Book ~ "Keep Quiet" (2014) Lisa Scottoline

From Goodreads ~ Jake Buckman’s relationship with his sixteen-year-old son, Ryan, is not an easy one, so at the urging of his loving wife, Pam, Jake goes alone to pick up Ryan at their suburban movie theater.  

On the way home, Ryan asks to drive on a deserted road and Jake sees it as a chance to make a connection. However, what starts as a father-son bonding opportunity instantly turns into a nightmare. Tragedy strikes and with Ryan’s entire future hanging in the balance, Jake is forced to make a split-second decision that plunges them both into a world of guilt and lies. 

Without ever meaning to, Jake and Ryan find themselves living under the crushing weight of their secret, which threatens to tear their family to shreds and ruin them all. 

Jake spent years building his financial planning business so that left the raising of their son, Ryan, to his wife, Pam, who is a judge.  Jake wants to make up for those lost years so is trying to be the good dad now.  Driving home one night he lets Ryan drive, even though he doesn't have his driver's license.  Ryan hits and kills someone on the dark road and Jake has to make the decision whether to report it to the police or leave hoping no one had seen them.  Either way, his decision will have serious ramifications on their entire lives.

I thought it was an interesting premise and posed an interesting dilemma ... what would you do if you hit killed someone accidentally but could get away with it?  Or do you accept the consequences of your (or your son's since you let him drive with no license) actions?

It's written in third person perspective with a focus on Jake.  I thought the writing was okay but could have been tighter as there is a lot of "It's my fault" ... "No, it's my fault" ... "No, it's my fault" ... "No, it's my fault" ... "No, it's my fault".

I didn't find the characters particularly likable.  I thought Jake was weak and he let Pam run over him.  Pam was bee-och ... she was never nice to anyone, was very controlling and was always in judge mode.  At one point, Ryan has to ask her to stop being a judge because he needs a mother.

BTW, the picture on the cover on the book has nothing to do with the story.  Huh?!

Book ~ "Save Me" (2011) - Lisa Scottoline

From Amazon ~ Suburban mom, Rose McKenna, is forced to make a split-second decision after an explosion goes off in the school cafeteria in which she volunteers. Should she rescue her own daughter, Melly, trapped in the bathroom, or lead the girls standing in front of her, who constantly bully her daughter, to safety? Her choice reverberates throughout the little town of Reesburgh, PA, as she is cast as the villain by the local news anchor, parents, and the school. While her attorney and husband construct a defense plan that includes filing a lawsuit against the school, Rose sets out to seek the truth behind this mysterious, accidental fire. With the help of a construction worker who may know the cause of the explosion as well as an incognito visit to a local factory, Rose slowly unravels the truth and along with it some hidden secrets in Reesburgh's dark past, including one horrifying buried memory of her own. At the quick pace of a thriller, Scottoline masterfully fits every detail into a tight plot chock-full of real characters, real issues, and real thrills. A story anchored by the impenetrable power of a mother's love, it begs the question, just how far would you go to save your child?

This sounded like an interesting premise and it started out promising. After an explosion in the school's cafeteria, lunch mom Rose has a life threatening decision. Does she rescue the two girls who have been bullying her daughter who are right there or does she go find her daughter, Melly, and save her, leaving the two bullies? Rose is able to do both and becomes a hero. But things change very quickly and every resident in the small town turns against Rose and there are threats of legal action.

I found the writing really boring and draggy. This could have been such a better book. I wanted to give up on it a few times but kept going.

With Rose going through so much, you'd think Leo, her loving husband who is a lawyer, would have been there for her. But he has a case pending that has to take up every second of his time while all this is going on. Though he seems caring to Melly, I would want a more more supportive husband who is there with me while the rest of the town is hating and ostracizing me. And then he has the nerve to whine when she's making "family" decisions without him! Dude, you were too busy working instead of being there for your wife.

Leo hires Rose the best criminal and civil lawyers but she doesn't listen to them. She could lose everything and even end up in prison but she wants to play nice and not hurt anyone's feelings. Really?! Everyone in the town hates her!!! Instead she starts poking around to see if the explosion really was accidental ... she's the only one who thinks things might not be how they seem. Really??!! And guess what? She figures everything out.

The subplot with Kristen, the special ed teacher, was a waste of time.

The outcome was unbelievable ... I didn't buy it.

Needless to say, I'm not recommending this book.

Book ~ "Daddy's Girl" - Lisa Scottoline (2007)

From Amazon.com ~ The undistinguished academic career of Natalie "Nat" Greco, a mousy and naïve law professor at the University of Pennsylvania, takes an unexpected turn at the start of this less than compelling legal thriller from bestseller Scottoline. When an attractive male colleague, Angus Holt, convinces Nat to accompany him on a teaching assignment at a nearby prison, a sudden riot puts them both in peril. Nat finds herself desperately attempting to save the life of a guard, apparently stabbed by an inmate during the fracas. The dying man asks her to pass on his last words to his wife, but possessing knowledge of this cryptic message proves dangerous. Nat finds herself accused of murder and must evade the law while also tracking down the bad guys. Her methods more often resemble that of Nancy Drew than an Ivy League professor.

Not a great review on Amazon but I enjoyed it. I started it this morning and just finished it. Granted it is farfetched in some places but the ending was unexpected. I'd recommend it.