Psychological Thrillers discussion

closed until February 25th.....

I'm excited for the opportunity to discuss the book with you all!

I hope you enjoy/enjoyed Desert Rose and am looking forward to your thoughts.

All the best,
K. Moore

It is currently 99c in the Amazon store.

It will be 99c in all other stores on 24 Feb for a week. I can extend that for all of March if you like? I am not too sure what you need for this, but willing to make those changes if you like.

I think it is showing in the Australian store as $1.65 AUD and $1.45 in the Canadian Amazon store.

So who has started reading Desert Rose?

Fun Fact: I lived as an expat for a number of years in Dubai. The premise of the story happened in real life and sparked the idea for the book. I needed to answer what would have happened and how people would have dealt with it. Sure, the book offers just one scenario for these questions. Jen's journey and the way it plays out is a very real plausible scenario in my opinion.

How do you think you would've dealt with your child going missing?

Ok I got the book and was hoping to start but someone sent me an ARC and then another person sent me a Grisham book. I may read multiple books at a time but I don't think I have read 6 at one time. Guess I am gonna have to flip a coin and see which one I read first.

I have purchased this ebook and I will begin reading this book soon. to answer K's question How do you think you would've dealt with your child going missing? That has to be my greatest fear. The movie Taken was on TV last weekend. I had to stop what I was doing and what that movie for the upteen time.

I look forward to joining the discussion this next month to see how other great readers feel about this subject.

Okay I started reading it and my heart went in my throat b/c you don't know what it feels like to lose a child unless it's happened to you. Damn, I was a bad mom lost my kid 2x but kids are quick.

Janeandjerry wrote: "I will have to wait to read this since finances right now are so low we have been dealing with leaking roof and now without water and pinching pennies just to eat and buy our medicine we have to ha..."

I feel for ya, I just had to put out $700 for heater so if someone can tell me how to send as a gift I will do right now. The cost right now won't hurt me and I would be happy to do it.

Okay I am on 3rd chapter and what I have learned. Don't lose a child in another country. I am putting myself in her shoes and I think I would of totally flipped out by now.

Chris wrote: "Janeandjerry wrote: "I will have to wait to read this since finances right now are so low we have been dealing with leaking roof and now without water and pinching pennies just to eat and buy our m..."

Awww thank you sweetie if you still want to send gifted book send me message where I will be glad to send you my email address...

Hello Everyone!

I'm excited to be here and for y’all to be reading Desert Rose this month.

A bit about me. I'm Australian and have just moved back to the Sunshine Coast, Queensland from Alaska. If I could pick anywhere in the world to live, it would be Alaska - she stole my heart when my family and I were living there. I’m married with two children and a Karelian bear dog named Hathor.

I’ve always been a prolific reader. As a child I loved Enid Blyton’s books. She’d transport me to different worlds and I had many nooks around our house where I’d hideout and read. My mom would find me in weird places all the time: up a tree, on the roof of the garage, behind a box fort in a cupboard. I read constantly now and for the same reasons – to be transported into a different world. I read all genres, but love a good thriller.

So, why did I write this book? I’ve always said I’d like to write a book. That’s what everyone says, don’t they? It’s one of those things on your bucket list? A few years ago I took the leap and decided to give it a go … to write one of my stories. The concept for Desert Rose has been with me for over ten years and I wanted to explore it more, so decided its story was the one to tell.

Have you got your copy?

I have my copy, and I am going to wait a week or so to ask questions...Continue reading members.....pick up a cup of coffee or tea, and a bagel and cheese, and get back to reading...

What a first book to write. Not to far into starting chapter 8. While reading it I am saying to myself wtf in USA everyone would be looking for this girl.

