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Puppet
Amanda Travis is a high-powered, 28-year-old lawyer whose greatest likes are spinning classes at her Palm Beach gym and a compliant jury. As for the things she hates, they include nicknames, the color pink, clients who don't follow her advice... and memories. Unfortunately, running from her past becomes a lot harder when one of her ex-husbands calls from her hometown of Toronto with the alarming news that her mother has shot and killed a complete stranger. Now she must return to face her demons--a love that once consumed her and a mother who seems to hold a strange, dark power over everyone she encounters. But Amanda is no longer willing to acquiesce to her mother's fatal whims--no matter what the cost.
385 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
27 people are currently reading
1240 people want to read
About the author
Joy Fielding
118 books2,143 followersJoy Fielding (née Tepperman; born March 18, 1945) is a Canadian novelist and actress. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, she graduated from the University of Toronto in 1966, with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. As Joy Tepperman, she had a brief acting career, appearing in the film Winter Kept Us Warm (1965) and in an episode of Gunsmoke. She later changed her last name to Fielding (after Henry Fielding) and began writing novels.
Fielding is also the screenwriter of the television film Golden Will: The Silken Laumann Story.
At the age of 8, Joy Tepperman wrote her first story and sent it into a local magazine, and at age 12 sent in her first TV script, however both were rejected. She had a brief acting career, eventually giving it up to write full-time in 1972. She has published to date 22 novels, two of which were converted into film. Fielding's process of having an idea to the point the novel is finished generally takes a year, the writing itself taking four to eight months. Joy Fielding sets most of her novels in American cities such as Boston and Chicago. She has said that she prefers to set her novels in "big American cities, [as the] landscape seems best for [her] themes of urban alienation and loss of identity. Fielding is a Canadian citizen. Her husband's name is Warren, and they have two daughters, Annie and Shannon. They have property in Toronto, Ontario, as well as Palm Beach, Florida.
Fielding had an interview with the Vancouver Sun in 2007, just after her publication of Heartstopper. She enjoys catching readers off guard with the endings of her stories, but insists that "[it] isn't what her fiction is about", but rather more about the development of her characters. Discussing her novels with the Toronto Star in 2008, she said "I might not write fiction in the literary sense. But I write very well. My characters are good. My dialog is good. And my stories are really involving. I'm writing exactly the kind of books I like to write. And they're the kind of books I like to read. They're popular commercial fiction. That's what they are."
Fielding has been noted as a novelist who is more popular in the United States and foreign countries, rather than in her native Canada. For example, the novel Kiss Mommy Goodbye was more popular in the States, and See Jane Run in Germany. In addition, she had an American agent and publisher, although she has now switched to a Canadian publisher.
Born in Toronto, Ontario, she graduated from the University of Toronto in 1966, with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. As Joy Tepperman, she had a brief acting career, appearing in the film Winter Kept Us Warm (1965) and in an episode of Gunsmoke. She later changed her last name to Fielding (after Henry Fielding) and began writing novels.
Fielding is also the screenwriter of the television film Golden Will: The Silken Laumann Story.
At the age of 8, Joy Tepperman wrote her first story and sent it into a local magazine, and at age 12 sent in her first TV script, however both were rejected. She had a brief acting career, eventually giving it up to write full-time in 1972. She has published to date 22 novels, two of which were converted into film. Fielding's process of having an idea to the point the novel is finished generally takes a year, the writing itself taking four to eight months. Joy Fielding sets most of her novels in American cities such as Boston and Chicago. She has said that she prefers to set her novels in "big American cities, [as the] landscape seems best for [her] themes of urban alienation and loss of identity. Fielding is a Canadian citizen. Her husband's name is Warren, and they have two daughters, Annie and Shannon. They have property in Toronto, Ontario, as well as Palm Beach, Florida.
Fielding had an interview with the Vancouver Sun in 2007, just after her publication of Heartstopper. She enjoys catching readers off guard with the endings of her stories, but insists that "[it] isn't what her fiction is about", but rather more about the development of her characters. Discussing her novels with the Toronto Star in 2008, she said "I might not write fiction in the literary sense. But I write very well. My characters are good. My dialog is good. And my stories are really involving. I'm writing exactly the kind of books I like to write. And they're the kind of books I like to read. They're popular commercial fiction. That's what they are."
