Are You Afraid of the Dark? (Mass Market Paperback)

by Sidney Sheldon (Author) "IN DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN, in court- room thirty-seven of the Supreme Court Criminal Term building at 180 Centre Street, the trial of Anthony (Tony) Altieri was..." (more)
Key Phrases: Tanner Kingsley, Diane Stevens, Senator Van Luven (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Two gorgeous widows go up against a nefarious multinational think tank in this airbrushed but goofily entertaining thriller by perennial bestseller Sheldon (The Sky Is Falling; Tell Me Your Dreams; etc.). Four scientists working for the New York–based Kingsley International Group have died or disappeared within 24 hours. Wolfish top boss Tanner Kingsley vows to find the perpetrator; meanwhile, stunning artist Diane Stevens, wife of a just-murdered KIG scientist, and supermodel Kelly Harris, whose husband has likewise been killed, find themselves under attack by mysterious strangers. Diane and Kelly form an uneasy alliance, though both spend most of their time ruminating on their wonderful (now dead) husbands: "I want to feel you stroking my breast.... I want to imagine that I can hear your voice saying that I make the best paella in the world...." The plot is straightforward: people are killed, women are in peril and an evil CEO (Tanner, gasp!) has a plot to take over the world. His technique involves controlling the weather, and in an intriguing short afterword, Sheldon explains the very real possibilities of just such a scenario. The on-the-lam ladies, Kelly and Diane, escape every assassination attempt with ridiculous ease, and other characters appear and disappear simply in order to get the author out of one plot pickle after another. Still, despite (or because of) Sheldon's blithe unconcern for logic and his just-add-water relationships, this is a breezily pleasing read.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Readers don't expect literary genius from Sheldon, but they do expect to be entertained, and once again the popular TV-producer-turned-storyteller delivers the goods. When four top scientists at the imposing think tank KIG wind up dead in four different parts of the world, is it coincidence? Two of the victims' wives--the elegant artist, Diane, who just testified against a Mob boss, and the gorgeous model Kelly, who flew to New York from Paris at the behest of her dead husband's boss--inadvertently meet, and they find themselves connected because someone is apparently trying to kill them, too. It could be the Mob underlings who promised retribution against Diane for having testified against their Godfather. Or is it possible the women's husbands were so deep into their secret project for KIG that they may have been a threat to its secrecy, and now the wives must die, too? This novel is short on character development and long on cliched literary techniques, but it is, nevertheless, the best kind of guilty pleasure. Mary Frances Wilkens
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (June 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446613657
• ISBN-13: 978-0446616256
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (133 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #141,143 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! Non-stop thrills of action and intrigue., September 15, 2004

By	Nick Gonnella - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Are You Afraid of the Dark? : A Novel (Hardcover)

In different parts of the world four people died in accidents, or that's what the killer wants it to look like. The victims were all strangers with one thing in common...they all worked for Kinsley International Group, the world's largest think tank.

Two of the victim's wives, Diane Stevens and Kelly Harris attend a meeting at Kinsley International and soon after they are attacked by an unknown assailant.

Not knowing who to trust or where to turn the two women must work together if they are to find out what happened to their husbands. Traveling the world, Diane and Kelly dodge bullet after bullet while racing to get the answers surrounding their husband's death's until they realize the answers may be buried within the walls of Kinsley International.

`Are You Afraid Of The Dark' is excellent! I did not put this down until I finished it. This is pure non-stop entertainment and should be judged as just that. Yes, the plot gets a little silly, but it's highly enjoyable. Yes, the two women manage to stay ahead of the killers at every turn, but they are so likable you can overlook how unrealistic it is. Yes, the two women thwart the attacks on their life throughout the whole story, but it keeps the pages turning. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it's filled with action, murder and several surprises. I can describe this novel only one way...international intrigue filled Gucci and Prada.

Sidney Sheldon has been one of my favorite authors for years and his long awaited new novel is the proof as to why; the man writes books that simply can't-be-put-down. `Are You Afraid Of The Dark' is a thrilling read filled with twists and surprises.

A must read blockbuster!

Nick Gonnella

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't Bother Turning On the Lights, January 3, 2005

By	Rhonda R. Mcgowan - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Are You Afraid of the Dark? : A Novel (Hardcover)

I'm so disappointed at the demise of my favorite author's writing that I am near tears. I've been a fan of Sidney Sheldon's since The Other Side of Midnight. I requested his newest book for Xmas and was excited to get this as requested. I planned an afternoon when I would be uninterrupted to begin his latest suspense thriller.

To my great disappointment, the storyline of this book reminded me of a storyline from General Hospital back in the 1980's -- the evil scientist has created a weather machine...

The characters were scantily developed, and were quite unlikable. The details of nearly everything were very sketchy. I found myself LAUGHING at the pathetic plot. The entire story is two women running around, followed by inept assassins, with the evil scientist anticipating their every move.

The book began with such promise, and Sheldon's ability to keep me turning pages remains a strong skill. It took me a little over three hours to read this expensive hardback.

I have NEVER read a book so bad that I will not forward it on to friends, or donate it. This one made it straight into the trash.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Master Storyteller is back, September 16, 2004

By	Rosa "Bookworm" (Detroit,MichiganUSA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Are You Afraid of the Dark? : A Novel (Hardcover)

I have been a longtime fan of Sidney Sheldon. An his novels never disappoint. And this no exception. It is suspenseful,compelling. Just when you think you have it figure out. Sheldon throws another curve ball. I love it and you will too. Thank you Mr. Sheldon for a job well done.