Katherine St. John’s new novel, The Siren, is being marketed as a “Beach Book.” Fair enough. The plot revolves around a movie production in the Caribbean. When movie star Cole Power hires his ex-wife, Stella Rivers, to act in his son’s film, The Siren, Cole launches a series of events on the isolated island that will unearth long-buried secrets — and unravel years of lies.
The Siren slowly discloses a number of mysteries. Each character has “baggage” that they’re trying to hide. But each day of the movie shoot reveals more clues to past transgressions. The conclusion ends up stormy and full of suspense. I’ve you’re looking for a Summer novel with plenty of puzzles and thrills, give The Siren a try. GRADE: B
Everything about this from the cover on screams “Chick Book” to me. I like to read books set in the Antarctic or northern Scandinavia in the summer.
Jeff, you’re analysis of THE SIREN is right on the money. However, I found it fun and read it in one day.
More fun than soapy? (Soapy also includes the heirs of Harold Robbins).
Todd, let’s just say THE SIREN is soapy…and fun!
I’ve never understood why my reading preferences should change with the season, or with the temperature. THE SIREN isn’t the sort of book that would appeal to me regardless of what the season is.
Michael, I rarely read books like THE SIREN, but the reviews were good and the experience of reading it was fun.
Don’t let the guys give you a hard time, George. I admire your openness to all kinds of books. I did wonder if the author photo drew your interest first. Quite a fetching woman.
Patti, the reviews for THE SIREN drew me to the book. When I picked THE SIREN up at the Library, I saw the photo of Katherine St. John. Very bodacious!
I’m not sure this is a book for me. St. John’s earlier book, THE LION’S DEN—about a group of women taking a vacation on a wealthy man’s yacht, where things go from idyllic to ominous very quickly—received some rave reviews, so when the ebook for was offered for $1.99, I snatched it up. I must confess that, once I started reading it, nothing about the story really grabbed me (all the characters seemed shallow and horrible) and I struggled to even get through the first few chapters. Eventually, I just put the book aside, unfinished (easy to do on a kindle).
Deb, THE SIREN might be a bit better than THE LION’S DEN (which I haven’t read). But, the action centers around the filming of a movie so all sorts of shallow, conniving people populate the book. I sped right through THE SIREN in a day and then went on to more demanding books.
CRAZY RICH ASIANS probably filled my quota of novels about shallow connivers as default for a while.
Todd, I think there have been sequels to CRAZY RICH ASIANS so people must want to read about shallow connivers.
I showed Jackie the book, and she said if you liked it to tell you it sounds like one of Nora Roberts’ stand alone novels.
Jeff, I wouldn’t be surprised if Katherine St. John modeled her writing on Nora Robert’s style.
Why would one model their writing on Nora Roberts style? She ,is not a good writer albeit a successful one. Her J. D. Robb is just awful by both SF and mystery standards.
Steve, I think the key word is “successful.” Like you, I’m not a fan of Nora Roberts/J. D. Robb fiction. But apparently, millions are.
Sounds too cozy for my taste, though I try one of those occasionally.
Rick, same here. I probably won’t read another Beach Novel like THE SIREN in 2021.
They call it a beach novel because it should be buried in the sand or tossed into the sea!
Bob, I always thought Life is a Beach…