Customer Reviews

Social Crimes

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I've been waiting for several years since devouring Jane Stanton Hitchcock's first two novels (the Edgar-nominated TRICK OF THE EYE, and the sinister WITCHES'HAMMER) and now she's back in brilliant form. Just in time for a great beach read, but far more clever and perceptive than simply a delightful diversion, SOCIAL CRIMES nails New York's society mavens and manners absolutely dead-on. This is a writer who clearly knows her subject and the world about which she writes, makes you care about her characters, has a great sense of humor, and uses an obscure and stunning legal device to set the devious plot in motion. Hitchcock took me directly into her world and kept me there, riveted to the pages. The book is smart, funny, well-written - and, as one of the reviewers said, drawing my attention to the book - just delicious. Highly recommended.

I don't normally read "beach fiction", but something about this story caught my attention. I read about it in a magazine (New York?) and when I saw it in a window, I couldn't resist.
While the main character, Jo, starts out fairly sympathetic, she becomes something that isn't very attractive. I understand that the author wanted to demonstrate exactly how desperate and petty this woman becomes, but I couldn't help but wish she would either; shut up, deal with it, and/or get herself together.
I understood fairly quickly the similarities that were being played out through Jo's life and Marie-Antionette's. It came to be a little much when she just happened to find a prostitute who was "the twin" of Monique, exactly what happened in the affair of the necklace. In the same story, we are to see Jo go from the Queen to the scheming penniless aristocrat, back to the Queen. Only this time, Marie-Antionette wins, she escapes the guillotine, makes an overwhelmingly triumphant return to society and assumes her former role.
The final scene at the ball is a bit much. The author literally tells us who each of the characters would be in the life of Marie-Antoinette. I think the author assumed that her readers wouldn't "get it" on their own so she spells it out. This was a bit insulting to the reader and indulgent of the author.
All things cosidered, I do recommend this book for the simple fact that I uderstood why Jo did what she did and was even hoping she would succeed even though I did't really like her.
It is a good book for people who want something but haven't really considered what it costs.

In the tradition of Edith Wharton, and with a clever and witty look at New York society, Jane Stanton Hitchcock presents a fast paced read with her newest book, Social Crimes.
This is the third book I've read by Ms. Hitchcock and this is her best book so far. With an almost tongue in cheek approach, the author presents less than sterling characters in a plot readers will long remember.

Jo Slater is living a life beyond her wildest dreams. A former restaurant hostess from the Midwest, Jo is now married to an enormously wealthy older man. She has become a true society lady owning an estate in the Hamptons, a fabulous apartment in Manhattan and a collection of priceless art and antiques, which includes a necklace owned by Josephine Bonaparte. But Jo is about to suffer a fall from grace when she befriends a French Countess whose background is quite mysterious. When Countess Monique has nowhere to stay for the remainder of the summer, Jo graciously offers her their guesthouse. And while Jo and Monique become fast friends, and Jo reveals a bit too much about herself, Monique is soon to prove to be quite the manipulator at Jo's expense.
All too soon, Jo is living on the other side of great wealth and society life, while Monique is now one of New York society's latest society ladies. After a period of disbelief as to what has happened to her, Jo moves into high gear and learns that revenge can have a higher price than she thought possible.

Like The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe, Ms. Hitchcock has a fine eye and ear for depicting life among the very wealthy. One reads this book with a chuckle and realizes at the end that position and wealth can be fleeting at the best of times.

Being super-rich must have a downside---somewhere. It couldn't happen to a nicer person than Jo Slater, our luxe heroine of this finely crafted psychological novel. Jo started off poor, became the mistress and later the wife of an obscenely rich man. She paid her dues, was the perfect wife and hostess, educated herself and became an arbitrator of Society.

Jo knows her 18th century French furniture, her Porthault linens, her couture wardrobe----knows it all except her incredibly conniving older husband and her former great friend, the young Countess de Passy. Husband dies suddenly in shocking circumstances, and Jo finds she is left with nothing but her jewelry and wardrobe while the Countess is left half his fortune. Hell hath no fury, etc., but Jo's is focused on the Countess to the point of obsession. However, it's tough to successfully scheme when all the bucks are on the other side.