Fielding has been noted as a novelist who is more popular in the United States and foreign countries, rather than in her native Canada. For example, the novel Kiss Mommy Goodbye was more popular in the States, and See Jane Run in Germany. In addition, she had an American agent and publisher, although she has now switched to a Canadian publisher.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
April 25, 2022
Twists and turns that took too long to develop and get to keep this story from being better. Only the last third is worthwhile. 5 of 10 stars
August 24, 2009
I liked the plotline behind this book but I found the main character annoying. She is a man-stealing emotional cripple who constantly plays with the emotions of pretty much everyone around here and then has crying pity fests over how messed up she is. I found it hard to connect with that although I suppose it worked as far as the "big picture" of the book was concerned. I liked her ex-husband (the first, not the second) much better. Actually, I liked pretty much everyone else better, and I felt bad that Ben ends up with her again in the end...in my opinion he would have been a lot better off with Jennifer!!
September 10, 2016
I wasn't really expecting much of this book. I mainly chose it to have an easy read to make a plane flight go by faster and because the setting is Toronto, and it is always fun to read something happening on the streets that one is very familiar with.
I am also not a book snob, and do find a few easy read literature that I find amusing and greatly entertaining. This was not the case here.
The crime part was alright. Nothing high class mysterious, but not too bad. The twist at the end was nothing too unpredictable but yet well put into the story. Only even these slightly positive parts are absolutely killed by one thing: the protagonist, Amanda!
I glanced through other reviews and see that many who didn't like the book also didn't like it because of this character. But I would like to specify that in my case it was for a different reason. I have nothing against the fact that she had lots of sex, didn't succeed in relationships and drank a lot. I like those kind of people and am happy to see such characters in a book. Even though more often than not those characteristics are presented as imperfections brought by some troubled past. A cliche I am kind of used to. But my god, was she annoying! Pretty much all through the book we have her whine to herself or have some hysterics in public for 3 reasons: a. somebody called her her old nickname b. it is so upsetting that her ex she left is with another woman and c. her mom apparently didn't love her enough in childhood. And this goes on and on and on. Very repetitive and takes up about 80% of the book. It is hard to enjoy a crime novel if most of the time one doesn't want to know what happens next but just wants to bitch-slap the main character so that she finally shuts up.
I am also not a book snob, and do find a few easy read literature that I find amusing and greatly entertaining. This was not the case here.
The crime part was alright. Nothing high class mysterious, but not too bad. The twist at the end was nothing too unpredictable but yet well put into the story. Only even these slightly positive parts are absolutely killed by one thing: the protagonist, Amanda!
I glanced through other reviews and see that many who didn't like the book also didn't like it because of this character. But I would like to specify that in my case it was for a different reason. I have nothing against the fact that she had lots of sex, didn't succeed in relationships and drank a lot. I like those kind of people and am happy to see such characters in a book. Even though more often than not those characteristics are presented as imperfections brought by some troubled past. A cliche I am kind of used to. But my god, was she annoying! Pretty much all through the book we have her whine to herself or have some hysterics in public for 3 reasons: a. somebody called her her old nickname b. it is so upsetting that her ex she left is with another woman and c. her mom apparently didn't love her enough in childhood. And this goes on and on and on. Very repetitive and takes up about 80% of the book. It is hard to enjoy a crime novel if most of the time one doesn't want to know what happens next but just wants to bitch-slap the main character so that she finally shuts up.
May 20, 2010
The mystery wasn't bad, but the main character was so awful that the book was a challenge to get through. Add to that a plethora of annoying fantasy sequences, and I had to give one star to an author I have previously enjoyed.
June 13, 2015
Amanda Travis is a beautiful and successful twenty-eight year old defense attorney living in Southwest Florida. She has spent the last ten years creating a different life for herself, far away from the difficult memories of her childhood in Toronto. There she remembers an alcoholic mother who either ignored or verbally abused her and a father who neglected her. She has subsequently learned to be careful to keep people at a distance and never to let anyone get too close. Repeated and mindless sexual encounters help her drown out her emotional pain and the two exhausted husbands she has left behind in her destructive wake.
Her first ex-husband Ben calls her condo repeatedly until she finally answers the phone, only to learn that her mother Gwen is in jail charged with murder. He tells her Gwen has shot someone in full view of several witnesses in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel. Hearing this, Amanda tries to convince herself that she doesn’t really care about her, but she decides to fly to Toronto anyway to see what is going on and if there is anything she can do.
