Suspicious Origin (Mass Market Paperback)

by Patricia MacDonald (Author) "Kevin Carmichael awoke with a start in his darkened bedroom and waited for the thudding of his heartbeat to subside..." (more)
Key Phrases: pink parka, alibi witness, Aunt Britt, Chief Stern, Alec Lynch (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Some clever hiding of clues in plain sight distinguishes Edgar nominee MacDonald's (The Unforgiven) otherwise unremarkable contemporary thriller. Britt Andersen finds herself playing Nancy Drew after Greta, her estranged older sister, perishes in a fire that also almost claims the life of her 11-year-old niece, Zoe. Remorseful at having lost her chance at reconciliation, Britt leaves Boston, where she produces a late-night news talk show, for the rural Vermont community where her sister lived and died. Her intended short stay for the funeral is extended both by unexpected feelings of connection to Zoe and by the alarming news that the fatal blaze was of "suspicious origin," a phrase that develops a personal resonance when she learns that Greta was trying to locate their mother, who'd deserted them when they were little. After her brother-in-law starts behaving oddly, Britt joins forces with a local reporter to build a case against him. Predictably, Britt too becomes the target of arson and attempted murder. While the author plays fair by giving reasonable hints that still allow for a pleasurable surprise twist, her paper-thin characters generate little interest. A successful professional who must have considerable emotional intelligence to do her job, Britt acts as if the most basic human feelings of love and attachment are an unknowable mystery. Her strictly amateur sleuthing succeeds only by accident. Readers for whom romance matters more than crime-solving, however, will like the hopeful, heart-warming ending.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal
After her estranged sister dies in a fire, Britt suspects the charming ex-brother-in-law she has just met.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (April 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743423593
• ISBN-13: 978-0743423595
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,329,672 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it, July 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Suspicious Origin : A Novel (Hardcover)

when I read "Not Guilty" I thought I had read the best book by Ms. MacDonald. That was before I read Suspicious Origin. This book is fantastic. It's got you from the first page. It sure makes you think. I finished it in just a few days and that was only reading a few hours a day. I just didn't want to put it down. It is very easy to get involved with all of the people in this book & it keeps you guessing & when it gets close to the end you can start to figure out who the killer is. Ms. MacDonald is a wonderful author but this is her best book so far.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A deadly fire throws a family into chaos., June 5, 2003

By	E. Bukowsky "booklover10" (NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Suspicious Origin : A Novel (Hardcover)

Britt Andersen, a cable television news producer in Boston, is the heroine of Patricia MacDonald's latest thriller, "Suspicious Origin." Britt has been estranged from her sister, Greta, for many years. When Britt learns that her sister was killed in a fire, she goes to Vermont to attend Greta's funeral. Britt meets her brother-in-law, Alec, and her eleven-year-old niece, Zoe, for the first time. Only later does Britt learn that the fire was deliberately set, and that, in fact, Greta was murdered.

MacDonald sets up her plot reasonably well, and in Britt, she has created a sympathetic, smart and vulnerable heroine. Although I thought that I had figured out the mystery by the halfway point of the book, it turned out that MacDonald had a few surprises up her sleeve. Unfortunately, the book's weaknesses outweigh its strengths. The dialogue is often wooden and the ending is somewhat contrived. Still, fans of spunky heroines may find "Suspicious Origin" to be a diverting thriller.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong suspense thriller, April 23, 2003

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

This review is from: Suspicious Origin : A Novel (Hardcover)

When Kevin Carmichael wakes up one night, he sees his neighbor's home on fire and he rushes out to try and save them. He manages to save ten-year-old Zoë but is unable to get to her mother Greta who dies of smoke asphyxiation. Luckily, Zoë's father Alec was out of the house at the time so the child has someone to cling to in this tragedy. Alec calls Britt Anderson to tell her that her sister has died. Though the siblings were estranged, Britt races to their side.

When Britt arrives, the surviving father and daughter are staying at a neighbor's home. Zoë takes to her immediately but Alec is cold and rude. When the investigation into the fire shows that arson was involved, Britt begins to gather evidence that shows Alec is the perpetrator. It is only after he is arrested that Brett begins to doubt Alec's guilt. She does her best to prove his innocence, but her efforts nearly gets her killed by somebody who wants Alec found guilty.

Patricia MacDonald, well known for her suspense thrillers, has written a work that rivals the novels of Marry Higgins Clark. The protagonist is a feisty woman who fights for her beliefs and is then not afraid to admit she might have made a big mistake. The story line moves along at such a brisk pace that readers will finish the book in one sitting and then put it on their keeper shelf, because it is too good to give away.

Harriet Klausner