Beautiful Rage (Five Star First Edition Mystery) [Hardcover]

Sandra Scoppettone (Author)

Book Description

Series: Five Star First Edition Mystery | Publication Date: September 2004

A Shamus Award-winning Author

Sheriff Lucia Dove of Jefferson County, Virginia, is called to investigate when sixteen-year-old Julie Boyer goes missing from her home. When Julie's body is found, the FBI arrives - in the person of Dove's ex-husband, Agent Mike McQuigg - to investigate the girl's cyberspace romance. Soon there are two more victims, and as Dove sorts through the evidence, her suspicions shock her to her very core.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME) (September 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1410402010
• ISBN-13: 978-1410402011
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,429,196 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superb mystery, September 10, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beautiful Rage (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

In Snowden County, Virginia, forty-three year old Sheriff Lucia Dove works a missing teen case. Apparently, good girl Julie Boyer came home from school and vanished not long afterward. The only clues are her Internet romance with Floridian Lyle Taylor. Lucia works closely on the investigation with Lieutenant Jack Fincham assisting her. The two cops have the hots for one another, but hide it as he is unhappily married to an alcoholic in denial and has a child. Lucia had a child out of wedlock, but she died in an accident.

Jack's wife apparently commits suicide, but FBI Agent Mike McQuigg, Lucia's nasty ex-husband, thinks murder occurred. He legally searches Jack's home only to find a razor with DNA evidence linked to two other female teen homicides in the area. Lucia believes that Jack is being set up and wonders why Mike got involved in the case starting with the missing Julie. She begins her own inquiries not sure where it will take her, but when she gets there she is in for quite a shocker.

This solid police procedural contains an interesting lead protagonist who struggles with any wrong doing to children because of her daughter's death even if she agreed with the official ruling of accident. The story line is fast-paced and the simmering desire between Jack and Lucia is hotter than the Arizona desert in summer. Though the identity of the serial killer will stun the audience who may think that it seems too way out, fans will appreciate this tense thriller.

Harriet Klausner

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Scoppettone's Worst Ever Effort, July 12, 2005

By 

N. Bilmes "bookaholic" (Vernon, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beautiful Rage (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

Scoppettone's storytelling in Beautiful Rage lacks her usual passion, and the action and characterizations seem forced. All the elements of a good novel are here, but the spark seems to be missing. This is most noticeable in the dialogue, which is especially wooden and stiff.

I will give Ms. Scoppettone another chance, as I've been made to understand that she herself isn't very fond of this book. My copy of This Dame for Hire is next up on my reading list.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, September 11, 2004

By 

A reader (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beautiful Rage (Five Star First Edition Mystery) (Hardcover)

I really liked this book a lot. It's not the usual serial killer tale. The characters are strong and the story's a good one, fast-paced and compelling. It isn't at all like Scoppettone's previous crime novels. Read it -- you'll like it!