Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Review: DARKER THAN MIDNIGHT by Maggie Shayne


Cassandra “Jax” Jackson goes to Blackberry, VT after being offered the job as the new Chief of Police.  Who said small towns are sleepy?  When an escaped mental patient saves her from drowning, Jax makes it her mission to clear him of the murder of his wife and unborn child. 

Michael “River” Corbett used to be a hero at the NYPD, but after taking a bullet to the brain, he suffers from blackouts and missing time.  Did he really kill his pregnant wife?  He doesn’t remember.  With Jax’s help, he intends to find out once and for all. 

Aside from being somewhat predictable, this is actually a decent romantic suspense novel.  I liked the characters, the police work, the action.  Having the girl with ESP conveniently getting clues from dead people at the end, nearly ruined it for me, but not completely.  ESP girl could have worked had she been more involved in the first half of the book.  I was also disappointed that the reader (meaning me) was able to figure out the killer before the two seasoned cops and without the aid of ESP girl. 

While the mystery left me lukewarm, the relationship between Jax and River was red hot!  I really loved the compassion they showed for each other and the gradual descent into love.  Jax’s father was also a very touching secondary character.  Rex the dog was cute, too.

While this is the first book I have read by Maggie Shayne, it is actually the third in a series.  Coming in where I did was not confusing.  Shayne does well with getting the reader up to speed. 

Overall, I give Darker Than Midnight

Plot – 2 ½ bookmarks
Character Development – 3 bookmarks
Use of the Paranormal – 1 bookmark
Love Story – 3 bookmarks
Dream Cast (otherwise known as who I pictured while reading) – Mark Wahlberg (River), Anna Torv (Jax)

12 comments:

  1. it was a very good terrific summary. The good thing bout it is the plot. they like to kill an eat people cause there vampires.

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  2. It sounds like a very good book,I would defintley read it. I like it because I love the mystery books and suspense

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  3. LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  4. nice job!! but not really interested in theses kinds of books but you did really good. You gave a good summary of the book.

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  5. I don't really like to read unless i have to but it sound like a good book because of the suspense.

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  6. It sounds like a good book. I like this
    kind of
    books to.

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  7. this sounds like a bomb book i wana go get it after school now but hopfully it will be a lil harder for me to find out the mysteries

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  8. dont really read a lot but if i was to read a book i would not mind reading one like this

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  9. I'm totally stoked to have gotten this many comments in only a few hours!!!! You guys rock!

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