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Final Scream
New York Times best-selling author Lisa Jackson crafts the breathtaking tale of a woman haunted by disaster, unable to escape the ghosts of her past. When she was only 16, Cassidy Buchanan fell for the 19-year-old bad boy in town, Brig McKenzie—who'd had his share of run-ins with both the law and the local women. Then a terrible fire killed Cassidy's sister, and Brig was the chief suspect. Seventeen years later, an eerily similar fire seriously injures Cassidy's husband Chase, who happens to be Brig's brother. With the earlier fire still an open case, suspicion turns to Cassidy, the only person connected to both tragedies.
545 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2005
839 people are currently reading
9778 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Jackson
272 books9,687 followersLisa Jackson is the number-one New York Times bestselling author of over ninety-five novels, including the Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya Series, the Pescoli and Alvarez Series, the Savannah series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of One Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Colony Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Nancy Bush, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Nancy Bush and Rosalind Noonan. There are over thirty million copies of her novels in print and her writing has been translated into twenty languages.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 368 reviews
March 3, 2018
3.75 stars.
One complaint. This book was waaaaaaaay toooooooo loooooooong!! Authors note at the end says it is a rewrite of another book, "Intimacies". Her editors asked her to add to it ... so she did! Did not read the original so cannot compare but, to me, it could have been at least 150 pages shorter. Saying that, it kept my attention and kept me guessing. I did see some of the twists coming but not the "bad guy"!
Lots of characters. Some of them quite sick!
Sorry, I am a bit vague. It was a good read. A bit OTT at times with a. few eye-rolling minutes.
One complaint. This book was waaaaaaaay toooooooo loooooooong!! Authors note at the end says it is a rewrite of another book, "Intimacies". Her editors asked her to add to it ... so she did! Did not read the original so cannot compare but, to me, it could have been at least 150 pages shorter. Saying that, it kept my attention and kept me guessing. I did see some of the twists coming but not the "bad guy"!
"Don't like me ... believe me, girl, we'll all be a lot better off if you just stay the hell away."
Lots of characters. Some of them quite sick!
She felt a nagging little thought - something more than her fury - something deeper and worrisome, but she couldn't, for the life of her, understand what it was.
Sorry, I am a bit vague. It was a good read. A bit OTT at times with a. few eye-rolling minutes.
December 4, 2019
I received this novel thru a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. I would like to thank the author and the publishing company for their generosity.
This will be an honest review but probably a review that is not fair. I have read several books from this author and I have liked them. They are not my favorites but she writes an enjoyable suspense thriller with a little romance thrown in the mix. I believed that this book was in the same vein but it was not. I am not sure if this actually classifies as soft erotica but this is what I imagine it to be and that is one genre I have no interest in. Another comparison would be that this is a soap opera in written form and once again not my thing. The first half of this book was all about character after character wanting each other and explicit sexual scenes. There was no plot. I was already not a fan of this book. Finally when the plot was introduced it still wasn't the focus as it was still the soft erotica. And one of the obligatory twists was so outlandish and no way did I believe it to be realistic. I almost gave up on the book right then and there and I never give up on books.
Like I said, this book wasn't for me and the fault could be laid on me. I do think that it did have false billing and truthfully, the book was just not good at all.
This will be an honest review but probably a review that is not fair. I have read several books from this author and I have liked them. They are not my favorites but she writes an enjoyable suspense thriller with a little romance thrown in the mix. I believed that this book was in the same vein but it was not. I am not sure if this actually classifies as soft erotica but this is what I imagine it to be and that is one genre I have no interest in. Another comparison would be that this is a soap opera in written form and once again not my thing. The first half of this book was all about character after character wanting each other and explicit sexual scenes. There was no plot. I was already not a fan of this book. Finally when the plot was introduced it still wasn't the focus as it was still the soft erotica. And one of the obligatory twists was so outlandish and no way did I believe it to be realistic. I almost gave up on the book right then and there and I never give up on books.
Like I said, this book wasn't for me and the fault could be laid on me. I do think that it did have false billing and truthfully, the book was just not good at all.
July 10, 2010
This story was disappointing. The characters were annoying--no one said what they should have said. The dialogue was forced and unbelievable. The twists were easily predictable--I figured both out well before I was supposed to. And again with the gratuitous sex scenes that added nothing to the relationships or storyline. The incestuous undercurrent in the plot was gross.
