|
Here are comments from our group of Advance Readers about Lisa Gardner's THE KILLING HOUR.
SBanton343@aol.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
Yes, I have read several of Lisa Gardner's previous books. I read THE PERFECT HUSBAND, THE OTHER DAUGHTER, THE THIRD VICTIM, and THE SURVIVORS CLUB.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Too many to list!
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
I actually thought this is one of her best novels. It has a great plot line, plenty of suspense. My only criticism (and this is a minor one) is that at times I was unsure if the main characters were Mac McCormack and Kimberly Quincy or her father, Pierce Quincy and his crime solving wife, Rainie.
My personal opinion is that Lisa Gardner is Ann Rule's fiction clone, and I don't read Ann Rule. Her previous novels were full of suspense but very violent.
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
Yes, I will definitely read more Lisa Gardner; she is getting better with each release.
Boneymoma@aol.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
Yes, I have read Lisa Gardner. In fact I have read all of her books.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I enjoy a number of suspense writers and probably at the top of my list is Thomas Perry.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
I did not really enjoy THE KILLING HOUR as much as I had hoped that I would. I was put off by the maggots under the skin and the constant references to them. It really did not add to the story line and really made me want to stop reading the book. I have always really enjoyed her book in the past and was a little disappointed in this one.
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
Yes, I would always like to read more of her books.
Candie1021@aol.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
No, I hadn't.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Philip Margolin, Catherine Coulter, Kathy Reichs, Patricia Cornwell, Mary Higgins Clark, Robert C. Walker. The list goes on
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
Absolutely wonderful. Kept me on my toes. There were enough twists and turns to keep me riveted, but not so that I lost track. I have already recommended it to my friends and my bookseller. This book is fantastic. I found myself riveted, turning pages, trying to save the girl right along with Kimberly and Mac. Ms. Gardner managed to create characters with depth and feeling without bogging down the story. I'm on my way to the bookstore to find another one of her books.
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
Oh yes, definitely.
DDorjath@liquidcontainer.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
THE KILLING HOUR is the very first book by Lisa Gardner that I have ever read.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Though I read many different genres, I have a true fondness for suspense/thrillers. Some of my other favorite authors in this and related areas are; Stephen Frey, Clive Cussler, Dean Koontz, Dan Brown, Dan Simmons, Lisa Scottoline, and Jonathan Kellerman.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
To me, what makes a suspense novel good are a couple of key things. If we assume that a suspenseful plot is present, then the important issues are characterization, which is of course, important. I want to know a lot about what makes the characters tick so that I can form opinions and begin to care about these people. Second, action is critical as well. Lots of action! I love novels that move you along at kind of a breakneck ---like speed from cover to cover, compelling you to keep reading in order to find out what will happen next.
In Lisa Gardner's THE KILLING HOUR there were strong, well developed
characters and plenty of action. The "Eco-killer" grabs you from the
beginning, and his mode of serial kidnapping/killing keeps up the
intensity on both the characters and the reader! I also truly enjoyed some of the behind the scenes activity going on at the FBI Academy. I could tell that Ms. Gardner had done some research in this area and it shows in the writing. THE KILLING HOUR grabs you right at the start of the book and doesn't let go. You find yourself right there alongside rookie FBI agent Kimberly Quincy as she feels the clock ticking and time running out for the latest kidnapping victims. THE KILLING HOUR is an excellent thriller and I would recommend it to my friends and colleagues.
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
I must say that I enjoyed it very much and have already gone out looking for previous books written by Ms. Gardner! I will definitely read more Lisa Gardner titles soon!
dreamr3743@yahoo.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
No.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I have read very few suspense thrillers ... a couple of Stephen King and Mary Higgins Clark titles, if those count.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
I found the characters well defined, for the most part believable and, easy to keep track of. The situations were somewhat creepy, if not thrilling.
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
THE SURVIVORS CLUB sounds interesting. I may give it a go.
Greenwoodsinn@aol.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
I have read all of Lisa Gardner's books and thought this was one of her best.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I also read a lot of Sue Grafton, The Kellermans, John Grisham, Stuart Woods, Greg Isles, Harlan Coben, etc.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR? I got THE KILLING HOUR last Friday and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was great getting to see how the Quincy's moved on.
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
I definitely would like read more of Lisa's books as they come out.