When she arrives she meets Ben who is representing her mother and says he is having difficulty defending her because she isn’t talking. The only thing Gwen will say is that she killed the stranger because she felt like it. And she insists she is not insane. Amanda believes strongly that there is a reason behind all this and works to unravel the mystery, exposing a desperate secret her mother has kept for many years.
This is what some people call a beach book and what I call an airport book. It’s an enjoyable read to pass the time and can endure lots of interruptions. It also has just enough suspense to keep you reading and a good mystery that is slowly unraveled if you are careful to pick up the clues.
Amanda is not an endearing character. She whines and seems only concerned about herself. Despite her troubles and the author’s efforts to make her sympathetic, it is really difficult to really embrace her.
My other concern is the dialogue, which tends to repeat the same mindless clichés over and over, which can be annoying for the reader.
A quick read.
Her first ex-husband Ben calls her condo repeatedly until she finally answers the phone, only to learn that her mother Gwen is in jail charged with murder. He tells her Gwen has shot someone in full view of several witnesses in the lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel. Hearing this, Amanda tries to convince herself that she doesn’t really care about her, but she decides to fly to Toronto anyway to see what is going on and if there is anything she can do.
When she arrives she meets Ben who is representing her mother and says he is having difficulty defending her because she isn’t talking. The only thing Gwen will say is that she killed the stranger because she felt like it. And she insists she is not insane. Amanda believes strongly that there is a reason behind all this and works to unravel the mystery, exposing a desperate secret her mother has kept for many years.
This is what some people call a beach book and what I call an airport book. It’s an enjoyable read to pass the time and can endure lots of interruptions. It also has just enough suspense to keep you reading and a good mystery that is slowly unraveled if you are careful to pick up the clues.
Amanda is not an endearing character. She whines and seems only concerned about herself. Despite her troubles and the author’s efforts to make her sympathetic, it is really difficult to really embrace her.
My other concern is the dialogue, which tends to repeat the same mindless clichés over and over, which can be annoying for the reader.
A quick read.
October 22, 2017
Een leuke thriller. Het boek las vlot. Het mysterie was interssant en het einde verrassend. Ook sprak de hoofdpersoon mij aan. Zeker een aanrader. Mijn eerste boek van deze schrijfster, maar zeker niet mijn laatste.
June 21, 2017
Initial thoughts: OH MY God stop talking to yourself! What? What? This is not worthwhile dialogue. Sweet Jesus...
I absolutely hated this author's writing style. At least 30% of the book could be cut with absolutely no impact to plot or "character development" if you want to call it that. Some other reviewers mentioned how repetitious it is, but I thought they mean it more as in a re-cap way (in the middle of the book there's a re-cap of the first half) because some authors do that, but No. This is repetitious as in she will say the exact same thing literally 5 times in a row but worded slightly differently. Not even with meaningful things either, there was a full two paragraphs at one point about how shocked she was that she napped until 8pm. (Its 8pm!? No that can't be right it can't be 8pm. The clock says 8pm. It's dark outside, I can't believe I slept until dark!.. ) and on and on and on.
The reason I hated this book is that it's not a mystery novel. It's a romance novel (and not a very good one) with a slight mystery-esque subplot. To be honest, I made it about half way and then skipped to the end just see what the big reveal was because I couldn't take it anymore, and it was like i didn't skip anything at all. I didn't feel lost at all, almost like the second half didn't need to be there (and I have a sneaking sensation that it might be true). The big reveal was disappointing and kind of dumb.
Do not recommend.
I absolutely hated this author's writing style. At least 30% of the book could be cut with absolutely no impact to plot or "character development" if you want to call it that. Some other reviewers mentioned how repetitious it is, but I thought they mean it more as in a re-cap way (in the middle of the book there's a re-cap of the first half) because some authors do that, but No. This is repetitious as in she will say the exact same thing literally 5 times in a row but worded slightly differently. Not even with meaningful things either, there was a full two paragraphs at one point about how shocked she was that she napped until 8pm. (Its 8pm!? No that can't be right it can't be 8pm. The clock says 8pm. It's dark outside, I can't believe I slept until dark!.. ) and on and on and on.
