A Dark and Lonely Place and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more



or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Start reading A Dark and Lonely Place on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 

A Dark and Lonely Place: A Novel [Hardcover]

Edna Buchanan
3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

List Price: $26.00
Price: $19.48 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $6.52 (25%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
Only 1 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it tomorrow, June 20? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition $9.73  
Hardcover, Bargain Price $10.40  
Hardcover, November 8, 2011 $19.48  
Paperback $12.76  
Audio, CD, Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged $22.75  
Audible Audio Edition, Unabridged $16.95 or Free with Audible 30-day free trial
Image
Save on Popular Books This Summer
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more.

Book Description

November 8, 2011
“We belong together,” he said.

“Yes,” she whispered fervently in his ear. “We do.”

From Pulitzer Prize winner Edna Buchanan, the novel she has always wanted to write: the gripping saga of star-crossed lovers across generations. A century ago, when Indians and alligators roamed frontier Miami, the legendary John Ashley was accused of murder and sentenced to hang. He insisted he was innocent and went on the run with his sweetheart, Laura. Their crime spree lasted years longer and became far more deadly than the exploits of Bonnie and Clyde a decade later.

John Ashley and Laura Upthegrove became the most notorious, colorful, and compelling figures in Florida’s violent outlaw history. This is their true story of prison breaks, bootlegging, bank robberies, and piracy on the high seas. Their sensual and dreamy saga of love, passion, and violence is juxtaposed with the taut and suspenseful story of their fictional descendants who share the same love and dangers a hundred years later. In today’s Miami, Homicide Sergeant John Ashley investigates a millionaire’s spectacular murder and instantly recognizes a stunning model linked to the case as the girl who has haunted his dreams since childhood. Her name is Laura, and the lightning-fast attraction is supernaturally mutual.

The homicide case goes bad, Ashley is falsely accused of murder, and the new lovers go on the run as history repeats itself. The question is, how powerful is the past? Do the present-day renegades stand a chance? Does anyone? Can any of us with the outlaw patterns of violence and tragedy imprinted in our DNA ever break the cycle? Can we change our own destiny? Or must the end always be the same for dangerous people in dangerous times?

In a sweeping epic that explores the inevitability of fate and the belief in predestination, A Dark and Lonely Place draws the reader into an unforgettable world of intrigue, drama, romance, and tragedy.


Frequently Bought Together

A Dark and Lonely Place: A Novel + V is for Vengeance (Kinsey Millhone Mystery)
Price for both: $39.05

Buy the selected items together


Editorial Reviews

Review

"Ambitious, inventive saga...nonstop action and romance.” –Kirkus Reviews

"Edna Buchanan’s A Dark and Lonely Place is an action-packed South Florida love story that blends fact and fiction, past and present, and ultimately transcends time."

--Sherryl Woods, bestselling author of An O’Brien Family Christmas

About the Author

Edna Buchanan worked the Miami Herald police beat for eighteen years, during which she won scores of awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and the George Polk Award for Career Achievement in Journalism. Edna attracted international acclaim for her classic true-crime memoirs, The Corpse Has a Familiar Face and Never Let Them See You Cry. Her first novel of suspense, Nobody Lives Forever, was nominated for an Edgar Award.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster (November 8, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1439159173
  • ISBN-13: 978-1439159170
  • Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,022,828 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Not what I read Buchanan for January 14, 2012
Format:Hardcover
This may be a good book if you're not already an Edna Buchanan fan. But if you read Buchanan for her gritty crime fiction, with a side of slice of life of Miami, I suspect you may be like me and be disappointed.

While the book has element of crime fiction at the surface, it's really more of a dark love story than anything else. I rolled my eyes at the "destiny at first sight" elements of the book, and the whole romance component just wasn't for me. Throw in more history than tension, and the book was just not satisfying for me. Frankly, it almost felt like Buchanan threw in the modern-day stuff in an attempt to appease readers, her heart clearly was in the historical telling of John Ashley's tale.

I can see readers enjoying this book if they weren't hoping for a typical (wonderful) Edna Buchanan book, but I think fans of her Britt Montero series need to consider if they like history and/or romance enough to enjoy this book for what it is. I don't, and I didn't.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Why John Ashley did the bad things he did February 28, 2012
Format:Hardcover
Edna Buchanan sets up her novel with a lengthy summary of the life and times of John Ashley, Florida's most infamous criminal. He and his gang, which included his paramour, Laura Upthegrove, and his brothers, are credited with murder, bank and train robberies, piracy, and bootlegging. Folk legend would hold Ashley up as a modern day Robin Hood sort of hero, and so would Edna Buchanan. Her novel, A Dark and Lonely Place, would have her readers believe the same sort of nonsense. According to her, Ashley was mistreated and misunderstood, and turned to a life of cold blooded crime as a means to support his poor self. The novel is little more than a stars-in-your-eyes romance filled with rationalization.

