Author: Lisa Scottoline
Publication Year: 2011
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Edition: audio book
Reader: Cynthia Nixon (good)
Source: Library
Date Completed: 8/2/2011
Setting: Philadelphia area
Rating: 2/5
Recommend: no Save Me, tells the of a mother who tries to protect her young daughter from bullies. Rose McKenna is like most mothers, she will go to any length to protect her children. Her daughter Melly was born with a large purple birthmark on her cheek. When cruel children began to tease Melly at her previous school, Rose convinced her husband to move the the suburbs of Philadelphia, so that Melly could have a fresh start. They couple also has a very young son.
In Melly's new school, Rose volunteers as a lunch mom, so she can briefly be there for her daughter. One day two vicious girls begin to tease Melly about her birthmark. One girls even goes as far to put grape jelly on her own face to imitate Melly's birthmark. Melly is reduced to tears, running off to the bathroom. Just as that happens, there is a loud explosion in the cafeteria's kitchen, which results in fire, smoke and panic.
Roses must decide whether to run into the bathroom to rescue her daughter or to escort the bullies out of the building first. Her decision makes her out to be evil and uncaring in the eyes of the public. One of the bullies is seriously injured in the explosion and three other people die. Soon Rose is being sued for her actions. Rose is determined to get to the bottom of the explosion and to clear her name in the community.
What happens next is where the story went downhill for me. Rose gets herself involved in her own personal investigation, putting herself in harms way in the process. She pretends to be someone she isn't, so she can gain access to information. What suburban, upper middle class, mom with two young children would do such a thing? Isn't this what police and attorneys are for? The story also seemed to drag in parts and really didn't work for me as contemporary lit or as a mystery. Even though the reader was good, in the end I was pretty disappointed.
I won this not long ago so I'm really disappointed to see you didn't care for it.
ReplyDeleteHmm, that does sound unrealistic. That happens to be one of my biggest pet peeves with cozy mysteries actually because somehow people that are in no way prepared to be detectives or police officers are all of a sudden solving crimes and seemingly having a grand time. Ok, I do read cozies but I have to be in the mood to suspend disbelief plus a lot of them don't take themselves too seriously which helps. This novel though sounds like it doesn't have that right combo going for it.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry did not work for you. I read one other book by the same author and that one did not work for me either.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad when a great concept takes a turn for the worse. If the book focused on how to deal with the daughter's pain and acceptance, that might have been better. Of course, I think they can remove those birthmarks now, so instead of moving, maybe the family should have done that.
ReplyDeleteThis didn't work for me either. Cynthia Nixon was a good narrator and she actually kept me listening to the audio book. If I had read it, I think I would have skimmed pages or eventually put it down. My review will be posted later this week. I really enjoyed her previous novels (Rosato & Associates series) which I recommend.
ReplyDeleteI bought a book from this author a few months ago, but it wasn't this one. It doesn't sound as if this would be something that I would go for, but some of the plot sounds interesting. I guess when it becomes unbelievable is probably where I would lose interest as well. I think you did a great job with the review, and appreciated your candor.
ReplyDeleteYes, it does sound a wee bit silly.
ReplyDeleteThat's a problem for me too... when the description of the character doesn't fit their actions.
ReplyDeleteI'm going with your rating and not going to bother with this title at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI usually love Scottoline's books, but this sounds maybe a bit far-fetched? Thanks for the honest review.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Scottoline went in a completely different direction than her usually fare and this book did not work for me either. Suburban housewife turned superhero – not working for me.
ReplyDeleteI've seen such mixed reviews for this one. Some have liked it but a lot have felt the same as you. I'm not in any hurry to read it.
ReplyDeleteI've only read one Lisa Scottoline novel before (and liked it). This sounds like a unique plot, but I would probably be annoyed by the mom detective thing, too! Just like all those kids' mysteries where a group of kids just happen to stumble across a mystery and solve it on their own, right? Thanks for the review -
ReplyDeleteSue
I didn't like this book... at all! There were so many issues, the mom crime solver (in a week)was too much for me.
ReplyDelete