Alone in the Dark [Mass Market Paperback]

Elaine Coffman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 26, 2006

When her dying father confesses that he is not her biological father -- and that he has a twin -- Washington, D.C., morning news anchor Ellery O'Brien is desperate for answers. Plagued by a recurring nightmare in which a blood-covered woman who has been stabbed repeatedly by a killer, staggers down the staircase of a beautiful old house, Ellery travels to her late mother's hometown -- Agarita Springs, Texas -- not realizing until she arrives that she has rented the very house she sees in her dreams. No one in town wants to dig up the past, but rancher Clint Littleton begins to help Ellery and white-hot attraction sparks between them. The nightmares, however, persist. And each time, before Ellery awakes, she sees an increasingly terrifying image: just a little more of the killer's face. . .

New York Times bestselling author Elaine Coffman switches gears with pulse-pounding results in her first novel of heart-stopping romantic suspense.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Coffman's writing is deft, capable, and evocative." -- Publisher's Weekly --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Elaine Coffman is the New York Times bestselling author of eighteen novels, which have been published worldwide and won numerous awards. She lives in Austin, Texas, where she is working on her next novel. Visit www.elainecoffman.com.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (September 26, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0732374790
• ISBN-13: 978-0732374792
• ASIN: 0743475798
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 1.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,976,680 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars It had potential...., October 25, 2006

By 

iheartjackbauer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alone in the Dark (Mass Market Paperback)

Ellery O'Brien learns that she has a twin sister in a dying confession from who she thought was her biological father. Determined to find her long-lost twin, Ellery heads to the town she was born, Agarita Springs, Texas. What she finds is more and less than she is ready to find.

Unknowingly, Ellery rents the very house that her twin sister, Susan, died in. When she finds out that Susan was murdered, all of Ellery's investigative reporter instincts are aroused. Determined to find out who murdered Susan, Ellery turns to Clint Littleton. Clint's brother, Clay, was married to Susan and died in an accident several years before Susan was killed.

While the premise and plot are very good, the book is poorly written. The characters are lukewarm, at best. The relationship that develops between Ellery and Clint seems like an afterthought of the author. Ellery is portrayed as a tough-as-nails investigative reporter turned news anchor, yet she makes the dumbest decisions in regard to her own safety. She is convinced that the killer won't run her out of her house, even though he gets in several times, once even standing over her while she sleeps. Though Clint at firsts insists on either staying with her or Ellery staying at his ranch, he easily backs down and respects her wishes. The progression of the book after Ellery finds out Susan was murdered is so unbelievable, it borders on ridiculous.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hottygrandmas Review, January 1, 2007

By 

Starla Barnhill "hottygrandma" (Post Falls, Idaho) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alone in the Dark (Mass Market Paperback)

I have just finished reading the book in question. I found the writer was a little slow in the telling of the story. I have to agree some what with the first review. There were a lot of details that were mentioned and then never repeated. But, I found the book to be very interesting and I have to say I really did enjoy reading it.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars INTERESTING BUT....., January 24, 2007

By 

Avid Reader (Hammond, LA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alone in the Dark (Mass Market Paperback)

I thought the story was interesting but I agree with the other reviewers that there were either errors or loose ends. The example where she was supposed to call her cousin but did not and I could not find any explanation as to why the killer was blackmailing the crochety aunt. It didn't make sense. Why Ellery's dog was mentioned and then dropped is beyond me, as well as the neighbor and her dog. There were some unnecessary secondary characters and I think the the relationship with Ellery and Clint could have been expounded on more. The character development needed some work and Ellery could be a bit irritating with her hard headedness and snappish way with Clint. IMO, better editing could have made this an excellent suspense novel.