Donna B. (AppyLover) reviewed The Bodies Left Behind (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 90 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
I definitely have mixed emotions about this book. There were over 300 pages of hunter and hunted floundering around in the woods at night, which got pretty tiring. Also they things they were able to see in the darkness was at times enough to make me put the book down and walk away in frustration. But, in spite of those irritations, there were several good twists and surprises. IMO the heroine was only semi-likeable but some of the other characters were good. Definitely not one of my favorite Deaver books but something to help kill time on a cold winter day.
Helpful Score: 4
I am an avid reader of Jeffery Deaver. This particular book moved a bit slow for me but, as is so often the case with Jeffery Deaver, the plot took unexpected twists and turns holding my interest throughout. Just when I thought the story was nearly over it took off again in several different directions. All in all this book was a good read.
Barbara S. (barbsis) -
Helpful Score: 4
Jeffery Deaver did a great job developing the characters for this novel. I really liked Brynn's character...she isn't the perfect heroine. She has a troubled marriage, a troubled teen and a secret that could put her and her ex-husband in jail. Hart, the killer, is a real jerk but he has integrity which I found odd but it made him human and almost likable. On the other hand, I didn't like Michelle from the get go. Something seemed off with her bitchy stuck-up character.
I thought the mystery after the chase in the woods very interesting and well thought out by Deaver. The chase - which lasted only one night - was 200 pages of tedious prose. I found a good portion of this boring and thought more than once "get on with it already."
Just like other Deaver books, the conclusion was very satisfying but through you for a loop coming out of left field like it did. Deaver's like a magician - keeping your interest on what the left hand is doing while slamming you with the right. Totally entertaining.
I thought the mystery after the chase in the woods very interesting and well thought out by Deaver. The chase - which lasted only one night - was 200 pages of tedious prose. I found a good portion of this boring and thought more than once "get on with it already."
Just like other Deaver books, the conclusion was very satisfying but through you for a loop coming out of left field like it did. Deaver's like a magician - keeping your interest on what the left hand is doing while slamming you with the right. Totally entertaining.
Helpful Score: 4
Another good one from Deaver. I found it difficult to put down. Lots of action, good characters and just when you think you have it figured out he throws in a twist or two. Very entertaining.
Helpful Score: 3
I am a total Jeffery Deaver Fan and especially love his Lincoln Rhyme series, but this was one of those books that keeps you up at night. The characters were really believable, and I was fooled many times before the surprise ending. Deaver writes well and his plots are always intriguing.
Helpful Score: 3
Another great novel in which Jeffrey Deaver exhibits his usual twists and turns of plot that keep you guessing about the outcome until the very end.
Denise C. (dscrawford) reviewed The Bodies Left Behind (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 175 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
3.0 out of 5 stars So-so stand alone..., April 21, 2011
I have read all of Jeffery Deaver's previous books but this stand alone cat-and-mouse tale doesn't hold up to the high octane suspense thriller that I'm used to reading when I open one of his novels.
Deputy Brynn McKenzie is dispatched to Lake Mondac to investigate an aborted 911 call from a cell phone that appears to have originated from a secluded lake house there. When she arrives and enters the house, she discovers the bodies of a man and woman who have been murdered. The killers are, however, still on the scene and when Brynn finds another potential victim unharmed at the residence they band together and run out from the house to evade the two killers. Although the plot advances at a rapid pace, and even as the events unfold and the reader is swept up into the tense chase, the narrative requires the reader to suspend disbelief as Brynn McKenzie and a friend of the murdered couple escape into the dark Wisconsin woods on a dark, cold night in April. Pursued by two ruthless hit men, they rush blindly toward any avenue of safety only to be thwarted by the men time and again. Dirtied and injured, they encounter others out in those dark woods that night. Are they friend or foe? The whole "in the woods" portion of the book goes on and on and on. In addition, there is another subplot involving union shenanigans and other red herrings that don't necessarily add to the story but only confuse the reader.
The loose ends are all tied up neatly at the end, as expected. While not Deaver's best, I'm sure his fans will want to read this one but I suggest they borrow rather than buy. I enjoyed the experience of reading the Large Print version of the book as it is much easier on the eyes.
