Unspeakable
by Sandra Brown 
On This Page
Description
Jack Sawyer, a drifter whose easygoing nature hides a troubled past, returns to his hometown in Blewer County, Texas in an attempt to protect widow Anna Corbett and her young son from revenge-minded escaped convict Carl Herbold.Tags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
This was my first experience with Sandra Brown's work and I was really excited about reading [b:Unspeakable|30375|Unspeakable|Sandra Brown|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348534428s/30375.jpg|2085347]. The author jumps right into the plot, setting the stage for an action packed story of revenge, redemption, and second chances. There was so much potential! So why was it so difficult to get through? Let's start with the problems first, that way we can end on a positive note.
The main problem I had with the book surrounds the "evil" persona of the bad guys. With the exception of Myron's obvious detachment from reality, the villains could've been personality clones. This did improve a bit as the plot resolved, but I think the author could've show more given more distinguishable flaws from the beginning. Even the oily-banker wasa disgusting pig who thought women were put on earth to be ruled over by men.
WARNING: The following opinion contains adult material surrounding rape and sexual abuse.
Moving on to the good.
Yes! There was a lot of stuff to like in this book, too! It's a "three-in-one" story if you really think about it. Everyone is connected somehow to the Herbold brothers and the escape from prison sets them on a collision course. The final confrontation was intense and very well done. In fact, the last ten (or so) chapters were real page turners! Ms. Brown surprised me more than once!
The "good" guys were written so well and the author took the time to flesh out their personalities. I got to know retired sheriff Ezzy Hardage like an old friend. He became a favorite character from the early pages. Sometimes I just wanted to give the guy a hug. I spent those last ten chapters with my heart in my throat where he was concerned.
Jack's relationship with David (Anna's five-year-old son) was super endearing. He won me over right away, even if it did take Anna awhile to catch up and trust. His real reason for seeking employment at the Corbett ranch remains a big mystery right up to the end. It's obvious he's hiding something, but what and why? I liked that there were little clues dropped here and there as the story progressed, even though I missed most of them. When the author did the big reveal, it all made perfect sense.I've always said I'm a sucker for the tortured soul. Jack definitely has some baggage here.
I liked Anna and I don't mind reading deaf characters. I think it's a challenge to write a deaf character well and Brown does a great job here. I would've liked more scenes from her perspective, just so I could've had a better feel for Anna the individual, not the "mom" or the "daughter-in-law," etc. Once Anna and Jack get together, the relationship was so BEAUTIFUL. I just don't have the words! Sweet doesn't cover it. Deeply, emotionally intimate is about as close as I can get.
Overall, I think this is an okay read. The good definitely outweighs the bad, just be aware that the violence is far more graphic than the average romantic suspense novel. I definitely plan to give Sandra Brown another try. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! show less
The main problem I had with the book surrounds the "evil" persona of the bad guys. With the exception of Myron's obvious detachment from reality, the villains could've been personality clones. This did improve a bit as the plot resolved, but I think the author could've show more given more distinguishable flaws from the beginning. Even the oily-banker was
WARNING: The following opinion contains adult material surrounding rape and sexual abuse.
The victim is only one in a long line of unnamed, walk-on characters that die by Carl and/or Myron's hand. Why go into such horrific, violent detail? Is this just shock factor? If so, congrats. Shock achieved. "Unspeakable" is about right.I'm a big Karin Slaughter fan. She writes some pretty dark crime-thrillers that deal with all types of sexual abuse and she does her research. I'm not into violence, but I do appreciate realistic crime dramas. Slaughter's work is gritty and all about solving the crime, stopping the bad guys. I've read all of her Grant County series and nothing, NOTHING, in her work creeped me out as much as some of the things I read in [b:Unspeakable|30375|Unspeakable|Sandra Brown|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348534428s/30375.jpg|2085347].