This is the second book I have read by this author. I felt the same for the first one as I did this one so I just think this writer's style is not for me.
This is the second book I have read by this author. I felt the same for the first one as I did this one so I just think this writer's style is not for me.
April 18, 2008
There's a reason why I like Lisa Jackson. The woman sure knows how to write a damn good story!
Lots of characters as individual as possible. Some you like, some you can really despise.
I liked the setting as well. The country is one setting that I love when filled with intrigue, suspense and suspicious, devious characters.
Cassidy struck me as a smart, headstrong young woman, at the beginning, and the same later. Brig had a good head on his shoulders. Chase, full of ambition, wanting nothing but respect.
I thought the plot was excellent, filled with unexpected twists and turns. Just when I think I've got it figured out, something happens that throws my theory to hell. Any author who can do that to me is an author worth reading. She canput you into the mind of the killer and you still can't figure out who it really is. I love the way this author can stick you right in the middle of everyone and still leave you feeling like you can't quite graspt what it is you're missing until it's too late.
Lots of characters as individual as possible. Some you like, some you can really despise.
I liked the setting as well. The country is one setting that I love when filled with intrigue, suspense and suspicious, devious characters.
Cassidy struck me as a smart, headstrong young woman, at the beginning, and the same later. Brig had a good head on his shoulders. Chase, full of ambition, wanting nothing but respect.
I thought the plot was excellent, filled with unexpected twists and turns. Just when I think I've got it figured out, something happens that throws my theory to hell. Any author who can do that to me is an author worth reading. She canput you into the mind of the killer and you still can't figure out who it really is. I love the way this author can stick you right in the middle of everyone and still leave you feeling like you can't quite graspt what it is you're missing until it's too late.
February 6, 2018
I loved this book! It is my favorite book by Lisa Jackson. I enjoyed the relationship she built between her characters and the attraction. The twist at the end had me on the edge of my seat. Once I started the book, I couldn't put it down.
February 16, 2019
This author has a fixation on ugly family situations. This book no different but a little more twisted.
However, I found the twisted tale entertaining. Though I guessed who done it at the first mysterious POV. Sure the author made me second guess myself but I always came back to my first guess and I was right.
I also guessed at the twists. So despite being entertaining, I’m disappointed at not being at all surprised. However, I think this maybe the best of the LJ stories I’ve listened to so far.
The narrator was pretty good.
However, I found the twisted tale entertaining. Though I guessed who done it at the first mysterious POV. Sure the author made me second guess myself but I always came back to my first guess and I was right.
I also guessed at the twists. So despite being entertaining, I’m disappointed at not being at all surprised. However, I think this maybe the best of the LJ stories I’ve listened to so far.
The narrator was pretty good.
December 2, 2016
I can give no more than 2.25 stars & even with this I think I'm maybe being charitable here.
FUCK OH FUCK, SUCH SICKOS! Almost every fucking character in this book seems that they should be in prolonged psychotherapy like seriously long for a decade or 2. And yeah! That's the only reason I think I gave it 2.25 stars because a) I LOVE SICKO/PSYCHO characters as they make everything interesting in a book and umm...*ahem* maybe in real life too...a little at least? and b) the screwed up characters was the only captivating thing which seems to keep this book afloat.
Now some issues which I've with this book is the same tiring old romantic bullshit where a bad boy with womanizing issues & a 'nice, tough tomboyish' girl have some serious attraction between them & then the tragedy struck. Now the thing is they have spend wayyy too much time on the romance story than the suspense or maybe I'm just biased because I'm not a big fan of romantic genre. Although, I would say that the suspense in this book is pretty captivating but at the same time it's easy to see through every character & no what they're trying to hide or who could be the real culprit behind it all! But the characters other than the bad boy & tough girl ones are well-written. This book could've become a masterpiece or if not then at least a 4 star book but all gets lost as the author seems to be trying hard to make her characters complex & it's this "complexity" is what makes them easy to see through. And also after a build up of "suspense " for almost 400 pages, you would think that ending would do some justice but no...it didn't WHY? Oh, because author decided it would do well to give it a very hasty/abrupt ending but it wasn't!! Well, at least it didn't do well for me. But anyways, people who are looking for some weird romantic-mystery thing should go for this one as for some people the "love story" tragic or not is the main thing but people like myself who were looking for much more than that then I'll say just read something else!!!
