When Night Falls (Mass Market Paperback)

by Linda Anderson (Author) "Children drown silently..." (more)
Key Phrases: criminology lab, dancing daisy, summer playhouse, High Falls, Jeb Bassert, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The drowning death of her young daughter and the bitter divorce that followed drove ex-prosecutor Lannie Sullivan into a reclusive existence at her secluded mountain cabin. Now, after two years of isolation, Lannie's finally emerging from her fragile bubble -- losing herself in volunteer work at a local summer-stock theater and in the embrace of her neighbor, rugged timber baron Drum Rutledge.

But Lannie's new life is in deadly danger. Not only is Drum haunted by secrets that could shatter both their lives, but less than a day's journey away, a vicious rapist has been released from jail. Jeb Bassert has sworn vengeance on the woman he holds responsible for sending him to prison for nine bitter years -- Lannie. In a thriller as chilling and dark as a moonless midnight, Linda Anderson delivers a shattering tale of murder, deception, and redemptive love.

About the Author
Linda Anderson is the author of Over the Moon, The Secrets of Sadie Maynard, and When Night Falls. The mother of five grown children, she lives in South Florida with her husband. "Writing is a gift that brings me great joy, for which I'm very grateful. I hope my stories bring the same joy to my readers."

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (October 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743411471
• ISBN-13: 978-0743411479
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,206,480 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Swift-moving plot and strong romance..., January 29, 2001

By A Customer

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.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent romantic suspense, November 16, 2000

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read, January 12, 2001

By A Customer

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.