After murdering a 14-year-old girl's father at a gas station, Carl kidnaps her, rapes and murders her, dumping her mutilated body in a ditch. I did NOT need to know his sicko thoughts about the act...before and after...or that he "enjoyed" himself. (Yes, I put the book down and almost didn't pick it back up.) He's a bastard. I get it.
Moving on to the good.
Yes! There was a lot of stuff to like in this book, too! It's a "three-in-one" story if you really think about it. Everyone is connected somehow to the Herbold brothers and the escape from prison sets them on a collision course. The final confrontation was intense and very well done. In fact, the last ten (or so) chapters were real page turners! Ms. Brown surprised me more than once!
The "good" guys were written so well and the author took the time to flesh out their personalities. I got to know retired sheriff Ezzy Hardage like an old friend. He became a favorite character from the early pages. Sometimes I just wanted to give the guy a hug. I spent those last ten chapters with my heart in my throat where he was concerned.
Jack's relationship with David (Anna's five-year-old son) was super endearing. He won me over right away, even if it did take Anna awhile to catch up and trust. His real reason for seeking employment at the Corbett ranch remains a big mystery right up to the end. It's obvious he's hiding something, but what and why? I liked that there were little clues dropped here and there as the story progressed, even though I missed most of them. When the author did the big reveal, it all made perfect sense.
I liked Anna and I don't mind reading deaf characters. I think it's a challenge to write a deaf character well and Brown does a great job here. I would've liked more scenes from her perspective, just so I could've had a better feel for Anna the individual, not the "mom" or the "daughter-in-law," etc. Once Anna and Jack get together, the relationship was so BEAUTIFUL. I just don't have the words! Sweet doesn't cover it. Deeply, emotionally intimate is about as close as I can get.
Overall, I think this is an okay read. The good definitely outweighs the bad, just be aware that the violence is far more graphic than the average romantic suspense novel. I definitely plan to give Sandra Brown another try. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! show less
Asking me if I could have read just one Sandra Brown novel would be like asking me if I could eat just one piece of chocolate. Ah no!
I think this may be my favorite novel by Sandra Brown that I've read to date. Mystery, suspense, romance are all between the covers of "Unspeakable!" I really enjoyed every page-turning moment.
I think this may be my favorite novel by Sandra Brown that I've read to date. Mystery, suspense, romance are all between the covers of "Unspeakable!" I really enjoyed every page-turning moment.
Damn these books are good in a guilty unapologetic way. Good plot, great pacing, likable characters, good villains make this book one that you're unable to put down.
I realize this type of book is written in a formula to appeal to the masses. That millions of these are printed in paperbacks and sold in the every airport and second hand swap shop around.
They're good and a quick satisfying read.
I realize this type of book is written in a formula to appeal to the masses. That millions of these are printed in paperbacks and sold in the every airport and second hand swap shop around.
They're good and a quick satisfying read.
This was fairly predictable. Evil land developers want to buy the ranch from Anna’s father in law. He doesn’t want to sell. She lives there with her son and the town thinks she’s screwing him now that her husband is dead.
Meanwhile, the criminals are escaping from prison and planning to come down and take revenge on their stepfather. Seems that they hated him and thought he ruined their lives. On the way, they commit several murders and rapes.
Back at the ranch, Anna meets this guy on the road who fixes her car and then turns up at the ranch, the newly hired ranch hand. She is suspicious because her father in law has never hired anyone else on before. When some cattle are poisoned, the already uneasy father in law thinks he did show more it. He showed up at the ranch at just the time that the developers are putting pressure on him to sell. Jack protests enough so that they believe he didn’t do it.
The writing is on the wall for Anna and Jack to totally fall in love when they bicker and argue at first. Then there are a few close encounters where they almost kiss. It’s very tender and intense. I got a little horny just listening to it. It helps his case that he and the kid get along. Also it helps when he takes a huge dislike to the smarmy banker guy who is after Anna and the ranch.
