Scared To Death [Mass Market Paperback]

If twists, turns and pulsating plots are what you are craving, than look no further than Wendy Corsi Staub and her newest release, Scared to Death.

Upon receiving Scared to Death, I was anxious and thrilled to get started. Just the cover and title evoke images of suspense and edge-of-your-seat thrills. Often, when I have such high hopes for a book, it may fall short of those expectations, however Scared to Death topped all hopes that I had before cracking open the binding and diving in.

Scared to Death is the second in a trilogy by Wendy Corsi Staub. The first being Live to Tell, previously released February 2010, Scared to Death, the newest release, and the third, Hell to Pay coming in 2011. I have to be honest and say that I have not yet read Live to Tell, however, after finishing Scared to Death, I will be doing so very soon. A very tight story, Scared to Death can easily be a stand alone book, in and of itself. However the back story that is provided throughout the book, really and truly makes the reader ache to read the previous story, to find out exactly how things played out before the current happenings - which proves what a talented author Wendy Corsi Staub is, in my opinion.

In Scared to Death, Elsa Cavalon and her husband, Brett, are in the process of adopting Renny, a sweet little girl, who has a horrendous fear of enclosed spaces. For the Cavalons, dealing with claustrophobia is a drop in the hat compared to what they had gone through fifteen years ago, with the kidnapping of their little boy, Jeremy. With the discovery of Jeremy's death, a year ago, Elsa is able to bring some closure to that part of her life and move forward with Renny and their lives together as a family. What Elsa doesn't expect is for her nightmare to come racing back to her, leaving her running for Renny's life and perhaps even her own. How can such a horror possibly strike twice?

Also entwined within Scared to Death are Marin Quinn and Lauren Walsh. It is Marin's husband who was behind the kidnapping and death of Jeremy, so long ago. That discovery has left Marin blindsided and horrified, trying to cope with life and her two teenage daughters. When an apparent threat is thrust unto her unruly daughter, Caroline, Marin must decide if her daughter is only acting out for attention, or if there really and truly is a threat. Lauren, whose story is the central focus in Live to Tell, plays a supporting role and appearance in Scared to Death. It is Lauren who Marin turns to for help and an ear to listen. Their unlikely friendship has become one that sheds a slight beam of light on an otherwise black hole in their lives.

Wendy Corsi Staub does a magnificent job of switching character perspectives throughout the entire story. One paragraph is told from one character's point of view, then will be switched and told from another character's point of view. This is done in such a seamless manner that it adds a completely new dynamic to the story itself. There is never a lapse in action or suspense and the surprise ending is rather a shock - at least it was for me. The characterization is done in such a way, that each and every character is quickly and easily brought to life upon the pages - even the most secondary of character plays an important role to the overall telling and plot of the story.

Though I have read a few books penned by Wendy Corsi Staub and have enjoyed her work, Scared to Death is, by far, my favorite. The plot twists and turns are endless, the suspense is spine-tingling and the shock value of the ending is incredible. I highly recommend Scared to Death by Wendy Corsi Staub to anyone who loves an excellent suspense-packed story that will leave you enraptured from start to finish.

This is the first book of hers I've read, and although I enjoyed it, I was left with several questions in my mind. I decided to come here to see if other people were having the same problem I was. What a surprise to find out that it was the second book of a trilogy. I checked the front and back covers of the book, but it doesn't say that anywhere (unless it's under that white area that the library puts the due date stamp). I have a vague idea of what happened in the past, but it was very frustrating not to get any clear answers while I was reading. For example, here's one that has nothing to do with the storyline, so I won't ruin the book for anyone. Why did Marin's husband make her give up Jeremy, WANT her to give up Anne, but not want her to give up Caroline, the middle child? The only reason I can come up with now is that he read the book and knew that Caroline was going to end up just like him :-) Somehow... I don't think that's right.

So I highly recommend that people read Live to Tell before reading this one.

SCARED TO DEATH by Wendy Corsi Staub is the eagerly-awaited follow-up to LIVE TO TELL. The thread that ties the two books together is the evil of Garvin Quinn, an overly ambitious politician whose actions in his quest to quench his lust for power continue to adversely affect people in unexpected and devastating ways.

The sequel opens with Brett and Elsa Cavalon on pins and needles as they begin the final phase of adopting Renny, a beautiful seven-year-old girl. The couple is worried that history will repeat itself; 15 years previously, they had adopted a boy named Jeremy, only to lose him when he was suddenly and inexplicably abducted. Renny's nightmares concerning a monster in her room do little to assuage their fears.

What they don't know, however, is that Jeremy, believed to be dead, has survived years of horrific abuse and injury. Against all odds, he is making his way back to the only place he has ever known love...and betrayal. Unbeknownst to them, the Cavalons are the targets of an elaborate and diabolical plan for revenge. Meanwhile, Garvin Quinn's wife, Marin, and two daughters are preparing to make the changes occasioned by Quinn's fall from grace. Their connection to Jeremy and thus to the Cavalons put them in danger as well.

The plot accordingly proceeds along twin tracks, with extraordinary circumstances propelled by everyday events. It is with regard to the latter that the author truly shines. Staub can wring more terror out of a walk down the hallway of a New York townhouse than many writers can conjure out of an entire city. She is also a master of the "for want of a nail, the kingdom was lost" school of plotting. In the world of SCARED TO DEATH, the failure to charge a cell phone or inventory a child's toy bag can be an event that leads to a frantic and deadly turn of events. Staub did this to wonderful effect in LIVE TO TELL with a stuffed animal, and takes this plot device to even greater heights here. She uses these tools to create a series of plot twists that the reader never sees coming, leading to a frightening conclusion that is stunning in its presentation and brilliant in its execution.

SCARED TO DEATH is a complete work in itself, with a definite ending and resolution. But more is coming. HELL TO PAY, the third book in the series, is excerpted in this novel and appears every bit as frightening and haunting as its predecessors. Wendy Corsi Staub is an author who is not to be missed.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

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