Janet
16th July 2006, 11:50
The Abortionist’s Daughter by Elisabeth Hyde
The Blurb
'The problem was Megan had just taken the second half of her ecstasy when her father called with the news'. Nineteen-year-old university student Megan Thompson is beautiful, cool, clever and sexy - the kind of girl boys fall in love with. She's mostly steered clear of family life since the death of her younger brother. That is until the day she hears her mother, Diana, has been found floating face down in their swimming pool. Diana, as Director of the Center for Reproductive Choice, was a national figure who inspired passions and made enemies. Detective Huck Berlin is brought in to investigate the case when it becomes clear that Diana was murdered. Several people have quarrelled with Diana on that fateful day, not least Frank, her husband of twenty years, and her wayward child. Now, father and daughter are thrown together in an unexpected twist of family life. Set in a small town in Colorado, "The Abortionist's Daughter" is an utterly compelling novel of family secrets, dark passion and, ultimately, catharsis for those whose lives have become so strangely entwined.
This book was not, as the name might suggest, a heavy novel about the rights and wrongs of abortion. It didn’t come down as either an anti-abortion or a pro-abortion novel. Although an abortion clinic was a fairly big part of the story, Hyde’s personal feelings on the subject are never actually evident.
It's a Richard and Judy 'Summer Read' so I guess it was never going to be heavy duty! It was an easy read and I whizzed through it in just two days. It’s the sort of book that is perfect for reading by the pool, as it doesn’t take much thinking about.
I was perhaps a little disappointed with it. It didn’t have much substance to it. I’m not sure what it’s meant to be - I guess it’s mainly a crime novel, although it’s not like any detective story I’ve ever read as it was lacking in detail somewhat.
I think what I’ve written makes it sound like I didn’t enjoy the book. I did, but it’s not the sort of book I’d rave about, or say to someone that they must read it. If you want something for your holiday though, this would be perfect!
The paperback is just 285 pages long and is published by Pan. The ISBN number is 0-330-44300-3.
5½ /10
(Read July 2006)
The Blurb
'The problem was Megan had just taken the second half of her ecstasy when her father called with the news'. Nineteen-year-old university student Megan Thompson is beautiful, cool, clever and sexy - the kind of girl boys fall in love with. She's mostly steered clear of family life since the death of her younger brother. That is until the day she hears her mother, Diana, has been found floating face down in their swimming pool. Diana, as Director of the Center for Reproductive Choice, was a national figure who inspired passions and made enemies. Detective Huck Berlin is brought in to investigate the case when it becomes clear that Diana was murdered. Several people have quarrelled with Diana on that fateful day, not least Frank, her husband of twenty years, and her wayward child. Now, father and daughter are thrown together in an unexpected twist of family life. Set in a small town in Colorado, "The Abortionist's Daughter" is an utterly compelling novel of family secrets, dark passion and, ultimately, catharsis for those whose lives have become so strangely entwined.
This book was not, as the name might suggest, a heavy novel about the rights and wrongs of abortion. It didn’t come down as either an anti-abortion or a pro-abortion novel. Although an abortion clinic was a fairly big part of the story, Hyde’s personal feelings on the subject are never actually evident.
It's a Richard and Judy 'Summer Read' so I guess it was never going to be heavy duty! It was an easy read and I whizzed through it in just two days. It’s the sort of book that is perfect for reading by the pool, as it doesn’t take much thinking about.
I was perhaps a little disappointed with it. It didn’t have much substance to it. I’m not sure what it’s meant to be - I guess it’s mainly a crime novel, although it’s not like any detective story I’ve ever read as it was lacking in detail somewhat.
I think what I’ve written makes it sound like I didn’t enjoy the book. I did, but it’s not the sort of book I’d rave about, or say to someone that they must read it. If you want something for your holiday though, this would be perfect!
The paperback is just 285 pages long and is published by Pan. The ISBN number is 0-330-44300-3.
5½ /10
(Read July 2006)