If you are looking for a story that is a diversion from life, this may not be the one you want.
The whole story revolves around Elizabeth (now known as Eliza) who was kidnapped when she was 15 years old, held for six weeks and then raped. Her attacker, Walter, has been in prison for 25 years for the murder of another girl. Walter also admits to killing a number of other girls but won't say how many. He is scheduled to be executed when he reconnects with Elizabeth to tell her that he is sorry. He also expects for her to tell him that she is sorry for the part she played in having him sentenced all those years ago. Elizabeth is the only girl he left alive. Elizabeth is not sure hows she feels about Walter.
The story deals with a version of 'Stockholm syndrome' where the victim starts feeling sorry for the criminal. While the story is well written, I think I will have to pass on these kinds of stories in the future because they are just too depressing to me.
I also just listened to another novel by Laura Lippman, WHAT THE DEAD KNOW. That story was really interesting and I would recommend it to my friends.
The whole story revolves around Elizabeth (now known as Eliza) who was kidnapped when she was 15 years old, held for six weeks and then raped. Her attacker, Walter, has been in prison for 25 years for the murder of another girl. Walter also admits to killing a number of other girls but won't say how many. He is scheduled to be executed when he reconnects with Elizabeth to tell her that he is sorry. He also expects for her to tell him that she is sorry for the part she played in having him sentenced all those years ago. Elizabeth is the only girl he left alive. Elizabeth is not sure hows she feels about Walter.
The story deals with a version of 'Stockholm syndrome' where the victim starts feeling sorry for the criminal. While the story is well written, I think I will have to pass on these kinds of stories in the future because they are just too depressing to me.
I also just listened to another novel by Laura Lippman, WHAT THE DEAD KNOW. That story was really interesting and I would recommend it to my friends.
Heather F. (AZmom875) -
This is NOT my first book by this author. I listened to this, I did not read it. Laura LIppman tends to set her books In Baltimore. After reading/listening to most of her books, I feared this book was going to have a similar ending to another book. I was starting to get annoyed that this ending might be the ending I was heading towards. I am happy to say that this book had a very good ending that was satisfying to me. It didnt pull some twist punch at the end, and turn your world upside down.
The main character was a victim, and portrayed as weak. She does wonder why Walter never killed her, but killed many other girls. I do think you will like the explanation. There were many potential explanations.
This is one of my favorite authors, so I was glad she did not let me down on this book.
I dont give everything 5 stars, but this one deserved it.
The main character was a victim, and portrayed as weak. She does wonder why Walter never killed her, but killed many other girls. I do think you will like the explanation. There were many potential explanations.
This is one of my favorite authors, so I was glad she did not let me down on this book.
I dont give everything 5 stars, but this one deserved it.
I read the book to the end simply because I had gotten so far, I figured I might as well. To me, where the story started to go wrong was when her kidnapper, who is now on death row, manages to track down and contact, with help from a bleeding heart, the only girl he let live, under the guise of wanting to see her one more time, and he will supposedly give up additional names and burial locations of some of his other victims that were never linked to him. The reader is supposed to believe that this woman, who is now grown and with a husband and kids of her own, has never really gotten angry with her kidnapper, is seriously considering a new relationship with this horrible murderer. She talks it over with her husband, who, we're also supposed to believe, tells her it's okay and she should do what she wants, as does her parents. Yeah, right. And she never considers going to the police, her attorney, or even the prison officials to report this interaction that he's not allowed to have, nor does she report the bleeding heart who stalks her.
If this isn't enough, she pays to install a dedicated phone line into their bedroom and she eagerly accepts the collect calls to speak with this monster. Finally, she goes to see him at the prison, right before he is set for execution. He believes that he has manipulated her into contacting the governor to stay his execution, but she finally gets some sense/grows a pair of balls, and tells him to go pound sand, so to speak, but by this time, it's too little too late for this reader.
The book had potential, but the writer is obviously living in a fantasy life of her own to believe real victims would still want a relationship with their abductors, let alone her husband and family would give her the green light AND help pay for her to make the connection. What a waste of time I'll never get back.
If this isn't enough, she pays to install a dedicated phone line into their bedroom and she eagerly accepts the collect calls to speak with this monster. Finally, she goes to see him at the prison, right before he is set for execution. He believes that he has manipulated her into contacting the governor to stay his execution, but she finally gets some sense/grows a pair of balls, and tells him to go pound sand, so to speak, but by this time, it's too little too late for this reader.
The book had potential, but the writer is obviously living in a fantasy life of her own to believe real victims would still want a relationship with their abductors, let alone her husband and family would give her the green light AND help pay for her to make the connection. What a waste of time I'll never get back.