I have read all of Jeffery Deaver's previous books but this stand alone cat-and-mouse tale doesn't hold up to the high octane suspense thriller that I'm used to reading when I open one of his novels.
Deputy Brynn McKenzie is dispatched to Lake Mondac to investigate an aborted 911 call from a cell phone that appears to have originated from a secluded lake house there. When she arrives and enters the house, she discovers the bodies of a man and woman who have been murdered. The killers are, however, still on the scene and when Brynn finds another potential victim unharmed at the residence they band together and run out from the house to evade the two killers. Although the plot advances at a rapid pace, and even as the events unfold and the reader is swept up into the tense chase, the narrative requires the reader to suspend disbelief as Brynn McKenzie and a friend of the murdered couple escape into the dark Wisconsin woods on a dark, cold night in April. Pursued by two ruthless hit men, they rush blindly toward any avenue of safety only to be thwarted by the men time and again. Dirtied and injured, they encounter others out in those dark woods that night. Are they friend or foe? The whole "in the woods" portion of the book goes on and on and on. In addition, there is another subplot involving union shenanigans and other red herrings that don't necessarily add to the story but only confuse the reader.
The loose ends are all tied up neatly at the end, as expected. While not Deaver's best, I'm sure his fans will want to read this one but I suggest they borrow rather than buy. I enjoyed the experience of reading the Large Print version of the book as it is much easier on the eyes.
Helpful Score: 1
Another reviewer said that she had mixed emotions about this book and I agree 100%. There were over 300 pages of hunter and huntee floundering around in the woods at night, which was unrealistic and got pretty tiring. Okay, we get it already. Yet, in spite of those irritations (such as our heroine letting her son get away with lying and skipping school, and she herself lying to her husband), there were several good twists and surprises. The heroine was not likeable to me and at times I found myself rooting for the bad guys, but some of the other characters were good. Definitely not one of my favorite Jeffery Deaver books, but I'll read another one of his to give him a second chance.
Nina W. (purplewitch) - , reviewed The Bodies Left Behind (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 22 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Character development in the book was good. The plot had some unexpected twists and turns that made it a more interesting read.
Elizabeth D. (LizzieD) reviewed The Bodies Left Behind (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 29 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Fastpaced - keeps you guessing until the end! Fun page turner. This is a new author for me and I am now reading his other books!~
Helpful Score: 1
A real page-turner. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it.
Sandra S. (LibertyBelle) - , reviewed The Bodies Left Behind (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Main character, Brynn McKenzie, is a tough, smart cop with a genuine female, human side -- she can see all the details at a crime scene, but has trouble with the details of her personal life. This is a really good Jeffrey Deaver story with lots of suspense and, as always, with a twist. I become more of a Jeffrey Deaver fan with each book.
Finally a Deaver novel that doesn't include Lincoln Rhyme! Great page turner. Very suspenseful and keeps you guessing with with good twists throughout.
Janice C. (janclarktexas) reviewed The Bodies Left Behind (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 13 more book reviews
I liked the book, it was a little slow at times, but as you progressed it became more complex. It has a few surprises & I enjoyed the read. Nothing gruesome, but plenty of suspense & great descriptions of the surroundings & human relationships. Good read~
Very entertaining! This is a page turner for both sexes. Deaver at his best.
Marianne S. (sfc95) -
This is the most far fetched mystery I have read in a long time. That said, it is filled with twists and turns that you do not see coming. It ends well, leaves a bit to the imagination. It is a quick read and it is hard to put down.
Rodney E. (Baggervance) reviewed The Bodies Left Behind (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 8 more book reviews
If your a Deaver Fan this is one of his best. Do not start the read if you have other things to do they won't get done till you finish..........
Tremendous! It starts with two murders, then the tension of two women escaping through the woods being followed by two murders. The action is nonstop. The tension keeps building. Great Book!
Brandy Lynn D. (poetictendency) -
I devoured this book. Suspenseful from page one and doesn't let you go until the conclusion.