Eventually, the bad guys get to Texas and head straight for the ranch. By now, the father in law has dies of a heart attack and it’s just Jack, Anna and the kid at home. I was prepared for a long siege where Jack rescued them along with the elderly ex-sheriff, but it didn’t go down that way. The criminals were only in the house for a short time and didn’t rape Anna or hurt the kid. Jack got beat up and the banker guy showed up and got killed (very convenient) and the moron criminal outside got killed and then Jack killed the other criminal guy. It was a nice ending but it didn’t go much further ahead than just that. I would have liked to see a bit of Jack and Anna’s future. It turns out that Jack was at the ranch because he knew the criminals would head there. He wanted to deal with them because his father committed a crime that they were blamed for (although not tried and convicted for). It was a little cloudy, but that was the reason. show less
Meanwhile, the criminals are escaping from prison and planning to come down and take revenge on their stepfather. Seems that they hated him and thought he ruined their lives. On the way, they commit several murders and rapes.
Back at the ranch, Anna meets this guy on the road who fixes her car and then turns up at the ranch, the newly hired ranch hand. She is suspicious because her father in law has never hired anyone else on before. When some cattle are poisoned, the already uneasy father in law thinks he did show more it. He showed up at the ranch at just the time that the developers are putting pressure on him to sell. Jack protests enough so that they believe he didn’t do it.
The writing is on the wall for Anna and Jack to totally fall in love when they bicker and argue at first. Then there are a few close encounters where they almost kiss. It’s very tender and intense. I got a little horny just listening to it. It helps his case that he and the kid get along. Also it helps when he takes a huge dislike to the smarmy banker guy who is after Anna and the ranch.
Eventually, the bad guys get to Texas and head straight for the ranch. By now, the father in law has dies of a heart attack and it’s just Jack, Anna and the kid at home. I was prepared for a long siege where Jack rescued them along with the elderly ex-sheriff, but it didn’t go down that way. The criminals were only in the house for a short time and didn’t rape Anna or hurt the kid. Jack got beat up and the banker guy showed up and got killed (very convenient) and the moron criminal outside got killed and then Jack killed the other criminal guy. It was a nice ending but it didn’t go much further ahead than just that. I would have liked to see a bit of Jack and Anna’s future. It turns out that Jack was at the ranch because he knew the criminals would head there. He wanted to deal with them because his father committed a crime that they were blamed for (although not tried and convicted for). It was a little cloudy, but that was the reason. show less
The book was not unspeakably bad, but pretty bad. My hopes for some depth (around the sheriff, the heroine, and the drifter) were dashed pretty quickly. The longest sustained character interest was w/the sheriff and his wife, but even that remained 'relationship lite.' The main romance was predictable, evil characters only that. Perhaps this author was once much more engaged and better? Try an earlier book?
Oh how I LOVED this book! You can tell Ms. Brown put a lot into writing this. She kept the budding relationship on an even keel, while the male character proved to be a hero of the highest degree.
Typical contemporary suspense from Brown. The characters make or break her books.
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Florida
366 works; 3 members
Author Information
163+ Works 70,477 Members
Sandra Brown is a LibraryThing Author, an author who lists their personal library on LibraryThing.
Some Editions
Awards and Honors
Distinctions
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
Work Relationships
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Unspeakable
- Original title
- Unspeakable
- Original publication date
- 1998
- People/Characters
- Anna Corbett; Jack Sawyer; Carl Herbold
- Important places
- Blewer County, Texas, USA
- First words
- "Myron, are you listening to me?"
- Last words*
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)Nach diesem beredten Geständnis durften sie ganz und gar ihrer Liebe vertrauen.
- Original language*
- Amerikanisch
*Some information comes from Common Knowledge in other languages. Click "Edit" for more information.
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 1,530
- Popularity
- 14,990
- Reviews
- 15
- Rating
- (3.48)
- Languages
- 10 — Chinese, Czech, Danish, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Norwegian (Bokmål), Swedish
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 38
- ASINs
- 11