Rating: 
Summary: Best Book I've Read In A Long Time!
Review: Beware! Once you start reading Derailed be prepared for your life to be derailed until you finish it. Simply stated, Derailed is about an ad executive who makes one stupid mistake that derails his (and others) whole life. The word to summarize this book is "great." Great writing style (in ways it will remind you of James Patterson's style but Siegel is a MUCH better writer), great characters, and great plot. If that's not enough, Derailed is chock full of suspense and excitement. And if that's still not enough, it's filled with surprises that will keep you guessing and panting for breath right up to the last page. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to a book that will keep you glued to the edge of your seat. I had previously planned to read Harlan Coben's new book (No Second Chance) as my next book, but I enjoyed Derailed so much that I've gotten a copy of James Siegel's first book, Epitaph, and am going to start it right after writing this review.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Story
Review: Charles Schine was having a bad day. His daughter has juvenile diabetes that is getting worse, a marriage that is just drifting along and he was just kicked off of a major account at work. He gets on the train sees a beautiful woman and starts a mild flirtation. Big mistake because at that point his life is derailed. I won't dwell on the rest of the story in this review, but will rather leave that to the readers to discover for themselves. One of my criteria for a 5 star book is whether I could put it down or not. That criterion was certainly met. This is a thriller that will keep you on your toes from the first page to the last. There are some coincidences to move the story along, but you have to give an author some leeway in crime/suspense novels. The protagonist is not a totally sympathetic character, but you keep turning pages hoping that he can get out of the mess he made with his life. Even with some minor defects it is a quick and satisfying read.
Rating: 
Summary: Over the top and too improbable
Review: Derailed is the kind of book that is so improbable, so impossible that you end up rolling your eyes with every page you turn. The book had the potential to become a good noir thriller, but instead, it fizzles into a mess of nonsense.
Charles is a middle-aged man who's life borers normality. There isn't any spark left in his marriage and his daughter is afflicted with a severe case of diabetes. He's not that happy with his job anymore, and he's just looking for something to bring back the excitement in his life.
He finds it in Lucinda, a woman he sees on the train. He automatically falls in love with her. He begins an affair with her, something that culminates in their going to a cheap, dirty, sleazy motel together. But their session is quickly brought to a stop when a man bursts into their motel room and assaults them.
The man isn't about to disappear from Charles's life. Of course, he comes back. Asking for money. Then asking for more. And then more? And Charles? Like the sad puppy that he is, he lowers his eyes to the ground and does everything he's told to do. Add problems at work and with the police to this scenario, and Charles's life is quickly spiralling down into a cahotic mess.
There are three major flaws to be found in Derailed. For one, Siegel chose to write the story in the first person. The first quarter of the book is actually written in the third person, and it had me going, keeping my interest sustained. But then the novel veers in a new direction, the narrative voice changes, and the novel takes a turn for the worse. Spiegel isn't able to find a true voice for his character, which makes the narration sound so much more vague and distant.
Another major flaw can be found in the main character himself. There is nothing to like about Charles. He keeps putting himself in horrible situations, keeps digging his own grave, and we're supposed to care for him. Is it so hard to go to the police and tell them you're being blackmailed? Especially when your life and your family are at stake? Charles deserves everything that's coming to him. After a while, I was even wishing for him to fail!
The last major flaw can be found in two major plot twists during the course of this story. Siegel must think his readers are complete idiots. First, you can see where this story is going from a mile away. And two, the last plot twist, the one that saves our main character from his inevitable fate, is so ludicrous and out of context that it made me want to stop reading the book right there and then.
What could have been a good noir thriller in the tradition of Cain or Double Indemnity is nothing more than a cheesy and ludicrous story filled with stock characters and unbelieveable plots. Skip this one, you'll be doing yourself a favor.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast and Fun, Nothing Groundbreaking
Review: Every once and a while a book by a debut author comes out with a lot of buzz. The publishing companies put a lot into pushing it. Big name authors names are tied to it through endorsements and comparisons. Often times this buzz is created because the book is a new and unique offering, something really special. Unfortunately more often than not the buzz is manufactured by a media savvy author. Derailed by James Siegel fits more into the second category. Not that Derailed is a bad book, it just doesn't in my opinion live up to the hype. The plot is definitely intriguing. A Charles Schine, a normal man in an unsatisfactory marriage and burdened with a sick daughter meets a beautiful and mysterious women on the train. A women amazingly attracted to Charles. Of course one thing leads to another and now Charles life is turned upside down. The problem with Derailed is not in its style or execution. The story moves along at a nice pace and is easy to read. The main problem is that is relies a lot on tricks and switching perspectives to get most of its surprises. The twists and turns are about as shocking as a drive down the New Jersey Turnpike, you see them coming from a long way away, yet you still look forward to them. There is a lot of good in this book. Charles Schine is a likable character, stuck in a bad situation, mostly due to his own imperfections. The author uses the age old theme of not knowing what you got until it's gone. Charles after his life has been destroyed is a lot more likable a guy than before and his family members really don't develop until late in the book when having to deal with his indiscretions. So if you're looking for a light, fast moving fun read in the mold of James Patterson or Harlen Coben, Derailed is a good choice. Just don't expect anything groundbreaking.