Deaver has once again created a very believable female character,Brynn McKenzie, who is very complex but sudden. I had to re-read sections to see the complexity. The book was intense,could not put it down, and left me thinking more about Brynn afterward. I highly recommend it.
Good read
This book started off with a bang! I was so excited to be reading it. Then...well, it jut kind of got way too wordy and boring. It lost it's initial thrill.
Melanie (MELNELYNN) reviewed The Bodies Left Behind (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 669 more book reviews
April seventeenth is a day that will affect many lives in Kennnesha County, Wisconsin. It begins with Emma and Steven Feldman enjoying a drink in their mini-mansion vacation home on Lake Mondac. They hear noises outside followed by two gunmen barging into their home. Before they shoot Steven, he connects to the Sheriff's Office for a brief moment.
Sheriff Tom Dahl traces the 911 call and sends Deputy Brynn McKenzie to check it out. She finds the Feldman couple dead on their floor and the two killers Terry Hart and Compton Lewis eerily sitting casually nearby. She gets away running into the nearby woods where she meets Michelle, a friend of the Feldmans, who was visiting them. The two hit men chase after the women because they must have no witnesses to the murders. Brynn leads Michelle into a nearby state park while Hart and Lewis follow them. As they flee the thugs, they soon run into meth manufacturers in a place they thought they can call for help. Even if they somehow survive, Brynn's nightmare will not be over as the worst is yet to come.
This is a great cat and mouse thriller made even more exciting once the reader concludes that Hart and McKenzie are similar personalities in spite of being on opposite sides of the law. With actions scenes that will translate easily into a movie thriller starring females who prefer to live but will do what it takes to Die Hard if at all as they refuse to break. Fans will enjoy this exciting outdoor wintry thriller with two born killers chasing two strong women.
Sheriff Tom Dahl traces the 911 call and sends Deputy Brynn McKenzie to check it out. She finds the Feldman couple dead on their floor and the two killers Terry Hart and Compton Lewis eerily sitting casually nearby. She gets away running into the nearby woods where she meets Michelle, a friend of the Feldmans, who was visiting them. The two hit men chase after the women because they must have no witnesses to the murders. Brynn leads Michelle into a nearby state park while Hart and Lewis follow them. As they flee the thugs, they soon run into meth manufacturers in a place they thought they can call for help. Even if they somehow survive, Brynn's nightmare will not be over as the worst is yet to come.
This is a great cat and mouse thriller made even more exciting once the reader concludes that Hart and McKenzie are similar personalities in spite of being on opposite sides of the law. With actions scenes that will translate easily into a movie thriller starring females who prefer to live but will do what it takes to Die Hard if at all as they refuse to break. Fans will enjoy this exciting outdoor wintry thriller with two born killers chasing two strong women.
Great fun, the action starts right away and doesn't stop.
Not my favorite Jeffrey Deaver book. He did throw in the usual twists. But, at times I found the book too slow. I did not like the ending. It was really just anti-climatic.
easy read, found it redundant in chase scenes It did have some undetected twists that kept me engaged intermittently. Probably won't remember this one for very long.
Brenda R. (bothrootes) reviewed The Bodies Left Behind (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 207 more book reviews
This is another great Jeffery Deaver mystery. Brynn, a local female deputy gets sent out to investigate a hangup 911 call in a very remote area. When she gets there she finds two dead bodies and the killers are still hanging around to make sure there are no witnesses. Brynn in a great character as well as the other characters of the book. She finds herself on the run with a second female witness with the killers on their trail through a national forest. You won't be disapointed with this mystery thriller.
It was a good story which got somewhat complicated but interesting. The story was a bit dragged out, I felt.
Lillian P. (ladymarie) reviewed The Bodies Left Behind (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 7 more book reviews
I have read nearly all of Jeffery Deaver's books and I won't ruin it for someone else so I will just say, at least to me this is his very best book.
Every time you think you have it figured out you discover you are wrong.
Every time you think you have it figured out you discover you are wrong.
