- Paperback: 368 pages
- Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (Sep 3 2005)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0446696692
- ISBN-13: 978-0446696692
- Product Dimensions: 13.3 x 2.5 x 20.3 cm
- Shipping Weight: 295 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (107 customer reviews)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
There's an extraordinary amount of hype attached to this thriller, from a rave letter in the galley by Warner head Laurence J. Kirshbaum to an announced ad/ promo campaign of $500,000 and enthusiastic blurbs from Christopher Reich and, notably, James Patterson. The buzz is warranted: this story of a middle-class professional whose life goes incredibly, criminally awry is one of the most exciting thrillers in years. And why is a blurb from James Patterson notable? Because Siegel (Epitaph) seems to have learned at his feet. Like Patterson, Siegel is an ad man (a creative director at BBDO; and he, like Patterson, has created TV spots for his book) who mixes first- and third-person narration and knows how to reduce a thriller to its essence. Protagonist Charles Schine is also a Manhattan ad man, married, with a diabetic teen daughter; troubles at home and at work lead him to fall in lust with a sexy younger woman he meets on his commuter train, and finally to a hotel assignation that goes terribly wrong when an armed man bursts in, beats Charles and rapes his date, then blackmails Charles for a staggering amount of money. Charles tries to fight the blackmail by hiring muscle, a disastrous move that gets him into potentially dire legal trouble, as does his agreeing to participate in a company scam in a desperate bid to make back some of the blackmail money-and all that just takes readers into the middle of this terrific yarn, which will blindside them again and again with shocking but plausible twists. With its clean prose, high-velocity plotting and just the right amount of emotional shading darkening its sharply drawn characters, this novel is the bomb.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Ad executive Charles Schine's descent into a nightmarish world of ex-cons, scam artists, and thugs couldn't have begun more idyllically. A brief encounter on a commuter train with a seductive woman named Lucinda Harris leads to an afternoon tryst in a shabby Manhattan hotel. But just as the two lovers are about to leave, a man named Vasquez bursts into the room, beats up Charles, repeatedly rapes Lucinda, and robs them both. Unable to go to the police, since both are married, they find themselves vulnerable to blackmail. Soon, Charles is forced to risk his job, his marriage, and the health of his diabetic daughter in a battle of wits with a man who seems always one step ahead of him. Written with psychological insight and exceptional skill by an author whose debut (Epitaph) was nominated for a Shamus Award for Best First Novel, this is a riveting story in which the prose glides as effortlessly as Charles's descent into hell. The immensely satisfying plot is marked by multidimensional characters, a highly original structure, an ever more gripping duel, and authentic details that range from prison life to a diabetic's struggle for survival. Expect demand, as the publisher has planned a half-million-dollar advertising campaign. Enthusiastically recommended for all public libraries.
--Ronnie H. Terpening, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
--Ronnie H. Terpening, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
What tension!,
By
This review is from: Derailed (Mass Market Paperback)
The Product Description above mentioned is very descriptive and one doesn't need to add much more to it. Charlie's nightmare begins with his affair and from there the drama escalates.Each chapter left me dangling, a gripping thriller indeed, with a clever narrative full of unexpected twists. A must-buy if you like suspense!
4.0 out of 5 stars
grisly,
By paula b "paula" (surrey, england!) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Derailed (Mass Market Paperback)
i haven't seen this film, & i'm not sure what inspired me to pick up this book, media advertising & curiosity perhaps?i read it in about 2 days flat, this is very cleverly written i felt, as on reflection, i felt, i was kind of led into the story which started off fairly tame & quite fluffy, & suddenly it all changed, & of course, i'd been that engrossed that it had hit me that hard, as it was supposed to! if i'd had prior knowledge what to expect, i probably wouldn't have read, but by then i was committed, it is a grisly, ugly story, a rollercoaster ride start to finish. the only thing, not to spoil the ending, but, it was all fairly perceivable, up until the point where the bomb went off & then, it just got a bit too "indiana jones" i mean, what are the chances of that? & also his meeting with raul in the prison, that was all a bit tidy - wasn't it? aside from this, the other thing i noticed was, clive owen was charles, so convincingly, right down to his dry wit! & once i got over the shock of baby shampoo haired jennifer not being rachel, she also was lucinda, it almost felt as if the parts had been written for them. i don't know if i will see the film, now i know the outcome, doesn't seem much point
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing,
By Ryan Rivers (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Derailed (Mass Market Paperback)
I was interested in this book since I read the flap on the hardcover. I was pleased when I saw it in paperback and picked it up. First off, from the beginning the dialogue is really bad. The flirting between the main character and the woman is really trite. The worst part of the book is halfway or 2/3 of the way through when something completely off the wall happens at the perfect time to save our hero. Throughout, cliches are used and acknowledged as though that forgives their use. It doesn't.
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