Customer Reviews

Don't Cry Now: A Novel

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I fell in love with Joy Fielding with her book, Grand Avenue, and whenever I go anywhere, I am always on the lookout for her books. She didn't disappoint here either ~~ she writes with her usual blend of mystery, spice and love ~~ and it's absolutely wonderful!!

Happily married with a beautiful daughter, Bonnie Wheeler thinks she has it made ~~ till her husband's ex-wife was murdered and she became the prime suspect in a whirlwind murder investigation. Then everything in Bonnie's pristine world falls apart ~~ people aren't who they seem to be. Her father and brother ~~ the two men she was estranged from for so long ~~ reappears in her life, causing her to question her upbringing. Rod, her loving husband, is always working early and late at the TV station where he works, and his children suddenly become her responsibility when their mother died ~~ and so on. Fielding takes you on a whirlwind ride through Bonnie's hunt for justice and the truth as she runs from the murderer.

This is a quick read ~~ don't read it if you don't have hours to spare because you cannot put this book down at all!! Just like Grand Avenue, it is a book with a twist at the end ~~ just when you figure out who the murderer is ~~ you're caught off guard. This is a spooky book because it is realistic as well. Enjoy this book with the lights on and the curtains pulled ~~ and the doors locked! It makes for a great reading on those upcoming long winter nights...

DON'T CRY NOW by Joy Fielding
October 2, 2004

This is my third Joy Fielding book and although I don't find her to be the perfect author, I do find that she tends to write such great page turners that one will ignore the faults of the book and read on until it's over. In DON'T CRY NOW, a woman discovers she doesn't know who to trust, having been told that someone is trying to kill her and her daughter.

Bonnie has been married to her husband Rod for about six years now, and has a strained relationship with his ex-wife Joan. The book opens with Joan calling Bonnie on the telephone to warn her that her life is in danger. She begs Bonnie to meet her at an open house, which Joan is hosting (she is a real estate agent). But, by the time Bonnie arrives at the house, she finds Joan is dead, shot through the heart. Since Bonnie chose not to tell her husband or anyone else about this secret meeting, she has no alibi when the police come to inspect the murder scene. She becomes their first suspect.

Bonnie and Rod bring in the two children from his previous marriage, Lauren and Sam, to live with them after Joan's death and this itself adds tension to each scene. The two teenagers never did show a fondness for Bonnie, and she has a rough time trying to convince them at first that she is on their side. The two teens seem to get along fine with their stepsister Amanda, Bonnie and Rod's child, but they have a harder time accepting Bonnie as family.

She herself does not know whom to trust, and it leaves her sleepless at night. As the chapters turn, nearly every main character becomes a suspect, including her estranged brother Nick, her stepson Sam, and even her husband, who does not seem to have an alibi either.

DON'T CRY NOW is another fast paced book that you will not want to put down. Despite some flawed characters (it was hard to totally believe in the character of Bonnie, who seemed far less intelligent than the author meant her to be), the story line flowed from chapter to chapter. Fielding does do a good job with character descriptions and developing them, but at times I find that she tweaks these characters to fit the story. I found it hard to believe whom the murder turned out to be. It felt like a contrived Hollywood script, but all in all, I am going to recommend this one because it WILL keep you up all night, wanting to find out whodunit.

Sure, the book consists of the formulaic whodunnit criterium: the good are really the bad, the bad are really the good. But I won't lie! <squeal> The book Don't Cry Now is fantaaaastic! It's past 4 a.m now, I JUST finished the book and simply had to get out of my comfy bed to turn on the computer, get on-line and review this book.

This book is quick-paced from page one, has great style, both in writing and innuendo and is a suspenseful book that leaves you breathless. And despite that being a tired cliche, I really did find myself holding my breath while reading this book!! As far as mystery goes, it's a real teaser.

I gave the book four stars because of the hokey Electra Complex quality that was inserted in the novel. I found it to be a tad melodramatic and even took a breath long enough to roll my eyes at the whole idea.

Ugh, I wish I could say more, but don't want to give away the ending!!

If Joy Fielding is around much longer, Mary Higgins Clark is gonna have a real problem on her hands. Though I love MHC. Kudos to both authors.

Omigawwwwd, read this book!!

Wow... I am a die-hard sci-fi fan and have no use for mystery or drama. But totally ran out of books to read and was desparate. My mom sent me this about a year ago so I thought "it'll hold me over till I can get to the bookstore" RIGHT... it held me over for about a night because I just couldn't put it down!!! This story flows so smoothly... the author's voice is just perfect. And it wasn't just the whodunnit aspect either. That was awesome, but I never figure that stuff out. I did get some of it though (aren't you proud of me?) The best part of this book was the human relation. The way the characters interacted with eachother. Add the mystery and Wallah! I kept running to the living room to tell my husband about it. He took me to the bookstore the next day to buy every Joy Fielding book I could get my hands on. If you like fast-paced, smooth moving stories, this one is for you!

After the thrill of reading See Jane Run and the utter disappointment I felt after reading Lost, I thought I'd see which way the balance went after reading my third Joy Fielding.

It's great stuff, and the ending was a complete surprise! I must agree with some of the reviewers that there is some heavy man-hater stuff here...but in a way, this is greatly necessary in order for the plot to unfold.

I liked this a lot...but not sure I would have stayed up all night to read it. It's more than three stars, but less than a full four stars. Still, I give it four...just because I went to bed last night and fell asleep while contemplating who-dunit!

A very tedious book. I did finish it however. Amanda's mom was unbelievably stupid. It was very unbelievable that an educated woman would go from one situation to another feeling as sick as she must have from being poisoned, ignoring her symptoms and all she could say over and over and over and over was that she never gets sick. Well she made me sick having to listen to her.

This novel kept me reading on and on, the writing style is very familiar although I have never read any of Joy Fielding's work. It's very smooth and easy going to read.

As much as I thought this book was great; I wasn't too excited by the end. I must say I found that the story came to an abrupt stop. All the work that went into the buildup and storyline felt wasted!

I would have happily gave this book a higher rating, if it wasn't for that. Otherwise, it is pretty well written, and was interesting for the most part.

This book like many of Joy Fielding's are a very worthwhile/satisfying read. I became totally engrossed in this one.

Bonnie Wheeler receives an ominous phone call from her husband's ex-wife in the beginning. "You're in danger, you and Amanda," she says. "We need to talk." Following Joan's warning, Bonnie goes to meet her at the house to find her murdered at the kitchen table, covered in blood. In shock, Bonnie calls the police, and at first they think she did it. But then the stroy has a new twist after this.

Rod's kids have nowhere to go of course, so they take the children into their home. Strange events begin happening after this, and the police begin to look elsewhere, no longer suspecting Bonnie of any guilt. The thing is, there seems to be trouble in the house when Bonnie suddenly becomes very ill, and has trouble shaking it off. In fact she becomes worse each day, not knowing why. Is it her estranged brother who has been trying to make amends? Is he the instigator in this whole scenario? Or is it Rod, who has an eye for other women?

Of course, I'm not telling the answer to this question. You'll have to read to find out!

This is probably the best woman-in-peril books I've ever read. Just could not put it down. Near the end, you think you know how it's going to end, and you'll be wrong. Highly recommended.

I'd never read this author before and wasn't sure what I was in for with this book. Not your average cheesy thriller, "Don't Cry Now" really develops the characters in such a way that keeps you guessing all the way. I changed my mind on "who done it" about six times and still didn't get it right! For you thriller junkies out there, this is a must read.