Thirtysomething lawyer Megan McGee is facing a quiet Christmas with her bulldog when Bonnie Cantrell, a battered wife, comes looking for legal protection from her violent ex-cop husband, Carl. In a recent bout of rage, Carl vowed to kill their seven-year-old son, Tommy, rather than be separated from the boy. It's no idle threat, either--as Bonnie assures Megan: "He's tried before."
And when Tommy's school unwittingly allows him to leave with his father, Carl gets his chance to try again. Now, with the town all but shut down for the holiday, Megan races against time--and terror--to keep Carl's Christmas Eve jaunt from turning into a slay ride.
This item is eligible for our 4-for-3 promotion. Eligible products include select Books and Home & Garden items. Buy any 4 eligible items and get the lowest-priced item free.
Here's how (restrictions apply)
Like homemade eggnog with a bite of something stronger, this Christmas-themed thriller by William Bernhardt (best known for his legal thrillers set in Oklahoma City) introduces several thoroughly miserable characters destined to run afoul on Christmas Eve. Carl, an alcoholic ex-cop and ex-husband, rages against his former wife Bonnie and threatens to kill his 7-year-old son Tommy. The police still regard Carl as one of their own, and they won't listen to Bonnie's complaints of violence. Meanwhile, Megan McGee, a lawyer and ex-Episcopalian priest, is delivering Christmas cookies to the elderly, accompanied only by her unwanted roommate, a smelly and drooling bulldog named Jasper. By the time Bonnie catches up with Megan to get a restraining order on Carl, he has abducted Tommy and disappeared. Now, it's up to Megan to track Tommy down before Carl's bloody rantings become reality. The characters reveal more depth than anticipated from a holiday novel, and the chase is especially disturbing set against the backdrop of a quiet city celebrating peace on earth. For those who enjoy seasonal fiction, this fast-paced dose of Christmas thrills will provide a delicious escape after a busy shopping frenzy.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
In a new twist in holiday fare, Bernhardt, better known for his Oklahoma-set courtroom thrillers (Blind Justice; Deadly Justice), fashions a suspenseful tale of domestic violence with a plot-worn spin on the usual villains. On Christmas Eve, Megan McGee, formerly a priest and now a lawyer (since the death of her mother in the Oklahoma City bombing) is handed what seems an open-and-shut case of spousal abuse. A hysterical woman applies for an emergency restraining order against her menacing, drunken ex-husband. Except that Carl, the ex, is a cop, and Bonnie, the attractive wife, is not as victimized as she seems. In a desperate measure, Carl kidnaps their boy, Tommy, and the threats and recriminations roll one after the other. Though Megan, with her ungainly English pug, Jasper, in tow, is an appealing character, Carl and Bonnie, by turns described as hopelessly evil or duped by each other, come off as one-dimensional caricatures of feuding ex-spouses. In fact, it's difficult to believe that folks in a holiday mood will want to read this sour tale of evil manipulation and forced uplift. Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
I love my job. Even on the worst day when I can't seem to put together a coherent sentence, I am grateful for having been given this magnificent opportunity to participate in the literary exchange of ideas. My mother says I was telling people I wanted to be a writer when I was seven. I know that seems incredible, but she's my mom, so we have to believe her. I never missed an opportunity to visit the library, which was blissfully near my home, and the librarians there took a great interest in this nerdy, shy, bespectacled kid who kept reappearing almost every day. They encouraged me to read widely and to read the best of everything, and that is exactly what I did and have continued to do all my life.
I sent off my first submission when I was eleven, to Highlights Magazine. This was a poem of which I was particularly proud concerning the Oklahoma Land Run. They turned me down. Yes, that was my first rejection letter. Over the next twenty years, I collected over 400 more of them. No, I'm not exaggerating. I still have them. Every last one. There was a reason, I realize now, why all those compositions were being rejected. They weren't very good. But they improved over time. I didn't know it, but during the entire torturous process of submission and rejection, I was learning how to write.
