Retribution

Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK
Review: I HAVE BEEN READING BOOKS SINCE THE THIRD GRADE. I'AM NOW A GRANDMOTHER OF 14. THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST VERY BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ. HOPE TO HEAR MORE FROME THIS AUTHOR.
TERRY, HALLMARK STORE OWNER

Rating:
Summary: Great First Novel!!!!!
Review: This first time novelist hits home with murder and suspense. She keeps you guessing until the end. Her real life experience along with her style of writing will take her up there with John Grisham. I recommend this suspense thriller to all!!

Rating:
Summary: Good First Book By Author
Review: This is a love or hate book based on the reviews written in this forum. Critics, amateur or professional, have a habit of loving to hate what they're reviewing. Doesn't matter if the artist is brand new or a mega-star, what matters is they managed to make the top twenty hit parade with their book, songs, etc. Some critics (too many professional one's) have to go in the opposite direction of the mass audience who make the artist a success. Critics crave to be different, no matter that the buying public bought what they trash, and enjoyed reading the book or listening to the song.

Even with its flaws, I gave the book four stars cause I got hooked after Chloe's rape scene in the book's opening. After that I wanted to know the "clown" rapist identity, and would justice prevail. A good murder mystery keeps you reading until the last page, Ms. Hoffman succeeds even with her technical writing boo-boo's, and use of Hollywood movie line dialog.

As the old Dick Clark TV "Bandstand" teen's would say about a song... the lyrics are ok, but it's great to dance too. This book is like today's "rap" music, you love or hate it. No matter that the rap artist has sold zillions of CD's (i.e. Eminem... or is it M&M?)

Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I had recently been shopping for some new authors to spice up my reading. Retribution caught my eye, as did the reviews. Although it took me a while to get into the book, once I did, I read non-stop until the finish! I disagree that the writing was poor-it was a very well-written book, although I think it was a little too long. The plot and characters were well developed, and the lengths that CJ went to to put her rapist behind bars were incredible. I especially like how Hoffman takes the reader into the darkest thoughts of this desperate woman, and shows how far she'll go to see her attacker stay behind bars-from making deals with policemen regarding the secret tip, and their attempts at making the evidence fit (Chavez kicking in the headlight he allegedly pulled Bantling over for in the first place), to removing and hiding evidence that would allow authorities to tie her to Bantling (the necklace and the clown mask). The ending was great and filled with tension and suspense. However, I think Hoffman could have been more clear on who was the actual Cupid killer and who was the copycat. I believe that Bantling was indeed the Cupid killer and according to the conversation between CJ, Dominick, and Manny, that Chambers was the copycat, based on his obsession with CJ. The part of the storyline about how Chambers used CJ and Bantling as pawns in his "experiment" was well done and clever. I am looking forward to reading Hoffman's next book.