Come Home [Hardcover]

Lisa Scottoline (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 10, 2012

Lisa Scottoline has delivered taut thrillers with a powerful emotional wallop in her New York Times bestsellers Save Me, Think Twice, and Look Again. Now, with her new novel, Come Home, she ratchets up the suspense with the riveting story of a mother who sacrifices her future for a child from her past.

Jill Farrow is a typical suburban mom who has finally gotten her and her daughter's lives back on track after a divorce. She is about to remarry, her job as a pediatrician fulfills her---though it is stressful---and her daughter, Megan, is a happily over-scheduled thirteen-year-old juggling homework and the swim team.

But Jill’s life is turned upside down when her ex-stepdaughter, Abby, shows up on her doorstep late one night and delivers shocking news: Jill’s ex-husband is dead. Abby insists that he was murdered and pleads with Jill to help find his killer. Jill reluctantly agrees to make a few inquiries and discovers that things don’t add up. As she digs deeper, her actions threaten to rip apart her new family, destroy their hard-earned happiness, and even endanger her own life. Yet Jill can’t turn her back on a child she loves and once called her own.

Come Home reads with the breakneck pacing of a thriller while also exploring the definition of motherhood, asking the questions: Do you ever stop being a mother? Can you ever have an ex-child? What are the limits to love of family? 

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Save Me

“You won’t be able to put this one down.”---Jodi Picoult, author of Sing You Home and House Rules

"Powerful, provocative, and page-turning!"--Emily Giffin, New York Times bestselling author of Heart of the Matter and Something Borrowed

“A white-hot crossover novel about the perils of mother love . . . Scottoline shifts gears at every curve with the cool efficiency of a NASCAR driver.”--Kirkus Reviews

 

“A novel packed with excitement and emotion, Save Me is a gut-clenching, heart-stirring read.”--Sandra Brown, author of Tough Customer

 

"...a satisfying, nail-biting thriller."--Publishers Weekly

“Heart-pounding! Open up Save Me, and save yourself with a great book.”--Lisa Gardner, author of Live to Tell

“Scottoline masterfully fits every detail into a tight plot chock-full of real characters, real issues, and real thrills. A story anchored by the impenetrable power of a mother’s love, it begs the question, just how far would you go to save your child?”--Booklist

"Save Me is thrilling and infused with love. Brilliant, I couldn’t put it down.”--Louise Penny, author of Bury Your Dead

 

 

About the Author

Lisa Scottoline is a New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award--winning author of eighteen novels. She has served as the president of the Mystery Writers of America and her recent novel Look Again has been optioned for a feature film. She is a weekly columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and her columns have been collected in two books and optioned for television. She has 25 million copies of her books in print in the United States, and she has been published in thirty countries. She lives in the Philadelphia area with an array of disobedient pets. Visit her at www.lisascottoline.com.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st Printing edition (April 10, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780312380823
• ISBN-13: 978-0312380823
• ASIN: 0312380828
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (151 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,641 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lisa Scottoline is the New York Times bestselling author of seventeen novels including her most recent, THINK TWICE, and also writes a weekly column, called Chick Wit, for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Lisa has won many honors and awards, notably the Edgar Award, given for excellence in crime fiction, and the Fun Fearless Female Award from Cosmopolitan Magazine. She also teaches a course she created, called Justice and Fiction at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and regularly does speaking engagements. There are twenty-five million copies of her books in print, and she is published in over thirty other countries.Lisa graduated magna cum laude in three years from the University of Pennsylvania, with a B.A. degree in English, and her concentration was Contemporary American Fiction, taught by Philip Roth and others. She graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She remains a lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area, where she lives with her array of disobedient pets.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#34 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Police Procedurals

#36 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Police Procedurals

#42 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#47 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers

#61 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery

#34 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Police Procedurals

#36 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Police Procedurals

#42 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Thrillers

#47 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Thrillers

#61 in Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 65 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Between 2 and 3 stars rating March 28, 2012

By mzglorybe VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Scottoline's newest domestic drama revolves around Jill, a woman who seemingly has her life all together, three years after a bad divorce. Jill is a pediatrician, a single mother of a 13 year old girl and engaged to Sam, a loving professional man. One night she opens her door to her ex-step-daughter, Abby, a 19 year old female she hasn't seen in three years. Abby is drunk and distraught due to the fact that her father is dead, and she thinks he was murdered, even if the the police don't agree. She implores Jill to help her prove it. Sam is totally against Jill getting involved in her ex's family problems. He is adamant about it. In fact, everyone is adamant about their views in the beginning of this novel, but it all gets turned around. Jill gets involved anyway, not able to turn her back on Abby, who suddenly goes missing and presents another piece to a convoluted puzzle. Now the pediatrician is a die-hard amateur sleuth, letting no one get in her way.