HeyJewd@aol.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
Not until about a month ago when I picked up THE THIRD VICTIM. I really enjoyed it and my only wish was that I had started reading her from the beginning. I love reading authors with continuing characters, i.e., Michael Connelly and Stephen White.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Harlan Coben, Stephen White, Jonathan
Kellerman, Lee Child, Patricia Cornwell, Janet Evanovich, Nelson DeMille, Greg Iles, and John Sandford.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
I enjoyed it immensely. Lisa's progression of characters is different from
most authors, in that she takes the premise one step further, by bringing in a family member from one of the main character from the previous books, yet also continuing with the prior storyline.
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
Yes, I have already purchased and am reading THE NEXT ACCIDENT and then on to THE SURVIVORS CLUB.
Juliet54219@aol.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
No, I haven't.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Jeffrey Deaver.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
I enjoyed it very much --- it has a nice mix of suspense and romance.
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
Yes
Ljcf@aol.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
I had never read Lisa Gardner before.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I have read Patricia Cornwell, Nelson DeMille, James Patterson, Sue Grafton, Diane Mott Davidson, and countless others in the mystery genre. I felt that I enjoyed Lisa Gardner more than most for her excellent writing style and her character development. I also enjoyed her attention to detail.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
I absolutely could not put this book down. I finished it 2 days later. I had never read Lisa Gardner before but she sucked me into her story from the first page. Many suspense writers expect you to have read their previous books and refer to incidents from those other volumes. THE KILLING HOUR stood on its own, but I did find myself checking Amazon.com to see what else Gardner had written before I had even finished this one. The pace of this novel was incredible. Three hours would have gone by before I would even have noticed because I couldn't wait to see what developed in the storyline.
LJSaveland@aol.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
I have never read a Lisa Gardner book before but will definitely read others.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I like Jonathan and Faye Kellerman, Nevada Barr, Michael Connelly, Amanda Cross, Nelson DeMille, Sue Grafton, John Grisham, Tess Gerritsen, John Lescroart, Steve Martini, Brad Meltzer, Stuart Woods and many more. I am glad to add Lisa Gardner to the list!
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
It was a very enjoyable read. The plot was interesting and well thought out. The venues were unfamiliar to me so I don't know how realistic they were but they seemed so. The characters were compelling and if they appear in other books she has written that would be a plus. It makes a great stay up late or summer beach read and I am very glad I had the opportunity to try it.
MargotTC@aol.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
No.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Ian Rankin, John Sandford, and many others.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
I thought it was great, kept me glued to the book much later into the night than I should have been!
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
Absolutely. In fact, I just picked up THE SURVIVORS CLUB.
mich.owl@verizon.net
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
No.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Sue Grafton (a favorite), John Grisham, Michael Crichton, Dean Koontz, Agatha Christie, Robin Cook, and many more.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
I enjoyed the book. Bit of a slow start on reading it as the story line was so fragmented by different small scenes. Hard to follow when you only get a short amount of time to read. Once the story line had a more steady flow to it, I must say I rather enjoyed it. I was especially pleased with the FBI portion of the story as that has always fascinated me, as well as the suspense genre in general. I knew with that combination, it would be worth the read!
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
Would love to. I have looked and I see she has quite a list of books to her credit.
MLWReader@aol.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
I have never read Lisa Gardner before, although, after reading THE KILLING HOUR I purchased THE SURVIVORS CLUB in paperback, and am almost finished reading it.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I like to read books by Martha Grimes, P.D. James, James Lee Burke, Michael Connelly, Sara Paretsky, Rita Mae Brown, the classics of Agatha Christie, and, of course, Stephen King.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
Overall, THE KILLING HOUR was very entertaining. I was impressed with the amount of research that must have been performed for Ms. Gardner to put this book together. Who said fiction (especially the suspense/thriller genre) was for mental lightweights? (I have never actually heard anyone say this, but I think a little voice in my head might have implied it!) It is obvious from the descriptions of the landscape, the environmental destruction of the mines, and all the other technical data in this book, that Lisa Gardner did her homework.
The only quarrel I have with THE KILLING HOUR is that I did not find Kimberly to be an interesting person. She was too self-involved, and, frankly, ridiculous at times, in her self-importance. I really couldn't identify with her dilemmas. It seemed they were of her own making. I identified much more with Rainie. She was a real person. Kimberly was a (female) strong, silent type, and appeared shallow. I didn't care about her angst. And, let's face it, her angst was a big part of this book.
