Rating: 
Summary: A Master of the Espionage Thriller
Review: I was mesmerized with "Mesmerized." The Cold War may be over, but Gayle Lynds has managed to perpetuate the U.S./Russia espionage world. I won't repeat the plotlines that have already been outlined, but this is an edgy page-turner and I liked Beth Convey and Jake Hammond, the main characters. I also highly recommend "Masquerade" by Gayle Lynds. Her co-authoring with Robert Ludlum is a reader's dream.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Gripping Plot by Lynds
Review: I'm a fan of Gayle Lynds - Masquerade and Mosaic were terrific reads - so I was eager to read her latest work. Like all her books, Mesmerized contains a gripping plot following the adventures of Beth Convey, the heroine in this thriller. It is a joy to finally read books featuring intelligent, strong, and decisive women. As a Beltway resident, I enjoyed reading this book largely set in my own backyard, Washington, D.C. I'm also curious to discover the tranquility in Gettysberg, PA where a portion of the story is set. Her descriptions and attention to detail are superb. In the interest of not giving the storyline away, I urge anyone to read this book who enjoys suspense, espionage, and the mysteries of medicine.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: I've read a lot of thrillers, and all of Lynds' work ranks right up there, but Mesmerized is her best yet. From the first pages, when Beth Convey collapses at the moment of her greatest courtroom triumph, the action never stops. Whether fighting betrayal at her cut-throat law firm, or running from killers who don't want her learning the secrets that are literally locked inside her chest, Beth Convey's grit, intelligence, and determination make her the woman we all wish we could be. This book delivers the solid thriller punch I've come to expect from Lynds' work, but the intriguing ideas (can a transplanted heart really carry memories? Is the Cold War not as cold as we thought?) give you a lot to think about as well. This book will linger in my mind for a long time to come. It's a must for thriller fans, but I'd recommend it to anybody with an interest in speculative fiction, strong female characters, or just a thumping good read!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating, convoluted tale.
Review: Imagine your heart gives out in a very public place, and you receive the miracle of a heart transplant. Imagine that your new, strong heart has memories that it gives to you and leads you to places you've never been. This happed to Beth, a young high-powered lawyer who has a heart attack. She has a successful transplant, but almost immediately she has new cravings and emotions. She calls a phone number that's in her head, then goes to the trucking company she called, only to find a murdered man--who disappears before the police can recover the body, then resurfaces in another part of town. Beth has embarked on an odyssey that will lose her her job, and the lives of many people. She's in danger now, for the person she contacted in that fateful phone call is a Russian master of disguise who is neck-deep in conspiracy. One person who can help her is Jeff Hammond. At first she thinks he's her enemy, but after he thwarts an attempt on her life, they go on the run together. He's been working secretly for the FBI, but now he's under suspicion as a Russian mole planted before the end of the Cold War. This is a fascinating, convoluted, mesmerizing tale of post-Cold War espionage, hidden identities, and a touch of the paranormal. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Great storytelling
Review: In Washington DC, fast track attorney Beth Convey works a nasty divorce trial as if she is a virtuoso violinist. Beth knows that a success for Ms. Philamee will almost definitely make her a full partner in Edwards and Bonnett. However, at the moment of her triumph, Beth collapses on the courtroom floor and is pronounced dead. Medics arrive and barely revise her as she is rushed to a nearby hospital. Not long afterward, Beth receives a life-saving heart transplant. However, as she recovers, Beth finds her tastes have changed wanting vodka, dark tea, and fresh tomatoes in a style reminiscent of Eastern Europe. She begins to have strange dreams of individuals speaking in Russian including a murder of one of them. As Beth struggles to regain her former life, she wonders if her near death experience has triggered buried memories or has her heart left her with the cellular memory of a murdered Russian figuratively speaking to her from the grave? Readers will be MESMERIZED with this novel especially when Beth takes front and center as she is a classic Type A personality who the readers will adore. When the story line veers from Beth's reactions and adjustments into a thrilling post Cold War I Spy tale, the audience will question the need for espionage on a FBI-CIA-KGB level. The well-written book clearly showcases Gayle Lynd's storytelling abilities. However, those exciting secondary plots forces the prime theme into a different direction, which hurts the overall novel that works best when centering on Beth's need to know about her donor. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: 1st book in a while that I just could not put down.
