Rating: 
Summary: Boring and Trite
Review: Those who like their suspense novels with a twist of psychology then shaken with sharply drawn characters will take a liking to Lauren Kelly's promising debut novel. A pseudonymous offering, it is crafted with the deft skill of a master quitter who skillfully alternates times some 20 years apart to stitch together the pieces of this gripping tale. As a child Lara Quade loved her parents, and she believed they loved her despite the abuse. "...Momma didn't mean to hurt me when she slapped me, or shook me by the shoulders cursing me saying, why'd I ever come into the world, when I cried Momma would stop right away like she'd been in a trance......Like she was ashamed. Like it was her own self she'd been hurting." The abuse was only a small part of Lara's childhood. One day her mother put Lara and her older brother into the car and drove the three of them into a freight train. Move ahead 22 years and we find Lara working as an assistant at the Institute for Semiotics, Aesthetics and Cultural Research at Princeton. One may have to look closely to see the web-like scars covering her face, but the emotional scars are deep and ugly. One day she receives a prime ticket to an upcoming concert in her office mail box. It is sent anonymously. Perhaps, she thinks it is someone who admires her and knows she likes classical music, preferably the piano. Her seat mate at the concert is Zedrick Dewe, a young man, rather mysterious, who seems to know her. She finds herself drawn to him for reasons she cannot explain. Lara invites him back to her apartment, an invitation which should never have been issued. As that meeting becomes horror and additional pain as Lara is forced to confront the sins of her mother and father. Take Me, Take Me With You is a suspense propelled in depth probing of the human psyche. Highly recommended. - Gail Cooke
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