The Murderer’s Daughter by Jonathan Kellerman

Blurb:

A brilliant, deeply dedicated psychologist, Grace Blades has a gift for treating troubled souls and tormented psyches—perhaps because she bears her own invisible scars: Only five years old when she witnessed her parents' death in a bloody murder-suicide, Grace took refuge in her fierce intellect and found comfort in the loving couple who adopted her. But even as an adult with an accomplished professional life, Grace still has a dark, secret side. When her two worlds shockingly converge, Grace's harrowing past returns with a vengeance.

Both Grace and her newest patient are stunned when they recognize each other from a recent encounter. Haunted by his bleak past, mild-mannered Andrew Toner is desperate for Grace's renowned therapeutic expertise and more than willing to ignore their connection. And while Grace is tempted to explore his case, which seems to eerily echo her grim early years, she refuses—a decision she regrets when a homicide detective appears on her doorstep.

An evil she thought she'd outrun has reared its head again, but Grace fears that a police inquiry will expose her double life. Launching her own personal investigation leads her to a murderously manipulative foe, one whose warped craving for power forces Grace back into the chaos and madness she'd long ago fled.

About the Author:

Jonathan Kellerman is one of the world’s most popular authors. He has brought his expertise as a clinical psychologist to three dozen New York Times-bestselling crime novels, including the Alex Delaware series, The Butcher’s Theater, Billy Straight, The Conspiracy Club, Twisted, and True Detectives. With his wife, novelist Faye Kellerman, he also co-authored the bestsellers Double Homicide and Capital Crimes. He is the author of numerous essays, short stories, scientific articles, two children’s books, and three volumes of psychology, as well as the lavishly illustrated With Strings Attached: The Art and Beauty of Vintage Guitars. He has won the Goldwyn, Edgar, and Anthony Awards, and has been nominated for a Shamus Award. Jonathan and Faye Kellerman live in California, New Mexico, and New York City. Their four children include the novelists Jesse Kellerman and Aliza Kellerman.

Review by Rochelle:

I have been a long-time fan of Jonathan Kellerman. His books always keep me guessing and burning through the pages whether I’m reading a true whodunit or a Columbo-style mystery where we know who but not how or why. The Murderer’s daughter is a little of both. There’s some deep psychopathy going on in The Murderer’s Daughter—characters who have suffered major trauma in childhood and have dealt with it in very different ways. Sometimes, I wish I lived in a house instead of an apartment, as I like to read late at night and my outbursts must surely disturb my neighbors. I yelled a lot while I read The Murderer’s Daughter.  My neighbors heard a lot of “Oh my God!” “Oh no!” and “I can’t believe it!” I also missed a deadline or two reading all night when I should have put the book down and gone to sleep.

The reason I’m only giving The Murderer’s Daughter four roses is that it was full of comma splices. I realize the copy I read was an advanced review copy from Balantine that I received through Net Galley, but it seems many of today’s editors don’t know what a comma splice is. You’d think people working in New York for a major publisher would be able to afford to keep current with their subscription to The Chicago Manual of Style and look up such basic grammar issues. And one would think that someone Mr. Kellerman’s age would have learned about comma splices in elementary school back when they still taught grammar in all eight grades. Sorry for the rant, but the plethora of comma splices in modern fiction is one of my pet peeves.

Heat Rating:  R

Length: 385 Pages

Prices:

Hardcover: $19.01

Paperback: $20.21

Digital: $13.99

Audible: $26.95

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Murderers-Daughter-Novel-Jonathan-Kellerman/dp/0345545311/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1446238123&sr=8-1&keywords=the+murderer

Author Web Site: http://www.jonathankellerman.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonathanKellerman

Author Amazon Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Kellerman/e/B00MB9JKC2/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Thanks for visiting. Donna, Julie, & Rochelle

If Only by Norma Budden

Blurb:

While still in high school, Demi gave birth to a baby girl and, feeling she had no other options, put her up for adoption. Having moved on with her life—gotten married and having had two other children—16 years later, Demi Glenn suddenly cannot get her firstborn daughter out of her mind. After hiring two private detectives but getting no solid information to go on, Demi turns to the one man who will not come back empty-handed, who will not give up until he finds the answers—David Alexander, a married father of two daughters—the father of the baby she had given up so long ago who had no idea he had sired a child as a teen. Together, will they be able to find their daughter without their families being torn apart or will fate intervene, upsetting their lives in a way they'd never dreamed in the pursuit of finding the daughter they can no longer live without?

Review by Rochelle Weber:

Demi Glenn has recurring nightmares that her firstborn child, born while she was a teen and put up for adoption, is in danger. She sees someone sinister chasing her daughter down a beach. She hires two different private detectives, neither of whom can find the child. Desperate, she turns to the one PI she knows will not stop until he finds the girl—David Alexander—her high school sweetheart, and the baby’s father. Both are married with children and neither has told their families about the baby. How could David tell his family? Demi never told him about the baby.

Their child, Renee, has never felt quite comfortable with her parents. They have different interests, and as an only child, she’s lonely. She’s often wondered if she could be adopted, but her mother swears she’s not. Still, that vague discomfort is always there. But, she’s looking forward to the future. Her best friend/boyfriend is leaving for college, and her parents are allowing her to go live with her Aunt in Alberta to be close to him. She can’t wait to start this next adventure in her life.

I never figured out when, where or how Renee was in danger aside from her adoptive parents finding out her birth parents were looking for her and trying to keep her from finding out she was adopted or from meeting them. I spent much of If Only waiting for Renee to be in danger, but it never really happened, and I felt a bit cheated.

There is a mystery here with elements of the paranormal as Demi, David, and Renee all reach out to each other in their dreams. And there’s a bit of a chase scene at the end, but again—I never felt Renee was in danger of anything but being prevented from meeting Demi and David. There is danger, but it’s not directed toward Renee. Just don’t look for the scene that seems to keep recurring in Demi’s dreams. You won’t find it. If you read If Only without the expectation of anyone chasing Renee down a beach or anywhere else, you’ll enjoy it.

Length:  202 Pages

Prices:

Print:  $9.99

Digital:  $2.99

Buy Link:  http://www.amazon.com/If-Only-Norma-Budden/dp/1507870930/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1427823069&sr=8-1&keywords=If+Only+%2B+Norma+Budden

Thanks for visiting. Rose, Julie, Donna, & Rochelle