Suspicion of Madness [Hardcover]

Barbara Parker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 24, 2003 | Series: Parker, Barbara

For nearly a decade Barbara Parker's phenomenally successful thrillers have delighted readers and reviewers alike. The Chicago Tribune applauds her "taut storytelling...tight plotting and lively characterization." The Miami Herald hails her for her "well-paced, compelling stories and believable characters with emotional depth and texture that should turn casual readers into fanatics." And the San Antonio Express-News calls her novels simply "enthralling." Now this supremely gifted author returns with a blockbuster story of smoldering suspense that pits Gail and Anthony against their most chilling adversary yet.

For attorneys Gail Connor and Anthony Quintana, spending a couple of days in a private villa on a secluded island in the Florida Keys seems almost too good to be true. The innocent cliché hits home with a vengeance when a dangerously unbalanced former client of Anthony's is suspected of a local murder, and then attempts suicide. As an idyllic vacation turns into an escalating nightmare of terror and death, Gail and Anthony find themselves isolated among the strange and secretive islanders as a late tropical storm threatens to unleash its fury on them all. Somehow, they must hang on to their sanity and use every weapon at their disposal to outwit a wily criminal bent on plunging them into a world of deepening madness.

Filled with steamy atmosphere, stunning reversals, and hairpin twists and turns, and certain to be another sensational bestseller, Suspicion of Madness is Barbara Parker-one of America's best thriller authors writing today-at the top of her game.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Miami lawyers Gail Connor and Anthony Quintana head to Key West for a combined romantic vacation and murder investigation in the seventh of Parker's Suspicion series (Suspicion of Vengeance, etc.). As in previous installments, the pressures of the chase test the relationship of the high-powered couple, and Florida's lush landscape adds color to a mystery that makes up in intensity what it lacks in depth. It all begins when wealthy client Martin Greenwald invites Quintana to his resort in the Florida Keys to help his troubled stepson, Billy, who is under suspicion for murder. Certain Billy is innocent, Quintana convinces Connor to join him to share the delights of the island. But they find little time for amusement because as soon as they arrive, they learn Billy has attempted suicide. In quick order, lies and bodies are uncovered, and Connor and Quintana find themselves investigating an aging B-movie starlet, a pair of conniving local lawyers, the client's overextended family and a stuttering handyman who does odd jobs, showing up in the oddest places at the oddest times. The intertwining lives of the characters reflect the Florida culture around them-rich in dreaming, scheming and explosive undercurrents. The surprise ending is no surprise for Hitchcock fans, but former state prosecutor and practicing attorney Parker paces her story well and neatly ties up loose ends. She also heats up the legal intrigue with the fiery romance between Latin lover Quintana and single mom Connor, ensuring that fans-even those who have seen the same movies Parker has-will stay tuned for the next escapade of Miami's tempestuous legal sweethearts.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Parker's sixth contribution to her "Suspicion of" series takes Gail Connor and Anthony Quintana on a working vacation to the Florida Keys. Shortly after their arrival, Anthony is retained to represent a former client, a 19-year-old who has confessed to murdering his mother and step-father, owners of the posh Buttonwood Resort on Lindeman Key-a murder the vacationing couple doesn't believe he committed. Even before Anthony and Gail can settle into their bungalow, they become acquainted with an assortment of soon-to-become suspects, who range from a handyman to an aging movie star. As the case unfolds, these characters reveal their unique claim to possible madness and motive. Meanwhile, Gail and Anthony toy with the idea of turning the trip into a honeymoon when a tropical storm threatens the Keys. Suspense builds as the stakes are artfully raised on all fronts, giving fans another glimpse into the lives of this hot-blooded legal duo. For all popular fiction collections.
--Nancy McNicol, Whitneyville Branch Lib., Hamden, CT
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: Dutton; 1st edition (February 24, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525946810
• ISBN-13: 978-0525946816
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,764,546 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars certain enjoyment, March 2, 2003

By 

S. Gould "gouldpjaks" (Woodmere, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Suspicion of Madness (Hardcover)

I look forward to each book in the Connor/ Quintana series by Barbara Parker and I'm never disappointed. In this episode Anthony Quintana is called upon once again by the wealthy parents of a former client, Billy Fadden, who has become the primary suspect in the gruesome death of an employee at the posh Florida Keys resort that they own. When Quintana arrives at the resort with Gail Connors his fiance and sometimes cohort, they learn that Billy has attempted suicide after confessing to the police. The lovers weekend they had planned is quickly disappearing while suspects are just as quickly multiplying. Parker masterfully establishes each charachter as a plausible suspect with both motive and opportunity. Connor and Quintana investigate an aging horror film star, a stuttering handyman, a lovelorn sister, the ne'er do well father, two suspicious attorneys and Billy. Despite the obstacles in their path the relationship between Gail and Anthony continues to sizzle as they try to solve the mystery and maybe tie the knot. The tension and intrigue never flag as this tale races to its climax. My only regret is that I finished it too quickly and have too long to wait for the next book.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Intrigue and murder in the Florida Keys., April 6, 2003

By 

E. Bukowsky "booklover10" (NY United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Suspicion of Madness (Hardcover)

Gail Connor and Anthony Quintana are two high powered and intense lawyers who have had a rocky relationship over the years. They take a break from their busy schedules to spend a few days in a beautiful inn on a secluded island in the Florida Keys. This is the setting for Barbara Parker's latest suspense novel, "Suspicion of Madness."

Connor and Quintana are guests at a place called The Buttonwood Inn. The proprietors of the inn, Martin and Teri Greenwald, have invited Gail and Anthony to be their guests in return for Anthony's legal assistance. Teri has a son, Billy, from a former marriage, and her son is a suspect in a murder case. The Greenwalds are hoping that Anthony can help prove Billy's innocence.

Gail and Anthony meet an assortment of odd characters during this trip. They include Martin's overbearing sister, Lois, a strange former actress named Joan Sinclair, who acts like Gloria Swanson from "Sunset Boulevard," a disreputable and conniving attorney, and a creepy handyman. All of these people are together on this isolated island when a ferocious storm hits. Naturally, dead bodies begin to pile up and it soon becomes apparent that a madman is on the loose.

Parker's usual crisp writing style is nowhere in sight this time around. At almost 370 pages, the book meanders along its slow path, and very little happens during large portions of the novel. The dialogue is forced and unconvincing and the plot is contrived and silly. Even the chemistry between Connor and Quintana cannot save "Suspicion of Madness" from being a below average and rather dull thriller.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars disappointing, July 7, 2003

By 

carol hartford (San Francisco area) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Suspicion of Madness (Hardcover)

I am a fan of this series and will continue to be.

But this story lacked tightness. It was spread too thin with too much going on. Not enough tension. The plot seemed tired, as if she threw in characters just to fill the space.

But I still can't wait for the next one. I am sure the next one will be better.