There is a parallel plot, in which one of John's descendants, a 21st century detective, falls in love with a witness, Laura Grove (get it?), and falls afoul of the law he is pledged to uphold. Both Johns and Lauras suffer similar fates. Is destiny imprinted upon our DNA? Can we escape the patterns of the past? Not according to Buchanan, but never fear. There's always a good excuse for embracing criminal activity.
Was this review helpful to you?
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed Fan March 30, 2012
Format:Hardcover
After waiting 3 years for the latest Edna Buchanan book, I was sorely disappointed by this one. This is the first Edna Buchanan book that I've returned to the library unfinished. It was ideal bedtime reading because it put me to sleep.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Good Story With Some Twists November 8, 2011
Format:Hardcover
One hundred years ago in frontier Miami, Florida, John Ashley was accused of murder and sentenced to hang. Proclaiming his innocence, he went on the run with his lover, Laura, and their exploits became legend. A century later, in today's Miami, Homicide Sergeant John Ashley investigates a millionaire's murder and is inexplicably drawn to a stunning model linked to the case who bears an uncanny resemblence to an unknown woman who repeatedly appears in his dreams. Her name is Laura, and the attraction is mutual. Even more strange than their connection to each other is their connection to the infamous John and Laura from the past.

When the homicide case goes bad, Ashley is falsely accused of murder. He and Laura go on the run in a repeat of history as they try to prove his innocence, only to realize that the very people who are supposed to help may, in fact, be the ones who want him out of the way.

This is the first book I've ready by this author and I finished it in one day. It started out slow for me but the suspense built as the story progressed and by the end I was figuratively on the edge of my seat, wondering if the modern-day John and Laura would meet with the same fate as their namesakes a century earlier.

There are lots of characters, but the author does a good job working them all into the story without overwhelming the reader with names and relationships. While mostly a suspense novel, it also has elements of history and romance which makes it all the more interesting. I look forward to reading more titles by this author.

I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher but the opinion of it is my own and was not solicited, nor was a positive review required.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Ridiculous! January 25, 2012
Format:Hardcover
I generally enjoy Edna Buchanan's books, but this was a total dud. I spent most of the book rolling my eyes. It was just too hard to suspend disbelief. The premise was lame and the main characters of both stories were one-dimensional. Be forewarned.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars exhilarating thriller November 8, 2011
Format:Hardcover
In 1904 West Florida, Joe Ashley comes home late informing his wife Leugenia that they and their nine kids must leave immediately as a man was shot and he will be accused. His son John grabs his guitar and banjo before running to see his girlfriend Laura Upthegrove to say goodbye for now. However, John is falsely accused of murder and with Laura at his side flees with much of the state's law enforcement in pursuit.

In 2011 Miami Beach, homicide detective John Ashley leads the investigation into the high profile murder of politically connected Indian lawyer Ron Jon Eagle. However, he is stunned when he notices a model Summer Smith at a photo shoot who looks identical to the woman who has haunted his dreams for years; though he has never mentioned his fantasy female to his fiancé cop Tracy Dominguez. He also believes she sort of recognized him too by her reaction. John catches up with his model, but soon is accused of murder and forced on the lam with Laura (Summer's real name) at his side while many of the state's law enforcement pursue.

This is an exhilarating thriller as the premise to A Dark and Lonely Place is history repeats the ugly scenarios because humanity fails to truly understand the lessons instead preferring to forget. The two subplots are fascinating with the historical segue based on a real Sunshine State Bonnie and Clyde. Although at times the contemporary plot seems stretched to make it appear identical to what happened to the first John and Laura, readers will enjoy Edna Buchanan's taut thriller.

Harriet Klausner
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Well Named
Oh this is a DARK book and well titled. I read it in one evening, just didn't want to put it down....
Published 21 days ago by Sue
3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad, but tended to drag
This is not a bad novel, but it tended to drag. As with most of my books, I listened to the unabridged audiobook version (good job by the narrator) and thought 8 discs (vs. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Possibility
3.0 out of 5 stars Different Buchanan
Having lived in Miami for three years, I am a BIG fan of the city that Edna Buchanan captures so brilliantly in her novels. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Manhattanite
5.0 out of 5 stars review
Anything Buchannon writes is going to be a great read. I have been hopelessly hooked since "The Corpse Had a Familiar Face". She never disappoints.
Published 10 months ago by mekamoo123
3.0 out of 5 stars A Dark and Lonely Place
In 1911 John Ashley, a young man from rural Florida, was accused of robbing and murdering a Seminole. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Jo Ann Butler
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!
I always enjoy Edna Buchanan's books so I knew that I wouldn't be disappointed with "A Dark and Lonely Place". This is one of those books you don't want to put down!
Published 13 months ago by J. Hult
1.0 out of 5 stars Guy Warning--This is a "Harlequin Romance"
--not a crime novel.

EVALUATION
"A Dark and Lonely Place" asks way too much "suspension of disbelief" from its readers. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Stoney
5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling story
Romance, intrigue combined with a bit of Florida history, this is Edna's best book since the "Corpse." The story of the Ashley gang is filled with human drama and tragedy. Read more
Published 15 months ago by T. Smith
2.0 out of 5 stars Edna, Are you now doing Harlquin Romances?
Up until now, I have thoroughly enjoyed Edna Buchanan's books. When I saw this book in the stack that my husband brought home for me from the library, I was very pleased. Read more
Published 16 months ago by P. Wilson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
I'm a fan of Edna Buchanan...have read several of her books. All winners, just like this one.A fascinating story...kept me riveted all the way through. I highly recommend it.
Published 17 months ago by Walter Kern
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Forums

There are no discussions about this product yet.
Be the first to discuss this product with the community.
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Listmania!


Create a Listmania! list

So You'd Like to...


Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category