Let Me Call You Sweetheart this question feed

asked by shagdag on November 20, 2006 5:56 AM
Sweetheart roses -- the traditional gift of lovers. Yet they had been an important clue in the murder 10 years ago of strikingly beautiful Suzanne Reardon, whose husband, Skip, is now serving a life sentence for that murder.

Kerry McGrath had only begun to work in the county prosecutor's office at the time of the infamous "Sweetheart Murder Case," yet she remembers being impressed by both the ability her new boss, Frank Green, displayed in successfully pursuing the conviction, and the general ineptness of the defense counsel. Skip Reardon's fate was sealed, and Green's reputation made.

Now Kerry herself has gained quite a reputation as a smart and relentless prosecutor, so much so that her name has been given to the governor as a candidate for a new judgeship he is about to award. It is something she wants desperately, not only a chance to enter a level of the legal world open to only a few, but an opportunity to prove to her ex-husband, Bob Kinellen, that she is indeed special.

Then suddenly Kerry's plans are turned upside down. When Kerry's beloved daughter, Robin, is injured in an automobile accident, suffering superficial but nonetheless potentially disfiguring cuts to her face, she is treated by a well-known plastic surgeon. It is in the doctor's office that Kerry first sees the woman with the beautiful face, a face she remembers from the past but can't place. Then, on another visit to the plastic surgeon, she sees the same haunting face again -- but not on the same woman as before!

Suddenly she remembers -- the face those women share was the same face she had seen in the pictures of Suzanne Reardon, the "Sweetheart Murder" victim, killed 10 years ago!

But why would someone be giving these women the face of a dead woman? When Kerry begins to ask questions, it soon becomes clear that almost no one involved -- not her boss, Frank Green; not her ex-husband and his shady "Irish Mafia" client Jimmy Weeks; not her long-time friend and benefactor, State Senator Jonathan Hoover; and most especially not Dr. Smith, the plastic surgeon -- wants to see the case reopened. And it soon becomes apparent that one of them will stop at nothing to prevent it.

Still Kerry persists, aided by Skip Reardon's appeals lawyer, Geoff Dorso, the first man to whom she has felt any real attraction since the breakup of her marriage.

But what she doesn't know is that no matter what she decides, it is already too late -- she is in great, growing danger.


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Kerry McGrath is being considered for a judgeship; however, if she keeps trying to find evidence to overturn the conviction of a man for killing his wife her chance at the position could be jeopardized. Kerry McGrath was an assistant prosecutor in Bergen County. Kerry's boss, Frank Green, is running for governor and she has been nominated for a judgeship. When her ex-husband, Bob, and daughter, Robin, are involved in a car accident Robin receives minor cuts on her face. Kerry takes her to see Dr. Charles Smith, a plastic surgeon, to make sure that the scars will disappear completely. During her waits at the doctor's office Kerry notices several of the patients leaving the office have been given the same face. This sparks her curiosity because the face is so familiar to her. The faces are the same as that of Suzanne Reardon, the victim in the Sweetheart Murder Case. Kerry visits with Skip Reardon, Suzanne Reardon's husband who was convicted of the murder, in prison and hears his story. She also talks to other people that knew Suzanne and Kerry begins to think that Skip was wrongfully convicted due to the testimony of his father-in-law, Dr. Smith. During her investigation, she finds that Skip is innocent and discovers who the real killer was. Kerry is appointed the judgeship and is presented with her official robes. I recommend that everyone read this book.
The characters in this book are realistic. Robin is a ten-year-old girl whose parents are divorced; she has big blue eyes and an oval face. Kerry is an assistant prosecutor nominated for a judgeship. Bob is a criminal defense lawyer who is remarried to a woman who wants nothing to do with Robin.
The events in this book are realistic. Robin is slightly injured in a car accident. Skip Reardon was wrongfully convicted of the murder of his wife. Kerry goes from being an assistant prosecutor for Bergen County to being a judge.
The places in this story are described in lots of detail. Robin and Kerry's house is large and comfortable, with a fake fireplace in the family room. The Bergen County prosecutor's office is busy building filled with friendly, pleasant people. Dr. Smith's office seemed just like any other doctors office with a tiny little room at the back for a personal workplace.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good mystery. You will continually guess who the real murderer is but be ready for some shocking twists and turns. Everyone should read this book.
reviewed by shagdag on November 26, 2006 10:25 AM

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Excellent. I have read every book she has written and can't wait for the next.
You can't put them down.
reviewed by kmf on November 28, 2006 11:23 AM

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Simply put, this is not a very thrilling thriller. The plot is (how shall I say this) outrageous: there are too many (groan) coincidences. In life there are many coincidental events, but it is difficult to justify them in fiction, and the author in this case doesn't even try. Moreover, the many, many cliches do not help hide the coincidences.

If that were not enough, the characters are standard soap opera figures. The dialogue between them is wooden and frequently dismaying. One can almost visualize the too-close camera shots and meaningful glances. The atmosphere, New York and Bergen County, New Jersey, is shallow at best. The reader never senses that this is taking place in other than smooth soap opera settings.

One added note: Ms. Clark persists in mistaking a mere house for a home. A home cannot be sold or bought, but a house can. In addition, robbery and burglary are not the same crimes, nor are concrete and cement the same substances. Words should be used more carefully. They are the only tools the writer has.
reviewed by kmf on November 29, 2006 3:18 PM

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This book was very good and very suspensful. The characters were believable, but the plotline would be hard to follow if you are confused by the author changing viewpoints. If you don't like books that go from one character to the next, this book may not be for you. The story line is a little bit slow and some parts seem to drag on. All in all this was a great book and a good read!
reviewed by jbritt on November 29, 2006 6:38 PM

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