Alone (Detective D. D. Warren Series #1)

GREAT PLOT! GREAT WRITNG! THOROUGHLY ENJOYED!

This has it all, suspense, revenge, incest, deceit, abuse, lust, murder, and healing.
Bobby Dodge of the Boston PD SWAT Team is called to take care of a domestic disturbance.
Catherine Gagnon had called 911 claiming her husband, Jimmy, was holding her and her son Nathan hostage at gun point. Neighbors also called 911 hearing gunshots. Taking a position across the street Bobby spied Jimmy pacing the floor in the bedroom with a gun in his hand. A woman with a child in her arms came into view. Bobby saw Jimmy pointing the gun at her and fearing they were in imminent danger Bobby fired, killing Jimmy Gagnon. The next day Bobby learns he is being sued by Jimmy's influential father, Judge James Gagnon Sr. The Judge claims his son was trying to protect young Nathan from Catherine who was a child abuser.
Twenty-five years before, Catherine Gagnon was kidnapped by a pedophile and buried alive underground for a month. She was rescued and became known as the "Thanksgiving Miracle" in the media. The nightmare changed her forever. She is sexual, but not emotionally connected.
The pedophile that kidnapped Catherine is paroled and people who are supportive of Catherine start dying. Catherine wants Bobby to help her, but he is not so sure that she is not guilty of setting the stage for her husband's death. GREAT PLOT! GREAT WRITING! THOROUHLY ENJOYED!!

13 out of 14 people found this review helpful.

Well, it did have a unique story line....

This book wasn't my favorite book but the story line was different. The first book I read by Lisa Gardner was The Perfect Husband. I thought that book was great so I'm kind of disappointed this one wasn't as good. I will be reading more of her books though. I did think it was kind of cool that I was never quite positive who ALL the bad guys were.

11 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

Excellent investigation mystery

In Boston, Massachusetts State Police Special Tactics and Operations Team (STOP) Trooper Bobby Dodge, a sniper, arrives at a domestic dispute in which Jimmy Gagnon holds a gun on his wife Catherine and their young son. Bobby joins the local enforcement team. He observes the scenario from a distance, but when he believes that Jimmy was about to pull the trigger, Bobby fires and kills the man.--- Jimmy¿s father Judge James Gagnon insists that Bobby used unnecessary force as he avows that Cat was the dangerous member of the family. James files a criminal complaint against Bobby. Needing to clear his name, Bobby knows Cat is the only one who can truly help him; however, he has doubts about her integrity especially when she seems so good at manipulating people. As the trooper struggles to prove he did the right thing against a powerful avenging father, others associated with this deadly domestic case are killed. Bobby wonders if he is on the hit list while also unable to see the motive.--- Bobby is a superb protagonist wondering how his world could collapse when he was only doing his job. His investigation is a delight and the comparison of perspectives between James senior and Cat will fascinate the audience. Especially enthralling is Cat, whose childhood traumas run deep inside her soul. Lisa Gardner provides a strong psychological suspense police procedural that grips readers from the domestic dispute beginning until the mesmerizing surprising climax.--- Harriet Klausner

11 out of 13 people found this review helpful.

HIghly recommended

Right now, this is my favorite author. her works are well-written, not mass produced, which many who become popular like her end up doing, and I find her writing to be both exciting in the Larssen kind of way and sexy and raw in the Van Rae or other indie-athor type sense. Nicely done.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

This Could Be Trouble

If you're a reader who likes to read a chapter or two, put the book aside and come back to it later, you might want to avoid Alone. In fact, you might want to avoid the second novel in this series, Hide. Lisa Gardner offers some realistically flawed characters, and it's almost impossible to stop reading until you reach the end. At that point, I had to read Hide. What makes these plots especially fascinating for me is that they really have to create new knowledge to solve the crimes they work on, and to do that they have to look beyond the immediate issues to previous experience, even when doing so may jeopardize their careers.
I'll be working my way through this series. Some people might think that a series about a female detective wouldn't appeal to a guy, but the serious would be more appropriately called the Boston Police Department Series.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Well-written but Unpleasant

Lisa Gardner tells a nasty little tale about a lot of very sick people. The story moves along quickly, but it had few characters I could like. An imbalanced woman with a history of horrific childhood abuse, her brutish abuser who is now out of prison, a judge who is determined to use his power to destroy at least two lives. I got to the point where I honestly did not want to pick up the book to continue reading the constant (and gratuitous) flashbacks describing details of a little girl's torment. It just isn't my idea of entertainment.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

One of Lisa Gardner's best(And Better)Novels

Alone is one of Lisa Gardner's best(And Better)novels:Her Bobby Dodge and D.D. Warren novels are definitely worth reading,don't go for her Kimebrly Quincy books,they're not as thrilling.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Not what i prefer, but still well writen

As per usual Lisa Gardner is a great writer. Yet, I dont want to read another story like this. The characters were deep and the plot was great. The book, however, left me feeling merose. Suprising as Lisa is amongst my favorite authors. I feel the book was just to dark and demented for my taste.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

INTRIGUING!

