Hole in the Water

Rating:
Summary: Unexpected, but...
Review: As I began to read this one, I felt like groaning aloud: "Oh, not another one about a brave mom having to defend herself and her child against evil!" In the end it is so only to a point, and the book ends up developing in a rather unexpected direction. Its ambiguous story (and dubious morality) would have been the stuff of a very good book, but the characters are flat and never seem to come across as quite alive, except the teenager Kara, who soon steals the protagonist role from her bewildered mother. The book is entertaining enough, however, which is no small feat.

Rating:
Summary: "SIMPLE PLAN" FOR DUMMIES
Review: Back in the early nineties, Scott Smith wrote the definitive "what one act can lead to" novel, "A Simple Plan." That was a brilliant book and few have been able to come anywhere near it's domino effect crime. However, Kearney tries mightily hard in this thriller, which all occurs in one long day. Chuck Hausmann and his new wife, Gretchen, and step-daughter, Kara, return to an isolated island in the middle of Lake Superior, to attend the reading of his father's will. We soon learn Chuck is hated by pretty much everyone in the little village. We also learn Chuck had been married before and his first wife died under mysterious circumstances; Chuck feigned insanity to keep out of the draft. From the get-go, we know Gretchen and Kara are in for some dark, disturbing moments. The island is populated with stereotypical characters, but still they're interesting antagonists. We do wonder "Is Chuck really the insane killer" the town makes him out to be; was Mary's death really an accident; did the old man really extort money from his church-going parishioners; and is Chuck telling the truth about anything?
The novel spins towards it's unusual climax, and many people suffer because of one lie, one betrayal. Sharp and enthralling, this is no "Simple Plan" but is a fine psychological thriller, with an unexpected ending.
RECOMMENDED.

Rating:
Summary: don't waste your money!
Review: This book reminds me of one of those low budget horror movies. The writing is pretty elementary and undeveloped. However, I had just finished reading a novel by Dan Simmons and I guess that didn't help. If you enjoy Dean Koontz, Robert McCammon, Stephen King, and Dan Simmons then this book will probably be a disappointment.