FUCK OH FUCK, SUCH SICKOS! Almost every fucking character in this book seems that they should be in prolonged psychotherapy like seriously long for a decade or 2. And yeah! That's the only reason I think I gave it 2.25 stars because a) I LOVE SICKO/PSYCHO characters as they make everything interesting in a book and umm...*ahem* maybe in real life too...a little at least? and b) the screwed up characters was the only captivating thing which seems to keep this book afloat.
Now some issues which I've with this book is the same tiring old romantic bullshit where a bad boy with womanizing issues & a 'nice, tough tomboyish' girl have some serious attraction between them & then the tragedy struck. Now the thing is they have spend wayyy too much time on the romance story than the suspense or maybe I'm just biased because I'm not a big fan of romantic genre. Although, I would say that the suspense in this book is pretty captivating but at the same time it's easy to see through every character & no what they're trying to hide or who could be the real culprit behind it all! But the characters other than the bad boy & tough girl ones are well-written. This book could've become a masterpiece or if not then at least a 4 star book but all gets lost as the author seems to be trying hard to make her characters complex & it's this "complexity" is what makes them easy to see through. And also after a build up of "suspense " for almost 400 pages, you would think that ending would do some justice but no...it didn't WHY? Oh, because author decided it would do well to give it a very hasty/abrupt ending but it wasn't!! Well, at least it didn't do well for me. But anyways, people who are looking for some weird romantic-mystery thing should go for this one as for some people the "love story" tragic or not is the main thing but people like myself who were looking for much more than that then I'll say just read something else!!!
December 29, 2020
This is definitely one of my favorite novels by Lisa Jackson. The families in the story are involved in so many secrets and lies that tragedy was inevitable. There was a spiderweb of suspects to follow.
I really enjoyed this one. 5 stars ⭐️
I really enjoyed this one. 5 stars ⭐️
January 9, 2013
This is one of the best Lisa Jackson books I have read. The book was slow to start but it leaves you guessing through the whole book! Great storyline as well, characters were well placed and their stories were woven nicely
May 6, 2021
Well that was way too long and mostly boring. My friend said it best when she said this was like a bad Hallmark movie. This wasn't terrible but it was very wordy and too long IMHO.
Plus it didn't flow well for me. It felt like endless setting of the backstory and went from details, details, details, to sex, sex, sex....which really didn't make sense.
The big reveal was semi-cliche and seemed to be done for the shocl factor if anything. I have enjoyed this author's newer works and think maybe that because this was so early in their career the writing wasn't fine-tuned yet.
Plus it didn't flow well for me. It felt like endless setting of the backstory and went from details, details, details, to sex, sex, sex....which really didn't make sense.
The big reveal was semi-cliche and seemed to be done for the shocl factor if anything. I have enjoyed this author's newer works and think maybe that because this was so early in their career the writing wasn't fine-tuned yet.
February 3, 2018
not your typical thriller. I enjoyed it being set in the ranch scene however the characters kinda annoyed me at times obviously as flawed as real life
September 18, 2022
I have... so many thoughts. Foremost among them is the notion that I was hoodwinked. And that about 20% of this book could have been trimmed without major narrative loss.
TL;DR. The romance was too long in tooth for me. The mystery defied credibility. And I found many of the narrative choices questionable. Still, it kept my interest at the very least.
Spoilers throughout.
The Prologue starts off in the POV of the main antagonist in medias res. Okay. So far, so good. A couple pages in and you've got my attention. We're off to a strong start. But I had the killer picked by about the 1/4 point. And that was only because After rereading it was pretty clear.
From the cover art and the back blurb, one might be forgiven for assuming that this is a mystery thriller. Not my usual genre, but this was a gift and I figured I would give it a shot. However, it switches to cowboy romance for the next +100 pages, only to eventually circle back to the original premise with narrative turns that are baffling or simply uncomfortable.
As for romance, the "will they / won't they" was running thin (for me) by about the third reversal.
When the book finally decides that it wants to become a mystery thriller, the mysteries aren't terribly difficult to figure out.
One trope that drives me nuts is when a character switches places with another and no one can tell the difference. How!? How can you think this is ok?
And then, after all the build up and mounting action, we get the big reveal. The killer is
Bull. Shit.
