The Survivors Club

Rating:
Summary: Always Exciting, Often Poignant, Never Boring
Review: After reading The Next Accident, I was eagerly awaiting the newest release from Lisa Gardner. I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed in the least.

This is a fine book for many reasons. The plot races along and takes the reader through many mindbending twists and turns. Gardner has the ability to leave readers shaking their heads and times while keeping the story plausible and believable. The ending has all the marks of a great thriller and will please both her fans and new readers of her work.

While the plot of the novel is excellent, the aspect of this book that sets it above most run-of-the-mill novels of this genre is the strong characters that Gardner uses. Griffin is one of the best cop characters that I can remember reading about is some time, while Fitz plays his foil to perfection. The three women members of the Survivors Club are also well developed, especially the younger Meg. Surprisingly, Jillian's mother, a stroke victim who has lost her ability to speak and communicates by tapping, is one of the most gripping characters in the book.

This is a fine novel that readers will not forget. It is violent at times, sad at others, while remaining interesting always. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: WOW!!
Review: This is the best Lisa Gardner book I have read yet. She is a great author and I could not put this book down. I adored Griffin, the cop in charge of the investigation. I hope she brings him back in another book one day!! The story itself was intricate and well written. Everything was explained neatly in the end and nothing was left hanging. I like that. The suspense was mighty and the romance kept to a minimum. I like that, too. But best of all this story was poignant and I was in tears much of the time. With the death of Griffin's wife, Carol's messed up marriage, Meg's messed up family, and the effect the rapes had on these victims, this was a very meaningful and sensitive book. I thought Ms. Gardner portrayed these emotions brilliantly. It is a deep, and sometimes raw read that leaves you feeling very sympathetic to a rape victim. This is one of the best books I have ever read and it ranks up there with a Joy Fielding novel. It has all the elements I enjoy in a story and I highly recommend it!

Rating:
Summary: The Best Club
Review: Amazing! A very good book from the beginning to the very end. You'll not find a way to put it down. You'll not loose the interest until the last page.
I strongly recommend this book for those who like a good reading and a very good suspense.

Rating:
Summary: An exciting ride...if not wildly original
Review: Reading this book was a good change of pace, I had just finished another thriller (oh...Vince Flynn, please learn to write!) with some of the worse dialogue I had read outside of my own writing (and this indeed bad). Anyway, this is was pleasure in that is was nicely written and the characters were finely drawn. The book is a bit of Single White Female (as a character in the book says), a bit of Chinatown, a bit of The Accused, and a bit of any movie that has a man in prison trying to drive his favorite cop crazy. The ending was a bit out there (as so many in this genre are), but what sets this book apart is the humanity. These are characters, all of them except maybe Fitz, who have heavy secrets dragging them down. They are all survivors (except Eddie Como) and Gardner deals with them fairly and honestly. Some of the book is hard to read as any good crime story should be, but in the end, there is hope.

Rating:
Summary: An twisted tale that will have you hooked from the beginning
Review: Carol Rosen and Meg Pesaturo were both raped by the College Hill Rapist. Jillian Hayes wasn't raped, but her younger sister Trsiha died while being raped by the College Hill Rapist. Three women drawn together by one man form the Survivors Club - a support group and activist group all in one. Together they are strong and united with Jillian as their leader and spokeswomen - but things are about to change.

Eddie Como was the man that was caught and charged with the crime and there was perfect DNA evidence to prove it. The first day of his trial a snipers bullet kills him - and hen the sniper dies too. Starting his first day back on the job after 18 months, Detective Roan Griffin was not expecting to find himself involved in one of the biggest cases of the year. But something is not right, there is a puppet master pulling the strings of this case and they have to figure out what is happeing - especially when the College Hill Rapist attacks another woman after his death.

This book was amazing, and the ending was one that was not expected. The characters are well written and the suspense is agonising, especially as you think you work out the story at least a half dozen times before the end of the story. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to get my hands on other books by this author. If you did like this book then try reading Tess Gerritsen who has the smae amazing ability to drag you into the story, churn you around in the story, and then spit you out at the end feeling as though you have been on a rollercoaster ride.

Rating:
Summary: On the seat of my chair, twists & turns!
Review: The only problem I have is too little time. I could have read this book in one sitting if I didn't have to work, eat, etc. Ms. Gardner does an excellent job of always keeping the reader guessing. I loved the characters and felt like I knew each and every one! This is my first book of Ms. Gardner's and I'm going to start my second one as soon as I finish this! Thanks for a great read!