Great book so far I'm only on chapter 6 and not to thrilled how other countries handle kidnappings like this but of course just getting started on this book so I'm sure my views will change the further I get into reading

Hello. So today is my birthday and my son is getting me an ITunes gift card. Can I use that to purchase the book? I’ve never had an ITunes card and I was planning on using it for a game but I don’t know what else I can do with it. Thank you.
Amzette 💜

Amzette wrote: "Hello. So today is my birthday and my son is getting me an ITunes gift card. Can I use that to purchase the book? I’ve never had an ITunes card and I was planning on using it for a game but I don’t..."

Hi Amzette - you totally can, the cards are good toward any purchase on the iTunes Store.

iTunes gift cards can be used to buy books. You need to add the card to your iTunes account. Scratch off the silver on the back of the gift card. Open iBooks, scroll to the bottom and there will be an option for Redeem, click on it and then enter the code from the back of the iTunes gift card.

Amzette wrote: "Hello. So today is my birthday and my son is getting me an ITunes gift card. Can I use that to purchase the book? I’ve never had an ITunes card and I was planning on using it for a game but I don’t..."

... and Happy Birthday !!!

Amzette wrote: "Hello. So today is my birthday and my son is getting me an ITunes gift card. Can I use that to purchase the book? I’ve never had an ITunes card and I was planning on using it for a game but I don’t..."
Happy Birthday

Thank you very much. I’ll have to go check it out. 💜

As being an Army brat, I have seen a few countries. We traveled alot, and met many. I have never been to Dubai. Would love to put this on my bucket list, but at this rate of not knowing if you will come back home is a bit frightening to me. Its even scared that you have smaller kids with you who love to run around and get away from you, and then you can't find them. At the age of 10 years old, one would think that this little girl would have some type of training if something happens, like kidnapping, lost or even fighting off a bad person. You mean to tell me this 10 year old just up and left? Brother wasn't around, and she just skipped on down the yellow brick road with someone she didn't know, or did she know? Blonde hair,or white hair...hummm. so if you say white hair, does that mean that gets more attention than blonde? or is that a break-down barrier of colors, and if this was say a Hispanic kid or black kid, I wonder if there would have been a different type of treatment. And whats up with not telling anything until the father comes in the picture, whats up with that!!!!..Oh noooo, if my kid is missing, someone better be telling me something right away or we would have a huge lock-down on the roads...OMG, can you imagine many things going on in your head. Americans were number one target for snatching up kids because some ( in different countries ) feel that we all are rich ( they don't know we have alot of poor folks ) but I guess if you make it to another country, then you have some type of money right?...

Stephanie I also was an army brat but my father tried to keep us stateside. Remember countries have their own laws which they follow and in this particular country women are second class citizens but I am with you if my kid was snatched mama bear is gonna come out with her claws and you better have some damn good answers.

I am reading Desert Rose right now .. I expect to finish this evening ... Can’t wait for the discussion.

Amzette they have Desert Rose both formats on iTunes. E-book .99

Thank you Nan. I haven’t been able to get any books from Amazon. I’ll try Itunes. 💜

stephanie wrote: "As being an Army brat, I have seen a few countries. We traveled alot, and met many. I have never been to Dubai. Would love to put this on my bucket list, but at this rate of not knowing if you will..."

Living in the Middle East is "different". There is no stranger danger, there is no "training" for your kids for them them know that going somewhere with an adult is bad, taking candy from someone is bad.

Dubai is a melting pot of cultures and there is a definite caste system to it. The majority of houses have staff and maybe even drivers. Gardeners, housekeepers, nannies, drivers. Gardeners are mainly from Pakistani descent, drivers possibly Indian, nannies and housekeepers Malaysian, Kenyan or Sri Lankan. The salaries of these people vary between $100-$550 a month depending on their experience, whether they have their own visa, are live in or live out. The shop workers are Eastern Bloc or Asian.