The novel takes you through "Hollywood-ish" type scenarios, car chases, bad guys, shootings, undercover agents, etc., a lot of twists and turns. I found the plausibility lacking here and there, but admit it was entertaining nonetheless. I was bothered by some of the dialogue and not sure why, but upon finishing this up, I think it was that these seemingly strong characters, adamant in their feelings and viewpoints, acquiesce by the end of the novel. It's hard to give you, dear prospective reader, an example without a spoiler, but when a character that was described as cold and unyielding is gushing "I love you's" towards the end, it just doesn't ring true to the type of character one has been reading about. Perhaps more character development at the onset would've helped, about the girls especially, and even Sam.... I also found it hard to believe that Jill could be so "nice"... the "turn the other cheek" type, towards her step-daughters confrontations and nasty remarks, with nary a sarcastic thought in reply. After all, the stepdaughters are women now, not children, and yet she took all the bad-mouthing and public insults, and stuck her neck out, for them, personally and professionally, risking an ideal future with her own daughter and the man of her dreams. I disliked this about Jill. It is hard to believe that a single mother would put herself and her loved ones at risk like this.

The message here is that a "mother's love" has no expiration date or borders, it never stops. True enough for most, but not in all situations or for all step-moms. Even though I was entertained by it and can see what other "beach readers" might like about it, I didn't find myself "involved," if you will, with any of the characters, which is what makes a reading experience "good" for me. I would recommend Scottoline's legal dramas to this domestic one. My thanks to Amazon's Vine program for the opportunity to preview and review this novel to be released on April 10, 2012. Read more ›

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Just O.K. April 2, 2012

By TropicalMinnesota TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

I have read and enjoyed other books by this author, but was disappointed with this one. The plot was good - a pediatrician's ex-husband dies and her former step-daughter thinks he was murdered. The doctor then puts her life on hold to try to solve the mystery. It also addresses the special issues that blended families often deal with.

The book was just too wordy. I had a lot of trouble getting into the beginning and kept eyeing the other books waiting to be read. Again, the plot was good (although not terribly believable), but it needed to be about 1/3 shorter. I won't be recommending this to anyone.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Family and Obligation March 28, 2012

By Amy Leemon VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

"Come Home" covers two topics. It's a murder mystery but also tackles the subject of motherhood - specifically, when does the obligation and responsibility stop for a child.

In this case, Abby is Jill's grown stepdaughter. When Jill's ex-husband dies under circumstances Abby thinks are suspicious, she goes to Jill for help.

Even tho she hasn't heard from Abby for years, Jill is drawn into her story and as a result her own family (Megan - her teenage daughter and Sam, her fiancee) is disrupted. When Abby disappears after her father's funeral, Jill becomes totally obsessed at the expense of her career and family.

I had a bit of a hard time with this book because I really didn't like Jill and I knew she was supposed to be a sympathetic character. She was too impulsive and reckless and she never settled down enough to listen to any reason. I doubt that any single mother would take such risks so she never became believable.

The story did have some very interesting twists and surprises toward the end which made it well worth reading.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars A tedious tear-jerker April 14, 2012

By Soferet

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Sorry but that was really bad. Jill's quest for the truth is totally unrealistic not to say unbelievable. There is a host of cardboard characters -including some police officers who don't seem to know what to do and some skulking villains. Above all there is a surfeit of emotional outbursts from mommy love to puppy love. Yet there is a fairly creditable underlying story, and a few people such as Sam, Megan or Katie to give it substance. Unfortunately the central character is - totally out of character. By the time everything is explained, the reader can't care less and wonders how come Scottoline put her name to the book.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Come Home June 13, 2012

By SuZeeQ

Format:Audible Audio Edition

Usually enjoy Lisa Scottoline books. This one is truly awful. Boring, repetitive and with regard to the audio book... the narrator simple overdoes her 'performance.' I found myself rolling my eyes several times & wondering if it was a good idea to finish the story. We get that Jill is a Mom... really, we understand. No need to keep reminding the readers.
Pass this one by. Not worth your time or your money.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Unbelievable! June 6, 2012

By Sabrina

Format:Hardcover

I would not recommend this book to anyone. It was boring and the dialogue the first 20 pages or so were nothings but "I love you" and "I love you" back and it went on and on. I didn't really like any of the characters either. I don't think I will buy any more of Lisa Scottoline's books. The last ones have been awful.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Something's missing April 6, 2012

By NewDiane VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Lisa Scottoline is a New York Times bestselling author, though I never read one of her books before. She has a solid track record and I was expecting to see this reflected in her novel, but something's missing. I think the problem is in her writing, which seems aimed at the lowest common denominator. For example, there is a complex plot, but all the loose ends are tied up in a chapter reminiscent of an old movie in which the detective sits everyone down in the library and tells them, step by step, what happened, who did what, and so on. There's a doctor, Jill, who manages to outthink the police and the FBI, but I can suspend disbelief to allow for an amateur detective to carry the day. There are lots of kids of varying ages, perhaps too many for my taste, but we get to see blended family life, sibling rivalry and side plots thanks to their presence. There is a mix of Big Pharma, Wall Street and the usual conspiracies-that-no-one-believes (except for our heroine, of course). But the writing is less than I expected and it threw me off. One small example: "Brian frowned, his regret plain." Within a few lines: "Brian frowned, in a sympathetic way." Some of the writing also pushes the reader away from the action. For example: "Jill felt her eyes adjust to the darkness.." would have been tighter if it read "Jill's eyes adjusted to the darkness." In many lines, all through the book, Scottoline writes that a character "felt" this or that. It pushes the reader away. Don't tell, show - it's a fundamental rule of good writing and one that is too frequently broken. Overall, this is an easy read, but I was a bit disappointed in it. I was really expecting something of a higher caliber.