The reason I hated this book is that it's not a mystery novel. It's a romance novel (and not a very good one) with a slight mystery-esque subplot. To be honest, I made it about half way and then skipped to the end just see what the big reveal was because I couldn't take it anymore, and it was like i didn't skip anything at all. I didn't feel lost at all, almost like the second half didn't need to be there (and I have a sneaking sensation that it might be true). The big reveal was disappointing and kind of dumb.
Do not recommend.
April 23, 2009
I was given this book without one word of review. I can see why.
The mystery itself is actually sort of compelling, but what drags this book down is the introspective crapfest surrounding the main character. I found myself skimming those portions of the book just looking to get to the meat of the story.
It didn't help that Amanda was a most unlikable character.
Methinks this is an author I won't be reading again.
The mystery itself is actually sort of compelling, but what drags this book down is the introspective crapfest surrounding the main character. I found myself skimming those portions of the book just looking to get to the meat of the story.
It didn't help that Amanda was a most unlikable character.
Methinks this is an author I won't be reading again.
February 23, 2018
I have loved all the books by Joy Fielding that I've read so far, but this one didn't do much for me. So much of the book was spent on the horrible behavior of the main character. It was hard to feel any sympathy for her or to even get that absorbed by the book. I'm glad her other books have better characters and plots
January 8, 2019
Another excellent suspense with lots of twists from one of my favorite authors.
February 16, 2011
In this novel, Amanda Travis is an emotionally-closed-off woman in her late 20s working as a criminal defense attorney in Florida. When Amanda gets an unexpected, urgent phone call from her ex-husband, she is shocked and dismayed to learn that her estranged mother has shot and killed a man in her hometown of Toronto. Her ex urges her to come home and assist in dealing with her mother, who appears to want to plead guilty and go directly to prison. Amanda wants nothing more than to hide in Florida and pretend she has no past. Her relationship with her mother is rocky, to say the least, and she left her ex under less-than-ideal circumstances too. But Amanda is drawn back to Toronto where she is forced to confront unresolved issues and demons from her past as well as investigate things she never knew about her mother. The necessity of investigating the charges against her mother force Amanda to open up emotionally and reevaluate her own life.
Amanda is a complex, less than fully likeable character, but she is not entirely unsympathetic. In some ways, it is refreshing to have a less-than-perfect "heroine" who doesn't always handle things with perfect aplomb and total control. Putting aside the bizarre factual circumstances driving the plot, the novel is essentially about Amanda confronting her past and the journey to finding out who she really is and how she wants to live her life. It's about choices and mistakes and having the courage to attempt to correct things you regret. It is a relatively quick read, although the plot develops a little more slowly than would be ideal in a mystery/thriller. This is far from Joy Fielding's best offering in this genre but certainly worth reading.
Amanda is a complex, less than fully likeable character, but she is not entirely unsympathetic. In some ways, it is refreshing to have a less-than-perfect "heroine" who doesn't always handle things with perfect aplomb and total control. Putting aside the bizarre factual circumstances driving the plot, the novel is essentially about Amanda confronting her past and the journey to finding out who she really is and how she wants to live her life. It's about choices and mistakes and having the courage to attempt to correct things you regret. It is a relatively quick read, although the plot develops a little more slowly than would be ideal in a mystery/thriller. This is far from Joy Fielding's best offering in this genre but certainly worth reading.
January 4, 2010
RE: _Puppet_ by Joy Fielding
An easy read. Good plot, excellent ending, but gets a bit boring in the middle. Sometimes I found it annoying when the protagonist talked to herself too much. It's not stream of consciousness; somehow it just seemed sophomoric at times. (The following GR reviewer calls it an "introspective crapfest". LOL : ====>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Also, the author wastes time on boring details which aren't relevant to the story. They seem like mere fillers to make the book longer. So I skimmed those parts. The mystery's clever ending saves the book.
The romance, which was a subplot, was a bit weak. I skimmed much of those parts. The dialogue was dull at times, a bit repetitive. There wasn't enough chemistry between the lovers. But again, the ending of the romantic subplot was a good one.
I might try another of Joy Fieldings books, just to see if her writing holds up for me.
Quotation:
"Nobody reads a mystery to get to the middle. They read it to get to the end. If it's a letdown, they won't buy anymore. The first page sells that book. The last page sells your next book."
