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From Publishers Weekly
One plot element¢a case of child molestation involving a Catholic priest¢in Picoult's latest novel (after Salem Falls) now seems eerily prescient, but that's only part of the saga she weaves, which is primarily an indictment of the current criminal justice system. Nina Frost, an assistant district attorney in Maine, knows how hard it is to obtain a conviction for a sex crime when the victim is a juvenile, so when her five-year-old son, Nathaniel, identifies their priest as being the man who raped him, Nina's grievances with the system become personal. Frustrated by the threat of an unsatisfactory legal outcome, she takes the law into her own hands, killing the priest in open court. Awaiting her own trial, a startling fact emerges from the DNA: the priest was innocent. Will Nina be able to prove to a jury that her actions were justified, particularly since she killed the wrong man? Picoult adeptly renders Nina's feelings¢impotence, guilt, the drive for retribution¢but Nina is herself an unsympathetic heroine, from her initial accusation of her husband to her arrogant vigilante stance, which does little to persuade the reader that an act of premeditation should be recast as maternal instinct. While the argument that the current system is flawed is solid, the only alternative offered is an iffy form of frontier justice that many readers may find unpalatable.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
As an assistant district attorney in Maine, Nina Frost knows all too well that the legal system often fails to protect children from sexual predators. So when her five-year-old son, Nathaniel, suddenly refuses to speak and begins misbehaving in school, Nina and her husband, Caleb, consult a psychiatrist and learn that their son has been sexually abused. But by whom? Although Father Szyszynski strenuously denies the accusations, DNA evidence says otherwise. At the priest's arraignment, Nina shoots and kills him, only to find out later that he was innocent. Nina is found guilty of manslaughter, given probation, and loses her license to practice law. With this ripped-from-the-headlines plot, the usually reliable Picoult (Salem Falls, etc.) fails to deliver; major flaws include a cast of one-dimensional characters and an awkward mixture of first and third person that confuses rather than enlightens. In addition, Nina is a truly dislikable heroine (her justifications for the murder are both laughable and frightening), and the meaningless subplots distract from, rather than add to, the main story. Buy only for demand and then conservatively. Nancy Pearl, Washington Ctr. for the Book, Seattle
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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When the monster finally came through the door, he was wearing a mask. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
When the monster finally came through the door, he was wearing a mask. Read the first page
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Most helpful customer reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Gripping read but couldn't stand the main character,
By PJ "bluedogbooks" (Fish Creek, WI) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Perfect Match: A Novel (Paperback)
I'm an avid fan of Jodi Picoult but I have to say that this one was my least-liked. The main character, Nina, is a terribly misguided excuse for a mother that certainly doesn't deserve the gifts that she finally receives. The writing and twist of the plot make this a classic Picoult novel. Even though I could not stand Nina, I had a difficult time putting this book down until I had finished it. I admire Jodi Picoult's work even though I did not like the main character of this book.
2.0 out of 5 stars
The only "miss" on a list of winners by this author.,
By music lover "gmw" (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Perfect Match: A Novel (Paperback)
Jodi Picoult is one of my all-time favorite authors, but she misses the mark on this book: her "heroine" isn't heroic. She's a bitchy, over-worked, non-maternal misguided woman, who does what she does for the wrong reasons. I don't like her, I don't like her actions and the only part of the book I can sympathize with is the indictment of the way our criminal justice system prosecutes pedophiles. Skip this one, but buy every single other one that Ms. Picoult has to offer, including the latest, Second Glance. They're all wonderful, thought provoking and filled with truly three-dimensional, likeable, human (warts and all) characters.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Loved this book.,
By SSG "ssg216" (Pt. Pleasant, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Perfect Match: A Novel (Paperback)
Perfect Match is the first book I've read in one sitting in a very long time. I would just like to say to readers that complained about Nina that we are all flawed in various ways, that is what made her an interesting character. I didn't like her either, but that is part of what made the book a page-turner. She obviously was misguided in her actions, even (or I should say especially) as a mother. Perfect Match was the first Jodi Picoult book I ever read, and I can't wait to read all the others.
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