Since most households have staff, kids are brought up with that. The Emiratis like to give away candy and other sweets around Ramandan, and it's hard to teach your child to say no in that cultural environment. It would also be hard for a kid to see the evil or to question if a nanny or maid came up to them and told them that they needed to go with them. It unfortunately is the bubble that is Dubai. All love kids and normally the intentions are pure. Due to the cultural differences, small children with fair skin and blonde hair are seen as cute, as dolls. You are right, a hispanic or dark skinned child would not get as much attention as the fairer and the blonde. They would get attention for being a cute young child, though not as much.

Chris wrote: "Stephanie I also was an army brat but my father tried to keep us stateside. Remember countries have their own laws which they follow and in this particular country women are second class citizens b..."

Chris, you are right. Being an American in Dubai only gets you so much. As a resident you agree to adhere to the local laws. The Emirati's hold all of the positions in government and are the police force. They are lovely people as a whole, but do tend to prefer dealing with the man of the house. Women are not meant to be the second class citizens, but when you look around - really look around, and see what the Emirati women are doing, you will note that they are wives and mothers and very few of them work outside of charity work.

My question is: do you think the police knew more than what they were saying? Do you think they were stalling for time to work out what was going on or did they really want only to talk to the "man of the house"?

What role do you think the Embassy would play in a situation like this? What would you expect them to do? And, what would you want them to do?

If you were told to carry on life as normal - do you think you could do it?

K. wrote: "Chris wrote: "Stephanie I also was an army brat but my father tried to keep us stateside. Remember countries have their own laws which they follow and in this particular country women are second cl..."

Damn, that a tough question bc I think it was all three. I am only on the 11th chapter and still want to ring the lieutenant's neck . Thinking about where i am in the book I personally think that the police dept has a lot to do with it. My mind can change but not at this time.

Happy Birthday Amzette!

Thank you Jimmi.

I hope you had a great Birthday...

What chapter is everybody up to now?

Share your observations or thoughts, or do you have any questions?

I was finally able to download the book. For some reason I thought it transferred to my iPad but it doesn’t, so when I can, I’ll be reading the small print on my phone.
Sadly, I lost my mom 2 days after my birthday. 😢 I haven’t been able to start the book yet. I’ve been so broken hearted and also dealing with some type of upper respiratory infection, that has had me very sick and sleeping a lot (which I don’t mind because I don’t have to deal with the constant pain and loss)!
I may have to sit out on the discussion for now, as you can imagine, I have a great amount of heartbreaking things that I need to tend to. I wish you all Happy reading and I hope the discussion goes well. If I can join in, at some point, I will.

Sorry for your loss. This thread will be open for 11 months, so please take your time , and when its time to jump in, we will be here.

K. wrote: "What chapter is everybody up to now?

Share your observations or thoughts, or do you have any questions?"

Sorry for your loss and I hope you are feeling better.

I am not crazy reading off a reader but I am on chapter 15 and my mind is all over the place. What is up with her husband.

Amzette - I am so sorry for your loss!! There are no words!! I lost both parents within 10 months of each other!! I certainly can relate. Sending prayers for you and your family!! 🙏🌹

I don't know how some feel, but in many cases, I don't think that children of a certain age should go to other countries for cases like this. I remember a case where this little girl who I cannot remember the name right off the bat, but she had one blue eye and one brown eye, and she is still missing. She should be about 17/18 now. Her parents went out to eat, and someone went into the motel/hotel and snatched her up, never to be seen as of today. Now I don't know about you all, but its sad that this happens, and if I am not mistaken, the parents of this child was inches ( actual in the restaurant in the same hotel/motel ) away.
So, as this book chimes in on a missing child, lets say someone who of a good age should have known better...if your reading the book, you will know the age. Many go to a different country thinking that their government and laws are about the same as ours here in the States, but when you get the language barrier and the crime isn't high like ours, then you have a problem,,,,,what do you all think, because when a child is missing in Walmart, you have a Code Blue and the doors are on lock-down...totally different in different places...

Should all crime fit in all countries?