And how is it ultimately revealed? And then, attempts to reverse course immediately after doing so. I just... what? Would have been a real shame if they could have kept their mouth shut. Not sure how we would have solved this one... but I digress.
While not my particular cup of tea, this book held my interest and I wanted to know how it would be resolved - even though I had suspicions. If you enjoy the mystery-thriller genre and happen to have this already on-hand, then by all means give it a shot. Otherwise, I'd have to say "pass."
TL;DR. The romance was too long in tooth for me. The mystery defied credibility. And I found many of the narrative choices questionable. Still, it kept my interest at the very least.
Spoilers throughout.
The Prologue starts off in the POV of the main antagonist in medias res. Okay. So far, so good. A couple pages in and you've got my attention. We're off to a strong start. But I had the killer picked by about the 1/4 point. And that was only because After rereading it was pretty clear.
From the cover art and the back blurb, one might be forgiven for assuming that this is a mystery thriller. Not my usual genre, but this was a gift and I figured I would give it a shot. However, it switches to cowboy romance for the next +100 pages, only to eventually circle back to the original premise with narrative turns that are baffling or simply uncomfortable.
As for romance, the "will they / won't they" was running thin (for me) by about the third reversal.
When the book finally decides that it wants to become a mystery thriller, the mysteries aren't terribly difficult to figure out.
One trope that drives me nuts is when a character switches places with another and no one can tell the difference. How!? How can you think this is ok?
And then, after all the build up and mounting action, we get the big reveal. The killer is
Bull. Shit.
And how is it ultimately revealed? And then, attempts to reverse course immediately after doing so. I just... what? Would have been a real shame if they could have kept their mouth shut. Not sure how we would have solved this one... but I digress.
While not my particular cup of tea, this book held my interest and I wanted to know how it would be resolved - even though I had suspicions. If you enjoy the mystery-thriller genre and happen to have this already on-hand, then by all means give it a shot. Otherwise, I'd have to say "pass."
March 30, 2014
When Angie Buchanan finds herself pregnant with her brother's child she schemes to seduce local bad boy Brig McKenzie so she can blame him for the pregnancy and cry rape. But someone is watching Angie and knows her secret and plots to remove Angie from Derek's life. Angie dies in a blazing inferno and Brig is blamed for the fire. Cassidy Buchanan helps Brig escape from the authorities.
Seventeen years later Cassidy Buchanan is married to Brig's brother Chase when another deadly inferno engulfs Chase and a mysterious stranger in the flames. The John Doe dies and Cassidy brings "Chase" home to recuperate. She discovers that her Father Rex had an affair with Sunny McKenzie and that the retarded boy Willie her Father has employed for years is actually his bastard son Buddy McKenzie. The John Doe is revealed to be an Alaskan billionaire who turns out to be Brig after further investigation. "Chase" claims that Brig came back to clear his name and reunite with Cassidy. After making love to "Chase" she realizes that Chase was actually the John Doe. Upset at the idea of sleeping with her dead husbands brother she flees the house just as the killer strikes again.
Buddy risk his life to get Brig to safety, the killer is captured after her deadly inferno catches Derek in the flames instead of Brig and Cassidy and she confesses.
Seventeen years later Cassidy Buchanan is married to Brig's brother Chase when another deadly inferno engulfs Chase and a mysterious stranger in the flames. The John Doe dies and Cassidy brings "Chase" home to recuperate. She discovers that her Father Rex had an affair with Sunny McKenzie and that the retarded boy Willie her Father has employed for years is actually his bastard son Buddy McKenzie. The John Doe is revealed to be an Alaskan billionaire who turns out to be Brig after further investigation. "Chase" claims that Brig came back to clear his name and reunite with Cassidy. After making love to "Chase" she realizes that Chase was actually the John Doe. Upset at the idea of sleeping with her dead husbands brother she flees the house just as the killer strikes again.
Buddy risk his life to get Brig to safety, the killer is captured after her deadly inferno catches Derek in the flames instead of Brig and Cassidy and she confesses.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2016
I've never read a Lisa Jackson book I liked less than this one. This was a total waste of time and not worthy of the author at all. I have to confess that I really didn't even finish it--it was that bad. I kept trying to work my way through it because I just hate to stop reading a book in the middle, but it just dragged on and on and on.......First of all, I am used to Lisa Jackson being a suspense writer --not a writer of soft porn. Hello--a 19-year-old and a 16-year-old having sex is technically statutory rape! and if I had to hear descriptions of breasts one more time, I was going to throw up more than "just a little in my mouth." The plot....wait...what plot? It was repetitious--the characters going over and over the same stuff......Finally--enough had to be enough and I just quit reading. Not your best work at all, Ms. Jackson--no wonder it was on bookbub for under $4.00! I should have known better.
