This book drew my interest with both the title and the cover. It looked intriguing enough and when I read the jacket details it sounded like just my cup of tea. As I normally do before I read an author I have not read before I checked out Katia Lief online. Some people may get confused reading her books and I can see why.Katia Lief was born Katia Spiegelman and following on from her career in publishing she wrote and released two novels. Shortly after that she used the name Kate Pepper who started writing thrillers of which she wrote 4. Once married (I'm assuming) she moved to her current married name of Katia Lief. It seems (from Katia's website) that she has written 8 stand alone novels, one of which is a young adult novel. In addition to that she has written two books in the Karin Schaeffer series, with a third due for release in 2012.To add to the already confusing list of things Katia has done, some of her books have different tiles both in the US and the UK. Once I had confused myself sufficiently, I figured I should just read the book and see if I liked it.The book itself was not too big and to be honest I was glad of that. I am getting far too used to reading my nice light Kindle. The story focuses on Karin Schaeffer and we see her and her husband Mac along with their young son Ben leading a reasonably normal life. As both of them have had careers with the police, they are certainly used to the harsh realities of life. However when Mac's parents are murdered, and Mac's brother is taken into custody for the crime, things turn ugly.Karin and Mac were likeable characters and it doesn't take long for the story to hot up. Pretty soon, Mac disappears and is presumed dead, only Karin is convinced otherwise; she just needs to prove it.The story was pretty well paced all the way through and there is certainly no shortage of twists and turns as Karin goes all out to find her husband and unravel whatever it is that he's involved in. On the plus side, as the books has a pretty good writing style with short and sharp chapters, it tends to keep your interest. However, although it was an easy enough book to read, it seemed rather hurried and at times a little too easy (if that makes sense).I think that this is the sort of book that people can read just to pass the time, but there are too many predictable parts to the book that I almost knew what was on the next page. The ending was also pretty hurried which made it feel rather rushed.I certainly enjoyed the book and it didn't take long to read. However, although I wouldn't turn down another Katia LIef book, I certainly won't be rushing out to buy the next one. Katia Lief’s first book, the thrilling “You Are Next,” was published in the US in October of 2010; this novel, a sequel, was published there under the title “Next Time You See Me” one short month later. Inasmuch as it picks up four years after the end of the first book, everything to follow must be considered a potential spoiler, hence:SPOILER ALERTKarin Schaeffer is still living in Brooklyn, New York, but now she is about to celebrate her second wedding anniversary. Five months pregnant, she had married Mac, after the latter quit the Maplewood, New Jersey police force [as had Karin herself a few years back], moved to Brooklyn where he married Karin and they both started a new life after [barely] surviving the events described in the first bookKarin had been a soldier, a cop and a detective; now a mother and currently taking courses in forensic psychology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Mac [nee Seamus MacLeary], a former cop for more than twenty years, has just been promoted to senior vice-president of Forensic Security at the exclusive firm of Quest Security after a scandal involving allegedly altered forensic testimony in a high-profile legal case had resulted in his predecessor in the job being summarily fired. Also present is Billy Staples, the cop who worked with them on the earlier case, now Mac’s best friend and still working in Brooklyn’s 84th Precinct.As the tale opens, Mac’s parents have been found dead in their home, apparently the victims of a botched home invasion. But a few days later, shortly after the funeral, the police suspect Mac’s brother, Danny, who has a history of alcoholism and rootlessness, frequently changing jobs and girlfriends, based on DNA evidence found in the house. In a state of exhaustion, when Mac insists on going to work but trying to exude enthusiasm on the morning of their anniversary celebration dinner, he promises Karin, with a kiss and a smile, “next time you see me, I’ll be . . . “ when she cuts off his apology with another kiss. Then he disappears.Two weeks later, with no word from Mac, they are notified that the car that he had apparently rented has been found in Long Island Sound, with no trace of a body. Months go by, with no word from or trace of Mac. Karin is convinced that his disappearance has something to do with his new job, rather than his parents’ murder and Danny’s possible involvement. She is convinced that Mac is still alive, focusing on the fact that no body has been found. She hires a private detective, and discovers things about Mac’s past she never knew of or suspected. As her mother tells her, “we may think we know someone, but there are always surprises,” and as Karin herself thinks, “if you think life is going to turn out the way you plan it, you’re a fool.”The book is as suspenseful and surprising as was the earlier book, and it too is highly recommended..
What do You think about Ik Zal Je Vinden (2010)?
Excellent book, from start to finish.... I didn't want to put it down.
—Opal
A little predictable in places but a good quick read overall.
—Ivan
VERY GOOD BOOK ... KEPT ME UP TILL I COULD FINISH IT!
—Jme
