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Saving Max (2010)

by Antoinette van Heugten

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4441655,737 (3.6)12
"Max Parkman, autistic and whip-smart, emotionally fragile and aggressive, is perfect in his mother's eyes. Until he's accused of murder. Attorney Danielle Parkman knows her teenage son Max's behavior has been getting worse-- using drugs and lashing out. But she can't accept the diagnosis she receives at a top-notch adolescent psychiatric facility that her son is deeply disturbed. Dangerous. Until she finds Max, unconscious and bloodied, beside a patient who has been brutally stabbed to death. " --Cover, p. 4.… (more)
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Showing 1-5 of 16 (next | show all)
I didn't even finish reading this book. The mother character so totally frustrated and angered me that I gave up. ( )
1 vote NLarsen76 | Dec 27, 2021 |
I have very mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I read it very quickly and easily. I really couldn't pull myself away from it once I started it. On the other hand, there are many things that usually annoy me in my books and this one was no exception.

It's always easier for me to say what I don't like than what I like. Therefore, let's start with good things. Although the beginning is rather slow and not much happens, you read this story really fast. The chapters are short, there are no long descriptions, and even the first ten chapters, though introductory, are not very boring.

The plot is also very interesting. It is a combination of a legal and psychological thriller. Of course, many things can be predicted from the very beginning but still some elements surprised me. All the time I wanted to know what would happen next.

Now let's get to what I had a problem with. Danielle very often behaves really stupidly. First of all, she lies to her lawyer. At some point, she justifies it by not wanting to go to jail for these acts. But who would report her to the police? Her own lawyer and the detective they hired?! There is such a thing as a legal professional privilege! Danielle as an excellent lawyer herself should know this and be honest with her own lawyer. Hiding things from him, hoping he won't find out, doesn't help her case.

Danielle also does a lot of other annoying things. Breaking parole rules comes a little too easily to her. She runs away from her lawyer and detective who are there to help her. Without a moment's thought, she goes head first into dangerous situations. For such an intelligent woman, she does really stupid things. And you can't justify all that with the fact that she is desperate.

There are also at least two moments when her personality is inconsistent. That is, when she finds out about her son's diagnosis and during a meeting with doctors to discuss it. I was convinced that it would turn out that she was given some medicine without her knowing about it. But it turns out that it was her own reaction. Her behaviour at these moments does not match her character.

And finally we have this bizarre romance. This is completely unreliable. I mean, I don't mind Danielle and Tony meet in such circumstances and are interested in each other. But love ?! They know each other for a few days, during which they mainly work to get her and her son out of prison. And then she disappears for a few days. When was this feeling supposed to develop between them ?! This is really one of the weak points of this book, straight from the category romance.

Despite some of the issues I mentioned above, I really like this book. I would definitely recommend. ( )
  Sarielle | Jan 15, 2020 |
This book was intense! Well written and kept me addicted to the book until I was finished with it. It was definitely fast paced and the beginning from the first page, hooked me. As a mother, it definitely tugged at my heart. The end did surprise me but I was happy with it (the end). I would highly recommend this book to anyone. ( )
  GoodVibes1010 | Oct 1, 2017 |
Awesome book. Really tugged at my heart in places and showed how far a mother is willing to go for their child. Kept me turning pages and guessing throughout. Would definitely recommend. ( )
  justablondemoment | Aug 22, 2014 |
this was a pretty good book. it wasnt the best book that i read in my life but not the worst.

the lengths that the mother went to for her son is amazing. the things that she did and for him, risking everything to help her son get off murder charges. ( )
  ACleveland | Jul 26, 2011 |
Showing 1-5 of 16 (next | show all)
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For Bill, who has made all of my dreams come true.
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She walks down a deserted hallway of the psychiatric hospital, her heels tapping a short staccato on the disinfected floor.
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"Max Parkman, autistic and whip-smart, emotionally fragile and aggressive, is perfect in his mother's eyes. Until he's accused of murder. Attorney Danielle Parkman knows her teenage son Max's behavior has been getting worse-- using drugs and lashing out. But she can't accept the diagnosis she receives at a top-notch adolescent psychiatric facility that her son is deeply disturbed. Dangerous. Until she finds Max, unconscious and bloodied, beside a patient who has been brutally stabbed to death. " --Cover, p. 4.

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Book description
Max Parkman — autistic and whip-smart, emotionally fragile and aggressive — is perfect in his mother's eyes. Until he's accused of murder.

Attorney Danielle Parkman knows her teenage son Max's behavior has been getting worse — using drugs and lashing out. But she can't accept the diagnosis she receives at a top-notch psychiatric facility that her son is deeply disturbed. Dangerous.

Until she finds Max, unconscious and bloodied, beside a patient who has been brutally stabbed to death.

Trapped in a world of doubt and fear, barred from contacting Max, Danielle clings to the belief that her son is innocent. But has she, too, lost touch with reality? Is her son really a killer?

With the justice system bearing down on them, Danielle steels herself to discover the truth, no matter what it is. She'll do whatever it takes to find the killer and to save her son from being destroyed by a system that's all too eager to convict him.

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