Rating: Summary: Impossible To Put Down! Review: This book took me on a ride from beginning to end.Full of whiplash twists and dramatic moments,this thriller really thrills. Can't wait for my next "ride " from James Siegel who has proved himself to be a gifted writer.
Rating: Summary: Compelling Read!!! Review: The moment you pick up this book you begin the ride. Full of whiplash twists, rich with love and betrayal.. it is literally impossible to put down! James Siegel has done it. This thriller really thrills! Siegel is clearly a gifted writer. I can hardly wait for his next "ride". Literally impossible to put down.
Rating: Summary: A Page Turner Review: It's been a while since I couldn't put a book down. This book reeled me in from the very first page. It is filled with intrigue and suspense. The plot revolves around 2 strangers that meet on a train.I couldn't wait to get to the ending and I didn't want it to end at the same time. I hope there is more to come from this author. It read so easily and was presented in such a clever way. Surprise plot twist towards the end. I highly recommend this book if you love suspense!
Rating: Summary: Thrilling to the End Review: I normally don't read this type of book but wanted to read something different. It held my attention and kept me up late at night reading. I rated it 5 stars and consider DERAILED one of my top 10 favorite books.
Rating: Summary: Stay on the early train. Review: The train ride started out suspenseful and built up along the way. It was close to the end when it fell apart for me. The story appeared to be wrapping up nice and neatly and this felt like a total detour. Good read overall - didn't need the station stop that took place in Illinois.
Rating: Summary: a rough diamond, flawed yet still somewhat brilliant Review: Here it is at last, the thinking man's Patterson, with those trademark short chapters, easy on the character depth, with some nice style befitting of the copywriter Siegel is. If you've noticed the hype this book has received, it has more to do with the author's ad connections (rumor has it he's doing his own promotions) than his writing chops. It's a tense and engaging story, though not remotely original (guy meets girl, gets trapped by girl, has to dig himself out of trouble), and for all its stylistic merits, the story has one huge, unforgiveable flaw. Imagine if the space shuttle fell out of the sky and hit the bad guys on the head, and that's how the story resolves, with our hero having nothing to do with his own redemption. Yeah, this one is that far out there (Seigel should take a real writing class). The hero should have a hand in his own redemption, and while a stab is made at that, this hero remains unlikeable throughout, and the story's attempt to show how he comes around as a "good guy" doesn't have legs under it. I guess committing adultery and then getting blackmailed is one way to find your soul. Not. Too bad, because the writing is crisp and the story is satisfying in a made-for-TV sort of way, far short of "the best thriller in years" as it's hyped, but worth the time in spite of itself.
Rating: Summary: Edge Of Your Seat Thriller!! Review: Wow, what a book! It was a REAL thriller! Just when I thought I had it all figured out - whammo - another twist in the story. I Highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a suspensful, well-written novel. I had to force myself not to skip paragraphs because I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next! There aren't too many books around like that.
Rating: Summary: o please spare me Review: with all the hype, I couldn't wait to get my hand on an advanced copy of this one. the book started off slow, not the worst, not the best, still had promise, and then came the big "twist" which was a decent hook. That was where the novel finally came to life, then it just went downhill from there. I guess that's what happens when you leave it in the hands of a neophyte. Did anybody notice that contrived (and a major no-no) "God from the machine" that saved the character from a certain fate? Get real. That blew it for me. The protagonist remained weak from alpha to omega, not even capable of getting himself out of any situation with either strength or intelligence, just mere coincidence. The rest of the story was too predictable. The setup stank like a ten-day old dead man. It will be easy to spot for anyone who reads about cons and understands the life of grifters. And they spent a half-mil on marketing this? Amazing.
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.
Rating: Summary: exhilarating thriller Review: Life is quite predictable for Charles Schine. Every weekday he catches the 8:43 train leaving Babylon, Long Island for Manhattan where he works as an advertiser. At home and at work Charles bored as he feels choked by the needs of his wife and his diabetic daughter, and the demands of his job. With his wife off to her job, the impossible occurs as Charles misses his commute due to his daughter's last second needs. He catches the 9:05, but that twenty-two minutes changes his life as he meets the also married Lucinda.Charles now rides the 9:05 as he harmlessly flirts with Lucinda. This leads to a hotel rendezvous, but his first affair goes astray when an armed man breaks into his room, beats up Charles, and rapes Lucinda. His spiral into hell spins further out of control when someone tries to blackmail Charles, but instead of paying the fee, he hires a thug. His effort to return to suburban normalcy only sends Charles deeper into the quagmire with his life rapidly falling apart. DERAILED is an exhilarating thriller, as the numerous woes (much self-inflicted) that pile on Charles would exacerbate Job and maybe some readers. Charles starts out as a sympathetic character, but his irresponsible actions to cover the hole he dug will change the reactions of the audience towards him, the accomplishment of the novel. James Siegel paints quite a picture of a person making one judgment error out of the need of having something joyous in his life that leads to a series of calamities and a powerful action packed character study for fans. Harriet Klausner
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