This one was pretty good.
May 26, 2020
This book was ok. It was a lot like the game Clue only with a twist.
December 18, 2020
Strange to read a story where the author kills so many of the cast.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 23, 2020
Kept me guessing til the very end!!
October 6, 2021
Well written and so much fun! I love the twists and turns.
November 14, 2021
Not a Hannah Swenson mystery but very good.
March 3, 2022
A thoroughly enjoyable red that keeps you guessing until the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews