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There are currently 47 member reviews
for Original Sin
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Andrea S. (Lafayette, IN)
A fun romp!
I thought this was a entertaining story in the vein of Janet Evanovich - made me laugh. There is not a lot for a book club to discuss but if you are looking for a good story to help you escape everyday life (like this winter!), this is the book for you.
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Gail G. (Northbrook, Illinois)
original Sin
This is a fast-paced spy novel. The one thing I did not like about it was the constant change of times and locations. Just when I became comfortable in one spot, the location and time period would change to another one, so I was unable to get into the play by play action the way I'd like to. The main character of the book, Sally Sin or Lucy Hamilton, was a spy in a earlier life. However now she is married and a mother, too. But her spy master keeps trying to involve her in the old game. Her husband comes from a wealthy family while Sally has no family to speak of. They were killed when she was a little girl, although Sally suspects Simon her spy master knows more than he's telling her. He keeps trying to involve her back into the old spy game but she wants no part of it. Sally doesn't know why he wants to bring her back because she is not very good at spying; her only real asset is her language skill with all kinds of foreign dialects. That and she seems to be close to Ian Blackford who always knows where she is and does not try to kill her. Simon wants Sally to bring him in because he's become a rogue spy and is working with other bad guys. I would have liked to stay longer at some of the action scenes. Sally would very much like to know about her earlier years. Ian seams to know her earlier history. The bad characters do not seem to stand out much. The only ones who feel real would be Theo - Sally's baby--a spoiled brat because she doesn't know how to handle him, and the Nanny who feels more real life-like as an adjunct character than the primary ones. The Nanny has positive vibes for Ian because of his looks and Sally's ambivalent feelings towards him. I feel he is not the really bad guy in the story, not like the Blind Monk and the spy master, Simon.
I give the novel a 5 for action, a 4 for story development and a 3 for character development.
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Cynthia A. (Grand Rapids, MI)
Surprise Ending with Lots of Loose Ends
A surprise ending with lots of loose ends has me looking forward to the next episode in the life of Sally Sin. An enjoyable read with uncomplicated characters makes this book a fun read for busy people who read in short spurts of time.
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Dorian B. (Bainbridge, NY)
A good escape!
This book, in the tradition of humorous thriller, is a fun introduction to the life of Sally Sin. Most of this book focuses on Sally trying to avoid her previous life as a spy and getting drawn back into that life, while trying to protect her family. The story is easy to follow and sets the stage for future novels featuring Sally as a stay at home mom and spy. Humor is found in all aspects of Sally's life, and the author left me wanting to hear more from Sally!
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Joan V. (Miller Place, NY)
The Spy Who Comes in from the cold
I wasn’t expecting to like this book very much. The shocking pink cover screamed “chick lit.” At first I thought Ms. McMullen was trying too hard to be funny/cute. The premise of the book – a former undercover agent who has been a stay at home wife/mother for nine years is pulled back into the world of espionage did quickly lure me in.
Once I got into the book I really did enjoy it! Ms. McMullen is an excellent writer. She makes the transitions from "Sally’s" current life to her past seamlessly. There is no problem for the reader to follow the story. It is a fast read, perfect for vacation, plane or beach reading. Not particularly suited for a book club, but lots of fun.
Would I read any sequels? Possibly titled "Venial Sin", "Mortal Sin" or "Deadly Sin"? Probably. However, I would love for her to write something a little more weighty to showcase her talent. I am really looking forward to reading more books by this writer.
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Portia A. (Mount Laurel, NJ)
A good choice
On Tuesday we had 14 inches of snow on the ground and I had a virus..the sofa and a book were in order. "Original Sin" was the perfect choice. A fun book with an interesting twist, it helped restore my good humor. Now for snow and in July for the beach, this is a good book to have.
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Dorothy M. (Maynard, MA)
She's a Bird - She's a Plane
Lucy Parks Hamilton is a suburban stay at home Mom with a 3 year old son and a husband who is saving the world one tree at a time. But when she was Sally Sin, she was an agent for the U.S. Agency for Weapons of Mass Destruction - saving the world by eliminating one terrorist at a time. In her novel "Original Sin" - with a plot straight from a comedic action film- Beth McMullen has written a perfect page turner beach book as Sally - or Lucy - tries to keep the fall out from her old life from destroying her new one.
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