Bantam, May 2001, 23.95, 322 pp.
ISBN: 0385335415
In Pittsburgh, Marina and Michael Benedict leave the therapist's office knowing that their relationship will never be the same, as she wants a separation. Still emotionally reeling from her decision, Marina sees a young woman with a cute baby. Though a bit jealous of the woman having an infant, the kindhearted Marina talks to the child.
Click here to see the rest of this review
Not long afterward, Marina notices a man holding the same baby on the bus. She realizes the adult male has no idea how to nurture an infant, seeming out of place with the child. Worrying about the welfare of the child, Marina follows them off the bus. As three thugs catch Marina, the baby's hysterical mother reports the kidnapping to the police. A media frenzy is brewing, as the father is a Pirate rookie pitcher and Marina is the only hope of keeping baby Justin safe.
TAKEN is a strong thriller with a twist as the kidnappers, known from almost the start, capture the heroine quite early in the story line too. The exciting plot is taut with the added element of the homage Kathleen George pays to Pittsburgh and its love affair with the Pirates. Marina is a fabulous person whose kindness may make her seem weak to some in an unkind world, but is a pillar of strength willing to go into hell for that heavenly cause. Ms. George has TAKEN her readers on quite a spellbound journey.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