December 29, 2017
If I had read this as a teen, I would have enjoyed it. As an adult, though, it was hard to relate to the raging hormones and teen angst. Rich girls attracted to bad boys! Adults trying to control teens and keeping their own secrets -- life is so unfair! A teen would probably eat this up.
February 29, 2020
I couldn’t finish this book, it’s complete trash. The author couldn’t decide if she wanted to write an erotic novel or a thriller. The first 3rd is about a 16 year old seducing/being seduced by a 19 year old. The plot is horrible and stretched out way too long.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2020
This is my first Lisa Jackson book. I was expecting a suspenseful, who done it murder mystery and was surprised at the level of romance in this book.
I thoroughly enjoy a good romance with a blend of mystery and suspense so this was a good read for me and I got through it very quickly.
The book opens with the killer lying in wait to ensure that the victim arrives and will suffer the consequences of the trap that has been laid.
Then skip to 1977 where the story begins. The first half of the book focuses on the getting to know and understanding the characters and their dynamic.
First we meet Brig McKenzie, a good looking, womanizing, bad boy who always seems to be getting himself into trouble. Brig, who has been having a hard time holding down a job, gets hired to work on the Buchanan farm.
Cassidy Buchanan is a 15 year old head strong girl who owns an equally head strong horse named Remmington. Brig's main job is to train and break in her horse and to try to keep Cassidy from riding him until he's ready.
Angie Buchanan, is Cassidy's sister, and the most beautiful girl in town and she knows it. All the boys (and men) want her and fight over her.
Chase McKenzie is Brig's brother and equally handsome. His main goal is to make as much money as he can, marry up, and earn the respect of the people in the town who have looked down on him and his family their entire lives.
There are more characters that add to the story - Rex Buchanan is the richest man around and owns the farm amongst other things, Dena is Rex's second wife and living in the shadow of the first (she is also Cassidy's mother), Derrick Buchanan is Rex's son, Felicity is Angie's best friend, Derrick's girlfriend and the judges daughter, Sunny McKenzie is the psychic mother of Brig & Chase, and Willie is a quiet, simple and sometimes creepy boy, who works on the farm but notices everything.
The killer eventually strikes, burning down the building with the victim inside, and Brig is accused of setting the fire.
Fast forward 17 years, to the second half of the book, where Cassidy is being questioned by the police because the killer has struck again, and they are determined to figure this out once and for all.
There are some things that bothered me about this book. I wish there was a little more coverage within the 17 years. So much time was spent in the beginning that it was odd to just end it and jump ahead so far without much context in between. This includes the lack of contact between some of the characters, which I thought wasn't that believable, given the circumstances.
I also thought that now that Cassidy is a journalist, that she would have been a little more kick ass, and thrown herself into figuring out what happened with a little more gusto.
Overall though, I did like the book a lot and read it pretty fast given it's length. There were quite a few plot twists throughout, some I figured out, but I've got to say, I did not figure out the killer. I kept going through the characters trying to work it out and was not correct in the end.
I will be adding Lisa Jackson to the authors I follow and reading more of her books in the future.
I received this book as a good reads/ first reads in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoy a good romance with a blend of mystery and suspense so this was a good read for me and I got through it very quickly.
The book opens with the killer lying in wait to ensure that the victim arrives and will suffer the consequences of the trap that has been laid.
Then skip to 1977 where the story begins. The first half of the book focuses on the getting to know and understanding the characters and their dynamic.
First we meet Brig McKenzie, a good looking, womanizing, bad boy who always seems to be getting himself into trouble. Brig, who has been having a hard time holding down a job, gets hired to work on the Buchanan farm.
Cassidy Buchanan is a 15 year old head strong girl who owns an equally head strong horse named Remmington. Brig's main job is to train and break in her horse and to try to keep Cassidy from riding him until he's ready.
Angie Buchanan, is Cassidy's sister, and the most beautiful girl in town and she knows it. All the boys (and men) want her and fight over her.
