Author: Lisa Scottoline- Performed by Julia Whelan
- Released: April 2016 by Headline Review
- Category: Contemporary Fiction
Lisa Scottoline delivers another searing, powerful blockbuster novel that explores hot-button issues within the framework of an intricately plotted thriller. When a woman and her husband, desperate for a baby, find themselves unable to conceive, they decide to take further steps.
Christine and Marcus Nilsson are unable to begin the family they so desperately want due to Marcus’ infertility, so decide to use donor sperm. All is going well until, one day, Christine sees a news report on the TV showing the arrest of a suspected serial killer. The man closely resembles the photograph she has of her donor. Christine panics and the situation is further compounded by Marcus’ growing ‘all about me’ attitude. Cracks begin to appear in their relationship and Christine, despite Marcus’ objections, has to know the truth since Homestead, the sperm donor facility, will neither confirm or deny the identity of their donor.
Marcus wants to sue Homestead but Christine has other ideas and takes matters into her own hands. The lengths she goes to and the assumptions made is where the story, for me, becomes less than realistic.
“Marcus!” Christine couldn’t contain herself, then tried to dial it back. “I know you’re trying to help us, but you should’ve talked to me about this. You think you’re going to sue them into telling us?”
“Yes.” Marcus turned to Christine, his expression still cold. “If our donor really is a serial killer, then I think Homestead was negligent in their screening. So does Gary. We both think Homestead should do more psychological screening of their donors, instead of worrying whether they look like Bradley Cooper or Colin Farrell. Don’t you agree?”
There are genuine issues raised which are very thought provoking and I can see how a similar situation might occur. Not necessarily a serial killer, of course, but something possibly unwanted that only comes to light at a later date. It’s an interesting premise but, for me, the plot let the story down. I don’t know anything about sperm banks and can only assume Ms Scottoline’s research is accurate in that a donor is chosen by certain desired characteristics and a profile of the donor is given to the recipients, the amount of information dependent on whether the donor wishes to remain anonymous. The question of nature versus nurture is also brought into question – can a person be pre disposed to particular characteristics and behaviour or is the environment and the child’s personal experiences more the defining influence.
The insight into Christine and Marcus’ emotions and experiences came across as authentic initially, but the narrative became repetitive after a while and specific behaviour of the characters, particularly Christine as I mentioned, seems completely unrealistic. I appreciate infertility can be shattering to couples desperate for a family, the treatments traumatic and unpredictable and it’s difficult to know how one would react in the same situation. I’m not convinced, however, that Christine’s activities to uncover the truth are actually within the bounds of possibility.
The pace is quite slow and steady with an ending that was rather strange and completely random. The main characters aren’t particularly likeable, the best character for me was Griff, the blunt, gruff lawyer. I haven’t read this author before so can’t compare this with other books, but I might try another.
No complaints about the narration. Julia Whelan gives her usual top-notch performance.
About Lisa Scottoline
Lisa Scottoline is the New York Times bestselling author of seventeen novels including her most recent, THINK TWICE, and also writes a weekly column, called Chick Wit, for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Lisa has won many honors and awards, notably the Edgar Award, given for excellence in crime fiction, and the Fun Fearless Female Award from Cosmopolitan Magazine. She also teaches a course she created, called Justice and Fiction at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and regularly does speaking engagements. There are twenty-five million copies of her books in print, and she is published in over thirty other countries.Lisa graduated magna cum laude in three years from the University of Pennsylvania, with a B.A. degree in English, and her concentration was Contemporary American Fiction, taught by Philip Roth and others. She graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She remains a lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area, where she lives with her array of disobedient pets.
betweenthelinesbookblog.com 
Going to read this for sure!
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I’ll be interested to know what you think.
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I’ve never listened to a whole book other than when I was younger and I used to Listen to Book at Bedtime on Radio 4 (do they still have that?), so I am wondering, Cathy, do you like it as much as reading? I imagine it is a very different experience from using your eyes to ‘hear’ what people say. Not sure this is a book I’d want to try it on, but would you recommend it? Audio books, that is
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Val, can I sneak in? I like it easily as much, but my trouble is that I have to do something else while listening to one or I fall asleep! So I have them on when I’m ironing or doing housework (ie, not very often!!!). It reminds me of seeing my mum doing the same with the radio 4 afternoon plays – the same thing, I suppose!
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Yes, Terry, I’ve just replied to Val and I agree. Not that I’d fall asleep listening in the day but it does those boring jobs go quickly. It is just like listening to a play.
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I do like it as much as reading, Val, and as you say, it’s a different experience. I can only listen to certain narrators but a good one can make a book really come to life. I listen when reading isn’t an option – walking the dog, doing the ironing ect. I’d certainly recommend giving it a go, you can only try 🙂
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…. as for the review itself, I think that is something that even the most successful writers sometimes give scant attention – are the emotional reactions (and, thus, physical reactions) actually feasible, or has the writer only thought about making them necessary for the plot? It’s something I worry about a lot in my own work.
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I can’t say too much but yes, the results of the emotional reaction aren’t very credible.
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I’d be interested to learn about some of the ins and outs regarding a sperm bank. Sounds an interesting premise. 🙂
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Yes, it definitely is, it was just what followed didn’t quite ring true.
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This wouldn’t be a book I’d read, but I’d like to try an audio book. I wonder if it would be too distracting when driving?
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I think it’s something that down to the individual. I always listen when I’m driving but someone else I know finds it distracting.
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I dont even have radio or music playing when I drive. I’ve got to that stage in my life where I just enjoy silence when I get it!
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