Review: LOVED this book! I finished it the same day I went to see The Bourne Identity movie...I'd much rather read this book again than see that movie again (the movie didn't come close to Ludlum's book). The cellular memory provides a wonderfully interesting twist. The plot unfolds nicely and wasn't plainly readable, allowing for much enjoyment.
Rating:
Summary: Your heart will skip a beat!
Review: Lynds takes you on an inteligent, faced paced ride of international intrigue. A must have for summer!
Rating:
Summary: A Master of the Espionage Thriller
Review: The plot of this novel deals with cellular memory, political intrigue, intelligence agents, assassins, fanatics, etc. It is a complex plot. The first part covers about a year's time to establish the situation. Then the main part of the novel spans about a one week time period as events unfold. The Epilogue covers about a one year period as follow on to the main plot and wraps up some loose ends. After the collapse of the communist government, a new elite seized power of the country's resources. People are ruthless, willing to kill opponents, and unemployed assassins from the old KGB are available. A group is maneuvering to take control of the Russian government, and it includes Russians within the United States. There is a mole somewhere within the FBI providing information known only to top level officials. Beth Convey has received a heart transplant, and finds herself with strange compulsions that seem to be related to the donor.
She finds herself drawn into intrigue surrounding Russian businessmen located in the Washington, DC, metro area. There are more players in the game than people realize, and some of them are deadly. It reminds me of the lines from an old nursery rhyme, "Who is watching the watchbird, while the watchbird is watching you." You can guess about the identity of the mole, but my guess was wrong. As I noted in a previous review, in the intelligence business you can't trust anyone. People have different motives, but most often it is money, i.e., personal greed. As the story winds towards a conclusion, help comes from some unexpected sources. There is collateral damage, and one can wonder about some of the minor players who undoubtedly had their lives changed forever.
Rating:
Summary: Fast Paced Action
Review: The plot of this novel deals with cellular memory, political intrigue, intelligence agents, assassins, fanatics, etc. It is a complex plot. The first part covers about a year's time to establish the situation. Then the main part of the novel spans about a one week time period as events unfold. The Epilogue covers about a one year period as follow on to the main plot and wraps up some loose ends. After the collapse of the communist government, a new elite seized power of the country's resources. People are ruthless, willing to kill opponents, and unemployed assassins from the old KGB are available. A group is maneuvering to take control of the Russian government, and it includes Russians within the United States. There is a mole somewhere within the FBI providing information known only to top level officials. Beth Convey has received a heart transplant, and finds herself with strange compulsions that seem to be related to the donor.
She finds herself drawn into intrigue surrounding Russian businessmen located in the Washington, DC, metro area. There are more players in the game than people realize, and some of them are deadly. It reminds me of the lines from an old nursery rhyme, "Who is watching the watchbird, while the watchbird is watching you." You can guess about the identity of the mole, but my guess was wrong. As I noted in a previous review, in the intelligence business you can't trust anyone. People have different motives, but most often it is money, i.e., personal greed. As the story winds towards a conclusion, help comes from some unexpected sources. There is collateral damage, and one can wonder about some of the minor players who undoubtedly had their lives changed forever.
Rating: 
Summary: Too silly to be mesmerizing
Review: This is a quick read for a book that's over 500 pages long but I just couldn't get into it. Jeffrey Hammond reminds me of the inept detective from Lupin III and Beth, the main character waffles between being too perfect to being Pauline (as in "The Perils of Pauline"). By the half way point, the book seemed stuck in a rut of having Jeff and Beth meet under bizarre circumstances only to have the bad guys suddenly appear. A better book in this genre is Day After Tomorrow. If I come across a copy I'll register it and release it.
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