Rating:
Summary: Yes! Yes! Yes! A Thriller To Be Savoured
Review: The Survivor's Club has many of the usual ingredients of a thriller.
A tough cop struggling to get back into work after the death of his wife and a terrible end to his last murder case...
Three women who have been attacked but refuse to back down against their tormentor...
An interesting twist at the end of chapter 1 that lures you into reading on...
It is with great relief therefore that I inform you that there is nothing formulaic or banal about this cracking thriller!

The great strength of the book is in its fabulous characters. Each of them have their strengths and weaknesses and are utterly believable. The two that really stand out are Jillian and Roan. Jillian Hayes is one of the three attacked women who form the 'Survivor's Club' and use the media to help them spur the police on to apprehend the criminal. Jillian was controlled and stubborn at times but also ruthlessly clever, quick witted and generous to a fault, as the book progressed I liked her more and more. Roan Griffin was the Detective Sergeant assigned to head the murder investigation. He was very tough and deeply affected by the loss of his wife , his best qualities were kindness, good old decency and a wicked sense of humour. He was also extremely lovable and I developed a huge crush on him - oh, about two paragraphs after he first entered the story. The secondary characters were also great and very vividly described.

The pages whiz by as the plot is filled with twists. The narrative is woven with the funniest lines and witty dialogue which adds much needed moments of levity. The ending is great - very suspenseful and everything nicely tied up as you turn the last page - it actually moved me to tears.

Overall I simply loved this book, it deserves its five stars and then some. The smashing characters, plot and dialogue were wonderful and a credit to the author. This is the first novel by Lisa Gardner I have ever read but it certainly won't be the last. Don't miss out on this pacy thriller!

JoAnne

Rating:
Summary: Tired of being let down by formulaic, implausible endings
Review: Started this novel and thought the writing, the characters, were wonderful. It was very spicey, very entertaining, and had me turning the pages. But as it neared the end and the typical thriller-formulaic-ending cliches started pouring down, I became very peeved. I am so sick and tired of the same old same old in these books. I guess the word is CONTRIVED. When writing becomes contrived, the art of writing goes out the window. The author, you realize, thought up the ending first, then fitted the story into it. How dull, dull, dull. So dull, this book lands with a thud. Do yourself a favor: don't set yourself up for disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: Authentic Characters in a Great Mystery
Review: The Survivors Club members are three women. All very different, but with one thing in common: all were assaulted by the same man, Eddie Como, a.k.a. The College Hill Serial Killer. Meg, a young college co-ed and Eddie's first victim, has suffered complete loss of memory from the trauma. Carol, a high-society East side wife, has pretty much lost her mind and possibly her husband. Jillian, a successful businesswoman, actually interrupted as Eddie Como killed her younger sister. Together, they've joined forces, with Jillian as their spokesperson, and formed a tight support group who went public with press conferences and the determination to get the public riled up enough to make a difference. They became activists and actually helped the police catch Eddie Como.

One year later, Eddie Como is about to stand trial for his crimes. The hired gun who took him out at the courthouse seems to have made a clean getaway. Or has he? Just a few blocks away, this hired gun is also blown away.

The lead investigator is Detective Sergeant Roan Griffin of the Rhode Island State PD. His first day back on the job after an 18-month "mental leave" and this is what he's faced with. He teams up with Detective "Fitz" Fitzpatrick of the Providence PD. Fitz was the lead investigator on the original College Hill case. He's "a detective from the old school. Ate doughnuts for breakfast and informants for lunch." Another girl has been killed and, according to the police, DNA evidence points to only one man: the late Eddie Como!

An excellent mystery with very real and authentic characters. The story twists and turns, keeping you on your toes until the grand finale. The best characters are the three women of The Survivors Club. They're not your typical victims, but strong-willed, determined women who never stop until they've reached their goals. But what exactly is their goal? Read The Survivors Club and find out.

Rating:
Summary: Another winner
Review: I truly enjoy Lisa Gardner's books and hope she continues writing for a long time. Think, however, she should check her facts in this thriller. It's easy to make mistakes in a book with so many scenes. Price's getaway car was parked at Viggio's house when the bomb was discovered and miraculously appeared at Price's house when Griffin went there to save Meg. Also, Jillian never did take her mother to her sister's gravesite, and that disappointed me. Otherwise, right on!