Smoke (Lydia Strong Novels) [Hardcover]

Lisa Miscione (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 2005 | Series: Lydia Strong Novels

Lydia Strong's old writing student, Lily, has been missing for weeks. Before her disappearance, Lily had left a strange phone message for Lydia, asking for her help. But until now, Lydia did not pay much attention to the message because Lily tended to call occasionally. But when she learns that Lily had been looking into her brother's suicide, Lydia becomes concerned. In this fourth of Lisa Miscione's intense and gripping thrillers, Lydia teams up with her husband, ex-FBI agent, p.i. Jeffrey Mark, to uncover the truth behind Lily's disappearance.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Miscione's solid, satisfying fourth novel to feature New York crime writer Lydia Strong (after 2004's Twice) offers appealing characters with rich inner lives as well as intelligent and credible dialogue. When Lily Samuels, a former writing student of Lydia's, goes missing while trying to prove her brother was murdered, Strong enlists the help of her husband, PI Jeff Mark. After consulting with NYPD detective Matt Stenopolos, who has some leads but no time to look into them, and talking to the girl's father, who is clearly hiding something, Strong and Mark focus on a cultlike group, which almost all the members of the Samuels family were affiliated with. This group has a penchant for Special Forces–level security and a taste for revenge against any perceived enemy, first among them Detective Stenopolos. Meanwhile, Lydia must deal with her past, after inheriting a box of her long-absent father's papers, photos and belongings. The twists in the well-turned plot, however unexpected, never feel forced.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Miscione's fourth Lydia Strong mystery finds crime writer Lydia and her husband, Jeff Mark, on one of their most exciting cases. Lydia and Jeff emulate New York chic, dressing in black and cohabiting a hip apartment with a bottle of Ketel One in the freezer. Partners in the investigative firm of Mark, Striker, and Strong, the power couple relies on brawny, enigmatic Aussie Dax Chicago to help crack high-tech security systems and keep the bad guys at bay. This time Lydia is contacted when Lily Samuels, a former student from Lydia's journalism class at NYU, is reported missing. Lily's brother, Mickey, committed suicide, and Lily, refusing to believe it, was trying to determine what really happened. Searching for Lily leads Lydia and Jeff to the New Day church, a cultish group that brainwashes victims. This is definitely Miscione's best to date. If you don't know this series, it's high time to get acquainted. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books; First Edition edition (November 29, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312341857
• ISBN-13: 978-0312341855
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,084,855 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strong thriller, December 27, 2005

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Smoke (Lydia Strong Novels) (Hardcover)

That afternoon, writer Lydia Strong finally completes her latest novel, The Lost Girl, which for some reason was difficult creating. Just after finishing the tale, her grandpa calls to tell her that her father, whom she met once, died in Nyack, New York. Things come in threes; that night NYPD Missing persons Unit Detective Matt Stenopolis discusses with Lydia about Lily Samuels, a missing former NYU journalism student of hers.

Three weeks ago, Lydia's brother Mickey committed suicide in Riverdale. Over two weeks ago Lily called Lydia pleading for her help as she says she is out of her league. Lydia responded leaving a voice message, which is why Matt is here. As Lydia and her husband former FBI Agent Jeffrey Mark ask questions of the cop, Matt abruptly cuts them off and leaves. His partner Jessamyn Bresslow reminds Matt that Lily is out there seeking proof that Mickey was murdered in spite of the overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Unable to remain on the sidelines, Lydia and Jeffrey begin to search for her missing protégé starting with tracing the last days of her sibling.

The fourth Strong thriller is a terrific investigative tale with an intriguing late twist that most of Lisa Miscione's fans will appreciate though some might say is too over the edge; this reviewer is with those who will enjoy the SMOKE and mirrors spin. The dueling investigations between the police detectives and the married connected couple are fun to observe while the death of her irresponsible biological father provides further insight into what makes Lydia tick. This is a fine entry in a delightful series.

Harriet Klausner

1.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't finish it, October 21, 2011

By 

colorless.blue.ideas - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smoke (Lydia Strong Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I quite enjoyed the first novel of the series, Angel Fire. The second, The Darkness Gathered, "jumped the shark", as the saying goes: an impossible plot being by a good storyteller. I think Ms. Miscione/Unger is a very talented writer -- the words and paragraphs are well-crafted -- but the plots and situations were too much for me. After reading it off-an-on for several weeks (I usually finish a fiction book in a day or two), I picked it up this morning, started reading again, and just gave up, after having ploughed through two-thirds of the book. I think many people will enjoy the book, but I'd suggest using the second book of the series as an indicator. If you liked it, then you'll like this one. If not, then not.