Chase McKenzie is Brig's brother and equally handsome. His main goal is to make as much money as he can, marry up, and earn the respect of the people in the town who have looked down on him and his family their entire lives.
There are more characters that add to the story - Rex Buchanan is the richest man around and owns the farm amongst other things, Dena is Rex's second wife and living in the shadow of the first (she is also Cassidy's mother), Derrick Buchanan is Rex's son, Felicity is Angie's best friend, Derrick's girlfriend and the judges daughter, Sunny McKenzie is the psychic mother of Brig & Chase, and Willie is a quiet, simple and sometimes creepy boy, who works on the farm but notices everything.
The killer eventually strikes, burning down the building with the victim inside, and Brig is accused of setting the fire.
Fast forward 17 years, to the second half of the book, where Cassidy is being questioned by the police because the killer has struck again, and they are determined to figure this out once and for all.
There are some things that bothered me about this book. I wish there was a little more coverage within the 17 years. So much time was spent in the beginning that it was odd to just end it and jump ahead so far without much context in between. This includes the lack of contact between some of the characters, which I thought wasn't that believable, given the circumstances.
I also thought that now that Cassidy is a journalist, that she would have been a little more kick ass, and thrown herself into figuring out what happened with a little more gusto.
Overall though, I did like the book a lot and read it pretty fast given it's length. There were quite a few plot twists throughout, some I figured out, but I've got to say, I did not figure out the killer. I kept going through the characters trying to work it out and was not correct in the end.
I will be adding Lisa Jackson to the authors I follow and reading more of her books in the future.
I received this book as a good reads/ first reads in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2023
I disliked this book immensely, but my parents didn’t raise a quitter! (Something I regret at times like these. There’s over 19 hours of my life I won’t get back.)
Most of the “big reveals” I saw coming, with the exception of one.
I had many issues with this book, but I’ll just mention a few:
* If there was any doubt almost all the characters were white, the author makes a point of saying “a black man” for someone paid to open the door at a party - so one black character, who was hired help. I guess we can assume one police officer named Gonzalez was Hispanic.
* I found none of the characters likable in the least.
* So much toxic masculinity. Gross. Women went for these men despite their smoking, drinking, raping, using prostitutes, etc. Because macho men. (Double gross.)
* So many derogatory horrible words for a character (e.g. the R word)
* Sex with a minor (Gross - I tried to convince myself I was being a prude, but… gross, especially with an older man)
If this is your kind of book, we all have our personal tastes… my taste says “ewww… retch”.
Most of the “big reveals” I saw coming, with the exception of one.
I had many issues with this book, but I’ll just mention a few:
* If there was any doubt almost all the characters were white, the author makes a point of saying “a black man” for someone paid to open the door at a party - so one black character, who was hired help. I guess we can assume one police officer named Gonzalez was Hispanic.
* I found none of the characters likable in the least.
* So much toxic masculinity. Gross. Women went for these men despite their smoking, drinking, raping, using prostitutes, etc. Because macho men. (Double gross.)
* So many derogatory horrible words for a character (e.g. the R word)
* Sex with a minor (Gross - I tried to convince myself I was being a prude, but… gross, especially with an older man)
If this is your kind of book, we all have our personal tastes… my taste says “ewww… retch”.
September 1, 2018
Fast paced with characters that reach out and grab from the first page. You can relate to the pull of young love between Brig who is from the wrong side of the tracks and Cassidy who has been raised with wealth and privilege. Fate will intervene and one persons desire to have everything and the revenge they want will keep you turning pages until the end.
April 20, 2018
I was afraid that because of the length of this book that it may become dry or boring towards the middle, but I didn’t feel that way at all. I was always intrigued to find out more information about the characters and the story line. There were a few twists that I didn’t expect at all. Great book!
March 10, 2021
Lots of twists and turns. Did not figure it out until the end.
July 22, 2021
It took me 2 years to finally finish Final Scream but I will say it was hard to put down once I actually picked it back up again.
June 24, 2017
WOW, what an ending. Kept me guessing between 3 characters until the final pages! Well done
March 31, 2017
Kept me interested all the way thru
March 8, 2023
Update 3/8/2023
This was one of my favorite books as a teenager and I was pleasantly surprised to find it just as riveting as an adult. I loved catching all the little details this time around, knowing how the story ends. While it might be more of a four-star for me today (some of the dialogue and descriptions got repetitive, and I found the love interest's emotional instability more alarming than romantic), I still love the characters, and the story is forever imprinted in my imagination as a core memory from my formative years. It still has everything I look for in a good book. Would still recommend.
