Carnal Innocence

ISBN: 0-7887-3766-X Order from: Amazon.com

A romantic suspense novel, strong on Southern color and suspense, but suffering from a predictable and meandering plot.

Reviewed by David on January 03, 2001

Genre: Mystery (Romance)

Synopsis: This is an unabridged recording of Carnal Innocence. Caroline Waverly, a highly regarded violinist, comes to the small Mississippi town of Innocence to recuperate after a physically exhausting and emotionally devastating tour. While staying at her grandmother's home, instead of a sleepy, restful vacation, Caroline gets involved in the rising tensions as a series of unsolved murders shakes up the town. As suspicions and animosities gather, Caroline meets a dangerous and attractive member of a rich and troubled local family. Fear of getting hurt emotionally takes second place to the deadly physical danger stalking the town.

Full Review: The narrator, Tom Stechschulte, does an excellent of making the Southern accents and rythms come to life. His portrayal of the female voices is excellent, and his impression of a religion-crazed bully is downright scary.

The atmosphere, with its colorful dialogue, is impressively thick. The building tension, and the snapping of characters under extreme emotional stress is well described. However, the plot itself is less satisfying, seeming padded at times. The major characters, while sympathetic, are fairly predictable. The mystery resolution, while an integral part of the book, is telegraphed early, and doesn't carry the plot complications well.

Finally, several aspects of the story didn't appeal, including its treatment of inherited mental conditions, and the overall attractiveness of the small town.

In general, while suspenseful and atmospheric, the novel is only mildly satisfying due to overextended plot and several emotionally unappealing premises.

Overall: 5; Plot: 4; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5; World-building: 5.5; Originality: 4;

ISBN: 0-7887-3766-X Order from: Amazon.com