-Mickey Spillane,
quoted in Jon Winokur, W.O.W.: _Writers on Writing
An easy read. Good plot, excellent ending, but gets a bit boring in the middle. Sometimes I found it annoying when the protagonist talked to herself too much. It's not stream of consciousness; somehow it just seemed sophomoric at times. (The following GR reviewer calls it an "introspective crapfest". LOL : ====>
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Also, the author wastes time on boring details which aren't relevant to the story. They seem like mere fillers to make the book longer. So I skimmed those parts. The mystery's clever ending saves the book.
The romance, which was a subplot, was a bit weak. I skimmed much of those parts. The dialogue was dull at times, a bit repetitive. There wasn't enough chemistry between the lovers. But again, the ending of the romantic subplot was a good one.
I might try another of Joy Fieldings books, just to see if her writing holds up for me.
Quotation:
"Nobody reads a mystery to get to the middle. They read it to get to the end. If it's a letdown, they won't buy anymore. The first page sells that book. The last page sells your next book."
-Mickey Spillane,
quoted in Jon Winokur, W.O.W.: _Writers on Writing
April 4, 2012
Well it speaks to the storyline and gripping writing style of this novel that has me finished in 8 days. Yes, it was a quick read. The fact that the story had me guessing and flipping pages trying to put the pieces together in this murder mystery, i'm delighted to have had a chance to read this book.
I didn't like the main character's whinny, over the top personality. It prevented me from really sympathizing with her much. Sure she had a rough childhood and the truth that rocks not only those in the story, but the readers themselves was a lot for anyone to go through. It still had me telling her to grow up a lot.
I have never read any of Joy's books so this was a positive introduction to her books. I look forward to the ones I plan to read in the future.
If you're looking for a book to captivate your mind and keep you guessing to the very last pages, then this is the quick mystery for you!
I'm rating this as high as possible, 5/5, because the writing was so intriguing and the twists and turns in this book rival those of my favourite books and writing styles. You can't do much better than that.
I didn't like the main character's whinny, over the top personality. It prevented me from really sympathizing with her much. Sure she had a rough childhood and the truth that rocks not only those in the story, but the readers themselves was a lot for anyone to go through. It still had me telling her to grow up a lot.
I have never read any of Joy's books so this was a positive introduction to her books. I look forward to the ones I plan to read in the future.
If you're looking for a book to captivate your mind and keep you guessing to the very last pages, then this is the quick mystery for you!
I'm rating this as high as possible, 5/5, because the writing was so intriguing and the twists and turns in this book rival those of my favourite books and writing styles. You can't do much better than that.
May 4, 2015
Ugh.
A more un-likeable character in fiction other than Amanda Travis I have yet to come across: a self-centered exhibitionist, consciousness-less, immature, man-stealing avowed victim and proud of it.
At times I found this novel Puppet by Joy Fielding difficult to read but I plodded through with the view of gaining insight into the thought processes of borderline schizophrenics/sociopaths as I have known a few (very few, thankfully!) in reality.
The conclusion to the mystery behind this novel was... disgusting, for want of a better word. An extremely controversial subject that I won't even get into.
Nonetheless, I'm glad I finished the novel (finally!) and to clear my brain, quickly started another book on a totally different topic!
If one is interested in novels like this one, go for it but you've been warned...
A more un-likeable character in fiction other than Amanda Travis I have yet to come across: a self-centered exhibitionist, consciousness-less, immature, man-stealing avowed victim and proud of it.
At times I found this novel Puppet by Joy Fielding difficult to read but I plodded through with the view of gaining insight into the thought processes of borderline schizophrenics/sociopaths as I have known a few (very few, thankfully!) in reality.
The conclusion to the mystery behind this novel was... disgusting, for want of a better word. An extremely controversial subject that I won't even get into.
Nonetheless, I'm glad I finished the novel (finally!) and to clear my brain, quickly started another book on a totally different topic!
If one is interested in novels like this one, go for it but you've been warned...
September 11, 2010
A fast fluffy read, the writing trite and predictable enough to elicit eye rolling. The mystery part of the story line created enough tension to keep me reading.
May 24, 2017
3.5 stars. In Florida, criminal attorney Amanda Travis lives life just the way she wants it without giving too much thought to others. Her first ex-husband Ben calls to tell her that her mother shot and killed a man in a hotel lobby in Canada. Amanda has only bad memories of her mother and reluctantly travels to see her since Ben can't get her mother to talk about what happened. Once in Canada, Amanda is forced to deal with her past as she investigates why her mother is so determined to plead guilty to killing a stranger.
