27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic romantic suspense!, November 9, 2005
This review is from: Darker Than Midnight (Mordecai Young Series, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
This was a page turner, I could not put it down.
River Corbett is in a mental hospital for the murder of his pregnant wife. He is so drugged up, he barely even remembers who he is. When people keep attempting to kill him, he tells his best friend and doctor, Ethan Melrose. Unfortunately Ethan just believes that these are delusions brought on my River's insanity. River realizes that he must escape the hospital and find out what really happened the night his wife died.
River returns to his home in Blackberry, Vermont where the new Chief of Police has moved in. Cassandra "Jax" Jackson knows it is her duty to turn him in, but she has tragedy in her past that makes her want to help River find out the truth.
Dawn Jones is a young adult who received a "gift" from her dead father. This is the paranormal aspect of the book, which isn't too over the top. Maggie Shayne made it believeable.
I really wouldn't pass this book up. The mystery is extremely well written, as is the romance.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A non stop page turner, January 1, 2006
This review is from: Darker Than Midnight (Mordecai Young Series, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
Darker than Midnight was my first Maggie Shayne novel and certainly will not be my last. Although the suspect was obvious, the page turning suspense and non stop action was well worth reading and definitely worth the money to buy.
River Corbett has been accused of a crime he can not remember committing. Drugged and confined to a mental hospital where someone wants him dead and his only chance of survival is escaping and finding the truth. He finds himself back at the scene of the crime and faced by the soon to be new chief of police. Cassandra "Jax" Jackson knows that she should not trust this man, nor should she put her job on the line to protect him, but nevertheless she finds herself doing just that and falling for the man at the same time. Can River and Jax find out the truth before it is too late, or will they too become the killer's newest victims?
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very, Very Good!, November 27, 2005
This review is from: Darker Than Midnight (Mordecai Young Series, Book 3) (Mass Market Paperback)
I just happened to see this book featured at a local bookstore, and thought I'd give a try-- I'm really glad I did. This was the first novel I have ever read by Maggie Shayne, but it will certainly not be the last. I was somewhat surprised to find out Shayne has written over 40 novels-- she does come accross as a seasoned storyteller in her writing, but the characters have such a "that-could-be-me-or-my-friend" everyday appeal to them. This book isn't actually a sequal, however there are characters that appear in Darker Than Midnight that have more leading roles in Shayne's novel Colder Than Ice. While I wish I would have known about and read "Ice" prior to "Midnight," Shayne explains enough for you to receive a hint of background and understanding of why/how each character plays into part.
The characters come together when police lieutenant Cassandra "Jax" Jackson revisits Vermont after being offered a position as Chief of Police in the small town of Blackberry. Current Chief and acquaintance Frankie Parker will be retiring in 2 weeks or less-- just enough time for Jax to make her decision while spending her 2 week vacation in the house "donated" by the city to the new chief(whoever that may turn out to be). Enter Michael "River" Corbett, a man in the state mental hospital, heavily drugged and suffering from blackouts. Convicted of murdering his wife, River actually doesn't remember what transpired the night she died. After a few "supposed" attempts on his life, River escapes the hospital and searches for the truth. After saving Jax's life one evening, River stays the night with her (only so he won't freeze to death outside), and she becomes determined to find out who he is and why he is running. As news spreads of his escape, Jax now winds up harboring a fugitive, putting her career, and possibly life, on the line. Events unfold, stories of the characters' past come to light, and Jax finds herself compromising more than just HER life. Throw in Jax's parents, River's bestfriend Ethan (who is also his psychiatrist), and Jax's young friend Dawn (who hears and sees ghosts, but doesn't want to), and you have yourself a real ordeal.
A lot of interesting, beleivable, and lovable (and hateable!) characters, Darker Than Midnight is exciting, funny, romantic and just plain good. I recommend it to anyone who loves mysteries, romance, hidden clues, and a little of the supernatural. Shayne defenately leaves the book open to spinoff more of the other characters, and I hope she does just that. In the meantime, I will be sure to check out her past works, and you should too.
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