Mr. Mercedes

Author: Stephen King

Pages: 436

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Stand Alone

My Rating:  5 / 5

A retired detective plays a cat & mouse game with a deranged killer and with the help of an unlikely group of friends, tries to catch him before he kills again. 

I am a huge Stephen King fan. He wrote my favorite book of all time, The Stand. So, I read everything he writes and tend to enjoy all of his books. This book was no different.  It kept me up a few nights and the 436 pages just flew by. The entire time I was reading, I was on the edge of my seat. I wasn't sure who would die and who would survive. No one was guaranteed to be safe in this book. 

Here's the Story:

In the opening of the book, a line of people is forming to wait for a job fair. People are waiting all night to be among the first to apply for the jobs. Times are difficult and they know there will be more people than jobs. As dawn arrives, a Mercedes speeds out of the fog and into the line, killing 8 people and injuring 15 others. The killer escapes.

Detective William Hodges was one of the officers investigating the case. He is now retired and feels like his life has no purpose. Then, he receives a letter from the Mercedes Killer. In the letter, the killer taunts Hodges, trying to push him into committing suicide. But, the letter gives Hodges a purpose, a reason to live. He is determined to catch the Mercedes Killer.

The Mercedes Killer, Brady Hartsfield (not a spoiler btw, this is revealed early in the novel) is clever and he is able to hide in plain sight. In order to keep an eye on Hodges, he drives an ice cream truck that can go almost anywhere without arising suspicion. He is determined to cause Hodges as much pain as possible and keeps an eye on everyone Hodges associates with.

How will this cat & mouse game end? And how many people will die in the process?

Characters:

Retired Detective Bill Hodges: A troubled retired detective who feels he has nothing to live for. His life is given new meaning when the Mercedes Killer taunts him with a letter. He wants to catch the one who got away.

Pete Huntley: Hodges old partner; he is still working.

Brady Hartsfield: The Mercedes Killer. He stole a Mercedes and drove it into a line of innocent people. He is taunting Detective Hodges and trying to make him commit suicide.

Deborah Ann Hartsfield: Brady's mother, a controlling alcoholic.  They have an unusual relationship.

Olivia Trelawney: The owner of the Mercedes that Brady stole to drive into the line of people at the job fair.

Janelle (Janey) Patterson: Olivia's sister, she helps Bill Hodges with trying to track down the Mercedes Killer.

Jerome Robinson: A friend of Bill Hodges, he takes care of Bill's lawn and computer issues. He helps Bill with trying to track down the Mercedes Killer.

My Thoughts:

This book had me on the edge of my seat. There were parts that were a little gross and some that were a little creepy. But what else would you expect from a Stephen King novel. I like that no one was completely safe. I knew people were going to die, but I wasn't sure who and I wasn't even sure the main character was safe. I felt connected to the characters and I was rooting for Hodges to succeed. Brady wasn't likable, but I could see where his life circumstances didn't give him much chance to be "normal". The characters had a very realistic feel and there were a lot of twists and turns in the story. If you enjoy Stephen King or crime thrillers, I think this is a good book for you. An interesting note for Stephen King fans, Christine & It were both referenced in the book. Could this book be the beginning of a series? I hope so, I would like to see more from these characters.

Confessions of a Murder Suspect

Pages: 372

Genre: Mystery, Young Adult

Confessions Series, Book 1

My Rating:  4 / 5

A wealthy couple is found dead in their bedroom, did one of their children (all prodigies in different ways) murder them?

I'm a big James Patterson fan.  His books are entertaining and easy to read. I like that the chapters are usually short and it's easy for me to read "one more chapter" before I go to sleep without staying up an extra hour.  :)  Recently Patterson has ventured into different genres. My son and I have enjoyed the Middle School series and the I Funny series both very much. I was excited to read this new YA thriller.

Here's the Story:

Tandy Angel is awakened by sirens that stop at her building, right downstairs. The doorman buzzes up and says the police are on their way up to their apartment. Even in the prestigious Dakota building, the police can't be stopped by the doorman. When she lets the police in, they go up to her parents' bedroom and find them dead...  The doors were all locked, so the prime suspects are Tandy, her brothers Harry & Hugo and her mother's personal assistant, Samantha.

Tandy is determined to find out who the murderer is, even if it turns out to be one of her brothers, or even herself. This book is written from the point of view of Angel Tandy. In between chapters detailing the progress of the story, Tandy talks to the reader and presents information about her past. We see her progress as she tries to figure out what happened to her parents and what happened in her past that she doesn't remember.

The Angel family has many secrets and enemies. What secrets will Tandy uncover as she continues to investigate her parents' death? 

Characters:

Tandy Angel:  Brillant, focused daughter of Malcolm & Maud Angel. She has secrets in her past that she is only beginning to understand.

Harry Angel: Tandy's fraternal twin.  He is a brilliant artist & pianist.  He is emotional, unlike the other Angel children and feels like he is broken because of it.

Hugo Angel: Ten-year old son of Malcolm & Maud.  He has the strength of a full-grown man.

Matthew Angel:  The oldest Angel child.  He is a professional football player.  He has distanced himself from the family and hasn't been to the house in months.

Malcom & Maud Angel: The parents who are found dead. They were very strict and demanding of the children.

Samantha Peck:  Maud's personal assistant.  She has worked for the Angel family for years and the kids are like family to her.

Sergeant Capricorn Caputo & Detective Ryan Hayes:  The police officers trying to figure out who killed Malcolm & Maud.

