Customer Reviews

When Night Falls

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

WHEN NIGHT FALLS is sure to appeal to both romance and mystery fans. Anderson's true gift is creating wonderful, believable characters that are likeable and complex. At first, I thought the protagonist, Lannie Sullivan, was too good to be true: young, beautiful, financially independent--an ex-dancer, ex-jr. leaguer, ex-prosecutor... Was there no end to this woman's many talents? While Lannie had the good life, good education, good job, good family, qualities many might envy, the reader meets her only after Lanni has lost almost everything she has ever loved. Her only child, her husband and her career are gone. Lannie has retreated from life and is living in an isolated mountain cabin, where she is haunted by the tragedy of her daughter's drowning, where she lives a spartan and reclusive routine with her loyal dog, Bry, at her side. And where she encounters Drum Rutledge, a lusty lumber baron with secrets of his own.

Although this story contains a sociopathic stalker, an obsessive creep who's had a crush on Lannie since the 6th grade, the real magic is in the love story. There are minor procedural glitches in the hunt for the stalker (Would police fingerprint an abandoned, stolen car? You mean local police wouldn't jump at an influential citizen's request? Some clues were delivered to Drum too easily, in my opinion. And Lannie's denial about the stalking lowered my estimation of her IQ by about twenty points!) But apart from that, the characterizations are multi-dimensional, layered and sympathetic. Even the secondary characters are great. And the stalker made my skin crawl! So if you want a romance that sizzles, some characters to care about, a tale that transports to the North Carolina mountains--and a fast paced read--invest in this book. It's one of the better romantic suspense novels you'll come across.

Jeb Bassert spent nine years in prison for rape-murder until sophisticated DNA testing proved his innocence. Receiving his pardon, he plans to get what is rightfully his from the prosecuting attorney Lannie Sullivan, now living in the remote town of High Falls in the North Carolina mountains. He will obtain his vengeance just as he promised her in the courtroom on that day he was convicted.

Lannie is just coming out of a type of battle fatigue syndrome. Three years ago, her beloved little daughter Gracie drowned. Not long afterward, she and her spouse divorced with each accusing the other of neglect. Every night since the girl?s death, a guilt-wracked Lannie suffers nightmares about her Gracie. For most of the time in self imposed exile, Lannie lives the life of a hermit except for her canine. Now she is just beginning to return to the world of the living, starring in a local show and with the help of Drumond Rutledge, a visiting CEO. However, the game?s afoot as Jeb has begun stalking his prey.

WHEN NIGHT FALLS is a powerful suspense thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The story line is brimming with action as Jeb begins his thirst for revenge and Lannie tries to counter his moves. A subplot involving a romance between Lannie and Drum seems unnecessary to this powerful thriller. As with her outstanding romantic mystery, THE SECRETS OF SADIE MAYNARD, Linda Anderson provides her fans with a superb suspense story that will bring the author new fans.

Harriet Klausner

This is the first book I have read by Linda Anderson. The cover looked interesting (which is what drew my attention to it and the synopsis on the back cover intrigued me as well). I am an avid reader of mysteries, and I was not disappointed. Ms. Anderson writes an on-the-edge mystery and I highly recommend this book for other readers who like a book that they can't put down. The characters were believable; the location was exciting; and she kept the story flowing from start to finish. Although you knew who the "bad guy" was from the beginning, Ms. Anderson wrote enought twists and turns in the story that you couldn't figure out the ending until the end. Kudos to Ms. Anderson.

I don't write reviews often, however, I have to write about this book. The plot was wonderful! The characters were the best. I found myself talking out loud cussing Jeb. The way the author kept him just one stoke behind his victim was nail biting! It is different than any suspense novel I have ever read, due to the fact that it is not your normal "Who done it." You know who he is, and have so much fun hating him. I have to say also, the characters, were strong and the writing was great! I felt like I was living in the story, not just reading it. This author knows how to weave a plot. (Secrets of Sadie Manard) I will be on the look out for her next book!

I loved this book. The author has created a believeable heroine, hero and villian. I really cared what was going to happen to the characters. Her descriptions of the North Carolina mountains is detailed and lovely. It is a very suspenseful read but not disturbing. A great suspense read.

I picked this book up on the spur of the moment and cannot wait to read another book by this author. I literally could not put it down -- the characters are compelling and their separate tragedies make their story one of the best books I have read in a long time. The author paints vivid pictures of the North Carolina mountains where most of the story takes place -- the town almost becomes one of the characters. This book contained all of the things I look for in romantic suspense: believable and sympathetic characters, a truly evil "bad guy", and a wonderful story. Read it!

I just finished this book today and thought it was great!! Given a choice of two or three characters, I thought I knew who the villan had become, and even at the end I was wrong. That makes a great mystery for me. I was disappointed that one of the heroine's friends died (as well as a few others that "bit the dust") but overall, it is a good read. I think it will hold your interest to the end.

ROMANCE AND SUSPENSE INTERTWINED TO DELIVER A HEARTPULSING, HEARTSTOPPING STORY WITH A PLOTLINE LOADED WITH TWISTS AND TURNS. MARVELOUS CHARACTERS YOU LEARN TO LOVE...OR HATE. BRAVO, MS. ANDERSON!

I wasn't prepared for the darkness of the killer in this book, or for the incredible amount of time spent on his characterization.

I've read many a suspense but this one gave me the heebie jeebies!

That being said, I really enjoyed the setting for this book. It was unique and I found it charming.

Lannie and her dog, Bry, have been hiding out in the mountains of North Carolina for two years while Lannie heals from the death of her daughter and the breakup of her marriage.

Drum returns to the mountain, where he and his wife and son used to spend so much time, to repair the lodge and try to put his ghosts behind him.

These two hurting people find passion when they least expect it--in each other.

However, a spectre from Lannie's past as an attorney has been pardoned due to some shady DNA switching on his part, and now, he's out to settle the score with Lannie for his nine years in prison.

The killer in this book is so evil, so twisted and sick and disturbed.....I found the last part of the book really tough to read. But, it was incredibly suspenseful and very emotion packed.

I really admired Lannie for the things she had to overcome.

There are some fun secondary characters to in this book.

You'll enjoy this book. Just don't read it after dark! ;)

I thought this book was too caught up in the character's involvement at the local summer-stock theater and her falling in love with the hero (and the complications that brought) to be the "fast paced romantic suspense" I expected after reading other reader's reviews.