“Ellen Abbott Live was a cable show specializing in missing, murdered women, starring the permanently furious Ellen Abbott, a former prosecutor and victims’ rights advocate. The show opened with Ellen blow-dried and lip-glossed, glaring at the camera. “A shocking story to report today: a beautiful, young woman who was the inspiration for the Amazing Amy book series. Missing. House torn apart. Hubby is Lance Nicholas Dunne, an unemployed writer who now owns a bar he bought with his wife’s money. Want to know how worried he is? These are photos taken since his wife, Amy Elliott Dunne, went missing July fifth–their five-year anniversary.”
Cut to the photo of me at the press conference, the jackass grin. Another of me waving and smiling like a pageant queen as I got out of my car (I was waving back to Marybeth; I was smiling because i smile when I wave).” p. 161
I loved this book. Until about three-fourths of the way through. By then I’d had enough twists and turns to make me carsick and enough development of a bad marriage to make me heartsick. I was left feeling worn out and disappointed that two people could manipulate and malign each other so much that neither one is left with integrity. Instead, what we have is a thriller turned into a travesty. Rather than scary? It’s so sad.
Dolce Bellezza 
The sad thing is, I think there are people out there that treat each other like that.
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I am sorry that it ended this way. This is one book I have been wanting to get my hands on.
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Bellezza, I swear we have ESP! Thriller turned into a travesty – so true! Once again you are spot on with your review 😉
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I have this to read and am looking forward to it – will be particularly interested to see how I react to the ending in the light of your review. At least the first three-quarters are good!
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Actually, now that you've said that, this novel almost reminds me of the film War of The Roses.
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I'd wanted to read it for quite some time, too, after seeing such rave reviews about it all summer. The publisher was kind enough to send me this review copy, which I'm afraid I didn't love. Well, the ending anyway.
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I'm definitely in a minority in my opinion, but I'm glad I'm in a group of 'didn't love this' with you, Nadia! I can't believe the sources which I normally consider reliable, sources such as the NY Times, etc. who rave about it; what did they see that I didn't?
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I'm looking forward to having a small 'discussion' (exchange of comments! 🙂 on our blogs when you're done. I value your opinion, and I'm curious as to what it will be when you've completed it.
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I had this on my list but now I'm rethinking it…
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I agree with you. I closed the cover, and experienced a sort of bad taste in my mouth. With a relationship so dysfunctional, it might not realistically end in redemption. But to know the cycle will just continue to get worse and will involve more characters was a lot to take in.
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Ooh, I think this is the first review I've read of this that hasn't been glowing – I'm always a bit suspicious of these hyped summer reads! I'll still probably give it a go, though. Will be sure to let you know what I think!
Marie
girlvsbookshelf.blogger.com
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This was a twisted and dark book, and I admit I hated all the characters but I loved the book 🙂 Couldn't put the book down.
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Most people have said this was full of twists and turns but wasn't aware of mistreatment issues between the spouses. I loved all of her other books, so will try this one.
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Hmm, might leave this one for a while, or try another of her books. Not really feeling like a sad book at present.
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It's not sad, necessarily, just an unfortunate marriage gone bad. Extremely bad.
A friend of mine read her book Sharp Objects, and he said it was really great. Perhaps I'll try that. I did like her writing, afterall, just not the subject of this particular book.
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I've been looking forward to reading this one. I hope I like it better than you did.
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I agree with you. I loved the book till about 3/4ths of the way through, but hated the ending.
I think the book was balanced most of the way, but the ending was just very bad and over the top, and so unbelievable.
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