Rating:
Summary: surprises on every page
Review: I normally don't like books like this, but this one I couldn't put down. I felt such a wide range of emotions reading it, from sympathy and sadness, to anger and fear. The only part I found to be a little far fetched was the ending, but it didn't deter me from recommending this book to all of my friends.
Rating:
Summary: Schmuck overcomes self to become vigilante Taxi Driver
Review: I was absorbed by this book from first to last. Someone on the jacket said the book is a cross between Franz Kafka and Ruth Rendell. I'd say, Woody Allen with American Psycho and the vigilante vengeance of the movie, Taxi Driver. And don't forget Robert Glover's classic, "$100 Misunderstanding." This book has elements from all these, and more.
The protagonist is a Jewish, Allen-esque schmuck, in the beginning of the book. He does a "metamorphosis" (Kafkaesque?) by the end of the book.
He wants to do right, but he falls to "Salome" (she turns out to be an Hispanic female "whore" scamming as a business person....and then gets smashed by, guess who? A black Hispanic.
Is all this interethnic fighting actually politically correct? Well, no, but don't worry, the schmuck murders the "spic" in the end, and guess what else? He gets away with murder!
Anyone who has ever been threatened, mugged, or worse, in an inner city neighborhood can identify with the schmuck. Anyone who has been institutionalized can identify with Raul Vasquez, well, kind of. He does own a bar, or better said, a "dive," so that makes him a member of the propertied class, not exactly a homeless bum. Mr. Vasquez does seem kind of grotesque in his "scamming" behavior and blackmail scheme, but yes, I've known people like him, too, and they can be quite scary.
Had it been me, I would never have paid anything, regardless of people's feelings. But then I'm not earning what this advertising executive was making, either. Also, I'm a cheapskate. Charles seems to be pretty generous.
The glimpse into the world of a New York advertising agency was also informative. It reminded me a little of Grisham's law firms, albeit at a much lower level, but still with the pyramid of authority and the kowtowing to the alpha males (or females, as the case may be).
Charles's daughter is diabetic and needs dialysis. He does pay for these out of his earnings, and so we may admire him for his "heart" and love for his daughter (and wife) even though he slips and almost ends up in jail himself.
I think you'll enjoy this book, but it will make you uncomfortable, and that's part of the fun. Diximus.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I was interested in this book since I read the flap on the hardcover. I was pleased when I saw it in paperback and picked it up. First off, from the beginning the dialogue is really bad. The flirting between the main character and the woman is really trite. The worst part of the book is halfway or 2/3 of the way through when something completely off the wall happens at the perfect time to save our hero. Throughout, cliches are used and acknowledged as though that forgives their use. It doesn't.
Rating: 
Summary: Talk about a bad day...
Review: I was on vacation in New York City earlier this year, and on my subway ride to the Statue of Liberty I saw a woman reading this book. Proof that I can find reading suggestions EVERYWHERE I go! I immediately bought this book and devoured every page. Derailed tells the story of Charles Schine about his amazing twist of fate. Running late for work one morning, Charles is forced to take a later train. On this train he meets the beautiful Lucinda -- Lucinda of the short skirt and long legs. Shortly, Charles and Lucinda strike up a conversation, which soon turns into a heated affair. But this seemingly fun, passionate thing (albeit adulturous) becomes the spark to ignite the flame, and Charles's world comes crashing down around him. One thing after another, like a horrid chain of dominoes.... I was utterly fascinated by this story. Would make one think twice before cheating on their spouse, that's for sure! Maybe this book should be on every brides' wishlist!! I will most definitely read another book by James Siegel. He did an awesome job with this one and kept me entertained from the very beginning.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping!
Review: I won't bother with telling you what's it about. I read it in one day (mostly during train ridse to and from work no less!)because I simply could not put it down. I was on the edge of my seat wondering how this guy's situation could possibly get any worse and what he was going to do next. It sent me looking for other works by Siegel. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Buy it now!!!
Review: James Seigel is the new "king of the pageturner"!!! With DERAILED he cast a spell on me that wasn't broken until hours after I'd finished the book. The novel's clean, smart prose introduces Charles Schine, a married middle-aged corporate everyman leading a comfortably dull life and tosses him into a set of circumstances that test his courage, imagination and humanity in ways that are as startling as they are compelling. Siegel has not written one of those cardboard cut-out crime novels featuring a larger than life detective or spy who's impossible to kill. He's done something much more challenging --and rewarding to the reader: he's taken a set of circumstances that could confront anyone and turned them into a narrative that's as credible and exciting as any you're likely to read this year. DERAILED is a "must" for every reader attracted to the best in suspense. It was a real joy to discover.
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