Picture a cross among psychological thriller writer Minette Walters, "W"'s savvy society columnist Suzy, and the light hearted wit of George Plimpton and you will have an idea of what Ms. Hitchcock is about here. Jo is so likeable even when she is thinking her darkest thoughts that you feel like you want her for your new best friend.

Though "Social Crimes" is eminently readable and witty, it is no fluffy beach book. The author zeros in on the pain and belittlement of obsession and humiliation; how even the best of us can become emotionally crippled by a sudden change in our fortunes. Revenge is a very cold dish indeed.

Can't say enough good about Ms. Hitchcock and "Social Crimes." Do yourself a favor and read it!
-sweetmolly-Amazon.com Reviewer

"I literally could not put this book down. It is not only a fabulous read, but you feel like this author really knows the world she is writing about from the inside, and I learned a lot. Jo Slater is a great character and I found myself rooting for her against all my better instincts. You have to love a book whose first sentence is: "Murder was never my goal in life." It is sublime and subversive. What a tour de force! I can't wait for the sequel.

So the writer is well versed in Marie Antoinette and proceeds to use 300+ pages to beat this expertise into our heads. The book was just a little too precious with its cast of characters and their turns of phrase. I was not the least bit surprised who would be murdered and how it would take place, as the author chose to telegraph the method at least 100 pages beforehand.

I believe there is something inauthentic in writing what you know when the first 250 pages speak in exquisite, never-ending detail of historical anecdote and the author glosses over the actual point of the plot. By now it's anticlimatic.

Jo Slater is a very wealthy, very powerful socialite. She serves on the board of one of New York's most prestigious museum, she owns one of the worlds most impressive collection of eighteenth century furniture, she throws the best parties and has friends in all of the right places. Jo worked very hard to get to where she was, as she was not born into this life. However, it the blink of an eye all that Jo had worked so hard to attain was ripped away from her upon her husbands death. That is thanks in part to the beautiful French Countess Monique de Passay who began an affair with Lucius Slater, Jo's husband of over twenty years, a little over a year before Lucius' death. Lucius' will leaves all of his assets split between the Countess and his son leaving Jo virtually penniless and in a lot of debt. After years of obsessing over revenge, Jo finally devises a plan to bring down the Countess and regain her standing in society.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel of New York's socially elite and how quickly it can all be taken away. "SOCIAL CRIMES" is a very enjoyable book that will have you rooting for Jo all the way.

"Social Crimes" is the perfect fast beach read and very entertaining. I read it over the weekend. Most mysteries are predicable and I don't think the author is trying to be Agatha Christie. People that don't live in the New York City area or aren't aware of the social circles depicted in the book won't find it as amusing since the book is set in the city and the Hamptons. The book is exactly what it should be - fun!

The woman in the book store said that she hadn't read it but that it was flying out of the store. I can see why!!! I purchased it and spent the next day on the beach devouring it.

Perfect beach book, easy read, good plotting and thoroughly enjoyable.

This is one of those books that keeps you up real late saying...'Just one more chapter'! When I started this I wasn't sure what I was getting into. I half expected a shallow chick-lit book about New York Society life, and having just finished 'The Right Address', which was awful, I really hoped this would be better. Thank goodness it was!

Jo Slater is married to the very wealthy Lucius Slater, and she's the queen of the NYC social scene. Everyone wants to be just like her, so gracious, kind, and elegant. Life is going pretty well for Jo, she has two beautiful homes, one-of-a-kind furniture and art, and a new friend to confide into. Countess Monique De Passy.

Monique stays with them for the summer, and the two become very close, all Jo's friends warn her that Monique is bad news, but she thinks they're jealous. Well...turns out Monique's been having an affair with Jo's husband, and after his surprise death that summer from a heart attack, Jo finds out that Lucius has changed his will and left her penniless, while Monique gets over two hundred million dollars.

The rest of the story is exceptionally told, and the plot is amazing. Jo goes from having it all, to having to buy Hush Puppy shoes for her 9-5 job. But how she extracts revenge on The Countess is marvelous!! I couldn't stop reading till I knew how it ended. I definitely recommend this for chick-lit fans! It's not a shallow book at all, very good writing and a very original plot. Kudos's Ms. Hitchcock!!