My Thoughts:

This was very quick read. I enjoyed the way Tandy spoke to the reader; knowing her thoughts and inner feelings helped me feel connected to her. She admits to being an unreliable narrator and that makes it difficult to figure out what is really going on. After all, Tandy herself says not to trust anything she says. The truth is, she doesn't know what parts of her memories are real but she knows a lot of details are missing.This story is clever with many twists and turns. I know there is at least one more book in this series (and knowing Patterson, probably more). I am looking forward to learning more about Tandy and the Angel family.

The List by Siobhan Vivian

Pages: 332

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Young Adult

Stand Alone

My Rating:  3 / 5

 I'll admit, I enjoy reading young adult novels.  I have a 12-year old daughter (about to turn 13) and a 10-year old son.  I'm not far away from being a parent of a young adult.  And that scares the crap out of me. Being the parent of a teenager in this world is daunting.  So, I'll take almost any chance I have to get a peek into the world of high school.  Besides actually going there again, I mean really, who would want to do that.  The social status issues, the body image issues, the insecurity, the dating.  UGH!  But, I would like some insight.  Though, who am I kidding, reality is much scarier than any of these books...

So, I just finished reading The List by Siobhan Vivian.  I found myself up until the wee hours of the morning reading this one.  I wanted to find out what happened to the girls on the list and I wanted to know who wrote the list.

Here's the story:

Each year, on the last Monday in September, the students of Mount Washington High School arrive to find the List plastered on lockers, on desks, on walls; basically throughout the school.  The list names the prettiest girl and the ugliest girl in each grade.  The list is written anonymously and authenticated by a Mount Washington High embossing stamp in the lower right corner.  According to legend, the stamp was stolen and is passed down each year to a new author.  No one is sure how and to whom the list is passed.  The story shows how being on the list affects the girls and changes their lives.  Being named the prettiest or the ugliest girl has consequences for each girl that no one could foresee.

Characters:

Danielle Demarco is named the Ugliest Freshman and the list nicknames her "Dan the Man".  She is a competitive girl and on the swim team. With all her athletic success and strength, Danielle seems confident enough to overcome her embarrassment at being named the ugliest freshman girl.  But, she has some underlying insecurities about her body type and her boyfriend is acting funny.  Will her game face get her through this?

Abby Warner is named Prettiest Freshman girl. She is thrilled to be on the list and wonders why her older sister never told her about this tradition.  Abby is excited to go to the homecoming dance and that new boys are noticing her.  But, she isn't keeping up with her school work.  Will this list bring her happiness or pain?  

Candace Kincaid is named Ugliest Sophomore girl, with the comment "Beauty isn't just skin-deep btw.  She is surprised and angry to be named ugliest, even though the comment points out that her ugliness is on the inside.  In her mind  Candace was prepared to be named prettiest. Are Candace's friends really her friends?  Is Candace just a selfish mean-girl?  How will being named the ugliest girl change Candace's life?

Lauren Finn is named Prettiest Sophomore girl.  This is Lauren's first year in a real school.  Up until now, Lauren has been home-schooled.  Before the list comes out, no one notices Lauren.  She is lost and uncomfortable in her new high school life. Lauren has a very close relationship with her mom and has led a very sheltered life.  Now that she is on the list, people are noticing her and talking to her. So, is it all coming up roses for her? How will being on the list change her?

Sarah Singer is named Ugliest Junior girl. Sarah isn't interested in being part of the social games of high school. Underneath her tough exterior, Sarah may have a softer, more vulnerable side.  She is so angry about the list and wants to make a statement. How far is she willing to go?

Bridget Honeycutt is named Prettiest Junior girl.  Bridget is constantly worried about her weight and she is certain that the weight she lost over the summer is what got her on the list.  She lost the weight by eating next to nothing all summer.  She knows that not eating isn't healthy and is determined to control her eating issues.  How will the list affect her and how far will she go to live up to the expectations that come with being named the prettiest?

Jennifer Briggis is named Ugliest Senior girl, and this is the fourth year she has been named the ugliest girl.  Usually  a different girl is named each year, but Jennifer has been on the list every year.  How will Jennifer handle it this year?  And what is the history between Jennifer and Margo?

Margo Gable is name Prettiest Senior girl and seems to be a lock for homecoming queen. She is surprised when her friends seem more interested in making Jennifer feel better than in congratulating Margo. She doesn't feel bad for Jennifer and doesn't understand why her friends feel a need to include Jennifer as part of their group.

Conclusion:

I did enjoy the book. In the beginning, I found myself constantly referring back to the list. I couldn't remember the names and who was prettiest or ugliest. As the book progressed, I found myself connecting with the characters, but I also felt I wanted to know more.  With so many different characters with their own story lines, I didn't get to know each one as well as I could have. I wanted to find out more about Bridget's eating issues and I wanted to get to know Jennifer better and find out what made her so angry.  The story moved quickly and like I said, I spend a few nights up late because I wanted to find out the truth.  I would say this book gives a fair glimpse of high school life and how the social and emotional pressures can affect different types of girls (and boys).

Final Thought:

In my life, I see a lot of people who seem to be nasty or bitchy or self-centered.  I need to try to be patient and not judge them too harshly.  People who seem strong and confident have insecurities too.  None of us are immune to the social pressures of society.  And if you think the clique behavior and judgements of high school disappear as we become adults, think again. Unfortunately, as part of the PSTA in my children's school, I have seen the same types of behavior in adults that we see in these high school students.