Sleeping Beauty: A Psychological Suspense Thriller of Serial Murder and Hidden Secrets

Phillip Margolin has never disappointed me yet with his novels, and with Sleeping Beauty, his streak continues. In this novel things are seldom what they seem and it would spoil the read for me to reveal the twists and turns that this story takes. The straight forward story is that Ashley Spencer, a high school soccer star has a friend to her house for a sleep over following a big game and awakens to the most terrifying experience one can imagine. A masked stranger is in their room. He ties up Ashley and takes her friend into another room where he rapes and murders her. Returning to her room, he says, "I'll see you later" and she hears him go down to the kitchen. Her father, who is the only parent in the house that night crawls into her room suffering from multiple stab wounds and using the last of his energy frees fer from her bonds and she escapes out her window.This appears to be a random event until Ashley's mother is taking a creative writing course at a nearby private school in which Ashley has enrolled and hears the instructor read a passage from a piece of writing that describes the event that her daughter has gone through and also includes a part of what happened that received no publicity. She eventually determines that no one in the class wrote the story and that it was drafted by the instructor, Joshua Maxwell, himself.Her suspicions are aroused to the point where she confides them to the Dean of the school who checks out the instructor's background and calls the mother suggesting a meeting to discuss what she has found. While jogging on the school grounds near where the meeting is taking place, Ashley hears a scream and decides to investigate. What she sees as she peers in the window are the bodies of two women lying on the floor (the Dean and Ashley's mother) and Joshua Maxwell standing over them with a bloody knife in his hands. He sees her as she turns and runs for her life with Maxwell in pursuit. She escapes, the story is out, Maxwell is pursued and eventually arrested and brought to trial. And the story is JUST BEGINNING. Margolin uses an interesting vehicle in telling the story. The Dean, Casey Van Meter, was not murdered, but ended up in a coma. Her brother, Miles Van Meter has written a book about the events leading up to her being in the coma entitled, Sleeping Beauty. A continuing thread in this book is his presence at a book signing where he reads from the book and answers questions about it.I will leave it to the reader to explore the intracies of this very well told tale. It is an undertaking that will be well worth the effort.

Regrettably, the talented Phillip Margolin's latest effort, "Sleeping Beauty", is a bit of a disappointment. Lacking the energy and suspense of Margolin's earlier works, "Beauty" plods along to a "twist" ending that while contrived, was nonetheless predictable.Miles Van Meter, aristocrat of the US Northwest and author of a true-crime best seller ("Sleeping Beauty"), is on tour promoting an updated release of his book. His book traces the story of Joshua Maxfield, a serial killer who has left Van Meter's twin sister, Casey, in a coma with little hope of recovery. Through a series of flashbacks, Van Meter's story intertwines with that of talented teenager Ashley Spencer, whose family and best friend were also brutally murdered by the heinous Maxfield. While "Beauty" gets off to a promising start, it soon loses its way, sidetracked by cardboard characters, inane dialogue, and uninspired prose. Also, an unnecessary and sappy romance is distracting and unnecessary. A successful novel captures the fine balance between the plot that is startling and unpredictable, but also believable. Margolin tries hard to achieve the former, but ultimately misses the latter. And regarding the "shocking ending", even the dust cover summary portends the conclusion. Bottom line: Margolin can do better; I'd skip this one, or at least wait for the paperback and the beach. Consider Lashner's "Fatal Flaw" as a more interesting alternative.

One of my favorite authors but this was disappointingSeemed he wrapped it up without explaining the discrepanciesIt seemed obvious at the beginning that something was up with Casey’s brother but you dropped the ball and never explained the nagging, “why’s”Wouldn’t recommend this book

I read this book when it came out in 2004. I loved the plot twists and reading it a second time I still did. The characters are kind of static, but Ashley the main character isn't and you can see her grow through the book. Still one of my favorites.

Great book. Phillip Margolin is a great writer. Keeps you guessing till the end. Lots of twist and turns

I usually enjoy reading Phillip Margolin, by it found Sleeping Beauty slow- dragged in the middle - I felt he was just waffling around until he could justify reaching the end which was pretty predictable .

I enjoy Margolin's books and this one did not disappoint. I consider it any easy read because it just flowed.

I am 3/4 of the way through this book and can hardly put it down! I am an avid fan of Phillip Margolin and always buy his books. This one is just as great as all of his others - he never disappoints. If you love mystery, suspense, romance and not knowing what will happen next, this one is for you.

Very good book

It's a very good read and kept me gripped

After reading the first few chapters of this book I realized I had read it before. None the less I continued to the end. The book is very well written and does leave you feeling like wow. Phillip Margolin is one of my favorites, Maybe that's the reason I read it twice. the book is good.

Phillip Margolin does not disappoint and this novel proved the point. He is one of the master's of twists and turns that you do not see coming. A real page turner.

This is only the third novel I've read by Phillip Margolin, and with each one I read his novels keep on getting even better. :-)Phillip Margolin is a retired lawyer and he's been a full time writer since 1996.From page one the author throws you into a fast moving story about Ashley Spencer, a seventeen year old who is a great football player. Ashley's best friend Tanya was staying over for the night. Whilst Ashley was sleeping she was woke by hear an odd noise and seeing movement in the bedroom they were both in. What comes next is horrific and poor Tanya's life becomes a living nightmare, she has to fit to stay to bring the person to justice for what they did to the people she loved and cared about.I really don't want to say anything else about the story as it would spoil it for you.Phillip Margolin definitely knows how to keep his readers glued to a book, I couldn't put this novel down, it's a fast moving and compulsive read, and with ever page you turn you yourself get that engaged in what's going on that you just don't want to stop reading.The novel is well worth the money, if you like murder mysteries and thrillers then this book for you. I know you won't be disappointed with this novel; it's a book I'd enjoy reading again. :-)