Customer Reviews

Five Days in Summer

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A chilling and disturbing plot. The torture and mutilation of humans is vividly captured through the analytical thoughts of a retired behaviorial scientist, Dr Geary, who interprets his findings to the police whom he is helping in hunting down the perpetrator.

What sets this thriller apart from those in the genre is the sudden life and death claim on a typical American family set in the calm and solutide of Cape Cod. Here, time is suspended in space as vacationers take their hard earned break but is savagely turned into an hour sand glass with just 5 days to identify & track the perpetrator. Any normalcy is rudely cast aside for a typical American family thrown to live in a surreal world as the mother, Emily Parker, mysteriously disappears while out shopping at a supermarket.

Lots of red herrings planted so that the plot turns 180 degrees but cleverly steers readers back to think thru who we know so far could have done the hideous crime.

Awesome book. Total surprise ending. For the last chapter of the book, I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out how this was going to turn out. I was engaged throughout and the author did a fabulous job of keeping you guessing. I cannot imagine this happening to me. I will read more of her books.

For Emily Parker, mother of three, her life, unknown to her, began to unravel the moment she decided to go to the local grocery store. It was supposed to be simple enough as their last summer vacation before school starts winds down. She was leaving in the morning with the kids and returning home to New York as she wanted to leave the house stocked with food for her mom, Sarah. She never returns.

For Will, her husband, his carefully constructed life begins to unravel the moment his mother-in-law calls him late at night. Will knows what the death of a parent can do to a child having lost both of his when he was four due to a car crash. He also knows that Emily would not have just vanished. Before long he is on the road speeding south, to Cape Cod and his mother-in-law's home seeking answers.

It should have been the local police who found Emily's abandoned care in the parking lot of the grocery store full of groceries. Instead, it was her husband, Will and a retired FBI profiler, Dr. John Gary, who is writing a book on serial killer's by researching cold cases. The fact that Emily is missing reminds him of an earlier case he recently read and before long he finds others. His research has led him to an inescapable conclusion. They have five days to find Emily before there is another victim taken from the family. It will be a son.

Shifting in POV, this novel weaves a tale that is guaranteed to stress any parent. Full of interesting characters and constant misdirection by the author, Kate Pepper, readers are kept guessing as to the identity of the kidnapper/serial killer as the days click by. The result is tension filled read for the entire 304 page paperback novel that leads to a violent showdown between forces of the good and evil.

Kevin R. Tipple (c) 2005

This author is going to go far! Likeable characters, suspense...hard to put down. Can hardly wait for the next one from this talented new author. Read it!

Wait until your summer beach vacation is over to read Kate Pepper's debut novel. This is no Jaws; the horror and cringe-worthy torture scenes happen right in the harbor. Pepper does a brilliant job of investing the detective-suspense genre with a genuine sense of writerly compassion (for her characters) and respect (for her readers' intelligence). A must-read for all fans of Mary Higgins Clark, Sue Grafton, et al. I hear a new book is already in the pipeline. Can't wait!!!

FIVE DAYS IN SUMMER is an enjoyable suspense story, in the tradition of Mary Higgins Clark and Wendy Corsi Staub. The story involves a young mother getting kidnapped by a deranged serial killer, and the group of people racing against time to find her.

Kate Pepper is a good writer and the quality of the prose in the story is quite high. My major problem with this book was with the pacing, which was surprisingly languid in the middle. I didn't feel too much suspense in this novel until the very end. Also, there are too many major characters in FIVE DAYS IN SUMMER -- the beleaguered husband, the retired FBI profiler, the young female detective, and several others. All of them were interesting, but I felt like I barely got to know any of them, given the short length of the novel and the rapid shifts in viewpoint.

Overall, though, FIVE DAYS IN SUMMER was a decent debut with several surprising plot twists. If you're looking for entertaining procedural that you can finish in a few sittings, this is a good choice.

This was the first book I had ever read from this author. By the title you would almost think it was a light summer romance. Well, you would be mistaken..it starts from the first chapter as a gripping, heartpounding suspense and a race to find Emily in five days. I really liked the characters and could relate to them. I loved the retired FBI guy, Geary, he was great! If I was ever in this situation, I would definitely want him on my side. I thought it was so sweet how much in love Will was with his wife and how he wanted to stop at nothing to find her. I found myself more than once biting my nails nervously as the countdown of the 5 days grew to a close. The ending was exciting, I think the book was well developed. This author has talent, I look forward to reading more of her work.

Five days of terror and suspense! Emily Parker is ready to head back to Manhattan after spending another summer vacation at Cape Cod. Before leaving though, Emily wants to restock her mom's groceries. Leaving her three children in her mom's care, she takes off on a quick trip to the Stop & Shop. What starts out as an ordinary trip to the grocery store soon turns into anything but ordinary!
This book is fast paced and filled with twists and turns that will keep you riveted. Kate Pepper has done an excellent job in this chilling tale! I couldn't believe this was her first suspense novel. LOOK OUT Anne Frasier, Mariah Stewart, and Mary Higgins Clark...Kate Pepper is going to be strong competition in the suspense genre! I can't wait till July 2005 ... SEVEN MINUTES TO NOON ... Kate's second suspense novel is well on it's way!!!

A terrific page-turner - hits the spot just where we all fear being hit the most: our families.

This was a good book, not a great one. The final scene on the boat involving David was a little far fetched, and I would have liked to have known more about the characters of Cardoza and Geary, but there was enough suspense in the book to keep me interested until the end. A nice, intriguing book to read.