Amzette wrote: "I was finally able to download the book. For some reason I thought it transferred to my iPad but it doesn’t, so when I can, I’ll be reading the small print on my phone.
Sadly, I lost my mom 2 days ..."

Sorry for your loss.

I hope you're feeling better soon.

Chris wrote: "I am not crazy reading off a reader but I am on chapter 15 and my mind is all over the place. What is up with her husband."

Relationships are hard and everyone has a different one with their spouse. Just like every family has some sort of secrets. And everyone deals with grief differently.

But what's up with him? You are right - there's something up with him. Do you think it's the move to Dubai that has changed his personality? Some people / families change when they go on an expat post. Not all, but some do. They've gone from having all the basics of a working class life, house, car, kids in the local school, both parents possibly working to having a lot of expendable cash.

Expat packages differ from person to person, but there are normally perks involved. For Dubai, a basic expat package may include: house rental paid for, kids schooling paid for, additional salary with add-ons like a location allowance. Maybe extra leave. The perks are there to entice families to move, and for them to be comfortable. And to arrive and find that the houses are huge, schools are private, and a house maid's salary costs less than a weekly grocery shop?

You can see how all of a sudden going from a comfortable and "basic" life to something posh / extravagant and sort of out of the movies might effect someone. Extra cash. Extra glamor. Sometimes - not always - feeling important, and / or a little power can change a person. I think maybe that and the stress of working a high powered job in a foreign country can definitely effect a person.

I don't know, but that's what I think. :) Also - maybe he knows more about what is going on and is keeping it from her?

stephanie wrote: "Should all crime fit in all countries?"

Stephanie - what do you mean by this? Should justice be the same in all countries? Or is the definition of what a crime is dependent on each country, and should it be?

stephanie wrote: "I don't know how some feel, but in many cases, I don't think that children of a certain age should go to other countries for cases like this. I remember a case where this little girl who I cannot r..."

"Many go to a different country thinking that their government and laws are about the same as ours here in the States, but when you get the language barrier and the crime isn't high like ours, then you have a problem,,,,,what do you all think, because when a child is missing in Walmart, you have a Code Blue and the doors are on lock-down..".

Great point - what does everyone think?

I think the husband is guilty of something whether it's not telling his wife everything or he's having an affair. Damn, he went totally ballistic when that news program came on.

I think so too Chris, I believe that he may owe someone something, and got caught up in some stuff. For a minute I thought they took this little girl because some countries feel like if your an American, you have money, so they grabbed her and was going to traffic her unless they pay some ransom....I'm not buying that one just yet...

I have to say.. I absolutely loved this book! I both loved and hated the ending.

Chris.. ain’t felt the same way about Kevin .. something was just off. No spoilers so I’ll 🛑 there.

Stephanie, I am a firm believer that some countries should be off-limits to ex-pats or even visitors. As former USAF, it may surprise people how many countries there are that Americans can’t work or visit and even more surprised how concerning the secret travel advisories to certain well-traveled areas are.
I’ve been in the Middle East, though my child remained in the States, as I was deployed there to do my job which consequently I couldn’t do because of the rules regarding women in that region. Things have changed a bit since then for women 8n the military but my job entailed providing Air Traffic Control services-so many Pilots would not even respond... finally I was placed in admin position. Funny enough American Forces are briefed and trained on the host countries culture, roles and rules yet the same does not hold true for foreign military members being trained by the US.

Your right Nan,,,,I remember Germany so well, but Army here, at least my father was, I was a brat then, so many rules in different states. I went to school on base, and was limited to where I could go off base. I will bring some things to this thread as soon as I get my broad message out to many...

Amzette,
I’m not sure how I missed it but my sincere and deepest sympathies on the loss of your Mom. I remember when I lost mine 5 years and 2 weeks ago and still miss her terribly. Be kind to yourself ..let the sad and happy moments come as they will and don’t lets anyone else dictate your grief.