Best Intentions

Great story written by a talented author

Is it possible that the world you carefully constructed can shatter in an instant based on an assumption you made after hearing a voice message on your husband's cell phone? This is what Lisa Barkley begins to think after hearing the muffled message from an unknown woman to her husband.

On the outside, Sam and Lisa are happily married with two daughters, Claire and Phoebe. Lisa holds a top position at a PR firm, while Sam is a journalist. They met and fell in love during college and married shortly after graduation. Their daughters attend private school on the Upper East Side.

Lisa never thought to question her marriage until she hears this voice message. She shares her concerns with her best friend, Deirdre. Deirdre does not share Lisa's suspicions and tells her it's probably nothing. Lisa tries to shrug it off, however she just cannot seem to let it go.

Meanwhile an old college friend comes to Manhattan to interview for a job and to celebrate his 40th birthday. Jack is Deirdre's former boyfriend and the four of them get together for a night of celebration and to reminisce. Jack and Deirdre entertain the idea of resuming their past love, only this time both have significant others. Jack is now married to Alice and Deirdre is in a relationship with Ben.

The four friends' reunion sets the stage for past secrets, betrayal and lies to be revealed. Can we truly leave our past in the past? If we try to correct past mistakes, are really doing more harm than good?

Best Intentions is a book that you can easily get lost in. I was captivated within the first chapter and began to wonder if Sam was truly having an affair. Without giving too much away, the novels twists and turns and I began to question each character's motive. At one point I truly felt for Lisa because I didn't know who was telling the truth and who was not. I have to admit, after finishing the book and finally knowing Sam's side of the story, I still had my doubts.

This is the first book I read by this author and it will not be the last. Best Intentions is one I highly recommend.

4.5 Stars

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

couldn't put it down!

great book- i couln't put it down! definitely a page turner. author was brilliant with character development- i felt like i knew each one of them. the main character lisa is someone i think all of us can relate to in one way or another. definitely recommend this!

Character study and mystery skillfully combined.

Emily Listfield is a new author for me - and one I was happy to discover.

Best Intentions tells the story of four college friends. The story is told in first person from Lisa's perspective. Lisa and Sam married and have two beautiful daughters. Sam is a journalist, always on the trail of the next big story. Lisa works in public relations. They are relatively happy, but money is always a worry. She also has some doubts about Sam's fidelity. Dierdre is her best friend. Successful in business, but not in love, she wants to settle down and have a child. Jack was her lover in college, but moved away and married someone else. In New York for a job interview, Jack contacts them all to get together for his 4oth birthday. This seemingly innocuous celebration brings old tensions, lies, betrayals to the forefront. With deadly results.

Listfield explores and examines the fabric of a marriage, parental bonds, the intricacies of a friendship, trust, the pressures of modern day work and life and the influence the past has on the present. Her scenes and dialogue are seamless and flowing, allowing you to become immersed in Lisa's life. The suspense/murder plot line is subtly introduced and skillfully blended into the existing story. Neither overpowers the other. The murder itself is not clear cut - it could be one of three and the answer changes as the story twists again. Although I enjoyed the suspense of the murder, I think I enjoyed the character development even more - especially Lisa.

I really enjoyed this one and couldn't put it down- spent Sunday in a lawn chair 'til the very last page.

Fantastic read!

Emily Listfield has written a compelling and engrossing novel that I had trouble putting down. She takes the reader into Lisa's mind, which is filled with the anxiety and insecurities of work, marriage, and family. The second part of Best Intentions has Lisa working through a mystery in which all the people in her life may not be what they seem. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, wanting to know more, looking carefully for clues. Overall, a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys character driven mysteries.

To read the entire read, visit http://barneysbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/review-best-intentions.html

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