Internationally bestselling author Alex Kava delivers a searing thriller of one woman's encounter with her past which could jeopardize her future Melanie Starks has never lived life by the rules. She and her seventeen-year-old son, Charlie, have been running one con job or another for as long as she can remember, justifying the petty crimes as the necessary survival moves of a single mother. But Melanie is ready to give it up. Then Jared Barnett reappears in her life. Fresh out of prison after serving five years of a life sentence for murder, Jared is released on a technicality that by no means proves his innocence. And he's feeling more invincible than ever. He has the perfect plan for a big score and he needs Melanie's help. But everything goes terribly wrong. Only one thing is clear: A line has been crossed. Suddenly there's no turning back, and there is nothing left to lose. "This is a one-night read with some unexplained loose ends that won't bother readers hooked on hair-raising car chases and gruesome murder scenes." - Publishers Weekly
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"Melanie and her 17 year old son, Charlie, haave been running one con job after another. Her brother ,Jared, just out of prison for murder convinces her to complete the final con. She feels she "owes" him and agrees."
— Barbra (5 out of 5 stars)
" This one gripped me right away. Told in different viewpoints so I was able to get inside different heads and understand their motivations, and even care about them. It was never predictable, however; it kept moving but this reader could not tell where it was going next. It was on the gritty, thiller side which makes for some uneasy moments; some people have already been killed and some more lives are most likely to be ended as well. A well-crafted thriller served up with some surprises. "
— Bobbie, 2/17/2014" It was okay, but nothing great. Kava went from a great start, to a slump, to slightly better but so far, I'm not enjoying her books nearly as much as the first two "
— Ricardo, 2/14/2014" this was a very good book, exciting and kept you on your toes the whole time "
— Randie, 1/29/2014" Melanie drove me nuts! She's not stupid but at the same time she bloody well is. She is still very disturbed about her upbringing and talks about how it is a parents role to protect their children. All the while she is standing by while her sons life is going down the drain. I just could not relate and wanted to slap her upside the face for the first 260 pages! "
— Linda, 1/22/2014" Had to read it--she's from here and this was a book based largely on an event that had recently occurred. It was fun to be able to picture exactly what Kava was talking about but a couple of times, I found errors which were offputting. Kava is not the best mystery writer but this one was good enough to keep me up late to finish it. "
— Lisa, 1/18/2014" I didn't finish this... "
— Steve, 1/17/2014" I'm being generous. I would like to give this 2.5 stars. The pace was good and the story interesting enough to keep me reading, but I was disappointed in the end. There were too many things left unexplained, too many loose ends left dangling. I definitely prefer the O'Dell books. "
— Purple, 1/13/2014" This was a good book but I did miss O'Dell and the others being a Kava book. It wasn't as good as her others but a good read. "
— Giselle, 12/19/2013" I really enjoyed this book. It drew me in from the beginning. Of course there were a few unfinished and a few unrealistic pieces in my opinion, but I am pretty easy to forgive if the story is good. "
— Rebecca, 12/10/2013" Pretty good, but not great. Engaging, but not engrossing. Interesting, but not intriguing. "
— Cupcakencorset, 11/11/2013" Excellent writer of crime novels. "
— Sandra, 11/9/2013" I could not put this book down. I never would have figured out the ending. suspensful, gripping and a page turner. "
— Elvis, 10/31/2013" Great murder mystery book, quick and easy read. "
— Chad, 10/23/2013" I LOVE Alex Kava's writing and never miss a single book by her ... except this one. I just didn't like it. I wasn't grabbed by it at any point up to the center, and so I never finished. I think I am just too attached to the Maggie O'Dell series to truly appreciate Kava's other novels. "
— Chrissy, 8/28/2013" I liked the action and the plot was full of suspense. The book was able to keep me at the edge of my seat. Culminating in a great ending blew me away. "
