Saturday, December 10, 2016

Daisy In Chains Review



Title:  Daisy In Chains
Series:  No - A Standalone Novel
Author:  Sharon Bolton
Publisher:  Transworld Digital
Release Date:  June 2, 2016
Buy Link:  Amazon

My Rating:  5 He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not 's




Synopsis:
Famous killers have fan clubs.

Hamish Wolfe is no different. Locked up for the rest of his life for the abduction and murder of three young women, he gets countless adoring letters every day. He's handsome, charismatic and very persuasive. His admirers are convinced he's innocent, and that he's the man of their dreams.

Who would join such a club?

Maggie Rose is different. Reclusive and enigmatic; a successful lawyer and bestselling true-crime writer, she only takes on cases that she can win.

Hamish wants her as his lawyer, he wants her to change his fate. She thinks she's immune to the charms of a man like this. But maybe not this time . . . 

Would you?

Review:
He loves me...He loves me not.  He loves me . . . Or does he? All women love the charismatic Hamish Wolfe.  The fact that he is a convicted serial killer locked away for life for brutally murdering three women and suspected in the disappearance of a fourth doesn't phase them.  The proof of their love and devotion is in the hundreds of letters and photographs Wolfe receives weekly, many of them graphic, many of them proposing marriage.  Devastatingly handsome with a charming, manipulative personality and a killer smile, Wolfe is always in control, an intensely compelling and lethal man.  His fan club of dedicated groupies call themselves The Wolfe Pack.  They are united in a fevered, obsessive passion on their mission to undo what they perceive as a gross injustice  - Wolfe's incarceration.  The Pack has set their sights and hopes on lawyer & true crime writer, Maggie Rose.  Problem is some of these followers are a few bricks shy of a load - looney as the day is long.  Are they also dangerous?

Maggie Rose is an eccentric, compulsive, gaunt yet beautiful woman who shuns the public eye even as she flaunts bright blue hair.  Protecting her privacy at all costs, she lives as a recluse, avoiding interviews, and public appearances and only meeting with clients when necessary.  Maggie has made a great deal of money by challenging the cases of convicted murderers and then writing books about them.  She will only accept a case IF she sees flaws in the chain of evidence.  Whether they are guilty or not is truly irrelevant in her eyes.  Every client deserves to have every stone turned, every piece of evidence validated, every lead explored, every question answered.  Maggie is good at what she does.  She has represented seven convicted murderers in the past and gotten five of their convictions overturned.  It didn't matter that she didn't believe in their innocence . . . in fact, she's pretty sure some of them were guilty as sin.  It's all about winning.  Can Wolfe and his followers convince her to take his case?  Will Maggie fall under his spell?

Daisy In Chains is a psychological thriller that grabbed me by the throat and held on until the final shocking page. The story is revealed through three main characters in a brilliantly written narrative intermingled with emails, letters, and police and newspaper reports.  Complex, multifaceted characters kept me off-balance - leaving me guessing, never quite sure who was telling the truth and who was lying.  I quickly found myself lost in a sinister maze of twists and turns, frantically searching for answers as the author manipulated both the characters and me. The ominous atmosphere of the setting took on a life of its own, engulfing me with an edgy, almost spooky feeling of impending doom as I read late into the night.  Several social issues involving discrimination of certain classes are interspersed and woven into the plot line, giving voice to the flawed perceptions of people who often judge others by class, body size, or celebrity status.  

Like a puzzle with a missing piece, Daisy In Chains perplexed and taunted me as the suspense builds to the shocking, blockbuster ending.  While I was able to find and place some pieces of the puzzle, the final piece eluded me until the very end.  Brilliantly written, this is a psychological masterpiece!  A Page Burning, Keep Me Up All Night Must Read!

My Rating:  5 He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not 's . . . And that's the truth!


Cross My Heart . . . xxx

Sandra






2 comments:

Nick Wilford said...

I like a good thriller, especially when there's dark overtones. Sounds like this one explores some gritty issues as well. Thanks for the review!

Sandra Hoover said...

This one is raw, gritty and yes, tackles some real issues as well. Also kept me guessing until the very end. Really enjoyed this one and will explore more titles by this author.