Amanda is not a particularly likeable character although I understand she's angry with her mother about her childhood treatment. Her mother is a recovering alcoholic and Amanda was too young to understand the circumstances that caused this behavior. But she's about to find out. The story contains some mystery and romance.
Amanda is not a particularly likeable character although I understand she's angry with her mother about her childhood treatment. Her mother is a recovering alcoholic and Amanda was too young to understand the circumstances that caused this behavior. But she's about to find out. The story contains some mystery and romance.
March 16, 2019
Mein erstes Re-read und es war genauso gut wie beim ersten Mal
November 3, 2019
Ein wirklich spannender Thriller mit vielen Wendungen. Insgesamt fand ich das Buch auch sehr realistisch und die Protagonistin sehr spannend.
September 30, 2021
This story fizzled out pretty early on and the twist at the end was not that exciting. I skimmed through most of the middle chapters and even though the author claims to spend some of her time in Canada, I’m not sure where she is getting her information….. I’m pretty sure no one is driving a corvette in the snow in February in Toronto and I unless you are on the east coast, no one says “aboot” instead of about.
December 20, 2024
Der Schreibstil ist sehr mager, weil besonders die Gedankengänge der Protagonistin Amanda Travis andauernd paraphrasiert werden - hätte ein gelungenes Stilmittel werden können, ist aber zum nervigen Erlebnis für Leser*innen geworden, da es nur eine repetitive Funktion erfüllt. Der Plottwist am Ende ist einfach nur absurd und unrealistisch. Definitiv keine Empfehlung!
January 27, 2016
Die Geschichte des Krimis in diesem Buch fand ich wirklich gut ausgedacht und spannend. Die Dinge passen zusammen, wenn sie auch das Verhalten und die Beweggründe ihrer Mutter nicht 100-%-ig nachvollziehbar sind. Mit dem tatsächlichen Ausgang der Geschichte hätte ich auf jeden Fall nie gerechnet, daher war es ehrlich spannend.
Amanda ist als Hauptperson so ziemlich die letzte Person, die ich mir gewünscht hätte. Auch wenn sie meint, dass das nunmal seine Gründe hat oder wie auch immer, bin ich, wie vermutlich alle anderen auch, der Meinung, dass zwei Scheidungen mit 28 Jahren doch ein bisschen viel sind. Dazu kommt, dass sie mit 28 eine erfahrene Anwältin zu sein scheint. Da fragt man sich doch, wann sie zwischen den ganzen Männern denn die Zeit hatte Jura zu studieren. Das stört sie aber nicht, sie spielt sich einfach dementsprechend mächtig auf.
Ben ist als erster ihrer Ex-Männer wirklich sehr sympathisch und scheint mir ein Mann zu sein, der Dinge in die Hand nimmt und sich um einen kümmert. Wieso sollte er auch sonst die Mutter seiner Ex-Frau vertreten, die er jahrelang nicht gesehen hat?
Dubios also, wieso sich Amanda damals überhaupt hat scheiden lassen, denn nach ihrer Aussage war er schon immer so hilfsbereit und freundlich. Wäre er weggezogen und hätte die Scheidung eingereicht hätte ich es noch verstanden.
Umso schlimmer, dass er in Amandas gefühlter zweiter Nacht in Toronto mit ihr im Bett aufwacht und sich -zack- von seiner Freundin trennt. Tatsächlich besitzt er noch die Frechheit, sie zu fragen, ob sie ihm einen Gefallen tun und ein letztes Mal im Fall von Amandas Mutter helfen kann.
Da kann ich nur den Kopf schütteln. Männer!
Nun gut. Ich will noch kurz was zur Tatsache sagen, dass das mein erstes Hörbuch war:
Leider hat mir die Leserstimme nicht so gut gefallen. Es gab viele Situationen, in denen ich mich gefragt habe, wieso sie etwas auf diese oder jene Art und Weise vorgelesen hat und ich wusste, dass ich es beim Lesen anders interpretiert und vorgelesen hätte. Sie erschien mir generell oft unmotiviert und Amanda erschien dadurch schlecht gelaunt und mürrisch, obwohl sie (ich erinnere: zwei Ex-Männer) nicht unbedingt ein Kind von Traurigkeit war. Das war schade. Auch zum Ende des Buchs, als es um die Lösung des Falles ging, hätten ein paar mehr Emotionen nicht geschadet!
