Saturday, August 14, 2010

HANGMAN: REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
HANGMAN

BY FAYE KELLERMAN

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Fifteen years ago, high school senior Chris Whitman went to jail for murdering his girlfriend, Cheryl Diggs. Propelled by a misguided sense of chivalry, he confessed, determined to save another classmate, the beautiful and vulnerable Terry McLaughlin, from having to testify at his trial. When the truth came out, Chris was released from prison, married Terry—pregnant with his child—and changed his last name to Donatti. He also became a professional killer.

Peter Decker was the detective on the case, and over the years, he and Terry kept in touch. Now his friend is in L.A. and asking for a favor. Though Decker knows full well that getting involved will bring Terry's sociopathic husband back into his life, the obsessive and duty-bound LAPD lieutenant reluctantly agrees. The favor soon becomes complicated when Terry goes missing and Donatti disappears, leaving their fourteen-year-old son, Gabe, with no one to turn to except Decker and his wife, Rina Lazarus.

But Peter's search for Terry must share center stage with a gruesome murder. Adrianna Blanc, a neonatal nurse at St. Timothy's Hospital, had signed off her night shift at eight a.m. Six hours later, a foreman supervising the construction of a house in a nearby suburb discovered her body swinging from the rafters, a cable wire around her neck. Her car was found where she had parked it the night before, with no signs of foul play.

A dedicated and conscientious professional, Adrianna had a circle of close friends. Yet as Decker and his able team soon learn, the young woman also had her share of detractors. A party-hearty girl, she enjoyed booze, kinky sex, and revenge-cheating on her boyfriend, Garth Hammerling, another nurse at St. Tim's. Suspicions heat up when Decker and his team find that one of Adrianna's last phone calls was a provocative and disturbing message to her vacationing boyfriend—who himself has vanished without a trace. Was Adrianna's death something personal because of her carefree lifestyle? Or was this unusually cruel and very dramatic murder the first signs of a serial killer? With lives hanging in the balance, Decker and his colleagues, Sergeant Marge Dunn and Detective Scott Oliver, need to find answers and fast.

As if juggling two investigations weren't enough for the lieutenant (not to mention turning sixty!), things are becoming even more dangerous with his precarious home life. Ever the concerned parent, Decker wants to look after Terry's son, Gabe. Yet who will protect his own family? Because if there's one thing he knows for sure, with a sociopath like Donatti on the loose, no one is ever really safe.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Faye Kellerman was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Sherman Oaks, California. She earned a BA in mathematics and a doctorate in dentistry at UCLA, and conducted research in oral biology.

Kellerman's groundbreaking first novel, The Ritual Bath, was published in 1986 to wide critical and commercial acclaim. The winner of the Macavity Award for the Best First Novel from the Mystery Readers of America, The Ritual Bath introduced readers to Peter Decker and Rina Lazarus, who People magazine called: "Hands down, the most refreshing mystery couple around." The New York Times enthused, "This couple's domestic affairs have the haimish warmth of reality, unlike the formulaic lives of so many other genre detectives."

There are more than twenty million copies of Faye Kellerman's novels in print internationally. The Decker/Lazarus thrillers include Sacred and Profane; Milk and Honey; Day of Atonement; False Prophet; Grievous Sin; Sanctuary; Prayers for the Dead, which was listed by the LA Times as one of the best crime novels of 2001; Serpent's Tooth; Jupiter's Bones; The Forgotten, and Stone Kiss. The novels Stalker and Street Dreams introduced Kellerman's newest protagonist, Police Officer Cindy Decker. In addition to her crime series, Kellerman is also the author of New York Times bestseller Moon Music, a suspense horror novel set in Las Vegas featuring Detective Romulus Poe, as well as an historical novel of intrigue set in Elizabethan England, The Quality of Mercy. She has also coauthored the New York Times bestseller Double Homicide, with her husband and partner in crime, Jonathan Kellerman.

Because of her status as a bestselling international novelist and acclaimed public speaker, Kellerman was invited to Germany for a major media book promotion tour in 2001. After her initial visit to that country, she recorded her impressions in An American Jew in…Not Quite Paris, an original essay for mightywords.com. During the process of researching and penning that piece, she rediscovered her father's experiences as a Jewish G.I. stationed in Germany during World War II. Three more trips to Munich and two and half years of extensive research led her to produce her latest novel, Straight into Darkness, an historical crime thriller set in 1930s Munich, featuring Homicide Inspector Axel Berg.