I finally had my first novel published (by Ballantine, a division of Random House) when I was thirty-one. To some, this may seem an early age to publish, but if you clock it from my first rejection, it took twenty years. That was a great year--my first son, Harry, was born in August, and my first book, Primary Justice, was born in December. The book surprised everyone and the follow-up did even better and before I even realized it I had accomplished my goal--I was a real honest-to-gosh writer. I've been writing ever since. I've written more than twenty novels, edited two anthologies, done two books for children, and published numerous stories, essays, puzzles, and poems. I have three children now, and this job allows me to be present when they come home from school and available when they need me during the day, which is a blessing I could not have anticipated back when I was a seven-year old gazing dreamily at author photos on dust jackets, wishing I could see myself there.
My goals for the future are to continue to learn, to grow, to find new ways of doing my work and doing it better. I think the current interest in thrillers provides a marvelous opportunity to spin bigger and more exciting stories. I've learned that I enjoy teaching, which has led to the William Bernhardt Writing Programs and The Fundamentals of Fiction DVDs, as well as many speaking and teaching engagements throughout the year. My interest in mentoring aspiring writers led me to start the Small-Group Seminars and Master Classes, which allow me to teach my favorite subject all across the nation. And in my personal life, my goal is I to be the best parent possible to Harry, Alice, and Ralph, and the best possible partner to my wife, Marcia. I'm very excited about the future--my personal life with these extraordinary people, and my professional life, creating new stories for you wonderful people who still understand the importance of storytelling and the written word. ------- William Bernhardt is the author of more than twenty novels, including Primary Justice, Murder One, Criminal Intent, Death Row, Capitol Murder, Capitol Threat, Capitol Conspiracy, and Nemesis. He is one of fewer than a dozen recipients of the H. Louise Cobb Distinguished Author Award given "in recognition of an outstanding body of work in which we understand ourselves and American society at large." He is also one of the country's most popular writing instructors, teaching at various conferences throughout the year. A former trial attorney, Bernhardt has received several awards for his public service. He lives in Tulsa with his wife, Marcia, and their children.
After having read all of Bernhardt's Justice books, I knew this would not be a boring story. I was not disappointed. It's a fast read, and hard to stop after the first thirty or so pages. Part of it is predictable (in a good way), but the end twist, I must confess, I didn't see it coming. Nice story to gear up for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have to recommend it.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: The Midnight Before Christmas (Mass Market Paperback)
This is a short book that only takes a couple of hours to read, because you just want to keep reading it. It is full of suspense and also a little tear may come at the ending. It is centered around Christmas Eve and the happenings of an Attorney, Mom, Son & Ex Husband. The outside says Holiday Thriller and I would have to agree with this description. This was published in 1998 so should be easy to find at the libary or used book store. Mr. Bernhardt is an attorney, so I am sure that the items about the law are pretty true.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Christmas is meant to be a time of happiness, togetherness, peace, joy and harmony. But it isn't true in this story of treachery, deceit, abuse, crime and conspiracy. Seven year old Tommy is caught in the middle of all the action. Bonnie and Carl, his mom and dad are divorced and Bonnie retained custody of Tommy. When Christmas time is imminent, all Carl wants to do is spend time with his son. But Bonnie doesn't allow it, figuring that he might abuse them again. Carl therefore uses his rage to try and get to see Tommy. He breaks into the house, punches out Bonnie's boyfriend, destroys property and knocks out a neighbor. Fearing more attacks in the future, Bonnie decides to hire an attorney, Megan. Megan defends Bonnie for a while, until she finds things suspicious. Bonnie doesn't turn out to be the good mother she appears to be and the story takes a devious plot turn. Megan uncovers the real story from Carl, the ex-cop/husband. The truth is that Bonnie and her new boyfriend, Frank, are partners in the scheme to get to Carl's three million-dollar trust fund. Through many action filled, suspenseful scenes, all Carl is trying to do is get his boy back for Christmas. He soon encounters more than just that. Bonnie and Frank use Tommy as the bait, in order for attempts to kill Carl and obtain his money. The Midnight Before Christmas was a very good, entertaining, suspenseful, action filled book. It began with action and continued with action throughout. There wasn't a part anywhere. The book took you on a thrill ride and made you believe. Therefore, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a non-stop action thriller.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
