About the Book
Title:Mrs. John Doe
Author: Tom Savage
Genre: Thriller
In the adrenaline-laced new novel of suspense from Tom Savage—hailed by Michael Connelly as “a master of the high-speed thriller”—an American actress in Europe races to find the truth behind her husband’s mysterious accident. What she uncovers makes her the target of a shocking conspiracy.
Nora Baron’s life is perfect. She lives on Long Island Sound, teaches acting at a local university, and has a loving family. Then one phone call changes everything. She’s informed that her husband, Jeff, has died in a car crash while on a business trip in England. Nora flies to London to identify the body, which the police have listed as a “John Doe.” When she leaves the morgue, a man tries to steal her purse containing Jeff’s personal effects. Clearly, all is not as it seems.
At her hotel, Nora receives a cryptic message that leaves her with more questions than answers. She follows the message’s instructions to France, where a fatal encounter transforms her into a fugitive. Wanted for murder, on the run in a shadowy landscape of lies, secrets, and sudden violence, Mrs. “John Doe” must play the role of a lifetime to stay one step ahead of a ruthless enemy with deadly plans for her—and for the world.
MY REVIEW:
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Mrs. John Doe by Tom Savage is a 2015 Alibi publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
'Tis strange- but true;
for truth is always strange;
Stranger than fiction.
Tom Savage is a master at hurling unforeseen plot twist at you, so it didn't surprise me at all that he opted to write a spy novel. Tom's writing style is absolutely perfect for this type of suspense thriller.
Nora is happily married with a college aged daughter, and a satisfying career as an actress and teacher. But, the charmed life she is living comes to a crashing halt when she receives word her beloved husband, Jeff, has been killed in a car accident while on a business trip to London.
Arriving in London, Nora, finds her husband has been listed as a“John Doe” and she must identify his remains. After this awful task is completed, Nora is attacked by a purse snatcher who apparently wants to steal Jeff's personal effects, a single act that thrust Nora into the role of a lifetime.
All the world's a stage...
Cloak and dagger suspense, dark, shadowy figures, secret agents, and a diabolical terrorist plot that must be thwarted, combines to create a non-stop thrill ride. Fasten your safety belts folks and get ready for a shocking, heart pounding, unrelenting thrill ride.
I loved Nora's character because she is so cool under pressure, she thinks on her feet, doesn't give in to hysteria, stays focused, and never gives up no matter what, not only to prevent a terrorist attack, but to find out what happened to Jeff.
LADY MCDUFF:
I have done no harm. But I remember now I am in this earthly world, where to do harm Is often laudable, to do good sometime Accounted dangerous folly. Why then, alas, Do I put up that womanly defense, To say I have done no harm?
ENTER MURDERERS:
'What are these faces?”
FIRST MURDERER Where is your husband?
LADY MCDUFF:
I hope, in no place so unsanctified Where such as thou mayst find him.
Nora is pretty much a one woman show here as she must make split decisions about who to confide in, who to trust, and of course stay alive in the process. She takes on several roles and sometimes gets things right, but sometimes she finds herself in a real pickle.
Reading this story is a lot like riding a roller coaster. The car starts off at a steady pace, climbs steep inclines, speeds up, takes hairpin twist and turns, then makes sudden drops that will take your breath away. From the first page to the last, I held on for dear life, enthralled and riveted, cheering on Mrs. John Doe, every step of the way.
Taut, cleverly plotted, action packed, and tightly woven, you won't be able to put this book down, I guarantee it.
I must confess to a few things right up front. I am a very big fan of this author, and have been sitting on pins and needles waiting for this book. Tom's trademark plot twist , despite my jadedness, never fails to surprise me, always taking me completely off guard. If you can trick me, then you will have made a fan for life.
Despite my loyalty to the author, I did approach this book with a small amount of trepidation because in all honesty, spies and espionage novels are not really my cuppa, for several reasons. But, my concerns were quickly laid to rest, as there was nothing slow or plodding, or too understated about this book, and I found the attention to detail and the pacing to be right up my alley.
If you like fast paced, psychological tinged thrillers, packed with taut suspense and action, then you will not want to miss this one! 5 stars!
Author Bio
Tom Savage is the author of six suspense novels: Precipice, ValenNora Baron’s life is perfect. She lives on Long Island Sound, teaches acting at a local university, and has a loving family. Then one phone call changes everything. She’s informed that her husband, Jeff, has died in a car crash while on a business trip in England. Nora flies to London to identify the body, which the police have listed as a “John Doe.” When she leaves the morgue, a man tries to steal her purse containing Jeff’s personal effects. Clearly, all is not as it seems.
At her hotel, Nora receives a cryptic message that leaves her with more questions than answers. She follows the message’s instructions to France, where a fatal encounter transforms her into a fugitive. Wanted for murder, on the run in a shadowy landscape of lies, secrets, and sudden violence, Mrs. “John Doe” must play the role of a lifetime to stay one step ahead of a ruthless enemy with deadly plans for her—and for the world.tine, The Inheritance,Scavenger, A Penny for the Hangman, and Mrs. John Doe He wrote two detective novels under the name T. J. Phillips, Dance of the Mongooseand Woman in the Dark. His short storieshave appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine,and anthologies edited by Lawrence Block, Harlan Coben, and Michael Connelly. His short story, “The Method In Her Madness,” was nominated for the Barry Award. His bestselling novel, Valentine, was made into a Warner Bros. film. In his younger days he was a professional actor, and he also wrote a Broadway show, Musical Chairs
Tom was born in New York and raised in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. He attended Point Park College and Hofstra University, majoring in drama and minoring in English. After acting and writing plays, he worked for many years at Murder Ink®, the world’s first mystery bookstore. He’s a member of Actors Equity Association, ASCAP, the Authors Guild, Mystery Writers of America, the International Association of Crime Writers, and International Thriller Writers. He has served as a director on the national board of MWA, and he’s served several times on the Best Novel committees for MWA (Edgar®Awards) and IACW (Hammett Prize). He is a founding member of MWA’s Mentor Program, assessing and encouraging new mystery writers. He lives in New York City.
Links
Website: http://tomsavagebooks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Savage/1474719352776870
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