Social Crimes : A Novel

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Summary: A bit far fetched... but Fun!!
Review: Going on vacation? Need a quick read for the airplane or the cruise? This is the book for you. Basically, a wealthy woman loses her husband and her inheritance to an interloping French "Countess." The remainder of the story outlines how she continues to get her feet knocked out from beneath her and her subsequent plot(s) for vengenance. Hitchcock keeps you turning the page to see how exactly the story will play out, as there are several options. A great summer read and a story that most women (who have been scorned at one time or another) will enjoy.

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Summary: Very good!
Review: I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it.

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Summary: A Peek into the Glitzy World of the Wealthy
Review: I bought this book because of the review Dominick Dunne gave it on the cover. Dominick Dunne is one of my favorite authors. I admit, I am one of those people who loves to read about the fabulously rich folks in New York. The first sentence in this novel grabs you and doesn't let go. Ms. Hitchcock delivers lots of details of how bitchy and superficial the really wealthy people are and I love reading about it. The book itself was great. It was interesting enough that I read it in 3 days but I was a bit disappointed with the ending. I won't give away the finale but it was not what I expected and I felt let down. I guess not all books can have the ending that you want but I just expected more from this one. Besides the ending the book was awesome.

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Summary: Social Crimes my favorite
Review: I could not put this book down. I bought all my friends copies!I have read two of her other books and can honestly say this one is the best. Leslie

Rating:
Summary: Amazing Book!!
Review: I could not put this book down. It is not only extremely well-written but it completely captures your attention. The characters and settings are so well-developed that you feel as if you are in the book. It just kept getting better!!

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Summary: Predictable, but I couldn't put it down
Review: I don't normally read "beach fiction", but something about this story caught my attention. I read about it in a magazine (New York?) and when I saw it in a window, I couldn't resist.
While the main character, Jo, starts out fairly sympathetic, she becomes something that isn't very attractive. I understand that the author wanted to demonstrate exactly how desperate and petty this woman becomes, but I couldn't help but wish she would either; shut up, deal with it, and/or get herself together.
I understood fairly quickly the similarities that were being played out through Jo's life and Marie-Antionette's. It came to be a little much when she just happened to find a prostitute who was "the twin" of Monique, exactly what happened in the affair of the necklace. In the same story, we are to see Jo go from the Queen to the scheming penniless aristocrat, back to the Queen. Only this time, Marie-Antionette wins, she escapes the guillotine, makes an overwhelmingly triumphant return to society and assumes her former role.
The final scene at the ball is a bit much. The author literally tells us who each of the characters would be in the life of Marie-Antoinette. I think the author assumed that her readers wouldn't "get it" on their own so she spells it out. This was a bit insulting to the reader and indulgent of the author.
All things cosidered, I do recommend this book for the simple fact that I uderstood why Jo did what she did and was even hoping she would succeed even though I did't really like her.
It is a good book for people who want something but haven't really considered what it costs.

Rating:
Summary: Nice, easy read
Review: I enjoyed this book immensely--in fact I read it in one sitting way into the wee hours of the morning because I couldn't put it down. An intriguing mystery set in creme-de-la-creme New York--irresistable. That said, this is not capital L Literature, but it is a great deal of fun.

Rating:
Summary: Intrigued from beginning to end !
Review: I just finished reading this book and loved it. Jane Hitchcock has you hooked right from the first sentence..."MURDER was never my goal in life," and then she's got you wanting to commit the murder with her. Well written, witty, and entertaining. I could not put this book down, and I am looking forward to her next suspense.

Rating:
Summary: likable but unbelievable
Review: I liked reading this book and was intrigued with the descriptions of the very wealthy. Unfortunately some of the most significant aspects of the plot absolutely did not ring true. One example is that the lawyer and witnesses (notary publics)did not ask the Monique impersonator for indentification. I don't think this would happen in real life. There were a few instances where the reader was asked to suspend belief and this kind of ruined the book for me.

Rating:
Summary: barely got through it
Review: I read the description for this book before buying it online as well as the reviews and I was looking forward to getting a peak inside the New York social set. I was greatly disappointed by how slow the story moved. You start getting to the good part at around page 240. When the story begins to get good is when Ms.Hitchcock seems to rush the story and not detail that part as much as she bored you with detail about the Marie Antionette furniture and jewel. It took me weeks to read this book versus a day it usually takes me to read a book if it's good. I couldn't advise this book to anybody.