The Bodies Left Behind, by Jeffrey Deaver

I usually don't post mass market books or older books to this blog, but since my public library played a big part in my ability to finish this book, I thought I would.  And it also give me the chance to post the reminder that very often, my reviews focus more on my response or thoughts about the book than to plot descriptors.  If I fail to do so, and you want the plot summary, there often can be one found on the inside cover or back of a book, or even on a book review site, or so I'm told. (Tongue firmly in cheek, there.)

I recently went on a trip and packed three books to read. Each one got cast aside for one reason or another, and I was left book-less (or at least as book-less as someone with 17 shelves of books in a mountain cabin be.) As a replacement read, I picked up The Bodies Left Behind. This particular book had been given to us a while back by a friend, recommended particularly for my husband, who had read it, enjoyed it and put it aside. (I just read an article that the art of sentence diagramming is dying, which, as I wrote that last sentence, made me particularly sad.) I apparently had brought it up to the cabin when we moved last winter, either to read it or to release it. I do like good thrillers, though it has been a while since I've read any of the more prolific American authors, but remember that Deaver could pen a good plot. Unfortunately, The Bodies Left Behind became "The Book Left Behind" because I inadvertently forgot to pack it when I went home. Thank heavens for Charleston County Public Library, so that I could check another copy out, find my place, and resume reading before the story grew cold in my mind.

As to the plot itself, nicely done. I was interested in the characters, though, never having met any cold-blooded killers couldn't judge how realistic some characters were. They shared characteristics with enough bad guys in other books to convince me that perhaps, maybe, this is how hired guns are. These types of books certainly are a good learning tool for anyone who wants to know what to expect from psychopaths, and other social deviants and politicians. And, I admit it. I didn't see two of the major plot twists/revelations coming, particularly the one around page 266 of the hardback copy (or 72% according to a progress calculator.) The other nice thing about reading this book? It reminded me that I've liked some of Deaver's other books, so I've got an author to delve back into when I want a thriller.

Tags: bookcrossing, i-liked-it, read, read-on-recommendation, suspense-thriller, thank-you-charleston-county-library