Customer Reviews

The Reservationist

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I really enjoyed this book. The storyline was fresh, and original. I really wanted to know what would become of the characters through each page. The characters were complex and the ending was unexpected. I look forward to future novels by this author.

Three friends, who happen to be reservationists for the same airline, find themselves working amid escalating workplace violence. The "Left-Handed Killer" is on the loose, the number of dead bodies found is increasing and the killing is a little too close to home for comfort. Pretty soon it becomes obvious that one of them is a serial killer. Through a series of interconnected events and scattered clues, investigators are able to narrow the list of suspects down to one of the women, who turns out to be secretly psychotic. As is often the case, no one knows the killer is mentally disturbed until it's too late. And when she is discovered, she offers a sordid story of childhood trauma and betrayal as reasons for the murderous rages she cannot seem to curtail.

THE RESERVATIONIST, written by Barbra Porter Coleman, was an easy read, though not as suspenseful as I had hoped. Coleman kept the story orderly and the events leading up to the discovery of the killer in logical sequence, but the element of surprise just wasn't there. It was an entertaining, predictable read, but wasn't what it purported to be; a suspense/mystery. However, Coleman has to be given kudos for good pacing and conflict resolution. I liked how she kept track of the various storylines and that, by the time the book ended, each one had been closed satisfactorily. She also touched upon many of society's problem areas and managed to make me feel a measure of sympathy for the "Left-Handed Killer," though I still wanted to see her get hers.

Reviewed by T. Shelly B.
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

For those who still make airline reservations by phone, the Reservationist takes us inside the world of the call center, and into the head of a deranged female killer. Die-hard murder mystery fans may not be satisfied with the early revelation of the killer, but otherwise, the suspense continues to the last page.

The novel deals with modern-day issues, such as the shortcomings of the foster care system, the perils of adoption, and pain of DWI. Characterization was the strong point of this novel. The crazy old aunt was my favorite. I look forward to reading more of this author's work, as she hones her skill.