Amazon.com: Pulse (9780788734397): EDNA BUCHANAN, RICHARD M. DAVIDSON: Books

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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews

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

Average Customer Review

3.4 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as the Brit Montero series., May 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Pulse (Hardcover)

Heart transplant recipients lately seem to be prime subjects for mystery novels. In this one, a rich man from Miami Beach who has received a new heart searches, against all advice, for the family of the donor. Convinced that the donor was murdered and not a victim of suicide, he begins a search for the truth. Character development is mediocre, and the plot is somewhat tiresome. The spark and humor found Buchanan's other novels is nearly absent in this one. I have read all of her books and this is the one I like the least.

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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nice premise, annoying characters, May 24, 1999

By

Melanie Whynott - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pulse (Mass Market Paperback)

I liked PULSE, but I didn't love it. The novel moved at a quick enough pace, and the plot was both original and engaging. Frank Douglas is a main character who intrigues the reader with his various emotions - paranoia, suspicion, lust, anger, concern, and more. The more minor characters in PULSE, however, are a different story.

Frank's wife, Kathleen (who Buchanan intends to portray as the suffering wife), is in reality manipulative, annoying, and whiny. Rory, Frank's heart donor's widow, comes off as being nothing more than a fliratious, helpless ditz who is constantly is need of a male provider. Even Detective Lucca, who shows so much promise in the beginning of PULSE, is nothing more than a shallow character who has a minute role in the story itself. He seems more a character of convenience than anything else.

Don't get me wrong - PULSE was a compelling, satisfying read. But there is much to be desired, and Buchanan definitely leaves room for improvement.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent faced paced mystery!, April 21, 2007

By

Kelleigh Nelson "Kelleigh Nelson" (Knoxville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Pulse (Mass Market Paperback)

Super story...another good read by Edna Buchanan. I really enjoy her books on tape, the reader is excellent. This book was quite entertaining, but left me angry at the wife and elder daughter of the main character. They didn't trust or believe in the man they'd known for years and nearly destroyed him in his quest for truth regarding the person who died and gave his heart so Frank could receive a transplant and live. I would have given the book a five star rating had there been more of a finish with his wife and eldest daughter because of their betrayal. Obviously, he just forgives them and goes on with the marriage, but I'd have been a bit more circumspect with the relationship at the end. Nevertheless, the book was really enjoyable. The wife and eldest child will really get your dander up and make you wonder what the heck is wrong with them not to trust the man who'd given them such a wonderful life.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars The Last Nail in the Coffin
THE SETUP

Frank Douglas has a heart transplant and soon thereafter begins having new feelings, and "visions" (or hallucinations) that he is being protected by a male... Read more

Published on December 19, 2009 by Stoney

4.0 out of 5 stars Pulse
My favorite book is a good mystery. A good mystery keeps my interest and that was true of this book. PULSE kept me intested from the beginning. Read more

Published on March 30, 2009 by N. Walsh

1.0 out of 5 stars Story was telegraphed in. Plot fell apart towards ending.
Edna must have been working to meet a contract deadline to write Pulse. She writes good prose and had an intriguing idea, but that is the problem. Read more

Published on January 27, 2009 by pjm

4.0 out of 5 stars Pulse
Slow starting and kind of depressing. However, as the plot unfolds, Buchanan traps you into not wanting to put it down. Read more

Published on November 20, 2001 by Richard L. Booth

3.0 out of 5 stars long way to go for great ending
this book had an interesting concept. it was a bit long but the ending was definitely worth the wait. great paperback book to sit an veg out with on vacation. Read more

Published on January 5, 2001 by onethree

1.0 out of 5 stars Pulse is a Flatliner
I love a great mystery, and although this book has a decent storyline, the presentation leaves much to be desired. Read more

Published on July 6, 2000 by Smartmoo

3.0 out of 5 stars The Ending Is Worth It
This was a good story, although I felt as if I'd read it or one similar to it previously. The main character, Frank was a likeable guy but I agree with another reviewer who said... Read more

Published on July 31, 1999 by N. Sausser

4.0 out of 5 stars VERY COMFORTABLE BOOK TO READ.
I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK. IT WAS EASY TO READ, EASY TO FOLLOW AND COMPELLING HARD TO PUT DOWN. I ZOOMED THROUGH IT AND WAS SORRY WHEN IT WAS OVER. Read more

Published on May 16, 1999

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Plot!
After starting this book, it was difficult to put down. Good suspense writing leads the reader from one page to another with the desire to know what's going to happen next. Read more

Published on April 19, 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific! One of Buchanan's best.
At first I too was disappointed that this was't a Britt Montero book and at the very begining I thought - oh no not a heart transplant. Read more

Published on August 23, 1998 by Marguerite (mhannan@netcom.ca)

› See all 14 customer reviews...

Inside This Book (learn more)
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First Sentence:
Sudden death saved his life. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
transplant program

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Sue Ann, Daniel Alexander, Twin Palms, South Beach, Range Rover, Miami Beach, Denise Watson, Frank Douglas, Ron Harrington, South Florida, Rivo Alto, Seabird Station, Big Red, Denise Marie Watson, Margery Howe, Thank God, Gran Prix, Jesus Christ, Mister Douglas, North Carolina, Sam Townsend, Edna Buchanan, Good God, Rory Alexander, Was Kathleen

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