Don't Go in Baltimore County Public Library Summer Reading BCPL SRC

Oct 03, 2014 Jennifer rated it liked it

Shelves: mystery-suspense

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I liked this book, but I also had a lot of issues with it. The book was pretty easy to figure out what was going to happen and it laid out exactly like I imagined. Danielle and Bob swoop in to help out with Emily. Danielle and Bob won't let Mike spend any time with his daughter because she doesn't know him (but how is she supposed to know him, without his getting to spend time with her?). Danielle and Bob just want to cover themselves and ask him to sign a custody agreement. Danielle and Bob hav I liked this book, but I also had a lot of issues with it. The book was pretty easy to figure out what was going to happen and it laid out exactly like I imagined. Danielle and Bob swoop in to help out with Emily. Danielle and Bob won't let Mike spend any time with his daughter because she doesn't know him (but how is she supposed to know him, without his getting to spend time with her?). Danielle and Bob just want to cover themselves and ask him to sign a custody agreement. Danielle and Bob have Emily call them mommy and daddy just because it's easier. Danielle and Bob kick Mike out and oh by the way, they're keeping Emily. I was practically screaming at how blind Mike was. I kept complaining to my husband that he couldn't see that Danielle and Bob (who couldn't have kids of their own) were slowly pulling Emily away from him.

Because it is a Scottoline novel, of course it had to have a mystery underneath everything, which I normally like and even prefer, but in this case, I felt as though the mystery was too distracting. I didn't really care all that much who walked in on Chloe while she lay dying. I didn't really care all that much who she slept with. I thought the Sara murder was above and beyond necessary and only added more drama and distractions.

What I wanted more of was Mike learning how to be a father. Mike dealing with Emily. Learning how to father with only one hand, going to therapy, learning how to become a regular person again, even with all the after affects of war. But sadly, that was pushed a lot into the background. All we got to see was that he got to spend one day with Emily (and that ended badly with Danielle and Bob *way* overreacting about his falling asleep), and then the nice, perfect ending. But aside from his getting a lawyer and finally lining up his life by getting an apartment, figuring out a job, etc., we missed the part of Emily learning to trust him, spending time with him, spending the night at his place, swinging on the swings outside her bedroom window. That was all pushed to the background.

I loved the legal scenes, loved the custody battle, really supported Mike as I knew he'd eventually come around. Really despised Danielle and Bob, thought there were too many characters overall. Was sick of everyone calling Emily "the baby", and was more bored with the murder / assault aspects. Yet, I still constantly wanted to read this. It was always pulling me in, whether I agreed with it or not. Mike giving up legal custody made me cringe. I'm not even a parent and I couldn't imagine giving up a child to someone else, regardless of whether I thought they could provide a better home. Who does that?! And I did not buy that Danielle and Bob just suddenly decided after he solved a murder mystery, that Mike should have sole custody of Emily and that she should call them Aunt and Uncle. It all wrapped up much too neatly and again, the main part of the book - Mike learning what it really means to be a father - was too much a background plot. ...more

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Mar 09, 2013 Theresa rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I am a big fan of Lisa Scottoline's books and this one did not disappoint. Dr. Mike Scanlon is a podiatric surgeon stationed in Afghanistan leaving a wife and infant daughter behind. When his wife dies unexpectedly, he returns home and his life begins spiraling out of control. There are lots of twists and turns which keeps the story line interesting. I highly recommend it. ...more

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Nov 15, 2012 Jamie rated it it was amazing

Loved this book!!! I was hooked from the beginning! I loved all the twists and turns and when I thought I had it figured out there was another twist. Great read!

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