Spannender Krimi mit einer mir nicht sympathischen Hauptprotagonistin. Leider auch nicht die perfekte Stimme zum Hörbuch (das zählt aber natürlich nicht in die Bewertung der Geschichte).
3 von 5 Sternen.
Amanda ist als Hauptperson so ziemlich die letzte Person, die ich mir gewünscht hätte. Auch wenn sie meint, dass das nunmal seine Gründe hat oder wie auch immer, bin ich, wie vermutlich alle anderen auch, der Meinung, dass zwei Scheidungen mit 28 Jahren doch ein bisschen viel sind. Dazu kommt, dass sie mit 28 eine erfahrene Anwältin zu sein scheint. Da fragt man sich doch, wann sie zwischen den ganzen Männern denn die Zeit hatte Jura zu studieren. Das stört sie aber nicht, sie spielt sich einfach dementsprechend mächtig auf.
Ben ist als erster ihrer Ex-Männer wirklich sehr sympathisch und scheint mir ein Mann zu sein, der Dinge in die Hand nimmt und sich um einen kümmert. Wieso sollte er auch sonst die Mutter seiner Ex-Frau vertreten, die er jahrelang nicht gesehen hat?
Dubios also, wieso sich Amanda damals überhaupt hat scheiden lassen, denn nach ihrer Aussage war er schon immer so hilfsbereit und freundlich. Wäre er weggezogen und hätte die Scheidung eingereicht hätte ich es noch verstanden.
Umso schlimmer, dass er in Amandas gefühlter zweiter Nacht in Toronto mit ihr im Bett aufwacht und sich -zack- von seiner Freundin trennt. Tatsächlich besitzt er noch die Frechheit, sie zu fragen, ob sie ihm einen Gefallen tun und ein letztes Mal im Fall von Amandas Mutter helfen kann.
Da kann ich nur den Kopf schütteln. Männer!
Nun gut. Ich will noch kurz was zur Tatsache sagen, dass das mein erstes Hörbuch war:
Leider hat mir die Leserstimme nicht so gut gefallen. Es gab viele Situationen, in denen ich mich gefragt habe, wieso sie etwas auf diese oder jene Art und Weise vorgelesen hat und ich wusste, dass ich es beim Lesen anders interpretiert und vorgelesen hätte. Sie erschien mir generell oft unmotiviert und Amanda erschien dadurch schlecht gelaunt und mürrisch, obwohl sie (ich erinnere: zwei Ex-Männer) nicht unbedingt ein Kind von Traurigkeit war. Das war schade. Auch zum Ende des Buchs, als es um die Lösung des Falles ging, hätten ein paar mehr Emotionen nicht geschadet!
Spannender Krimi mit einer mir nicht sympathischen Hauptprotagonistin. Leider auch nicht die perfekte Stimme zum Hörbuch (das zählt aber natürlich nicht in die Bewertung der Geschichte).
3 von 5 Sternen.
September 17, 2014
3 STARS
"Puppet features the beautiful Amanda Travis, a successful twenty-eight-year-old criminal attorney who wins just about every case for her less than admirable clientele. A Florida transplant, Amanda races through her glamorous life, her only concerns being herself, a good bottle of red, and her pristine Palm Beach condominium. Her estranged mother, dead father, two ex-husbands, a love that once consumed her, and countless one-night stands have since lagged far, far behind.
But when ex #1 won't stop calling, Amanda finally gives in. He tells her that her mother shot a man at point-blank range in the lobby of Toronto's Four Seasons hotel. Despite her best arguments, Amanda knows she must return to her hometown to face her demons and uncover the hidden facts behind her mother's violent outburst. All too soon, she is drawn into the dark, strange power her mother seems to hold over everyone. Her childhood nickname, Puppet, echoing in her ears, Amanda must finally confront the past in order to be free of the ties that bind and learn to stand on her own." (From Amazon)
I was on the fence about this book...at time it was really good with suspense and then it would kind of die out.
