The First Stone (Hardcover)

by Judith Kelman (Author) "Through a slim breach in the blinds, I watched the new neighbors move in with a ticking, four-foot, fifty-pound bomb..." (more)
Key Phrases: dada lady, big little girl, New York, Doug Malik, Auntie Frieda (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
At the start of this disappointing thriller from Kelman (The Session), artist Emma Colten, pregnant with her second child, is struggling to balance motherhood with her professional duties and the needs of her husband, Sam, a surgical resident at a prestigious Manhattan hospital. When a distinguished new cardiovascular surgeon, Doug Malik, arrives both as Sam's new boss and the Coltens' upstairs neighbor, Emma's life only spins further out of control. She suspects Sam of infidelity with Malik's attractive young protégé and is disturbed by the pleas for help from Malik's young daughter that she hears through her apartment's ceiling. Fearful of jeopardizing Sam's chances to become chief resident, Emma fails to alert the authorities of her suspicions that abuse is occurring. When she confides in the head of her son's preschool, an official inquiry leads to a cataclysmic confrontation. Some psychological insights will resonate with parents of young children, but others may find the characters insufficiently developed and the plot too fantastic to swallow. (May)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
"Kelman's a pro."
-- San Francisco Chronicle

"Judith Kelman's characters are warm and wonderful."
-- Clive Cussler --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Hardcover (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425213676
• ISBN-13: 978-0425213674
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,295,586 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kelman Knocks It Out Of The Park, June 10, 2007

By	James J. Sexton (New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm not actually a fan of the mystery/thriller genre - but I couldn't put this book down. Kelman is really a master storyteller. She sets up the characters with a flowing style that leaves you with that wonderful "I-can't-believe-I-just-read-80-pages-good-lord-I'm-going-to-be-late-for-work" feeling.

The first half of the book has the kind of character development that reminds me of the best of early Stephen King. The second half has all the twists and turns you would expect from a writer of Kelman's skill and experience. Without throwing a spoiler here - I have to say I never saw the ending coming - and I pride myself on staying two steps ahead of the writer.

Kelman really hits the mark with this one. A great summer read! Pick it up and you won't be able to put it down.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Kelman gem!!! , May 9, 2007

By	Brett (Saginaw, MI) - See all my reviews

Kelman yet again proves why she's been able to build up such a loyal following. From the first page, she lets the reader truly get to know and care about her characters. Emma Colten represents yet another complex and wonderful female protagonist, struggling with a conflict to which every reader can relate. How far must we go to support the career of a loved one? Can we turn our back on suspicions, fear, and downright alarm bells? Can we ignore the obvious danger that an alleged vocational "promised land" would present? This is, without a doubt, a must read ...

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suberb thriller, May 2, 2007

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

New York General induced Dr. Malik into leaving his present position in Cleveland by giving him a tremendous salary increase, a state of the art lab, and a new pavilion called the Malik Center for Cardio-Thoracic Diseases. Dr. Sam Colten, a resident wants to get on Malik's good side and study under him. His pregnant wife Emma is uneasy about the Maliks who live in the apartment above them. She hears him yelling at his daughter almost every night and she hears Adriana begging her father to stop.

Emma is so upset with what she hears each night that she tells her friend social worker Siena about it although Emma doesn't believe what she overheard means the child is being abused. She is more worried about Sam's interest in beautiful bombshell Dr. Suze Stitch, a colleague of Dr. Malik's. One day Sam comes home saying he was fired as Suze complained he attacked her and Dr. Malik and his assistant back her up. Emma doesn't believe the charges and vows to help Sam regain medical reinstatement not realizing that appearances are deceptive and things and people are not always what they seem.

Judith Kelman is one of the best author's writing suspense in the market today. Readers empathize with Emma who believes Sam was tried because of what she said to Siena who did call child's social services. Emma is the strong one in the marriage who holds the family together while being pregnant, working part time and taking care of an energetic three year old who doesn't want his mom and dad to have a baby. THE FIRST STONE will appeal to readers who like authors like Patricia McDonald, Andrea Kane and Jodi Picoult.

Harriet Klausner