Total Eclipse: Total Eclipse [Paperback]

Rigbey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1996

Charged with a double homicide after her husband and stepdaughter are found slain, seductive Julia Fox finds assistance from a gentle astronomer, Lomax, who uncovers a dramatic truth about the case. Reprint. NYT.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When beautiful Julia Fox is accused of murdering her husband and stepdaughter, her lover, an astronomer named Lomax, assists the defense team investigating the crime. But to his dismay, Lomax uncovers evidence that helps the prosecution more than the defense: a history of antagonism between Julia and her step-daughter, Gail; hints of incest between Gail and her lawyer father; a huge withdrawal from Julia's trust fund that may have been a blackmail payment. Complicating matters are the dead man's membership in a club that caters to peculiar sexual tastes, and Lomax's obsessive jealousy of Julia. Set in and around an unnamed California observatory, which serves as the source of a subplot about celestial distortions that neatly ties into the main story line, Rigbey's first novel boasts gripping courtroom sequences, a driving style and believable characters?but only up to a point. The trouble is that the plot climaxes in what is clearly meant to be a stunning surprise?but it's one that many readers will have guessed long before. And once the secret is out so are the author's manipulations, which now appear obvious, as does the lack of discernment in otherwise intelligent characters. Still, excepting this major flaw, this is a well-written and engrossing debut, tailored for a hot summer day's read. Major ad/promo.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In Rigbey's first novel, a young woman is accused of murdering her husband and stepdaughter. Although the author has no track record, the elements of hype are in abundance: a book club sale, a simultaneous audio release, and heavy print and radio advertising.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (April 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671795805
• ISBN-13: 978-0671795801
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 3.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,412,937 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 absolutely fantastic, April 22, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Total Eclipse: Total Eclipse (Paperback)

One of the best mystery suspense novels I've ever read, and I'm very critical! Extremely literate, complex, and believable, as well as being very very creepy. Read it practically all at one sitting, couldn't put it down. Up there with Presumed Innocent and Silence of the Lambs, don't know why it's not more popular here in the US.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very pleasant surprise, August 22, 1997

By 

Angela Linton "Angie" (Manchester) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Total Eclipse: Total Eclipse (Paperback)

Buying a secondhand book by an unknown author is always a bit of a gamble so I was pleasantly surprised by this book which was one of the most readable, offbeat and engrossing thrillers I had read in some time. I did guess the ending quite early on but this in no way spoiled my enjoyment. The characters are highly believable and Ms Rigbey, without preaching at the reader, makes many valid points about the current day obsession with physical perfection. Only one complaint - I HAD to finish this book and sat up until the small hours to do it - now I'm knackered

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your time, September 12, 2011

By 

C. Mathieu "waldenpond88" (Worcester, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Total eclipse (Hardcover)

I have two books by Liz Rigbey and hope the other one will be better.

This one is way too slow to keep me reading. After 100 pages I gave up.

A complete waste of time.

I rather recommend books that are thrilling from the first page like "In a Dry Season" by Peter Robinson, "A Place of Execution" by Val McDermid, "Night over Water" by Ken Follett, "Landscape of Lies" by Peter Watson, "Tom Ripley" by Patricia Highsmith or "The Unforgiven" by Patricia MacDonald.