Faye Kellerman's highly praised short stories and reviews have been anthologized in numerous collections, including two volumes of the notable Sisters in Crime series, Sara Paretsky's A Woman's Eye, The First Annual Year's Finest Crime and Mystery Stories, The Third Annual Best Mystery Stories of the Year; Women of Mystery, and Deadly Allies 11. Her personally annotated collection of her award-winning stories, The Garden of Eden and Other Criminal Delights, was published in 2007.

Active in community affairs, Kellerman has served on the board of the Southern California Chapter of the Mystery Writers of America and has been a judge for The Scriptor Awards. She plays mandolin and guitar and is often heard making music with her husband. Her other hobbies include gardening, sewing, and fencing—if her back doesn't give out. She is the proud mother of four children, and her eldest son, Jesse, is also a published author. She lives in Los Angeles and Santa Fe with her husband, Jonathan, their youngest child, and a Papillon called Dreamy.


MY REVIEW:

In Faye Kellerman’s new Decker/Lazarus crime novel, HANGMAN, LAPD Lt. Peter Decker finds himself mixed up with two people he was involved with sixteen years earlier. Terry McLaughlin and Chris Whitman were only teenagers then and involved in a murder case. Terry McLaughlin is now an emergency physician, who kept in touch with Peter all these years, while her husband goes by Chris Donatti, and is paid to kill people. However, much to Peter’s wife’s dismay, Decker agrees to meet up again with Terry when she asks him to come with her to be the witness when she meets to speak with Donatti. Little does Decker realize this will end up with both Donatti and McLaughlin missing and his caring for their 14-year-old son, Gabe Whitman. Although Gabe has a few relatives, it would not be a good position for him to be in, and so the lieutenant agrees to take Gabe into his own home while he searches for his parents. Peter is very aware that by taking care of Gabe, he also has to be careful to watch over his own family. Donatti is, after all, known as a sociopath and so Terry’s husband may come looking for his son.

Meanwhile, Marge Dunn and Scot Oliver, Decker’s partners are involved in another puzzling crime which means Decker is as well. A nurse, Adrianna Blanc, is found hanged at a construction site and the hunt for her killer ensues. Their investigation unveils some significant details about the nurse’s party habits that include some rough sex, drinking, and partying within a rather broad social group. Their number one suspect is followed from LA to Los Vegas and that is when they realize that the trail is marked with missing people bringing them to wonder if there is a serial killer on the loose? While Decker works 24/7 to crack this case, he is still caring for Gabe and trying to find Terry McLaughlin.

With the inclusion of Gabe into the Decker’s home, Author Faye Kellerman creates a broader look into the family life of her popular character, Peter Decker. The enjoyable relationship with his wife, Rina Lazarus, and the “normal” family problems people face even if they are looking for murderers and lost parents, gives the story a bit of normalcy. Also, it allows fans of the series to get to know Decker’s teenage daughter Hannah better. She and Gabe hit it off and become strong supporters of each other and friends.

HANGMAN shows Kellerman at her best. Her characters are real and you see and experience their feelings. The double mysteries are gripping and the police work is realistic and intriguing. Her style of writing has an easy flow and one that grabs the reader and keeps them wanting more which is obvious considering the popularity of her work, and especially this series. Lastly, it needs to be said that although there is so much going on in HANGMAN, the stories flow evenly into each other, and readers are able to enjoy the book without having to keep notes on who’s who and which plot are they following.


GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO MEGAN, SHAWN, AND FOLKS
AT HARPER COLLINS PUBLISHING,
I HAVE 3 COPIES OF THIS EXCITING
BOOK TO GIVE AWAY. HERE IS WHAT
YOU NEED TO DO TO WIN A COPY!




--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:

+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING YOU FOUND INTERESTING ABOUT THIS BOOK DESCRIPTION, AND/OR REVIEW, THAT WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO WIN AND READ THIS BOOK

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND LEAVE A LINK I CAN FOLLOW IN THE ENTRY

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON SOMETHING ABOUT THE AUTHOR, FAYE KELLERMAN, THAT IS FOUND ON HARPER COLLINS WEBSITE HERE IN THE "FUN STUFF" SECTION.

GIVEAWAY ENDS
6 PM, EST,
AUGUST 29!

GOOD LUCK

74 comments:

ossmcalc said...