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8/10/2010
Having read mostly YA books for most of my life, this book was only my third or fourth venture into adult novels, and mystery novels in specific.
I was looking for a quick read that would keep me busy while vacationing at the beach for a few days and was pleasantly surprised when I enjoyed the book so much that I stayed up all night to finish it.
The characters were so engaging and the mystery definitely kept me guessing. Who was the culprit? Who was going to come out alive? Who was having an affair with who? At what time?
The questions just kept coming.
The first half of the book, "Part 1" confused me at first. It set the scene so that later on, when characters were impacted physically and emotionally, the impact was as devastating for the reader as it was to them. The author lulls you into a false sense of security... It's a true thriller in the sense that not only does it have heart-pounding suspense, but it also has every element a good story needs: love, lies, deceit, murder, confusion, secrets, and lust. Oh, and also an amazing plot. ;) I like the small-town community where status is everything and the richly developed characters whose fates I actually questioned.
Overall, I give this book five stars because despite a few unnecessary chapters, the book moved at a good pace, each sentence drawing the story just a bit forward so that the suspense built and built.
I will definitely come back to this book again and again.
This was one of my favorite books as a teenager and I was pleasantly surprised to find it just as riveting as an adult. I loved catching all the little details this time around, knowing how the story ends. While it might be more of a four-star for me today (some of the dialogue and descriptions got repetitive, and I found the love interest's emotional instability more alarming than romantic), I still love the characters, and the story is forever imprinted in my imagination as a core memory from my formative years. It still has everything I look for in a good book. Would still recommend.
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8/10/2010
Having read mostly YA books for most of my life, this book was only my third or fourth venture into adult novels, and mystery novels in specific.
I was looking for a quick read that would keep me busy while vacationing at the beach for a few days and was pleasantly surprised when I enjoyed the book so much that I stayed up all night to finish it.
The characters were so engaging and the mystery definitely kept me guessing. Who was the culprit? Who was going to come out alive? Who was having an affair with who? At what time?
The questions just kept coming.
The first half of the book, "Part 1" confused me at first. It set the scene so that later on, when characters were impacted physically and emotionally, the impact was as devastating for the reader as it was to them. The author lulls you into a false sense of security... It's a true thriller in the sense that not only does it have heart-pounding suspense, but it also has every element a good story needs: love, lies, deceit, murder, confusion, secrets, and lust. Oh, and also an amazing plot. ;) I like the small-town community where status is everything and the richly developed characters whose fates I actually questioned.
Overall, I give this book five stars because despite a few unnecessary chapters, the book moved at a good pace, each sentence drawing the story just a bit forward so that the suspense built and built.
I will definitely come back to this book again and again.
January 3, 2014
This was one of my favorite books by Lisa Jackson! I never expected the ending and it was a wild ride each and every page! Buchanan family is one of the richest families in Prosperity, Oregon. Mr. Buchanan runs the saw mill and his land of trees has made him mighty rich. His first wife bore him two children Angie and Derrick. After his wife killed herself he found himself remarried to Dena. Dena and Rex had a child they named Cassidy. Rex and his family owned a large home, not only with amazing land, but also a barn with horses. Angie was a beautiful young lady who loved to seduce the men. Derrick was a loving young brother but as he got older he grew angry and distant. Cassidy was the youngest (15) and was labeled as a tomboy more in love with horses then people. Rex to his family seemed to have a nitch for hiring individuals to work for him that were considered less fortunate then him. That was why no one was surprised when Rex hired Brig. Brig had the reputation of being a ladies man, who drank to much and got into a lot of trouble. Brig is shown the ropes, told of his expectations, and told how he needs to stay away from Rex's daughters. A fire at Rex's saw mill rocks this family's life forever and causes another family to fall apart. Years later another fire will hit the mill again and this time it looks a lot like the first fire but the suspect hasn't been seen since the last fire. The family drama in this book will leave you knowing your family isn't that bad! Will Brig heed the warning that he was given about Rex's daughter or will Angie be able to seduce him? Are the two fires linked and if so will they ever catch the arsonist?
