Out Of Nowhere [Hardcover]

Doris Mortman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1998

A participant in the Witness Protection Program as a child, Amanda Maxwell grows up to become a forensic photographer for the NYPD Crime Scene Unit. But when her father, the only person alive who knows her real identity, is found dead at his desk, Max's life is once more thrown into turmoil and terror.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A skillful manipulator of the heartstrings, bestseller Mortman (The Lucky Ones) adds a thriller dimension and some convincing details to her latest romantic novel. Amanda Maxwell, a slim beauty who coolly photographs corpses for the NYPD, came by her sangfroid the hard way. Born Erica Baird, she was forced to disappear into the Witness Security Program (WITSEC) at age nine, when her mother, Cynthia, testified at two trials to avenge the death of Erica's Uncle Ken, a drug enforcement agent. Not even Erica's father, Lionel Baird, whom Cynthia had divorced, could know that Erica and Cynthia survived the firebombing of their Miami house, staged by the U.S. Marshall as cover. After two decades of shadowy self-invention, described in harrowing detail by Mortman, Amanda leaves her mother and cuts the WITSEC umbilicus for a new life in ManhattanAnot coincidentally the home of her father. Super-rich, in the throes of his third divorce, Lionel is a tough-minded mover and shaker, but he still grieves for his supposedly lost child. Mortman captures the nuances of father-daughter relationships. Amanda (dubbed Max by her cop colleagues) and Lionel are mistaken for lovers as they rediscover each other over expensive dinners. The confusion suits Max. She has left WITSEC but not its mindset, and she's still aware that there are drug lords and mobsters who would close in for the kill if they knew her identity. Meanwhile, she struggles with her erotic feelings for slick financier Tyler Grayson and earthy PI Jake Fowler, men of mystery themselves, unnervingly linked to her past. Trusting the wrong one could cost more than a broken heart. Amanda is a sympathetic heroine whose travails will intrigue readers of this capably plotted tale. Major ad/promo; author tour.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Best-selling Mortman (The Lucky Ones, 1997, etc. ) opens with a strong hook as divorced bank executive Cynthia Stanton and her four-year-old daughter Erica are forced to go into lifelong hiding because Cynthias given evidence about a Colombian drug cartel laundering cash in her Miami bank, a fact that has caused the death of her brother Ken, a DEA agent. Rather than be murdered by the vengeful cartel, Cynthia and Erica enter a witness protection program. Their house is blown up, supposedly with them in it, so that the Mafia will think the cartel did it (and the cartel the Mafia). Later, theyre moved anew when Erica slips, giving away dangerous facts. She and Erica are again nearly killed when Cynthia attends her own mother's funeral. By her middle 20s, Erica has become a Manhattan police photographer and wants to reveal herself to her father. More mayhem ensues, and the question arises: Is the father, now supremely wealthy, himself laundering money for the cartel? The climax suggests that Erica/Amanda has brought her father's murderer(s) to justice. But is the cartel really ready to give up on her? Possibly Mortmans best plot in yearsand set for a big promo. -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 455 pages
• Publisher: Kensington; 1st edition (July 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575663015
• ISBN-13: 978-1575663012
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,457,930 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars out of nowhere..., September 3, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Out Of Nowhere (Mass Market Paperback)

*Out of Nowhere* is easily one of the best books I've ever read. I just re-read it a few days ago and it still kept me awake, wanting to finish just one more page. Amanda Maxwell/Erica Baird is the ultimate heroine, and Jake Fowler the perfect match for her. Doris Mortman obviously did her research before attempting to create this story what with the details of the witness protection program, money laundering, mobster, etc. She weaves an intricate tale that pulls you in, and has you on the edge of your seat while Max fights to get her life back. It has the perfect combination of suspense, romance and intrigue that keeps you reading til the last page when the villain is finally revealed as someone you least suspect.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic, November 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Out Of Nowhere (Mass Market Paperback)

I read a lot of books, probably at least five a week. And I don't remember the last time I could not put a book down. I got up early this morning before work to finish it! Very well written, excellent character development, suspenseful. This is my first Mortman book and I look forward to reading others. It's so nice to see a female character who uses her wits and character to forge her own way. Never did I feel she was a victim. She never allowed herself to be. I really liked that. I recommend this highly.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't finish it., March 11, 2004

By 

Romance Lover "vt2949" (Sacramento, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Out Of Nowhere (Mass Market Paperback)

After reading reviews of this book, I began reading with much anticipation. At first, I was not disappointed. This book had an excellent premise, and a very engrossing beginning. But approximately 100 pages into it, and it completely stalled and moved forward at a snail's pace. Essentially, nothing much happened during the next 100 pages. This author is far too wordy. She says in 5 pages what could be said in one. At first I appreciated the amount of detail, especially when describing the WITSEC program that Ricki went through. But after a while, I realized the author simply likes to go on and on about a subject, even when it's wiser to stop. I also found her writing pretty flat. I think it's very telling that the love scenes sparked not the slightest emotion in me. They were completely mechanical, which I think is this author's writing style. Instead of showing me how Max felt, the author told me. That just doesn't work with love scenes. Again, she provided detail where she should have provided evoked passion. I put this book down (and picked it back up again) at least 10 times in two days. I tried so hard to keep reading it, because I did want to know how the book ended, but it just couldn't keep my interest. Not sure if I'll bother with any other of this author's books. Perhaps there's not enough "wow" in her books for me.