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Melinda W. (Los Angeles, CA)
Fast Paced Action
This book was a very quick, easy, suspenseful, and fun read. The only regret I have is that I had not read the "prequel" or previous book about the same protagonist, by the same author ("The Edge of Normal"), so I knew there were things I was missing out on, such as an investigation in California that it is alluded to that the protagonist inserted was involved in; I also felt that this book, did not go into that much detail about the protagonist's years of captivity with her captor, and I thought that was maybe because it was discussed more in depth in the first book. So now, I have another book that I will go out and buy to get the full picture "The Edge of Normal." However, even without the full, or skimpy background provided, I did enjoy this book very much. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and also guessing what is in store in the future for our brave, bright, and heroic protagonist. A great, fast-paced, action-packed read!
Also, I thought the book was very relevant in many ways to several instances that have become known in our society in recent years (kidnappings and rescues of victims missing for years in the real world and their re-acclamation to society).
Freya H. (Phoenix, AZ)
What Doesn't Kill Her
This was a good, fast read. The story line may not be entirely new, but it was presented in a manner which kept you turning the pages. May have to read this
author's previous novel, "The Edge of Normal", when I'm in the mood for another airplane-type book.
Carol T. (Ankeny, IA)
Good read
A little slow at the beginning, and I had trouble believing a girl who was kidnapped and tortured for 4 years miraculously recovered enough to search for her own torturer, and the torturer was very 1-dimensional thru the entire book. However, as the book went on the protagonists became more 3-dimensional and more interesting. An easy read for a rainy afternoon.
Madeline (Florida)
What Doesn't Kill Her
Since I enjoyed Norton's first Reeve LeClaire novel, The Edge of Normal, I was looking forward to this one. I didn't feel as connected to the characters or the story as I did previously but this is still a solid suspense novel that will keep you reading.
Margaret Loves To Read
Scary, scary, scary
What Doesn't Kill Her is a fast paced read that keeps you hanging until the bitter end. I was so afraid for Reeve LeClaire the entire book, but I never grew to like her honestly. She was a hard around the edges and not someone I could seem to like enough to become invested in her character. I enjoyed the plot, location, but I did not become invested in the characters. It was a good read but not one I want to follow as a series.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read for a fair review.
Four Questions
Would I recommend to my friends?
Yes, some of them.
Would I read a sequel or continue a series?
No
Book to Movie? No
Did I think about the characters after I finished the book?
No, not really.
Elisabeth W. (Durham, NC)
Would Classify as a "Beach Read"
The very short chapters make What Doesn't Kill Her a breeze to read. The story was fine; kept me reading though nothing outstanding. My issue was that there was no protagonist who had a fully developed character. It was hard to root or feel much for the victim, Reeve, because I felt I barely knew her. The victim's acumen for crime solving required significant willing suspension of disbelief. That said, this book is fine for an entertaining, easy, quick read.
Beverly D. (Palm Harbor, FL)
ZZZZZZZZ
To quote author Debra Doyle...... "The Author is Making a Point; things work out the way they do because The Author's Point Requires It." I have become skeptical of all thrillers...why do all the protagonists seem to have almost super human abilities...I would feel so much better if they were called fantasy or sci-fi. Although I did not care for the story, so predictable, the writing itself was well done. It will do well in a Dan Brown, John Grisham loving readership.
Grace W. (Corona del Mar, CA)
Not as Edgy as Normal
Having read Edge of Normal, I was familiar with the characters in Carla Norton's second Reeve LeClaire thriller-- What Doesn't Kill Her. This second book lacked much of the tension and suspense of the first book. I found I could put this story down, even during what might be considered the tension-building scenes, such as the hunt and chase in the snow and near the dock. I was a bit annoyed by some of the extraneous characters--like why did Dr. Moody's wife have to be so angry.