April 20, 2012
Well I am just going to start in by saying that I love this book. I mean I own this book on my personal book shelf and I have read it about 15 times since I got this book. I can not find anything that I do not like about this book. It is one of those books that I finish reading and then I go back and I want to read it again.
Brig and Cassidy are my favorite characters in this novel. Their romance is so sweet. I enjoyed seeing Brig fall in love for the first time, and not even realize that it is happening to him. I also enjoyed reading about how Cassidy gives everything to Brig.
Final Scream is full of suspense, danger, murder, mystery, romance, tragedy and lost love. I will be the first to admit that I am seriously addicted to this novel and I am not able to put it down once I start reading. It is very easy to find yourself getting lost in the pages and by the time you stop reading, you do not even realize how much you have read. I have a soft spot for bad boys and boy is Brig the town bad boy. I just love this book, so now I will have to see how long I can go with out reading it again.
Brig and Cassidy are my favorite characters in this novel. Their romance is so sweet. I enjoyed seeing Brig fall in love for the first time, and not even realize that it is happening to him. I also enjoyed reading about how Cassidy gives everything to Brig.
Final Scream is full of suspense, danger, murder, mystery, romance, tragedy and lost love. I will be the first to admit that I am seriously addicted to this novel and I am not able to put it down once I start reading. It is very easy to find yourself getting lost in the pages and by the time you stop reading, you do not even realize how much you have read. I have a soft spot for bad boys and boy is Brig the town bad boy. I just love this book, so now I will have to see how long I can go with out reading it again.
November 14, 2010
A friend gave me a big box of books recently and this was one of them. I'm almost done reading everything, and the only reason I waited so long to read this was because... it's kind of long. Now, if you know me, you know I don't shy away from long books. But lately, I've just been looking for something easy and quick to read. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that even with the length of this novel, it still falls under the "easy and quick" category.
It's a great story, and more importantly... it actually stumped me. I didn't even consider the person who ended up being the murderer. I feel most suspense novels are fairly predictable, but I just couldn't get this one - definitely a good thing!
It's a great story, and more importantly... it actually stumped me. I didn't even consider the person who ended up being the murderer. I feel most suspense novels are fairly predictable, but I just couldn't get this one - definitely a good thing!
January 8, 2022
this is probably the worst book i’ve ever finished
my sweet mother gets books from the free library on her street and sends them to me when she finishes them. it’s like our little book club :-)
THIS ONE however…. i cannot believe i read 500+ pages of garbage. what started off as a romance novel (and a weird one at that) turns into a crime novel? and then back into a romance novel again? which hey i’m down for genre journeys but this one is complete with incest and confirmation of stereotypes against mentally disabled people AND native americans.
even the sex scenes make you feel weird because afterwards it’s like a grown man with a teenager
i feel stupider after reading this train wreck of a novel. do not recommend!
my sweet mother gets books from the free library on her street and sends them to me when she finishes them. it’s like our little book club :-)
THIS ONE however…. i cannot believe i read 500+ pages of garbage. what started off as a romance novel (and a weird one at that) turns into a crime novel? and then back into a romance novel again? which hey i’m down for genre journeys but this one is complete with incest and confirmation of stereotypes against mentally disabled people AND native americans.
even the sex scenes make you feel weird because afterwards it’s like a grown man with a teenager
i feel stupider after reading this train wreck of a novel. do not recommend!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2017
Perseverance leads to a gripping read.
I hovered between a 4 or 5 star rating, however a five won in the end.
Final Scream, took me a while to get into it, the poor/rich divide a bit annoying but I could see from early on in the story this would be the tangled web of the story line.
The relationships between the main players once you know the ending of the story is written clearly between the lines but sending different messages, making you want to turn the pages quicker to see where the next twist is coming from.
If the story does not grip you at the beginning persevere and the end will leave you wanting to read another Lisa Jackson.
I hovered between a 4 or 5 star rating, however a five won in the end.
Final Scream, took me a while to get into it, the poor/rich divide a bit annoying but I could see from early on in the story this would be the tangled web of the story line.
The relationships between the main players once you know the ending of the story is written clearly between the lines but sending different messages, making you want to turn the pages quicker to see where the next twist is coming from.
If the story does not grip you at the beginning persevere and the end will leave you wanting to read another Lisa Jackson.
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