Twenty-five years ago Catherine Gagnon was kidnapped by a pedophile and buried underground for a month. She was rescued and became known as the "Thanksgiving Miracle". Bobby Dodge of the Boston PD SWAT Team is called to a domestic disturbance. Catherine Gagnon had called 911 stating her husband Jimmy was holding her and her son Nathan hostage at gun point. Taking a position across the street Bobby watched through the window Jimmy pacing the floor with a gun in his hand. He observed a woman with a child in her arms then saw Jimmy pointing the gun at her. Bobby fired his gun, killing Jimmy Gagnon. Bobby learns he is going to sued by Jimmy's influential father Judge James Gagnon Sr. The Judge claims his son was trying to protect young Nathan from Catherine who was a child abuser. There are lots of unexpected plot twists and a scandalous secret. Lisa is very adept at creating unusual, exciting characters and knows how to twist the plot to your satisfaction. I recommend!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Unbelievable

A really interesting premise completely undermined by people doing dumb things. After the hero finds out he is in huge legal trouble, he meets with all kinds of enemies, compromises himself right and left, and only gets a lawyer as an afterthought. It is also very hard to believe that cops would not circle around one of their own who killed a hostage taker in the line of duty.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

The Twist Will Get You!

The Twist at the end made me want more and more. My mind began racing of scenarios and sequels that could lead from this book. It probably is my favorite one of hers thus far. Lisa Gardner is a superb writer.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not her best, but still love her work

I ordered this book because I love this author. I loved The Perfect Husband, The Other Daughter, ect, so I naturally was eager to read this title as well. I was so disappointed that I skipped whole sections just to get to the end quicker. I felt a little jilted because this was advertised as a Romance Myster/Thriller, but I did not find ANY romance in it. It was a heavy read and I felt that even some romance would have made it an easier/lighter read. I still love this author and will continue to read her books. This was very well written, the story was just not what I expected or was hoping for.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not her Best

I was very disappointed in this book. I've loved most of her books with the exception of 'The Other Daughter'. I really hope her next book isn't written like a tv movie. Her books are very gripping, intelligent and don't leave you shaking your head as in 'what?'. For the exception of this one. I gave it 2 stars because it kept me interested but that was it.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Avid Reader

This story had a very compelling and unbelievably intense plot. I could not put this book down because I had to know what was going on and not knowing was driving me crazy. Catherine's story was so sad and brutally written. When she was a young girl she was horrifically abused. Though this was an intriguing book there were parts to the story that I didn¿t like. For instance, Catherine was cold. She was extremely manipulative and a very disturbing character. The whole reason behind all the sinister activity was a little far fetched for me. All in all this was an ok book though not something I would buy.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not Good

I am soooo dissapointe with this book. It was BORING,and it drove me CRAZY. I coudn't stand it.I finished the book and I was glad it was over.It took me 3 weeks to finish, when I usually take 4 days to finish her books. Didn't like the plot, it was horrible writing and I just sooo surprised. I love HER, and her books are great, but this one was very bad, it was horrible.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Must Read.

This is a fast paced thriller with a lot of twists and turns. You'll have to read every page and still not be sure. Make sure you pick this book up when you have time to read it cover to cover. Enjoy.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

I couldn't put it down...

Alone captured and held my interest from the first page¿ I couldn¿t put it down. The characters are complex enough to engender sympathy for their plights while making the reader wonder if they could be hiding some evil purpose. All is revealed in the end, but there is no simple resolution. Until the last 6 chapters, readers aren¿t able to foresee the who or why of the climax. Ms. Gardner seamlessly ties Catherine¿s childhood rapist into the story by presenting a believable release from prison. One that does not insinuate that the prison release is a coincidence, but that it is part of a sinister plot. The same cannot be said for the situation between Catherine and Bobby. It is a huge stretch to believe that the police sniper, Bobby, who casually meets Catherine at a fundraiser and explains how SWAT team call-outs work, actually becomes the sniper who kills Catherine¿s husband. There is just no way to see this as a coincidence or even as some sinister plan by Bobby and/or Catherine. All in all a well-written suspenseful story. I look forward to reading more books by Lisa Gardner.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Kathy R.

I really enjoyed the book......highly recommend, I am a huge fan of James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell, this is the first time I've read her........ will have to check out some of her other works....

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

River

Glare.... she found out

Glare

Um.....tag swimming i dk