7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good read., November 7, 2005
In early 1989 at St. Ansel College (in Stone River, Maryland), Professor Stephen Madden was one of the top in the English field. Universities, world-wide, vied for him to give lectures on their campuses. He was next in line to be the Head of Celestine Hall. So his nineteen-year-old daughter, Nina Madden, stopped short as she witnessed her larger-than-life father being arrested and charged with the rape and murder of four students. Confused and emotionally adrift, Nina washed her hands of her father, her stepmother (Olivia), and her stepbrother (Kyle).
Today, sixteen years later, Nina Madden is a book editor in New York City. Her best author and friend is Regan Landry. Regan's late father had been a famous true crime writer. Regan is continuing in her father's footsteps. So naturally Nina goes to Regan for help digging into the past crimes of her own deceased father. Olivia has recently died and while going through her father's things, Nina reads a letter from her dad to Olivia. In the letter, Stephen admits to having affairs with his students, but not in their deaths. In fact, he accuses Olivia of defiling the girls and murdering them. But that is impossible, right?
Regan and her FBI boyfriend, Mitch Peyton, begin digging. Detective Wes Powell, Stone River Police Department, very reluctantly joins the investigation as well. As Nina learns more and more about Stephen and Olivia's pasts, a killer becomes uneasy.
**** I love how the author makes each novel of this series a stand alone book, yet keeps Regan and Mitch as an ongoing sub plot. If you are looking for a "Romantic Suspense", go elsewhere. Mariah Stewart is pure "Mystery Thriller". Stewart's stories, such as this dark tale, clearly shows that she enjoys her work. It also shows how twisted and devious her imagination is! As you read, do not assume that you know who the killer is. You may be dead wrong. (Pun not intended.) Terrific addition to the "Truth" series. ****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
deep amateur sleuth, October 25, 2005
In 1989 Nina Madden attends the College of St. Ansel in Stone River, Maryland, the same school where her dad teaches English Literature. She is elated to be moving out of her home to a sorority house as she does not get on well with her stepmother Olivia. However, her euphoria dies when the police handcuff her dad, who is suspected of being the murdering Stone River rapist.
In 2005 Nina works in New York, but is going home for the first time in years to attend Olivia's funeral. Father Whelan gives Nina a box from her father who died in prison. When she gets home she sees a letter her dad wrote to Olivia in which he apologizes for cheating on her with his students and driving her to take the actions she did. He will take the fall for what she did. Nina wonders if her father's crime was adultery while Olivia was the real killer. She turns to a suspense writer friend for advice and begins looking into the Stone River Rapist case not realizing that her actions will lead her to cop Wes Powell and someone else; both whom want her to drop her inquires.
The truth about Mariah Stewart is she is an incredible writer as affirmed by her latest high quality thriller. The story line focuses on Nina who has not fully moved on from when her father was arrested and convicted. The note stirs her sense of justice though her dad had accepted all responsibility. Fans will enjoy this deep amateur sleuth tale as readers will wonder how Olivia could be the killer as implied by the note when the victims were also raped. Another one sitting tale from Ms. Stewart.
Harriet Klausner
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Read, November 9, 2005
The third in the "Truth" series, this one seemed a bit more predictable to me than is typical of this author. It was still tough to put down.
I'm looking forward to the conclusion of this series in "Final Truth." However, there was one line in this book that I'm afraid may've given away the next book. I hope that's not the case, since I'd hate to not have the shock value of this coming out. But I guess I'll have to wait until next year to find out.
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