take a pass on this book

"Somebody's Daughter" by David Bell

Authoring a suspense novel probably requires super imagination. all of those twists and turns, switchbacks, frightful characters, intersecting lives, and hidden cues. I'm guessing that it's much easier if you write your novel without any character development, context, and foundation. Add predictable prose to these omissions and you have "Somebody's Daughter".

The story line of this book is intriguing, holding some promise for an insightful book. But having characters appear in the midst of the crisis without any connection, context, or development just seems like the shallow way to lay out a thriller. Adding more characters and unpredictable (and unbelievable) back stories does not overcome the lack of the best elements of a thriller.

I don't like to put down a book before the last page - hopeful right up to the Acknowledgements. And I don't like posting negative comments about a book. Maybe I'll try David Bell's next book.