HANGMAN sounds like an awesome thriller with lots of twists and turns. I love to read thrillers and would love to read HANGMAN. I would love to win this book as it seems like a book that I would have a hard time putting down.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I tweeted about this giveaway http://twitter.com/ossmcalc/status/21131657365

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

If Faye Kellerman was on a desert island, her desert-island book would be…
something by Shakespeare.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

Entry 1

+5 Swag

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

Entry 2

+5 Swag

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

Entry 3

+5 Swag

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

Entry 4

+5 Swag

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

Entry 5

+5 Swag

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

debbie said...

I found it interesting the lieutenant is turning sixty. I have been reading this series and didn't realize he was getting older. I really like this series, and would love to read this lastest book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Cindy W. said...

I love a good suspense thriller type book. To think an innocent young man went to prison to protect someone else only to be released to become a killer. I need to know why...I must read "Hangman".

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Cindy W. said...

I went to the authors website and found out that she has a doctorate in denistry. Very interesting.

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Beverly said...

Okay, I was planning to read the whole blurb about the book, but I got to "He also became a professional killer." and I really want to read the story - so I stopped reading the blurb. Wow - that would make for a great Teaser Tuesday! Please enter me. I am an old follower.
bsharp88@gmail.com

Steve Capell said...

I haven’t read any of this author’s books, but your review sounds like a book that I would take pleasure in reading as I love mystery thriller novels. I love detective / killer a.k.a good / evil plots in books and this review is intriguing. Thanks you so much for hosting this giveaway.

steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com

StephTheBookworm said...

I love the Kellerman's! Their books are so suspenseful and full of twists. This sounds like a great new one!

stephaniet117 at yahoo dot com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I'm interested that the lieutenant is older!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

rhapsodyinbooks said...

I think it's fun that she tries not to feel guilty about guilty pleasures!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Unknown said...

I am a follower. Sounds like a great book. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

Linda Kish said...

Just the fact that it is Faye Kellerman's book and a Peter Decker mystery makes me want to read it.


lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

Greatest accomplishment so far...getting up in the morning. I'd have to say writing so many wonderful books.


lkish77123 at gmail dot com

traveler said...

I would find Hangman enthralling since suspense filled thrillers are a favorite for me. I have read many Faye Kellerman's novels and enjoyed them greatly. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

traveler said...

Faye Kellerman is an author whose books I look forward to and are unique for their relationships with the family and their special insight. Her research and travels are impressive. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

A book which has everything that I find fascinating, great characters, a plot which is super and a fine writer. thanks. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

Faye Kellerman is extremely talented and creative. rojosho(at)hotmail(dot)com

Sarah said...

I love a book with lots of twists and turns!! I can't wait to read it!

foxchick0323@live.com

Sarah said...

I like that she loves all music, except polkas:) I agree!!

foxchick0323@live.com

Latter-day Saint Mom said...

Mystery, Missing people, detective work going on. Hangman sounds like it would be a great read with lots of suspense going on!
cparkins14 AT teancum.net

Latter-day Saint Mom said...

Tweeted about this

http://twitter.com/zoja214/status/21162706778
cparkins14 AT teancum.net

Latter-day Saint Mom said...

Faye Kelerman is currently reading "The Inner Fish."

cparkins14 AT teancum.net

Anonymous said...

I am glad that the lieutenant is turning sixty in the series. Too many times I have read that such and such a character is elderly and then find out that the character is younger than me!


CarolNWong(at)aol(com)

Anonymous said...

+ 5 Swagbucks



CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I like that Fay Kellerman doesn't feel guilty over her pleasures.



CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

This book sounds like it has lots of exciting things happening at once and will really hold my attention. Thanks for the chance to win.
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

From the Fun Stuff section: If Faye Kellerman could pick any author to have lunch with she would pick her husband, Jonathan Kellerman.
peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

This book sounds like an AWESOME thriller. I enjoy reading books about sociopaths. I've started reading one of her previous books, Justice and I really like her writing style.

monagarg@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Her least favorite food is "anything rubbery."

monagarg@yahoo.com

Sandy Jay said...

I've read the entire series so far and I love them. It'll be interesting to see how Gabe fits into the family. Please enter me in the giveaway.

forwhlz at gmail dot com

Sandy Jay said...

tweeted
http://twitter.com/ForWhlz/status/21185776082

forwhlz at gmail dot com

Benita said...

I love murder mysteries and thrillers. So, I'm sure I'll enjoy this books.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Benita said...