Brynn McKenzie follows up on a presumably misdial at her station when she stumbles into the gruesome scene of two murders and their two killers not far away. Chased by the two villains she meets Michelle, a visiting friend, who barely escaped the scenes.
Brynn leads the two by her instincts and her repeated special training in survival and police training are a huge asset to her mission to get Michelle out of the huge national park they fled into and survive their pursuers mission to not leave any witnesses alive.
The head of the two men crew calls himself Hart, who lives by his instincts as well and it seems to him, the craftsman, that the women he wants to kill is a craftswomen as resourceful as he is.
When Brynn notices something is off it is almost to late for her to turn the situation around.
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What made this book very good is it's time-frame which plays mostly during one night and focuses about the cat and mouse chase through the woods. Written in almost real-time it makes it hard to put the book down.
Brynn is a difficult but brave character. Abused by her ex-husband, her son in trouble and her new marriage on the rocks. She focuses on what she is best in: her job, which she takes very seriously taking yearly offers for special training and refresher courses.
At one point when the chase was finished the book lost a bit of it's excitement but kept up with twist and turns until the very end. Where the final conclusion is so much different from what the reader was made to believe from the beginning.
Brynn leads the two by her instincts and her repeated special training in survival and police training are a huge asset to her mission to get Michelle out of the huge national park they fled into and survive their pursuers mission to not leave any witnesses alive.
The head of the two men crew calls himself Hart, who lives by his instincts as well and it seems to him, the craftsman, that the women he wants to kill is a craftswomen as resourceful as he is.
When Brynn notices something is off it is almost to late for her to turn the situation around.
-
What made this book very good is it's time-frame which plays mostly during one night and focuses about the cat and mouse chase through the woods. Written in almost real-time it makes it hard to put the book down.
Brynn is a difficult but brave character. Abused by her ex-husband, her son in trouble and her new marriage on the rocks. She focuses on what she is best in: her job, which she takes very seriously taking yearly offers for special training and refresher courses.
At one point when the chase was finished the book lost a bit of it's excitement but kept up with twist and turns until the very end. Where the final conclusion is so much different from what the reader was made to believe from the beginning.
Excellent read
Lynda C. (Readnmachine) reviewed The Bodies Left Behind (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 1474 more book reviews
When a 911 call from a remote area is suddenly cut off, Deputy Brynn McKenzie responds, unaware that she is about to walk in on a double-murder scene and wind up running for her life through the dense forest, accompanied by a survivor of the shooting. Lots of typical Deaver twists here. I saw the biggest one fairly early but others surprised me nicely.
This may be one of the best books I've ever read. Many plot twists, hard to put down.
When a 911 call from an isolated vacation house on Lake Mondac is cut short, off-duty county sheriff's deputy Brynn McKenzie leaves her husband and son at the dinner table to investigate-and walks into a scene of true horror. A visiting Milwaukee couple has been shot dead: Brynn, quickly connecting with the lone survivor of the carnage, realizes the perpetrators-two professional criminals-haven't left the crime scene. Unable to call for backup, deprived of her gun and her car, Brynn and her charge escape into the hostile wilderness in a terrifying cat-and-mouse chase. Will Brynn be the next victim?
When a 911 call from an isolated vacation house on Lake Mondac is cut short, off-duty county sheriff's deputy Brynn McKenzie leaves her husband and son at the dinner table to investigate-and walks into a scene of true horror. A visiting Milwaukee couple has been shot dead: Brynn, quickly connecting with the lone survivor of the carnage, realizes the perpetrators-two professional criminals-haven't left the crime scene. Unable to call for backup, deprived of her gun and her car, Brynn and her charge escape into the hostile wilderness in a terrifying cat-and-mouse chase. Will Brynn be the next victim?
Mona W. (monalisa1113) reviewed The Bodies Left Behind (Audio CD) (Abridged) on + 7 more book reviews
Excellent reading, hard to put down, think you have it figured out, then find out you are totally wrong. Great suspense. Jeffery Deaver at his best.
Very good. A nice read.
This was a great read. I couldn't put it down. I just started reading Jeffery Deaver books and all have been great.
