Rating: 
Summary: Worst Of Carlene
Review: I have read all of Ms.Thompson's books and this is the worst. It was boring and hard to stay interested from the beginning. I waited a year for this book to come out and was sorely disappointed. If I wait a year for the next one, I hope it isn't a waste of my time.
Rating:
Summary: Far from her best
Review: I have read several other books by Carlene Thompson and enjoyed them. Bizarre and improbable as her plots can get, she has the right stuff and can add a jolt of suspense to even the most outlandish situation. Her heroes and heroines are likeable even when trapped in the one dimension she provides them. But with this book, you just sigh and wonder, what on earth happened? Many a time one finishes a book and then later realizes there were many loose ends and improbable coincidences. But if you have this feeling while you're still reading the thing, the book has major problems. With IF SHE SHOULD DIE, Thompson packs the book with far too many characters. I didn't believe that either Tess nor Bethany was a good friend to Christine, or that they ever had been friendly with her. And what about the retarded brother? As others have pointed out, he is the most unlikely Watson ever to grace the pages of a book. He is the one who finds Dara's missing diary in a hole in an old tree. Probable? I don't think so, but if he hadn't found the diary, there would have been no book, so all right already.And the killer, when finally revealed, is someone whom nobody could have guessed because Thompson did not employ an iota of "fair play" with the reader. Nowhere previously have we been given even a hint of the Killer's tragic childhood which supposedly made him a psychopath. I never believed it for a second. You won't believe the reason that the corpse was buried with the identifying ring! Sorry, Carlene. Please don't try to bring back Jeremy "Gump" for another go-around, your readers will not stand for it.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I have waited for this book for 6 months and was very disappointed once I got it. Let me preface this by saying I have read all of Carlene Thompson's books and have enjoyed each and everyone of them until her latest. First of all, it was hard to get involved in. She goes on way too much about boring characters. Secondly, the plot is filled with a bunch of history of several characters, but has nothing to do with the mystery at hand. As the book winds down, it almost seems as if the author realised she had written way too much to keep one's attention and abruptly finishes it with a lack luster ending. Actually, a lot of the story lines she had going as the book comes in are not even finished such as an ex-wife that reappears all of the sudden and goes away just as quick and a murder that does not correspond with the killer's story at the end of the book. I noticed Carlene had an excerpt for a new book in this one; all I have to say is I hope it beats this one or I will not buy another one!!!!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Exciting fiction novel!
Review: I like this writer and the way she develops her characters. I had a ball with this book!
Rating:
Summary: Extremely poorly written
Review: I liked this one. Some of the characters were not likable, but the story held my attention from cover to cover. After three years the body of a young woman is found in the river. Her name is Dara Prince and her father is the guardian of
Christine and Jeremy Ireland. We are lead through the search for her killer by Deputy Michael Winter. It seem Dara although only 19 was very promiscuous and she was probably killed by one of her lovers. But who are they and which one did it? A very well thought out plot, with several false trails, however, we finally reach our destination after an entertaining journey through the pages of this book. A very nice read.
Rating: 
Summary: If You Like Mysteries . . .
Review: I read lots of mysteries, but most of them I have figured out about halfway through. Not this one, though. There were lots of suspects, and one of the scariest murder scenes I ever read. Thompson tied up all the loose ends with a fast paced, scary conclusion. This book stayed on my mind for days. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent....by far the best!
Review: I was shocked when I read that some people were disappointed with this book. Out of the six books that I have read by Ms. Thompson, this one was definately the best.
I'm sure you've read the summary, so I won't bother repeating it. Let me just say that she casts a spell of unbelievable twists that forces you to turn each page. I couldn't put the book down and even found myself reading it at work! She has a way of really connecting you to the characters and I felt like I knew Dara personally. I give it 5 stars...I even adopted a kitten afterwards just to name it Rhiannon.
Rating:
Summary: ANOTHER WINNER
Review: In IF SHE SHOULD DIE, Carlene Thompson has created a haunting world of menace and murder. All of her characters are complex, but especially the first victim who largely comes to light through the pages of her diary. Thompson has also ventured into the world of the mentally challenged with the character of Jeremy, who is portrayed with accuracy and compassion. I loved this book and think it's another fine contribution to Thompson's body of work.
Rating:
Summary: For Those Who Don't Like a Simple Whodunit
Review: In looking over some of the customer reviews of Carlene Thompson's IF SHE SHOULD DIE, I've been surprised by how many people seem disappointed because the plot is neither simple nor formulaic. I have also been deeply offended of the many criticisms of Jeremy, the mentally challenged brother of the heroine. Having a mentally challenged brother of my own, I can tell you that Thompson has done an excellent job of portraying a person with an IQ of 70. As for the many characters in the book, each is interesting, different, and provides a believable red herring. And if anyone thinks the killer just "comes out of the blue," the reader did not pay attention to subtle clues. I have been a fan of Thompson's for a long time, but I believe her both her plots and her characters have become more complex. I, for one, see growth in her work, and would highly recommend IF SHE SHOULD DIE. And thank goodness someone has finally portrayed a mentally challenged young man as more than an entertaining fool!
Rating:
Summary: exciting action-packed thriller
Review: In Winston, West Virginia, Christine Ireland manages the Prince Jewelry store owned by lawyer Ames Prince who took her and her mentally impaired brother Jeremy into his home when their parents died seven years ago. Deputy Sheriff Michael Winter informs Christine and Ames that they found the decomposed body of a teenage female wrapped inside a plastic. The flooding of the nearby Ohio River washed it ashore. Michael believes this is the body of Ames' daughter Dara, who vanished three years ago. Ames says this is impossible because Dara is in Arizona sending him letters. Jeremy finds Dara's diary hidden in a tree near the bridge where she supposedly died. In her journal Dara mentions that someone wants her dead. She says her prime man is Rey, but that she has two other lovers that she dubs S.C. and The Brian and is pregnant. All three of her lovers are angry at her, but one is stalking her. As Michael and Christine fall in love, Ames remains in denial though the evidence mounts that his daughter is dead. Someone tries to kill Christine while others related in some way to Dara are murdered. As expected from Carlene Thompson (see ALL FALL DOWN and SINCE YOU'VE BEEN GONE) IF SHE SHOULD DIE readers receive an exciting action-packed thriller. The story line is fast paced, but contains a strong cast especially the lead couple and several secondary players. Several short flashbacks enable the reader to understand Dara. Though the killer comes out of nowhere forcing a lengthy explanation of motives, suspense thriller fans will enjoy Ms. Thompson's fine novel. Harriet Klausner
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