Have you ever ridden the Scrambler at the fair?
The Scrambler is that crazy ride where up to 3 people are buckled into a seat, you’re slammed one way and then another all at a fast speed that has you gasping for breath.
That’s how I felt reading LOVE YOU MORE. This was the most exhausting book I’ve ever read….and I LOVED every minute of it. Talk about a whirlwind ride - WOW! From the first page until the last, you are constantly on the edge of your seat wondering what could possible happen next.
Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren is called in to work a homicide with her former lover, Massachusetts State Police Detective Bobby Dodge. The victim, Brian Darby, is a Merchant Marine and the killer is his wife, Tessa Leoni, a Massachusetts State Trooper. Brian has been shot 3 times in the chest with Trooper Leoni’s service weapon. It appears Tessa has been beaten so this would be a spousal abuse case ending in a death due to self-defense. Normally an open and shut case for the detectives, except Tessa’s six-year-old daughter is missing.
As D.D. and Bobby dig deeper into the case, they soon fear Tessa has also killed her daughter and disposed of her body. In addition, it seems Internal Affairs is investigating missing money from the troopers’ retirement fund and Tessa is a possible suspect. As the officers scramble to find the 6-year-old, they find more skeletons in the trooper’s past.
Meanwhile, D.D. is also having to deal with personal issues that could change the course of her life.
Author Lisa Gardner tells the story from both D.D.’s point of view, as well as Tessa’s. The chapters interchange from one woman’s thoughts and actions to the other. It gives the reader insight into both women’s feelings, as well as the circumstances surrounding each.
Without giving anything away, I will stress everything is not what it seems. This is the fifth book featuring Det. Warren, but it is a stand along book. The characters are riveting. I’d like to see Trooper Leoni return in another Det. Warren story, but under the circumstances not sure that could happen - or could it?
Be prepared to lose track of time once you pick up LOVE YOU MORE. You’ll be so engrossed in finding out who Trooper Leoni ‘loves more,’ you’ll have a hard time putting the book down until the very end.
Author Lisa Gardner’s website is www.lisagardner.com
Love You More, A Novel by Lisa Gardner, Bantam, @2011, ISBN: 9780553807257, Hardcover, 368 pages
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of the author’s virtual blog tour and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
The Scrambler is that crazy ride where up to 3 people are buckled into a seat, you’re slammed one way and then another all at a fast speed that has you gasping for breath.
That’s how I felt reading LOVE YOU MORE. This was the most exhausting book I’ve ever read….and I LOVED every minute of it. Talk about a whirlwind ride - WOW! From the first page until the last, you are constantly on the edge of your seat wondering what could possible happen next.
Sergeant Detective D.D. Warren is called in to work a homicide with her former lover, Massachusetts State Police Detective Bobby Dodge. The victim, Brian Darby, is a Merchant Marine and the killer is his wife, Tessa Leoni, a Massachusetts State Trooper. Brian has been shot 3 times in the chest with Trooper Leoni’s service weapon. It appears Tessa has been beaten so this would be a spousal abuse case ending in a death due to self-defense. Normally an open and shut case for the detectives, except Tessa’s six-year-old daughter is missing.
As D.D. and Bobby dig deeper into the case, they soon fear Tessa has also killed her daughter and disposed of her body. In addition, it seems Internal Affairs is investigating missing money from the troopers’ retirement fund and Tessa is a possible suspect. As the officers scramble to find the 6-year-old, they find more skeletons in the trooper’s past.
Meanwhile, D.D. is also having to deal with personal issues that could change the course of her life.
Author Lisa Gardner tells the story from both D.D.’s point of view, as well as Tessa’s. The chapters interchange from one woman’s thoughts and actions to the other. It gives the reader insight into both women’s feelings, as well as the circumstances surrounding each.
Without giving anything away, I will stress everything is not what it seems. This is the fifth book featuring Det. Warren, but it is a stand along book. The characters are riveting. I’d like to see Trooper Leoni return in another Det. Warren story, but under the circumstances not sure that could happen - or could it?
Be prepared to lose track of time once you pick up LOVE YOU MORE. You’ll be so engrossed in finding out who Trooper Leoni ‘loves more,’ you’ll have a hard time putting the book down until the very end.
Author Lisa Gardner’s website is www.lisagardner.com
Love You More, A Novel by Lisa Gardner, Bantam, @2011, ISBN: 9780553807257, Hardcover, 368 pages
FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of the author’s virtual blog tour and it was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
I'll make a note; I love thrillers!
ReplyDeleteHi Mason .. this does look a roller-coaster read .. thanks for telling us about Lisa .. & I enjoyed the write up.
ReplyDeleteCheers .. Hilary
Looks like a fast-paced book. Thanks for the tip! :)
ReplyDeleteMason - Thanks for this review; I was wondering what you thought of this one. It sounds as though it's one of those "doesn't let you go" novels. Glad you enjoyed it as much as you did.
ReplyDeleteI have ridden the Scrambler, and it's a good analogy for this book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review. I'm glad you enjoyed it. I got a chance to read it too, so now I want to go back and read the other D.D. Warren novels. Not sure that will happen anytime soon with this TBR pile I have going on, but we'll see.
Readers can visit YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60ktvPX51C4 to listen to Lisa talk about Love You More.
Thanks again.
Cheryl
alaine, this is definitely a thriller. Hope you enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteHilary, thanks so much. The story is a bit of a roller coaster ride.
Elizabeth, this one will keep you guessing.
Margot, it is one of those 'don't let you go' novels. Just when you think 'okay, so this is how it happened,' a new twist is introduced.
Cheryl, for some reason the Scrambler came to make as I was trying to compare it to but it does fit. I've read one other D.D. Warren novel and loved it too.
What a great description. And I'm glad it could be read alone, I haven't read any of the earlier ones, but think I may start with this one!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I can't wait to get my hands on this one.
ReplyDeleteI love Lisa Gardner's books, but I haven't read this one yet. On my list - LOL. I love the Scrambler, too :)
ReplyDeleteHappy Weekend!
Mason, HI - another great review! I've been reading and hearing about this one, but wasn't sure it would be my cup of tea. Well - you helped me decide. Adding another one to the list! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, my kind of book. Just added it to my list. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteI just finished this one, too. Gardner's books just keep getting better and better!
ReplyDeleteI used to love the Scrambler when I was younger. These days a book version of the ride might be a better way for me to go.
ReplyDeleteLee
Tossing It Out
Twitter hashtag: #atozchallenge
Hi Mason,
ReplyDeleteI've read Live To Tell and The Neighbour. Both were very good so I'm looking forward to this one.
Thanks for the review.
Can't remember the name, but I've read another book by this author. Scary scrambler ride is a perfect description! When I'm brave enough, I'll get this one too :)
ReplyDelete