8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great plot; questionable ending, October 26, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: The Alpine Nemesis (Mass Market Paperback)
I would have given this book 5 stars if it weren't for the ending. The Alpine series is a well-developed series of books with three-dimensional characters, vivid descriptions, humor, and excellent plot-lines. I always look forward to each new entry as I did this one. This book did not disappoint with regard to the above-mentioned characteristics. The citizens of Alpine are so realistic, I feel as if I know them, especially Emma and Vida. This book was a page-turner from beginning to end. So what's my problem? The ending. Without giving anything away, I felt that what happened was not true to the tone of the series or fair to Emma. Usually this series is more upbeat, a very attractive feature. However, the ending in this book was downright depressing, and I don't understand why it happened. If you're a die-hard Alpine fan, you may feel as I do about this part, but still enjoy the book. I do recommend it.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Heartbreak Comes To Alpine, May 18, 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: The Alpine Nemesis (Mass Market Paperback)
Emma Lord, owner and editor of the Alpine Advocate is furious, she's being scooped. Being the only paper in town, she's not used to that, but sincer Spencer Fleetwood - owner of the new radio station KSKY has come to town, she's no longer the sole sorce of local news.
It was bad enough when he scooped her on the disappearance of snowboarded Brian Conley several months before, but now it looks like he was going to do it on the biggest story to hit Alpine.
The three O'Neill brothers, Stubby, Rusty & Dusty are found dead in the freezer at Alpine Meats. Each of them shot.
Sheriff Milo Dodge suspects it might be their nemesis's the Harquist family. Their feud goes back years and started out with the flattening of the families pet goat.
But, it's while Emma's new reporter, Scott Chamoud starts shooting the crime scene the he wonders why there are four pairs of legs instead of three.
Shocking everyone was the discovery of the missing snowboarder, Brian Conley under the pile of bodies. Then the coroner says he had been stabbed to death and had been dead for several months. Where had he been all this time and how did he get into the meat locker? (Emma was pretty sure he didn't walk there.)
A lot of other strange things are happening in Alpine.
Milo discovery that the O'Neill's had an arsenal of weapons, including rocket launchers and grenades.
Brian's body is shipped back East to his family, but when the coffin gets there, the body is missing.
And why does everyone who dies recently suddenly want to be buried in Ireland?
Working together Milo and Emma solve the murder of the O'Neill's. But still aren't sure what happened to Brian.
Meanwhile, Tom Cavanaugh demands an answer from Emma and she finally says yes, she will marry him. They're riding on top of the Advocate float in the summer solstice parade when tragedy stikes.
The ending of this book was very difficult. I wouldn't normally say what happened, but it's already included in other reviews here, so if you don't want to know what happened, DON'T READ ANY FURTHER.
Tom Cavanaugh, is the father of Emma's son Adam. Tom married Sandra for her money and had an affair with Emma, got both women pregnant and stayed with Sandra. He didn't see Emma for the next 18 years. I've always disliked this character and I have really torn into him in my earlier reviews. Tom has asked Emma to marry him three differnt times and had dumped her each time. This was the fourth.
I've been dreading it, but I wanted Emma to realize that she wasn't really in love with Tom, but was living with a memory, in the almost 30 years, Emma & Tom probably only spent about 6 months together, (I'm not sure how long their original affair lasted, but the other two times were only a couple days each).
Emma has always had more chemistry with Milo Dodge than she has ever had with Tom. Heck, she has more chemistry with her ad manger Leo Walsh than she had with Tom.
The fact that he ends up dead and was a criminal (Running Guns To Ireland for the IRA is illegal) only makes it worse. Emma will probably never get over this, will go on wasting her life, just as she has for the past 30 years. Tom is now the dead lover who will be perfect.
I'm getting ready to read the Alpine Obituary and have just ordered the next one in the series. Had to spend the big bucks on a hard cover copy instead of the paperback. Couldn't wait for the paperback version to come out.
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Nemesis Indeed, November 3, 2002
This review is from: The Alpine Nemesis (Mass Market Paperback)
I've read all the books in Daheim's Alpine series and loved each of them . . . up until this one. The plot of Alpine Nemesis was great and the storyline, well developed, but the ending was unexpected, uncharacteristic, and downright depressing. Daheim's audience is probably ninety percent women, most of whom read for the sheer pleasure of escape from the realities of life. What was Daheim thinking when she wrote this book? I do not recommend Alpine Nemesis, and am very reluctant to read Daheim's next book in the series for fear that it'll be a downer like this one.
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