Rating: 
Summary: Too Contrived - Banal And Boring!
Review: A friend stopped by to visit a few days ago and forgot to take the book she was reading, ("The Night Before"), with her when she left. Thinking it looked like an interesting psychological thriller, I picked the novel up and started to read. After 3 chapters I realized why my friend left the book. She didn't like it. I struggled through another hundred pages, trying to find something redeemable in the plot, and finally gave up. This is one of the most boring, banal, poorly written books I have almost read in a long time. I rarely put a book down without finishing it - but this definitely deserved to be the exception to the rule.Most of the characters seem to be on the verge of insanity - no kidding! Caitlyn Montgomery Bandeaux, the story's heroine, and her entire large, wealthy and prominent family, are all candidates for a mental institution or a psychiatrist's couch, as are many of the novel's peripheral characters - the detectives and the first murder victim, (while he lived), included. The author writes that the Montgomery family has "bad blood," but what about the rest of the town?? Many of the other characters are obviously below average in intelligence and not particularly likable. Lisa Jackson's storyline is choppy and not terribly exciting. The dialogue is extremely repetitious. I won't go into a plot description because others have done that already and there is not much to summarize beyond that. I do not enjoy writing reviews for bad books, nor do I like reading them. I wrote this to save you the trouble. I am sure Ms. Jackson has written better.
JANA
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic Read!
Review: A great book by a great author. I love Lisa Jackson - my only regret is that she doesn't write quickly enough but she writes quality novels. The Night Before is a spellbinder that had me guessing right to the end. Ms. Jackson did a great job of stretching out the suspense and throwing in some surprises - a tough job to do well but she accomplished it. The Night Before is the story of murder and family intrigue. Caitlyn Bandeaux wakes up covered in blood and learns that her estranged husband is dead and she is the prime suspect. Even she doesn't fully recall the events of the prior night. During the police investigation additional murders occur and everyone is keep in suspense regarding who did it. I highly recommend this book for the great suspense and great storytelling.
Rating:
Summary: You will be shocked in this tale of murder and romance....
Review: Caitlyn Montgomery has woken to find blood everywhere. On her sheets, on her walls, and all over herself. The only problem is that she doesn't know how it got there. Except for the cuts on her arms, there is no way that the amount of blood in her bedroom could have come from her. After cleaning everything up as best she can, Caitlyn gets a visit from the police, telling her it looks as if her estranged husband has commited suicide. Caitlyn is torn, as it looks like she was involved, but she can't remember anything. A woman that has always had mental problems, Caitlyn really loses it after her three year old daughter suddenly died after being hospitalized with a virus. Heartbroken over her daughter, she questions herself as a mother when her husband decides to sue her for the wrongful death of her daughter. The only person she can turn to besides her therapist is her twin sister, Kelly. Adam Hunt has come to Savannah on a mission. He has come to find his ex-wife who was the therapist to Catilyn Montgomery. When he manages to instigate himself into Caitlyn's life as her therapist, he feels guilt. Guilt for lying to her and guilt for feeling something other than doctor concern, when he still has feelings for his ex-wife, Rebecca. But the more he sees Caitlyn, the more he believes that Rebecca's dissaperance ties into to Caitlyn and her family. Then someone starts killing off the remaining Montgomery family. Starting with Caitlyn's husband, the killer then moves to the illigidemate Montgomery children. And each time it seems as if Caitlyn is involved, possibly even the killer. With her blackouts and memory losses, Caitlyn starts assuming the worst. The truth is a shocker and something that I didn't even expect at all. I read some of the other reviews and I couldn't see where the reader would know about the outcome. I also had no idea of the killer and was just as shocked with that. I have read both Jackson's books, Hot and Cold Blooded, and I think that The Night Before definitley surpasses both books in suspense and romance. Don't miss it!
Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing!
Review: I am a big fan of Lisa Jackson, but I have to admit THE NIGHT BEFORE was a major disappointment. It didn't hold my attention like her previous novels, and the plot was just plain boring and predictable. I hope the next one is better.
Rating:
Summary: The Night Before
Review: I brought this book at a store in Chicago O'Hare Airport for a long flight and once I started I could not put it down. Excellent, addicting and keep you guessing. Made me a Lisa Jackson fan.
Rating:
Summary: The Night Before
Review: I brought this book at a store in Chicago O'Hare Airport for a long flight and once I started I could not put it down. Excellent, addicting and keep you guessing. Made me a Lisa Jackson fan.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT ROMANTIC SUSPENSE!!!
Review: I couldn't put this book down. I think it's one of Lisa Jackson's best, with lots of great plot twists. I can't wait to read the sequel, THE MORNING AFTER, in March 2004. Write faster, Ms. Jackson. Write faster!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Not a romance, but very suspenseful
Review: I devoured the other Lisa Jackson romantic suspenses, but had such a difficult time getting into this one once the heroine's internal dialogue became repetitive. I kept putting the book down--not a good sign. There's almost no romance in this story, and Adam and Caitlyn's encounters seem almost an afterthought instead of central to the storyline. While I don't read romantic suspense for the romance anyway, this wasn't a problem for me, but those expecting a vital romance should be forewarned. It ain't there. And, amazingly, I guessed the killer's identity within the first three chapters, something I rarely do. If it was that obvious to me, it should fairly leap out at more savvy mystery and suspense readers. That said, this is a well-written, complicated and intriguing tale of small-town entanglements and family interaction despite my having to struggle through the first chapters to get to the good stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Not a very good book
Review: I have been a Huge fan of Lisa Jackson, I have read every single book of hers and this one is by far the WORST book I have ever read. It takes so long to get into the book. And the big huge shocker that everyone is writing about was SO obvious I couldn't believe it. It is too obvious what is wrong with Caitlyn, so easy to figure out the first time it happens and it is so obvious who Sugar is having an affair with. Also, the killer, come on, way too easy to figure out. I can't even believe that Lisa Jackson could write a bad book let alone a horrible one. I am a huge fan and i'm sorry but this book was HORRIBLE. Way too easy to figure out all the "surprises" they were too obvious.
Rating:
Summary: Can One Trust Anyone Here???
Review: I have been reading Lisa Jackson for several years now. I started reading her back when she was writing mainly romance novels. Then she went into the suspense Genre and got even better. I like her books so much that I had this on my wish list for a long time and then bought the book myself. It was money well spent as well as sleepless nights. That's right Ms. Jackson, I will hold you responsible for me not getting enough sleep for those nights. The protogonist, Caitlyn wakes up with blood all over her and finds her husband murdered in his study. She has many hours of the night before that she is unable to account for. The police start harassing her because the evidence points to Caitlyn. It also turns out that nobody liked her husband and most are not sorry that he is gone including her family. As Caitlyn keeps having strange dreams, she panics even more. Caitlyn turns to a new town psychiatrist, Adam who had temporarily replaced her regular psychiatirst, Rebecca. There are also questions to Rebecca suddenly leaving town and also there is the question of missing patient files on Caitlyn. Caitlyn also is not sure as to whether to trust Adam. She is also attracted to Adam. As it turns out, Adam has secrets of his own that he has to hide for his reasons. Caitlyn also has a twin sister who nobody is in contact with. Caitlyn desperately tries to contact her thinking that she can solve the mystery as to what had happened the night of her husband's murder. Mean time certain members of her family are keeping their secrets as well and more corpses also turn up. I won't say much more on this story as I think all readers should read this book. This is a story that will stay on your mind and also pleae make sure you are not home alone when you read this book at night.
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