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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
The Night Before by Lisa Jackson



Zebra, Mar 2003, 6.99, 464 pp.
ISBN: 0821769367

In Savannah, Caitlyn Bandeaux is covered with blood, but has no idea why or what happened last night. She blames her memory loss on alcohol. After she cleans up, Police Detectives Reed and Morrisette inform her that someone brutally murdered her estrange spouse Josh. She remains the prime suspect with a strong motive and opportunity since he was suing her in the wrongful death of their infant son Jamie and her blood type was found at the crime scene. Still the cops realize that Josh had many enemies from his unscrupulous business dealings and his womanizing.

Caitlyn asks her twin Kelly for help, but her sibling initially fails to return her desperate calls. As she suffers more blackouts and strange flashes, she turns to psychiatrist Adam Hunt though Kelly objects. Adam has an agenda of his own while the truth begins to surface inside Caitlyn's mind one slow drip at a time.

Fans of Lisa Jackson's “Blooded” novels will want to read THE NIGHT BEFORE, an exciting romantic psychological suspense filled with plenty of twists, albeit too many. The story line grips the audience as Caitlyn struggles to regain her equilibrium by trying to learn why she blacks out (read the twist to learn why) but also falling in love with Adam. Some of the loose ties from the “Blooded” novels are answered in this tale that includes the appearance of New Orleans Detective Montoya. Ms. Jackson will return to all the lists while her audience anxiously awaiting the sequel, THE MORNING AFTER.

Harriet Klausner


Plot & Themes
Tone of story - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain? - Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 60%
Special suspect? - relative
Misc. Murder Plotlets - Proving innocence of very obvious suspect
Kind of investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
descript. of violence and chases - 10 %
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 %
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 10 %
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's
Ethnicity/Race

Main Adversary
Identity: - Female
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
Motive of antagonist - insanity
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Deep South

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
Amount of dialog - significantly more dialog than descript
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