Customer Reviews

Afraid of the Dark

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I normally love reading Donna Anders books. However, I am 3/4 of the way through Afraid of the Dark, and I am not really enjoying it. Most of what I read just repeats itself.

How convenient that the widowed, good-looking police chief, Hank, is always there helping Jessie, the new woman to the island and the assistant police chief. Even though her ancestors are connected to the island and she interited the huge home on the island near the water, she's being portrayed as a very weak woman who's always paranoid about something or other.

I can't imagine that she was a great cop in San Francisco, where she lived before moving to the island. For safety reasons and because a job was open is the only reason she moved. She's acting more scared on a small island than she did in San Francisco (from the little we read at the beginning of the book). Her young son has more guts and courage than his own mother!!

Little chemistry between Jessie & Hank, so no great romance is written in either. Previous reviews suggest that you don't read this in the dark. I don't see way, this is no where near scary or suspenseful at all.

I'm sorry to say that I don't find this book a good read. Just a little more interesting at the point I'm at now, but I can't see this book not "drowning in boredom" by the end.

Painfully poor editing detracted from what should have been a four star read. example: "a grizzly sight." which should be "a grisly sight." No commas, ongoing sentences, poor punctuation, and in general, sloppy editing. Incorrect context in main descriptions, not in dialogue where it would be possible. Use of "Julia" as heroine rather than "Jessie." "Julia" was heroine of prior book. If Ms. Anders has an editor, get another one, immediately. If she does not have an editor, get one, immediately.

I can't believe first of all that anyone would think this book was scary, much less Anne Rule. Did she even read it? It was lame in every way. The plot was stupid and amateurish. The way it was written was absolutely horrid and I wonder how it even got published. Donna Anders writes like she is a child. She has the child in the book speaking like an adult and the adults all speak as though it is a b movie and they have nothing to work with. The plot, which is so silly I had to laugh, does not even make any logical sense in the end. I will not comment more on it in fear of giving it away in case someone actually makes the mistake of reading this sad excuse of a book as I did.

This is one of the WORST books I have ever read. What a waste of time! I can't believe another reviewer hasn't mentioned the ridiculous use of "And then..." at the end of almost every chapter yet. I felt as if I was reading a story written by a teenager. "And then" was probably used dozens of times in this book...totally not necessary.

The story is not only lame, but NOT SCARY at all. [...]

Editing? I don't think this book could have been edited. At one point Hank was talking about Ben and referred to him as Hank, his own name! And an editor would have removed all of the "And thens".

[...] I kept on reading like a fool, thinking at one point it would get scary and make sense. Didn't happen! I can't believe this book was ever published!

Ann Rule's quote on the cover says, "Incredibly scary! Lock the doors ..." I found this book poorly written, in terms of language as well as believability. There were numerous typos and just plain misuse of words, eg., intimate for intimidate, descendant for ancestor. There was even an instance where the wrong character's name was used. The dialog was so unconvincing that it might well have been narrative placed in quote form. A child's speech read no differently from an adult's. The plot was so predictable, you could see the conclusion coming from the middle of the book.

...Donna Anders has written another awsome thriller. The plot grew with every page and kept me guessing to the very end. I stayed up far too late into the wee hours for someone who had to work the next day. It was worth it...I would do it again to read such a terrific and compelling book. Her dialogue was realistic and natural and flowed with ease and her ability to go into the viewpoint of a child amazes me. Keep the books coming.

Wow! Another scary story by Donna Anders that will keep you reading into the night, but wondering about your own safety, too scared to get up and check the door and window locks! I, as usual, can't wait for the next one...

San Francisco police officer Jessie Cline worries about her eleven years old son Danny living in an unsafe neighborhood. After a harrowing incident, she wonders who would care for him if she was killed as her son's father denies the child is his because Jessie had an affair at about the time she became pregnant. When she learns that she inherited property on Washington's Cliff Island, Jessie decides to fill the will's stipulation of living there at least a year. Jessie's also obtains the job of Assistant Police Chief.

Police Chief Hank Shepherd assigns Jessie to keep safe Lynda the pregnant wife of famous cartoonist Ben Thrasher who is in the news for his social commentary about an alleged womanizing senator. He was the Berkley professor, who Jessie had that affair with that ended her marriage.

Someone burns down Jessie's woodshed and she receives a threatening letter to leave or die. Lynda tells Jessie that someone forced her off the road while a driver tries to hit Danny. More incidents follow aimed at Jessie, Lynda, and Danny; the link is Ben, but no motive surfaces and the danger mounts

Jessie is a terrific strong lead heroine who has no idea why she and her son are under siege, but the incidents and the police investigation grip readers from start to finish though Danny is too perfect. Also a secondary Tugboat Annie like character draws the same conclusions using the same technology as the cops yet faster without insider information or the vast interrelated criminal databases. Still the suspense grows with twists and turns that hook fans who will keep the lights on being AFRAID OF THE DARK.

Harriet Klausner