Status
Available
Genres
Publication
Dutton (2013), 384 pages
Description
Selected as a jury member during a high-profile murder case, Rory reflects on the accident that ended her affair with a longtime friend while gradually realizing her dangerous connection to an unsolved case.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member Enamoredsoul
Two masked men attack the courtroom in which Rory Mackenzie is juror number seven, for a case that involves cops killing the son of a known mafioso. When she is singled out by the gun-men, it sends Rory spinning back into her old life in Ransom River, a place she had left behind and vowed never to
While I was reading this novel, it got crazier and crazier. The book begins with a bang, and tailspins out of control. And at one point I was very afraid that the author may lose control of the characters, and that the plot may become too convoluted to follow. It came dangerously close at times, and YET, somehow, author Meg Gardiner manages to keep all the different strings separate and still manage to weave them all together. The book, and the plot, are coherent and it is a very well-composed mystery. It kept my attention all the way to the end, and was an adrenaline rush all the way through. But despite the rush, the author also manages to make her characters vulnerable and believable. She actually managed to get me invested in some of the characters, which is usually rare for mystery novels. I wish the ending was more...conclusive...but the fact that it is not, also gives me hope that there might be a sequel. And if there is, believe me...I'm reading it! :)
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return to. But she is back, and caught in the eye of the storm, that soon sends her back to her past, and leads her to an unsolved case that might just shake the very foundation of all her beliefs - about love, family, life. And then, there is Seth Colder, the ex-cop, and her ex-boyfriend...a man she has loved since her childhood, but does not feel comfortable allowing him back into her life.While I was reading this novel, it got crazier and crazier. The book begins with a bang, and tailspins out of control. And at one point I was very afraid that the author may lose control of the characters, and that the plot may become too convoluted to follow. It came dangerously close at times, and YET, somehow, author Meg Gardiner manages to keep all the different strings separate and still manage to weave them all together. The book, and the plot, are coherent and it is a very well-composed mystery. It kept my attention all the way to the end, and was an adrenaline rush all the way through. But despite the rush, the author also manages to make her characters vulnerable and believable. She actually managed to get me invested in some of the characters, which is usually rare for mystery novels. I wish the ending was more...conclusive...but the fact that it is not, also gives me hope that there might be a sequel. And if there is, believe me...I'm reading it! :)
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LibraryThing member thehistorychic
Read for Audio Review
Overall Rating: 3.75
Character Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 3.50
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: Ransom River is much darker (even though she writes dark thrillers) than Meg Gardiner's normal writing but I liked it! She has a real
What I Thought of the Characters: Meg Gardiner really knows how to write compelling characters and in Ransom River she does it again. This is a departure from her series and much darker. The characters reflect this different style. Rory is complex, strong, and emotionally unsure. She is thrown into a horrid situation and works her way through each and every step. You wanted to root for her, pick her up, and you wanted to give her a hug. Seth is also complicated and a little "fishy". You are never quite sure what it is that he is holding back. Those types of characters really make thrillers!
What I Thought of the Story: Ransom River was an interesting twist on the normal Thriller story. It starts out with a big event and then follows the aftermath. On a whole, I think Meg Gardiner did a great job taking that route. The only part that didn't sit well with me was the cousin part of the story. It was part of the overall events but the ending part where that was concerned didn't sit right. If there is a book 2 then I am sure it will work out the way it is supposed to but it was a little open-ended for me. Otherwise, I really did enjoy each turn that the story took. I was never quite sure where it was going next.
What I thought of the Audio: Narrated by Angela Dawe and at a running time of 11 hrs and 19 mins, I thought the audio was very well done. The pacing, pronunciation, and emotion were all done with precision. I thought Angela Dawe was really on point with Rory and did a good job with Seth too.
Final Thought: If you are a fan of Meg Gardiner then you need to read Ransom River.
*NOTE: Meg writes dark thrillers but this one just seemed darker emotionally for the lead character of Rory.*
Overall Rating: 3.75
Character Rating: 4.00
Story Rating: 3.50
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: Ransom River is much darker (even though she writes dark thrillers) than Meg Gardiner's normal writing but I liked it! She has a real
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talent for it!What I Thought of the Characters: Meg Gardiner really knows how to write compelling characters and in Ransom River she does it again. This is a departure from her series and much darker. The characters reflect this different style. Rory is complex, strong, and emotionally unsure. She is thrown into a horrid situation and works her way through each and every step. You wanted to root for her, pick her up, and you wanted to give her a hug. Seth is also complicated and a little "fishy". You are never quite sure what it is that he is holding back. Those types of characters really make thrillers!
What I Thought of the Story: Ransom River was an interesting twist on the normal Thriller story. It starts out with a big event and then follows the aftermath. On a whole, I think Meg Gardiner did a great job taking that route. The only part that didn't sit well with me was the cousin part of the story. It was part of the overall events but the ending part where that was concerned didn't sit right. If there is a book 2 then I am sure it will work out the way it is supposed to but it was a little open-ended for me. Otherwise, I really did enjoy each turn that the story took. I was never quite sure where it was going next.
What I thought of the Audio: Narrated by Angela Dawe and at a running time of 11 hrs and 19 mins, I thought the audio was very well done. The pacing, pronunciation, and emotion were all done with precision. I thought Angela Dawe was really on point with Rory and did a good job with Seth too.
Final Thought: If you are a fan of Meg Gardiner then you need to read Ransom River.
*NOTE: Meg writes dark thrillers but this one just seemed darker emotionally for the lead character of Rory.*
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LibraryThing member mgiampaoli
The final few pages ruined the book for me. The mystery became more far-fetched and the characters more confusing as the story unfolded and I couldn't take the Star Wars cliche. I could feel it coming but couldn't believe the author would go there...and there it was...and I couldn't go on. The
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author's imagination flagged and my suspension of belief has limits. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carol420
From The book cover:
Rory Mackenzie has returned home to a place she swore she would never revisit. She is summoned to jury duty and in Meg Gardiner's trademark tale telling, an explosive attack on the courthouse begins a long and terrifying ordeal. Before it's all over, the grim facts of her
The action builds to a crescendo of violence in the small town of Ransom River that will overwhelm everyone involved. Danger looms for all touched by Rory. Before it's over, justice must be served, honor returned and past lies exposed and confronted.
My Thoughts:
The characters are emotionally complex, both the good and the bad. She has also created two of the creepiest siblings to be found outside a Stephen King novel.
Rory Mackenzie has returned home to a place she swore she would never revisit. She is summoned to jury duty and in Meg Gardiner's trademark tale telling, an explosive attack on the courthouse begins a long and terrifying ordeal. Before it's all over, the grim facts of her
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family's past will rise up to change all she has ever known and believed. Thomas Wolfe says "You can't go home again." Rory learns you can never escape your home.The action builds to a crescendo of violence in the small town of Ransom River that will overwhelm everyone involved. Danger looms for all touched by Rory. Before it's over, justice must be served, honor returned and past lies exposed and confronted.
My Thoughts:
The characters are emotionally complex, both the good and the bad. She has also created two of the creepiest siblings to be found outside a Stephen King novel.
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Language
Original language
English
Physical description
384 p.; 6.71 inches
ISBN
0451417895 / 9780451417893