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
As to other Lisa Gardner titles, I am, somewhat, enjoying THE SURVIVORS CLUB. However, unhappily for me, I found a lot of similarities between Kimberly in THE KILLING HOUR and Jillian in THE SURVIVORS CLUB. Notwithstanding my dislike for Jillian, and, although I haven't finished THE SURVIVORS CLUB yet, I find that the book demonstrates great creativity in its plot twists and turns. Lisa Gardner has a wonderfully fertile imagination, and she writes exceedingly well. In my opinion, if she can create a more believable, strong female character, her writing will capture a large audience, and she will find herself on the best seller lists for years to come.
Piscesadel@aol.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
I have read all Lisa Gardner's books except THE SURVIVORS CLUB which is next on my list. Lisa Gardner, I think, is America's answer to England's Ruth Rendell. Rendell is not only a great suspense/thriller author but a wonderful crafter of the language. Lisa is following in her footsteps! I especially appreciate the background research in Lisa's wonderful descriptions of the different locals in the plot. Having been to many places she describes so well really pulls me into the story.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
Lisa Gardner does it again! THE KILLING HOUR is about a double kidnapping and murder in Georgia that is the start of a macabre game with clues deliberately left behind by the kidnapper. The game escalates to multiple kidnappings over the next couple of years in both Georgia and Virginia. There are many twists and turns to the plot. Enter the Quincy's, father and daughter, and Rainie Conner from THE NEXT ACCIDENT. Just when you think they have found one of the latest victims alive Gardner throws in yet another twist. Who is the kidnapper/murderer? Will you figure it out? Perhaps.
sheila.cohen@comcast.net
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
Yes.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
James Patterson.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
I really enjoyed it. I've read other of her books so I know the characters.
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
Yes.
Timpgk@aol.com
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
No, I haven't.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Sue Grafton, James Patterson, John Sanford, Tony Hillerman, Patricia Cornwell, Jonathan Kellerman, and Faye Kellerman, etc.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
It was fast paced. The personal details and feelings of the characters, especially the victims were well drawn and riveting. The heroine was multi layered and we were given just enough details of her past in time to become sympathetic to her and the demons that drove her. I was drawn to the desperate pace and couldn't wait to continue until I had read the entire book at a single sitting. A very good and fast read!
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
I already have. I picked up THE SURVIVORS CLUB, the day after I finished THE KILLING HOUR.
valsewell@earthlink.net
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
No, I have not, but I really enjoyed THE KILLING HOUR so I would read other books that she has written/will write.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reich, Kay Hooper, Catherine Coulter, and Linda Howard --- but by and large I lean toward reading mysteries with female protagonists.
What did you think of The Killing Hour?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel. I thought the author did a wonderful job of juxtaposing the obsessions/compulsions of the killer (evil wrong doer) against Kim's obsessive need to become the ultimate FBI agent (perfect righter of wrongs). Both of these characters were so focused and driven that they isolated themselves from mainstream society and their colleagues. On another level, the killer was a family murderer pitted against a family that had been torn apart by murder. As both families' histories are revealed, it helps the reader to more fully understand and empathize with Kim and her father --- it personalizes and justifies their quest to eliminate Ennunzio. The human dynamics are intricately plotted and developed throughout the novel --- the relationships between Quincy and Rainie, Kim and Mac, Quincy and Kim; and the dialogue in the killer's mind contrasted with the thoughts and struggles of the killer's victims. But it is also intriguing to work along with Mac, Kim, Quincy and Rainie and they struggle to decipher the clues that the killer plants on the pointer bodies. Having the chapters dated with time notations heightens the sense of urgency --- the clock is ticking. And it is always rewarding when the main character is able to break through or overcome a personal flaw. I loved the scene where Kimberly finally sees the negative aspect of her obsession with the past when dealing with Nora Ray.
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
Definitely!
vouten@charter.net
Have you ever read Lisa Gardner before?
Absolutely! I've read all of her books. I love her style, her characters, and the detail and depth that goes to in her books. I feel like I know her characters so well. Even though they deal with dark subjects, the plot and characters and suspense take over to just mesmerize till you just cannot put the book down until it's finished.
What other suspense/thriller authors do you read?
I also love J. A. Jance and James Patterson.
What did you think of THE KILLING HOUR?
I thought THE KILLING HOUR was one of Ms. Gardner's best. I think she truly does just get better and better. And I am always so impressed with her research.
Would you like to read more Lisa Gardner titles?
Gladly!
© Copyright 1996-2008, Bookreporter.com. All rights reserved.
Back to top.
|
