Customer Reviews

See Jane Run

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In the last 6-1/2 hours, my blood pressure has probably risen to unbelievable heights. I've been frightened and perplexed, I literally gasped for breath more than a few times, and I'm probably doomed to weeks of nightmares. I feel like I just ran a marathon. In other words, I read this book.

I wanted to scream to Jane exactly what she should do next, as if I were actually living in her character. I could feel her frustration and helplessness. Then, at the horrifying moment when Jane learns the truth-all of the truth!-her reactions are vivid, poignant, and absolutely realistic. I really appreciated that, and after reading only my second of Joy Fielding's offerings I have a great respect for this portion of the book.

This packs a wallop like few others I've seen. The villain of this piece is far creepier and more rage-worthy than anything Stephen King has invented. No loose ends and no disappointments, either.

Run, don't walk, to the bookstore for this one!

This book is one of the best I've read. I actually re-read it every couple of years or so (my copy is so old, it has a different cover to this one). It gets you right from page one and doesn't let go. I personally didn't see the end coming, but I've read almost all of Joy's books and this is the best by far. It's so good and if you are a fan of a good thriller, this is what you are looking for. I highly recommend it. It's one of the few books I've read from front to back without stopping (except bathroom breaks).

One late afternoon, a young woman finds herself wandering around the shopping centre of her town, with no idea of who she is, where she is or how she happened to get there. She discovers to her horror that the expensive but simple dress she is wearing under her coat, is covered with blood and that nearly $10,000 in hundred dollar bills, is stuffed carelessly into her pockets. Overcoming her initial fright with a huge effort, she books into a hotel for the night but feels herself growing progressively more shaky and in danger of losing control, so she reports herself to a police station. The police send her to a public hospital for examination by a psychiatrist and while she is being examined, a staff member recognizes her as Jane Whittaker, the wife of a prominent and well respected pediatrician, Dr Michael Whittaker. Her husband shows great concern for her welfare and takes her home to be cared for by a housekeeper who, under Michael's instructions, keeps her constantly sedated. Michael does a great job of "gaslighting" her to the point that she willingly accepts the sedation, believing his story that she is violent, has an uncontrollable temper and was responsible for the deaths of her own daughter and mother. It's a terrifying scenario, the reason for which I luckily did not guess, which made it even more horrifying.

Jane Whittaker is suffering from a case of amnesia. She is found roaming the streets of Boston with thousands of dollars in her pocket and a cryptic note to call someone. She does not recognize the writing or the name of the person on the note.

Jane's husband, a well-respected pediatrician is directed to Jane and returns her to their lavish home. Once at home, Jane is treated like a bird in a gilded cage. Is her loving husband someone she can recognize? Is he the same towards her before or after her amesia? And what motive does her odious maid Paula have for dismissing her claims and denying her access to other people? I detested Paula and thought she was for the birds. I loved the part where Jane exacts revenge on her. Jane suspects she is being drugged. Is there any validity to that claim? Does Jane really need to run for her life?

Villians change shape and form and motives become even darker. The real question is whether or not Jane is able to recover from her amesia and unmask the villians, if any.

Excellent--the best of Fielding's books. The most fascinating aspect of the book is that we, as readers, are gradually learning about who Jane Whittaker was, and is, at the same time that Jane is recovering from her memory loss. Jane is a very memorable character, and the subtle descriptions of her personality traits and tendencies make for a very interesting read. This is not a "predictable mystery" by any means, although certain people are not what they appear to be. The only problem I had with the book was Jane's nosy neighbor Carole. Would any neighbor, even a NOSY one, call your doctor husband in the middle of a scheduled surgery and tell him to get home right away just because YOU LOOKED DISTRAUGHT? I didn't quite buy that one, but overall, every minute detail about the characters and events flowed smoothly. I highly recommend it.

See Jane Run was my first Joy Fielding book. I thought it was a great book. In fact, the day I read it, I went out and bought three more books by her. It kept you in suspence and wandering what would happen next. I HIGHLY recommend everyone to read See Jane Run. Believe, you won't be sorry

I read at least a hundred suspense novels a year, and I really believe that Joy Fielding is one of the best writers in the business. She is very gifted with language, and is able to create characters that are very realistic and three-dimensional. In some ways, her psychological thrillers resemble those of Mary Higgins Clark, but a little more graphic in the violence and sexual content.

SEE JANE RUN is probably Joy Fielding's most successful novel, written over fifteen years ago. Many fans consider it her best. The story is relatively simple, and deals with a woman with amnesia who is desperately trying to find out the truth about her past. The story starts with a bang and is very gripping until the very end. I really enjoyed it, and I found this book very difficult to put down.

If you've never read Joy Fielding before, I recommend starting with this novel. Some of her later work is uneven and sometimes features characters that are difficult to like. This novel does not have that problem, and is a great all around suspense story with a likable heroine.

Highly recommended.

Like many readers, I was captured after the first sentence. There is something around every little corner, thus making it difficult to put down! It's smart, suspenseful, and engaging. You have no idea what lies next for Jane, who has lost her identity. Fielding gives very little away, but just enough to keep you behind Jane & her gut instinct in finding the real truth! I was not expecting the outcome at all.
I also recommend reading Fielding's "Whispers & Lies". Another good one!

See Jane Run is a must read on audio. If you loved reading this book - you'll enjoy it so much more by actually listening to it on audio. It's heart pounding, frustrating, heart warming, etc. I found myself yelling into the tape. And if you haven't read the book yet, do yourself a favor and start out with the audio.

Jane comes to on a street corner in downtown Boston. She cant remember who she is, where she lives, what she was doing, who she knows -- in short, a total amnesia has developed. What crisis has occurred to induce this hysterical state? The psychiatrists kindly send her home with her devoted and loving husband. Her husband arranges for her to be cared for in their home and Jane begins to have the feeling that she is being kept a prisoner rather than as a patient. Drugged and indifferent, she can hardly get through each day. She struggles to make connections between what she sees in the house and overhears on the phone but can't come to any conclusions. She becomes more and more convinced that her husband, the handsome, weathly and well-respected pediatric surgeon, is not helping her much. When he begins to speak of institutionalizing her, Jane knows that she must recover her lost memory and soon. This is a very taut psychological thriller. It doesn't seem to get bogged down in minutiae but drives on, relentlessly, to a shocking (but not altogether unsuspected) revelation. Enjoy!!! Suitable even for a teenager, the violence is not graphic but the subject matter is for the emotionally mature.