Before and Again [Paperback]

Doris Mortman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 2004

After years of suffering from terrible nightmares, Callie Jamieson's mother took her own life when Callie was just a little girl. Now a successful investigative reporter, Callie has done all she can to put the past behind her. But lately, she's been having the same disturbing dream that drove her mother mad-right down to the chilling murder at the end...

Anxious and exhausted, Callie must put aside her personal demons when she's assigned an investigative article on the death of Wilty Hale. Wilty was the sole heir to the famed Hale fortune. He was also Callie's ex-lover. His suspicious death has all of New York asking: Was it murder or suicide?

Joining forces with detective Ezra Chapin, Callie learns that right before his death, Wilty was poised to expose a scandalous family secret. But as she sifts through all the evidence, Callie also closes in on the root of her own nightmares-and a startling connection between past and present that could prove deadly...

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Mind games play a quintessential role in Mortman's latest thriller. New York newspaper correspondent Callie Jamieson is haunted by the same dreams as her mother, who committed suicide after being institutionalized for schizophrenia. Her dreams become more intense after she begins regression therapy and after the death of her ex-boyfriend, Wilty Hale, the heir to a billion-dollar fortune that includes the paper she works for. Her psychiatrist believes that the dreams may actually be memories that are passed down through the generations, and Wilty's death does trigger an intense reaction as she writes a series of articles about him. Looking into the family history, Callie discovers that the family does seem to be cursed: all the heirs have died prematurely from unnatural causes. As the past and present converge with disastrous results for Callie, NYPD detective Ezra Chapin enters her life, and the two join forces. Mortman's well-crafted exploration into the human psyche is suspense at its best. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A haunting story, rich in detail." -Barbara Delinsky, author of An Accidental Woman

"This taut suspenseful tale of love, lust, greed, and betrayal offers a tantalizing peek at the startling ancient skeletons in the closets of the rich, powerful, and powerfully flawed."
-Judith Kelman, author of Summer of Storms

"Doris Mortman has done it before, now she's done it again-written a book that delves artfully into the mysteries of the mind and the heart (and explores them with insight and passion) in a page-turning story. Before and Again will make readers new to Mortman happy to join the many fans of her past best-sellers."-Robert Rosenblum, author of Afterlove

"Mortman's well-crafted exploration into the human psyche is suspense at its best." -Booklist

"Multidimensional characters fill the text of this page turner...readers will be engrossed."
-Romantic Times

"A great story with well-defined characters that pull at your heartstrings." -Around Cincinnati

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (November 30, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312994761
• ISBN-13: 978-0312994761
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars taut suspense thriller, November 7, 2003

By 

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

This review is from: Before and Again (Mortman, Doris) (Hardcover)

When Callie Jamieson was eight years old the men in white took her mother Mara away in a strait jacket. Her father Bill explained to the stunned child that he feared that her mom could no longer control herself and might harm Callie so he had her committed at Connecticut's Stonehaven. When Bill refused Mara's plea for a divorce so her beloved spouse and their cherished daughter can move on, she hung herself.

As a child Callie shared the same haunting dreams about the people in gray as her mother. Now a New York reporter, those dreams return with a vengeance following the death of her former boyfriend. A TV psychiatrist feels that the dreams are memories passed down from generation to generation. Callie investigates her roots and that of her deceased boyfriend that make it appear that the family is cursed as it seems everyone dies prematurely from unnatural causes. NYPD detective Ezra Chapin tries to help Callie elude her turn to die.

Though the climax seems too pat, readers will appreciate this taut suspense thriller because of the intrepid heroine. Callie is courageous as she learns the truth about her heritage though she wonders whether she is going schizoid like her mom allegedly did or is someone, perhaps the dead, trying to send her messages from the other side. When the plot keeps the audience wondering about the mind of Callie, BEFORE AND AFTER is a superb tale that travels back and forth between classic horror and psychological suspense. When the resolution turns clear, the plot loses some of its intensity. Still readers will enjoy Callie's quest for mental stability.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mortman does it again!, November 4, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Before and Again (Mortman, Doris) (Hardcover)

I've been a fan of Doris Mortman books for many years. I was excited to learn that she had a new book in the stores and couldn't wait to get the first copy off the shelf. Now that I've finished Before and Again, I can honestly say it's not only Mortman's best work, but it's also the best book I've read in a long time. A must read! Keep 'em coming Mortman!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting concept, November 26, 2003

By 

Debra F. Gilbert (Alton Bay, NH United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Before and Again (Mortman, Doris) (Hardcover)

and really good story. The Characters were funny and appealing; and they made you care what was hapening to them. The story kept me turning the pages, and even though I figured out the "mystery" early on, I couldn't wait for the whole tale to play out.
Well worth the read!
Enjoy, Debbi