Retribution

Rating:
Summary: Great First Novel!!!!!
Review: This first time novelist hits home with murder and suspense. She keeps you guessing until the end. Her real life experience along with her style of writing will take her up there with John Grisham. I recommend this suspense thriller to all!!

Rating:
Summary: An entertaining, although predictable, beach read
Review: This is a good book to curl up with on the beach this summer. A real page turner! It wasn't without it's flaws, but I argue that it is much better than some of the tripe that is being pawned off as "thrillers" these days. While the characters were in large unlikeable, it is also the case with MYSTIC RIVER by Lehane, yet everyone upholds him to be a fantastic author. The plot wasn't any less surprising as DA VINCHI CODE, yet people seem to think that was the best book ever written. In other words, it's amazing that the criticism applied to this book turns a blind eye to other books that suffer the same flaws. I wouldn't pick this book up to be intellectually stimulated, but for an entertaining read on the beach, this is perfect.

That being said, I was somewhat confused by the ending. The therapist confesses to the crimes, but nothing becomes of it, and the villian's guilty verdict is upheld by appeals. So was he actually framed, or was the therapist just crazy and saying things to mess with C.J.? I can't tell. It was probably the biggest chunk of plot development, yet it was rushed at the end. C.J.'s ethical transgressions were pretty much excused in the epilogue. It would have been fascinating to see how she dealt with her wrong doings, as well as the defense attorney, who seemed to be torn apart regarding her ethics at one point. So there are ways this book could have been made better, but take it as it is - a book for the masses to enjoy. I would be happy to read Hoffman again, which is more than I can say for other authors, such as Lehane and Brown, who people have touted over Hoffman in their reviews.

Rating:
Summary: Good First Book By Author
Review: This is a love or hate book based on the reviews written in this forum. Critics, amateur or professional, have a habit of loving to hate what they're reviewing. Doesn't matter if the artist is brand new or a mega-star, what matters is they managed to make the top twenty hit parade with their book, songs, etc. Some critics (too many professional one's) have to go in the opposite direction of the mass audience who make the artist a success. Critics crave to be different, no matter that the buying public bought what they trash, and enjoyed reading the book or listening to the song.

Even with its flaws, I gave the book four stars cause I got hooked after Chloe's rape scene in the book's opening. After that I wanted to know the "clown" rapist identity, and would justice prevail. A good murder mystery keeps you reading until the last page, Ms. Hoffman succeeds even with her technical writing boo-boo's, and use of Hollywood movie line dialog.

As the old Dick Clark TV "Bandstand" teen's would say about a song... the lyrics are ok, but it's great to dance too. This book is like today's "rap" music, you love or hate it. No matter that the rap artist has sold zillions of CD's (i.e. Eminem... or is it M&M?)

Rating:
Summary: Wow what a book
Review: This was a very good book. A very very good book. I like the way she used character development. Like at the beginning, Chloe is blonde. And then later, she dyes her hair, because she's grown. See? And now she's an adult, so she uses innitials. That's DEVELOMPENT.

And like the detective she falls in love with. You just KNOW she's going to fall in love with him, because he cares about her even though she has scares, and then she does, and it's like this was MEANT to be. It takes a real writer to see that, because some people might miss it.

I love the mystery about the initials DR. I totally missed that one. Even after she starts a paragraph with DR as a sentence all by itself, cause that puts the period right next to the letters, but I was still totally in suspense.

Also, I really like the way she puts all the dramatic thoughts in italics, because that way I know that they're, like, important. It's like in movies, when there's dark music, only this is a book, so they can't have music, I don't think, because then it would be a movie, only with words, and on paper, but otherwise, a movie.

Also, I loved the part where the big stupid FBI guy tries to take all the credit for the case. I've read a lot of crime books and writers always ignore the politics there. But not Jilliane! Brilliant move.

Overall, I found this easy to read, and I didn't have to look up too many words in the dictionary, like if there were fancy concepts or anything.

Rating:
Summary: Ho Hum??? They're kidding right?
Review: Wow I can never get over the negative descriptions of really good books. Some people have to read and analyze the story's various parts without actually "reading" the story. If you're a reader and not an analyzer, read this one. C.J. Townsend is prosecuting another suspected mass killer and loses her ability to speak upon hearing the voice of the accused as he berates his attorney. It was a voice she'd heard years before in her bedroom, coming from her rapist/torturer wearing a clown's mask. C.J. then was a young law student with a bright future, attractive, dating a soon to be partner in a prestigious firm. But after her attack her life is changed. There are alot of legal issues at battle here in the plot of this great book, but there are alot of humane issues falling about too. After reading Retribution I felt entertained by the story because it was so horrific but also educated as to just how damaging such an event can be in one life. I think I have a better empathy for rape victums now after reading this novel than before. If any of the women in my life, and I pray that it never happens, should become a victum, I now have a better understanding of how to react as a friend, or father, or husband. This book is good on alot of different levels. It's a thriller that'll have you turning the page, it's a courtroom drama, that'll really suck you in, and it's got some twists and surprises that make it worth the effort all alone. For the reviewers previously that say this one's been written before, I'd like a list; because this one was new territory for me and I enjoyed it. If you're a "reader" too, I believe you'll like it as well.