Helpful Score: 3
This book has only weak characters that never get stronger, the plot twists and turns but in such absurb ways that it is not interesting or appropriate, if you are interested in a mystery that involves a librarian, cold fusion, multiple miscarriages, infidelity and prison, then this is the book for you, if not take a pass it is not worth your time.
Helpful Score: 2
I couldn't finish this book. I really did try, and I *hate* giving up on a book, but this one I just couldn't stomach. It's about a woman named Betsy who is wrongfully convicted of killing her neighbor while she was sleepwalking, freed on a DNA exoneration, and then presumably must find the true killer. I'm sure this author is a capable and well established author, but I found so many errors in this book that I just couldn't suspend any fraction of disbelief. Firstly, the author would have us believe that there are no mirrors in prison, and therefore the main character hadn't seen a reflection of herself in the 12 years she was incarcerated. Then she wanted us to believe that her heroine asked her husband for a divorce so that she, the prisoner, could have "a life." Save yourself the trouble of reading this book, and just read the last chapter, or find a spoiler elsewhere.
Good read.
This particular book is completely out of my genre. Yes, I'm a mystery lover, but mainly read cozies and authors that I've read before like Mary Higgins Clark for instance. Cammie McGovern? Had no clue about how she writes. Since I'm a busy, work-at-home person with many outside interests I only read at bedtime. Takes me awhile to get through a book so I usually don't get antsy to get to the "whodunit" part. This story haunted me throughout my days, couldn't get it out of my mind. I found myself wandering into the bedroom and sneeking a few minutes to read a little more (with no guilt either!). Some of her writing seemed to be a bit tedious, but those brief parts were crucial to the jest of the book itself. I was blown away when the murderer was revealed (and not until a few pages prior to the end of the book). This novel is by far one of my favorite reads.
"Librarian Found Innocent of Crime After Twelve Years in Prison," the newspaper headlines read. The problem is, former librarian Betsy Treading couldn't feel less innocent - even after new DNA evidence irrefutably exonerates her of the murder of her eccentric and noticeably single neighbor, Linda Sue Murphy. True, the evidence may have released Betsy from prison, but she quickly discovers that innocence in court doesn't necessarily redeem her in the eyes of old friends.
The truth is, Betsy will never feel exonerated until Linda Sue's true killer is found, and the murder for which she was wrongfully convicted is successfully solved. Back in her old neighborhood without a job, a car, a place to live, or her husband, Betsy is determined to clear her name and find Linda Sue's murderer at all costs. So, she sets out to unravel the complex web of denial, delusion, and secrets that have seemingly paralyzed the community. But the ultimate question is: will this former librarian be successful in shattering the perfect facade that protects such an idyllic world and has apparently ensnared her community?
Neighborhood Watch: A Novel by Cammie McGovern is an intricately woven, psychologically astute tale that will keep readers guessing until the very last page. This is a riveting and frightening story of false accusations, and of the lengths to which some people will go to to keep their 'white-picket-fence' facade in place. It is also the story of a woman coming into her own, finding her strength, and taking control of her life. It asks readers, what sort of price would you pay for the sake of your reputation?
In my opinion, this was an amazing book. I was immediately sucked into the story; it was an engrossing, nail-biting psychological tour-de-force - filled with all the secrets, lies, and deceptions of life in small-town suburbia. I appreciated that this story was so well-paced; I found it not necessarily over-dramatic, but always flowing and moving.
In my opinion, the plot never became boring or stilted; what drama there was, never slowed or stalled the story. I found this story thoroughly intriguing and I wanted to know what happened next. I would give Neighborhood Watch: A Novel by Cammie McGovern a definite A+! This is the first book that I've read by this author, but it most certainly will not be my last.
The truth is, Betsy will never feel exonerated until Linda Sue's true killer is found, and the murder for which she was wrongfully convicted is successfully solved. Back in her old neighborhood without a job, a car, a place to live, or her husband, Betsy is determined to clear her name and find Linda Sue's murderer at all costs. So, she sets out to unravel the complex web of denial, delusion, and secrets that have seemingly paralyzed the community. But the ultimate question is: will this former librarian be successful in shattering the perfect facade that protects such an idyllic world and has apparently ensnared her community?
Neighborhood Watch: A Novel by Cammie McGovern is an intricately woven, psychologically astute tale that will keep readers guessing until the very last page. This is a riveting and frightening story of false accusations, and of the lengths to which some people will go to to keep their 'white-picket-fence' facade in place. It is also the story of a woman coming into her own, finding her strength, and taking control of her life. It asks readers, what sort of price would you pay for the sake of your reputation?
In my opinion, this was an amazing book. I was immediately sucked into the story; it was an engrossing, nail-biting psychological tour-de-force - filled with all the secrets, lies, and deceptions of life in small-town suburbia. I appreciated that this story was so well-paced; I found it not necessarily over-dramatic, but always flowing and moving.
In my opinion, the plot never became boring or stilted; what drama there was, never slowed or stalled the story. I found this story thoroughly intriguing and I wanted to know what happened next. I would give Neighborhood Watch: A Novel by Cammie McGovern a definite A+! This is the first book that I've read by this author, but it most certainly will not be my last.
This book is a tough one to review. I did like it, but I didn't love it. The plot was interesting, but a tad odd. It was much too wordy and could have been cut down by like 50 pages but it was definitely unpredictable for sure! There are a number of things that are revealed along the way that you will never see coming, which is good. I also didn't realize who the killer was until he/she was revealed. I'm still up in the air as to whether or not I'd read another book by this author.
