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5.0 out of 5 stars
Don't normally read mysteries, but..., December 14, 2011
This review is from: Heartless (Hardcover)
...my girlfriend does. I borrowed this one and couldn't believe how good the writing was. I've tried other mysteries since but they don't really grab me. Now I'm waiting for this woman's next book to drop in February. Can't believe no one has made a movie of this one yet. This Gaylin dame can write, I'm telling `ya.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Atmospheric, Genuinely Creepy Thriller, October 7, 2008
This review is from: Heartless (Hardcover)
I first picked up one of Ms. Gaylin's books last year, and found myself quickly devouring all of her books that I could get my hands on, all because of one simple reason: her characters are truly interesting. All too often, authors fill their books with stock characters who merely take up space, instead of adding anything to the story. Alison Gaylin, however, is truly adept at character development, so that everyone in her books seems (for lack of a better word) real, in that all are flawed, but they are also truly interesting, and compel readers to want to learn more about them.
The characters in Heartless are no exception. While delving into topics ranging from the cult of personality to daytime television to the world of journalism to human sacrifice, the reader is introduced to people who run the gamut from being emotionally-scarred and trying to heal, to those whose pleasant facades mask obsession and murder.
Additionally, Gaylin really brings the setting of San Estaban to life with an abundance of rich, sensory details that paint a picture of a place that is simultaneously beautiful and foreboding.
This isn't just a run-of-the-mill thriller. It's a book that is truly creepy and disturbing on a multitude of levels, while also incorporating twists and turns to keep readers on their toes. In short, it's a genuinely good book from a very talented author.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Ummmm...., January 4, 2009
This review is from: Heartless (Hardcover)
First, let me say that I loved Alison Gaylin's books "Hide Your Eyes" and "You Kill Me". While I would have liked to have seen John & Sam in another follow up I think that may be down the road. John was mentioned a couple times in this book, I'm not sure what that was about.
"Heartless" has a great plot. Five years ago Zoe Greene, a crime reporter, got into the mind of a serial killer. The killer called her and told her he was going to murder more women for her and he did. Zoe, ridden with guilt, took a job with a soap opera magazine. There she met charismatic star Warren Clark and embarked on a torrid affair. Four months later Warren left the show to go to his house in a small Mexico town asking Zoe to join him. Zoe, having quit her job because she wouldn't capitalize on her relationship with Warren, headed to Mexico and Warren. When she arrived she learned there had been several extremely brutal murders in this picturesque small town. Fearing Warren is a member of a cult that may be responsible she begins to investigate.
All good. The description of the town, customs and the bizarre events were detailed and fascinating. But I never felt the characters were fleshed out or that I really knew them. There was very little about their background or even what they looked like. I couldn't bring myself to care much about them and thought they were boring. I found myself rushing to get through the book and the very end was anti-climactic.
So, this is why I gave it a three. Hope Sam & John will be back!
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