This novel is about a woman who only wanted to retire from the cares of the world, but was pushed to action and danger by a singular event that happened to the only friend she had left in the world, or so she thought.
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Linda Darby just wished to retreat from everyday nuances after her divorce. All she wanted was to recuperate from her pain, enjoy her day trading, and live enjoyably as a single woman with nice beachfront property. Little does she know that in just one day, her life changes from a seemingly peaceful one to one fraught with danger, all because of a rich and powerful man who wants to tie up loose ends. It helps, I guess, that she has a lone ranger on her side… Or is he working for something – someone – else? (Not important.)
This story is intelligent, action-packed and very thrilling.
It’s intelligent, since Linda isn’t one to swoon due to a crisis. She’s a mature woman who knows what she needs and what she wants, who plays on her strengths and acts accordingly, and who is not afraid to be afraid (because there’s such a thing as good fear and bad fear). She knows she’s in a frightening predicament, but uses her level-headedness to do what she thinks is best.
It’s action-packed, because it involves a mystery, murders, car chases, and surveillance. The lone stranger who ends up stalking her (for good or for bad, it’s difficult to say) definitely makes sure that things are complicated and surprisingly easy.
It’s thrilling, because you’re not quite sure what happens next. Step by step, a plan is formed, but, as one of the characters here observes, one should be quick to improvise if necessary.
You’ve got a string of murders happening in a quiet town, an underground kingpin who only does what he thinks is best for his country, and a woman who only wants to be left alone. Well, that’s what she thinks she wants anyway.
The book’s really quite enjoyable, although I had to fast-track the monologue regarding American politics. (It’s actually very interesting, but I felt it was a little too much for the book itself.) I was also getting rather frustrated at Webster near the end of the book, because I was looking forward to an interesting plot twist somewhere, but it never came. The pages before the ending were rather simple for me, although the ending itself rather surprised me. In case you were wondering, there’s sex here, but only a glimpse of a sex scene.
Quite exciting, but I felt felt this book could’ve packed a better punch. It’s quite a page-turner though, and features a smart, strong woman (and interesting men). It’s also enjoyable and hard to put down. A good read, overall.
The Woman by David Bishop
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
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