I love how Faye Kellerman says that she would have a Shakespeare book if she were on a dessert island.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

http://twitter.com/alterlisa/status/21226980084


(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

I'm a follower on GFC and I love returning to the "scene of the crime". In this instance that involves another murder involving characters from an earlier story by Kellerman.

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

"FUN STUFF" SECTION

MY IDEA OF A DREAM VACATION IS…
sleeping late.
Hey! my idea and Kellerman's are in total sync.

(\___/)
(='.'=)
(")_(")
alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

Pamela Keener said...

I like that there is so much going on in the book but you are still able to keep up with all the characters. I love suspenseful books too.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

Faye loves wine as do I.
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

I tweeted this giveaway.
http://twitter.com/pam4290/status/21249930673
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Pamela Keener said...

+ 5 Swag
Love & Hugs,
Pam
pk4290(at)comcast(dot)net

Unknown said...

+5swag chirth7@yahoo.com

Shirley said...

+5swag shundelt@yahoo.com

Jeff said...

+5swag jeff72768@yahoo.com

Mona said...

I like that the innocent man went to prison to save someone else and then become a killer. I love reading suspense thriller books and would love to read HANGMAN too. HANGMAN seems page turner.

patelmona0113@gmail.com

Thanks.

Mona said...

I went to the Fun Stuff of Faye Kellerman at Hyper Collins website and was so glad to know that Jonathane is her husband. He is one of my fav author. OMG. I am really so glad.

patelmona0113@gmail.com

Thanks!

Mona said...

+5 swag

patelmona0113@gmail.com

Thanks!

Mona said...

I have not read her series but Bingo is one of the best source to find good thriller authors. After reading the review, Faye Kellerman series looks very twist and full of suspense and i am a lover of page turner thriller which i cannot put it down. Her books are on my TO READ list.

patelmona0113@gmail.com

Thanks!

rubynreba said...

I like the fact the double mysteries are gripping and the police work is realistic.
pbclar(at)netins(dot)net

rubynreba said...

Her leaqst favorite food is anything rubbery.
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

Mona said...

I love reading thriller novels and so HANGMAN. I would love to her books in my collections.

patelmona0113@gmail.com

Thanks!

Andrea I said...

I want to win it as I'm fan of Faye Kellerman's books. I've been reading them for years.
I actually started reading her husband's books and then discovered hers.

andrea.infinger@gmail.com

Andrea I said...

Her greatest achievement so far is when she gets up in the morning.


andrea.infinger@gmail.com

Andrea I said...

Tweeted -

https://twitter.com/lillieblue613/status/21319609369


andrea.infinger@gmail.com

Meredith said...

I love reading thrillers and I like the twist that the detective is taking the killer's son into his home.

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I've never read her books, but the synopsis does make this sound very intriguing.

So glad that you liked Brad Meltzer's post on comics and the interview with Don Winslow. We have a lot more great posts coming up, so please keep reading and participating at the website.

Thanks again,
Minnie

bison61 said...

Peter Decker finds himself mixed up with two people he was involved with sixteen years earlier. Terry McLaughlin and Chris Whitman were only teenagers then and involved in a murder case. that caught my interest

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Jeff said...

"The double mysteries are gripping and the police work is realistic and intriguing."

I love watching the crime/police dramas so that is why i would love to read this book!

I would love to win! Thanks for the giveaway!

jeffintennessee at gmail dot com

Mona said...

I tweeted about this giveaway :
https://twitter.com/patelmona0113

patelmona0113@gmail.com

Thanks!

Misusedinnocence said...

This sounds like a book that will get the adrenaline flowing. I'd like to read it.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

tawndam said...

this sounds like another page turner! Just another story about a bad, bad person walking away on a technicality... I want to see how he gets caught for good!

Allison said...

This sounds like a great book! I'd love to read it.

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Allison said...

I love wine too!

allisonsbj3(at)gmail(dot)com

Carol M said...

I found it interest that she has a doctorate in dentistry.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Carol M said...

I love thrillers and this sounds good! Now that I'm older I like reading about an older lieutenant. He is turning 60.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Carol M said...

She can do without tv. I feel the same.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Linda Henderson said...

I think it sounds like a great read, and the addition of Gabe into the household will show more family interaction.

seriousreader at live dot com

Linda Henderson said...

I tweeted about this giveaway.

http://twitter.com/BookOwner/status/22437548993

seriousreader at live dot com

Linda Henderson said...

As a fun fact, I found out she lives in the moment.

seriousreader at live dot com

CLICK HERE TO
SEE MY POLICY