Darian North

This is another one I picked because it was fat. I'd never heard of this author and after having read it, I know my pick-by-girth system is a good one. This is a great book - fascinating plot, fabulous characters and beautifully told. Owen Byrne is a cattle farmer in Kansas. He's working hard to make his family farm work with his father and two sisters and he needs cash. Plus, he's always liked to write. Nearly by accident he gets a chance to write a true crime book on a murder trial being show more held in a suburb of New York City. A famous but mysterious author has been murdered and his equally mysterious wife is the accused. And Owen gets mired in the middle of it all. show less

This is my second Darian North novel and I'm off to find my third. She has the magic for sucking the reader in from the first word to the last. Daniel Behr has a great life. He has a good job as a draftsman at an architectural firm, a wife he cherishes and a five year old daughter who means the world to him. The story follows his life as it falls apart and has to be rebuilt again. It starts when he goes to pick up his wife at a weekend retreat and not only is she not there, he can't find her show more anywhere. It's a fabulous story. show less

Gripping. A trip back in time when talking to people on-line was thought to be safe. Lots of twists and turns that kept me guessing and eagerly turning the page. Heartbreaking. Delves thoughtfully into the ways men and women experience the world due to the fear of sexual violence. Sometimes the pace was a little slow, but mostly the narrative kept me interested.

Dan Behr is completely in love with his wife and often times can't wait to get home from work. His wife, Alex, goes on retreat one weekend, with instructions to Dan to pick her up when it is over. When Dan arrives, he learns Alex wants to stay. When he talks to the neighbors in the area he learns, this dwelling is a cult. Dan is determined to bring his wife home to him and his daughter. He soon is working with a psychologist, Laura and hires a de-programmer to help with getting his wife show more back. Once she is captured Alex remains steadfast in wanting to return to the cult. Alex escapes from from the de-programmer. Dan continues to work with Laura, to learn about the cult, but he does not know where Alex is. When Dan's daughter is kidnapped, he is determined to infiltrate the cult and get his daughter back. show less