Amethyst Dreams

Rating:
Summary: Kept me on the edge of my seat!
Review: Amethyst Dreams is a great book for the reader who loves suspence novels. This book kept me on the edge of suspence all the way through it until the last couple of pages, where finally it reveals the truth of the mystery. Also this book was easy to understand and didn't have too many confusing characters to jump back and forth to. I would reccomend this book highly, and I am definately going to read it again!

Rating:
Summary: A Good Read
Review: Amethyst Dreams was a good read, but the depth of spell binding suspense left one wishing for more. Topsail was a good setting and it matched the plot. Characterization was strong, but the characters fell short of ecpectation because they were so toned down. It was like they were being held back and not allowed to go sleuthing as the plot and characterization called for, or express emotion in the true sense of the word. The ending was also subdued from what could have been a hold your breath surprise.

Rating:
Summary: NOT A VERY ABSORBING BOOK
Review: But I enjoyed it just the same. As someone else mentioned, i too had problems with some of the dialogue that ran throughout the novel. It read like the characters were reciting from a travel brochure. However, the story itself was interesting to me and read like a typical Phyllis A Whitney novel.

AMETHYST DREAMS is about the mystery behind a missing person, Susan Trench. An old college friend of hers, Hallie Knight, is summoned by Susan's grandfather Nicholas Trench, to help figure out who killed Susan, and from there the novel begins. We learn about the people that meant most to Susan, and what Susan was all about. Who wanted her dead? And why?

Among the sub plots are Hallie's troubled marraige, Nicholas's relationships with his wife Anne, who was a famous artist now living on her own, and other various persons that lived on Top Sail Island and were somehow connected to Susan.

I wouldnt' recommend this as a first novel for those who haven't read other books by Phyllis A Whitney. but as a fan, I would definitely recommend it. Ms Whitney has always been able to create characters that I like, and I find myself wanting to read more simply because she knows how to tell a good story.

Rating:
Summary: NOT A VERY ABSORBING BOOK
Review: I MUST ADMIT A DISAPPOINTMENT IN THIS BOOK--THE STORY LINE WAS FAIR, BUT I FEEL AS IF WHITNEY WAS GRASPING, SO TO M SPEAK, AND THE WRITING STYLE LEFT ME COLD. AFTER HAVING READ SEVERAL OTHER WHITNEY WORKS, IT SEEMED TO ME THAT SHE WAS HAVING AN "OFF TIME" DURING THE WRITING OF THIS BOOK.

Rating:
Summary: DREAMS, DREAMS,DREAMS
Review: I thought this book was rather interesting. The storyline was one that kept you guessing what really happened to Susan Trench. This was Hallie Knight's assignment. Hallie was called into play by Susan"s grandfather. After uncovering many family secrets--she solves the puzzle.

Rating:
Summary: DREAMS, DREAMS,DREAMS
Review: I thought this book was rather interesting. The storyline was one that kept you guessing what really happened to Susan Trench. This was Hallie Knight's assignment. Hallie was called into play by Susan"s grandfather. After uncovering many family secrets--she solves the puzzle.

Rating:
Summary: I really liked it
Review: I'm surprised that anyone was disappointed in it (other reviewers) because I enjoyed it. I will say it was not a typical Phyllis A. but a great read all the same.

Rating:
Summary: Weak plot line, descriptions forced
Review: This book was disappointing start to end. The beginning is a bit confusing because the reader is introduced to so many characters so fast. I had to reread a bit and go back a few pages to figure out who a new character was. I though the story was superficial, the plot line predictable, and the ending a disappointment. The thing that bothered me most reading this book were the anectdotes about Topsail Island. The author added tidbits of Island history that were trite and so out of place - like she copied them from our informational brochures that the Island Historical Society publishes. These additions to the character's dialogue were forced and down right out of place. I laughed out loud when the character discovered tracks of a sea turtle and one character went on a mini-dissertation about how the turtles nest on the island, and come up to shore, laying eggs, and so forth. Too bad her story was set during a time period when the turtles are NOT nesting and wouldn't be coming on shore unless they were dead and washed up... Likewise when the portion of the old rocket booster washed up on the shore. Who talks like that? No one. That's why the characterization was weak. While all of this information told about Topsail's history, it really did nothing at all for the story line and seemed so out of place. Topsail Island is a beautiful and unique place. It has a rich history. It's too bad that it had to be portrayed like it was in this book. The author did little to describe the beauty of the Island, but basically transcribed the brochure from the historical society and made it part of her characters' dialogues. Can I give this one no stars?

Rating:
Summary: Phenominal suspense
Review: This book was gripping, suspenseful, and hard to put down. It was easy to follow, and not drawn out. Phyllis Whitney gets ultra kudos for this one.

Rating:
Summary: Not one of her better books!
Review: While it kept me interested enough to finish, I was disappointed in the ending. It's about a woman who is summoned by the grandfather of her college friend. The college friend has been missing for a couple years, and he wants her to find the girl before he dies. There were a lot of little sub-plots which kept the story interesting, but I have to say it wasn't one of Ms. Whitney's better books.