— David, 7/27/2013" read it a few yrs back so can't remember what happened "
— Afsana, 3/1/2013" This book really didn't do anything. It didn't feel like Kava writing. Not very smart and really ended abruptly. "
— Mandy, 2/1/2013" not bad and had an interesting twist at the end "
— Lori, 1/8/2013" Another book by the author who writes the Maggie O'Dell books. This was NOT one of her Maggie books and I really did not like it. I did not like how the chapters were broken out and although the storyline was not unbelievable I found myself waiting for it to get over-with. "
— Cheryl, 12/24/2012" Typical quick read romantic smut. Loved it. "
— Gemmoi, 10/16/2012" I'm told that this is an accounting of a murder streak that actually happened in Nebraska. It's a bit bloody so be prepared. "
— Jenny, 9/23/2012" Evil Jared Barnhart... rubs off on his nephew Charlie. Bank heists, convenience store thefts, running from the law, kidnapping a mystery author. What more can go wrong. "
— Momm, 9/14/2012" Just couldn't get into this one. "
— Lisa, 4/17/2012" This kept promising to turn into a good novel but didn't quite make it. Melanie and her son Charlie never seem to come to life. Jared is unbelievable and the outcome is predictable. "
— Teresa, 1/5/2012" Not a bad book but I think I prefer the Maggie O'Dell novels. I just couldn't connect to the characters in the book. "
— Zo'e, 7/14/2011" I enjoyed this book. I think it's one of her better books. "
— L.C., 7/6/2011" There were many times in this book that the lead female character was so stupid, I truly wanted her shot. Only finished it because I'd enjoyed another of the author's books so much, I expected this one to get better. It didn't. "
— Jessica, 6/30/2011" Just couldn't get into this one. "
— Lisa, 6/17/2011" Typical quick read romantic smut. Loved it. "
— GeminiWoman, 5/3/2011" This was a good book but I did miss O'Dell and the others being a Kava book. It wasn't as good as her others but a good read. "
— Giselle, 1/12/2011" Pretty good, but not great. Engaging, but not engrossing. Interesting, but not intriguing. "
— Cupcakencorset, 10/5/2010" this was a very good book, exciting and kept you on your toes the whole time "
— Randie, 8/15/2010" Evil Jared Barnhart... rubs off on his nephew Charlie. Bank heists, convenience store thefts, running from the law, kidnapping a mystery author. What more can go wrong. "
— Momm, 7/25/2010" A good and quick read. I've traveled through the area of Nebraska where this was set, so that's always fun to be able to visualize. "
— Mary, 4/19/2010" I LOVE Alex Kava's writing and never miss a single book by her ... except this one. I just didn't like it. I wasn't grabbed by it at any point up to the center, and so I never finished. I think I am just too attached to the Maggie O'Dell series to truly appreciate Kava's other novels. "
— Madelyne, 1/14/2010" Again Kava keeps you up at night reading. A stand on it's own book - out of the series - she keeps you reading! Basic Mystery with Kava's art of twist and turns. Ending that gives you a wow moment and leaves you wanting more in a good way. <br/> "
— Denise, 12/16/2009" read it a few yrs back so can't remember what happened "
— Afsana, 9/27/2009" Great murder mystery book, quick and easy read. "
— Chad, 3/10/2009" I really enjoyed this book. It drew me in from the beginning. Of course there were a few unfinished and a few unrealistic pieces in my opinion, but I am pretty easy to forgive if the story is good. "
— Rebecca, 12/26/2008" I could not put this book down. I never would have figured out the ending. suspensful, gripping and a page turner. "
— Elvis, 11/7/2008" There were many times in this book that the lead female character was so stupid, I truly wanted her shot. Only finished it because I'd enjoyed another of the author's books so much, I expected this one to get better. It didn't. "
— Jessica, 1/29/2008Alex Kava is the author of numerous novels, including the New York Times bestselling mystery series featuring FBI profiler Maggie O’Dell. Her novels have been published in more than twenty countries around the world. She is a member of International Thriller Writers.
Maggi-Meg Reed has performed as an actress and singer both on and off-Broadway. She is a narrator of many popular audiobooks, including A Very Long Engagement and The Time Traveler’s Wife. She is the winner of several AudioFile Earphones Awards.