"Puppet features the beautiful Amanda Travis, a successful twenty-eight-year-old criminal attorney who wins just about every case for her less than admirable clientele. A Florida transplant, Amanda races through her glamorous life, her only concerns being herself, a good bottle of red, and her pristine Palm Beach condominium. Her estranged mother, dead father, two ex-husbands, a love that once consumed her, and countless one-night stands have since lagged far, far behind.
But when ex #1 won't stop calling, Amanda finally gives in. He tells her that her mother shot a man at point-blank range in the lobby of Toronto's Four Seasons hotel. Despite her best arguments, Amanda knows she must return to her hometown to face her demons and uncover the hidden facts behind her mother's violent outburst. All too soon, she is drawn into the dark, strange power her mother seems to hold over everyone. Her childhood nickname, Puppet, echoing in her ears, Amanda must finally confront the past in order to be free of the ties that bind and learn to stand on her own." (From Amazon)
I was on the fence about this book...at time it was really good with suspense and then it would kind of die out.
September 14, 2013
This book is about a woman named Amanda. She lives in Miami as a lawyer. One day gets a call from her ex husband Ben telling her that her mother murdered a man. Amanda then hesitantly flies back to her home town Toronto, Canada to help Ben (her mothers lawyer) solve the mystery of why she murdered this man. Throughout the book, they unfold more and more revealing quite a bit of Amanda's past that she had never imagined. In the end, the two figure out that there was more to Amanda's childhood than just diapers and dolls. Fortunately they solve the mystery and not only winning the court case, but bringing Amanda, her mother, and her long lost sister together.
I would definitely recommend this book to people. It was different, funny, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The plot was unthinkable and smart. I would recommend this book for an older audience based on some of the language and characters, but overall I loved it! I hope they come out with a sequel.
I would definitely recommend this book to people. It was different, funny, and kept me on the edge of my seat. The plot was unthinkable and smart. I would recommend this book for an older audience based on some of the language and characters, but overall I loved it! I hope they come out with a sequel.
July 16, 2010
I enjoyed the mystery, but I also enjoyed the static of the mother-daughter friction that was an interesting undercurrent of the story. Though Amanda may seem cold and in a sense, uncaring and rebellious toward the first half of the book, I was intrigued by the way Fielding gradually "warmed" up Amanda's personality by unveiling things from her past that explains where she's coming from and why she is the way she is, to a certain degree. As I got to know more about Amanda and her relationship with her mother, Amanda's behavior becomes more understandable to me and curiosity is aroused as to why certain things happened the way they did and why certain people behaved the way they did. The mother-daughter tangle adds well to the story. The conclusion is satisfying and twists an initially cold character into a warm-blooded human being with a wide array of feelings.
February 8, 2017
Amanda Travis is a lawyer living in Florida but originally from Toronto. She receives a call from her ex-husband that her mother has shot and killed a man who she has said she doesn't know. This makes absolutely no sense as far as Amanda is concerned and that becomes the focal point of the story. But Amanda's own personality steals everything away from the plot. She whines about everything and is the reason I'm not giving it more stars. Who can stand to be around her. The story drags because of Amanda's 'crap' but certainly heats up towards the solution of the crime. Quite an unusual ending. (I only read this book once even though the site says twice.)
December 14, 2010
I listened to this one while doing chores around the house; the first audio book I'd listened to in a long time. I chose it because I had enjoyed a few Fielding mysteries in the past, but this seemed excruciatingly slow, perhaps because the plot was so predictable, or maybe because the reader read it so slowly. I actually only listened to the end to confirm that I was correct about the "revelation". If I had actually sat down to read this one I would have considered it time wasted.
December 2, 2013
The need to find your origins is such a compelling one for the one who had an unusual childhood. The driving force behind the book is childhood really defines the person you are and the bad things that happen to a person might result in catastrophic events.Joe Fielding is a master at psychological thrillers and she does a good job in Puppet building suspense to the eventual climax which for me was not so thrilling :)nevertheless it had its moment
August 26, 2014
I usually love Fielding's work however that was not the case with this book. The main character was completely self centered and I just couldn't stand her. Most of the story was about her charging about, doing and saying anything she felt like, at the expense of others. With that said, the twist at the end was just disturbing.
May 13, 2019
Seriously how fast can one person read these books? I loved this book, just like every single Joy Fielding book I've read thus far. Engaging, with just enough twists and turns to keep me wanting more....I know you are tired of hearing it but a must read for those who love all things Joy Fielding.
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