Helpful Score: 1
Very good story, scary if true.
Helpful Score: 1
D'Amato weaves several stories together in this book- a father trying to figure out if his adopted son was really kidnapped, two undercover cops, and a reporter trying to solve the mystery of a murdered friend. The thread tying them all together is an adoption agency that may be more than it appears to be. Though suspenseful, at times this book seemed to be farfetched. But it was definitely worth the read, if not as strong as some of the author's other books.
Helpful Score: 1
I enjoyed the intrigue and suspense of the subplot about a female journalist and her cameraman filming a segment on foreign adoptions.
The main storyline involves an adoptee's father trying to find out how his child was placed for adoption. This plot was also interesting but I didn't find the father's personality very credible with the risks involved in returning to the country where his son's adoption occurred. This lack of credibility caused the suspense the author was building to fall a bit flat.
Definitely believe this story would make a better movie than the book.
The main storyline involves an adoptee's father trying to find out how his child was placed for adoption. This plot was also interesting but I didn't find the father's personality very credible with the risks involved in returning to the country where his son's adoption occurred. This lack of credibility caused the suspense the author was building to fall a bit flat.
Definitely believe this story would make a better movie than the book.
I thought the premise was an interesting one: the father of an adopted child (supposedly from Russia) learns that his baby could not have been born there--and so who is his son in actuality? It turns out the father is a pathologist and happened to get a sample of his son's bone marrow or spinal fragments from a test for leukemia. The doctor noticed the sample was fluorescent and began to wonder why. It turns out that only a specific antibiotic could cause such a thing to happen--an antibiotic not available in Russia. Meanwhile, it turns out the little boy did not have leukemia.
This dad kept wondering and worrying about that sample. I wondered if I would go to the lengths this doctor did--it almost seemed to me like maybe he really didn't want the child after all because after his first attempts to research the child's background instead of giving up and feeling relieved he had a healthy son, he kept going. He began looking for missing children reports and trying to match the boy's physical characteristics with parents who'd had their babies stolen--very noble, don't get me wrong. But believeable? Eh.
If the author stuck with this character, I think I would have enjoyed it more. Instead, she introduces a whole bunch of "cardboard" characters with little or no substance to them. The worst of these stereotypes was the doctor's father-in-law. There was little to no imagination in them and that's too bad.
I'd give the book a 5 out of 10. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone as a great read.
This dad kept wondering and worrying about that sample. I wondered if I would go to the lengths this doctor did--it almost seemed to me like maybe he really didn't want the child after all because after his first attempts to research the child's background instead of giving up and feeling relieved he had a healthy son, he kept going. He began looking for missing children reports and trying to match the boy's physical characteristics with parents who'd had their babies stolen--very noble, don't get me wrong. But believeable? Eh.
If the author stuck with this character, I think I would have enjoyed it more. Instead, she introduces a whole bunch of "cardboard" characters with little or no substance to them. The worst of these stereotypes was the doctor's father-in-law. There was little to no imagination in them and that's too bad.
I'd give the book a 5 out of 10. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone as a great read.
An American couple travel to Russia to adopt a baby; four years later, medical tests show that this baby could not have been from Russia at all. This book was an interesting thriller from beginning to end, with a definite twist that you don't see coming.
An interesting fictional perspective on adoption!
Really interesting read. Great ending. Greta caracters that Tie together well.
Dr. and Mrs. McSweeny adopt a son from Russia
but he's not from Russia! This novel plunges into the dark fraught world of international adoption.
but he's not from Russia! This novel plunges into the dark fraught world of international adoption.
A good diversion; keeps you wondering who the bad guys are.
Suspense about International Adoption. Very interesting. I felt the writing could be better. I did enjoy the subject and plot of the book.
who is their son
? where did he come from? these questions and more threaten to ruin their marrage.
? where did he come from? these questions and more threaten to ruin their marrage.
