Title: Save Me
Author: Lisa Scottoline
First published April 12, 2011
373 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780312380786 (ISBN10: 031238078X)
Rating: 3.66
Overview
In The Long Road Home, Lisa Scottoline weaves a story about a mother’s love and the lengths she will go to protect her family. After a devastating accident at her daughter’s school, Maggie faces a heart-wrenching decision: save her own child or rescue another student.
Maggie believes she has saved them both, but when the community turns on her, she realizes the battle has just begun. In the days that follow, Maggie’s life is turned upside down as she faces a lawsuit, a failing marriage, and her daughter’s relentless bullying.
With no one to turn to, Maggie must dig deep to uncover the truth about that fateful day and save her family before it’s too late. The Long Road Home is a gripping tale that will have readers questioning just how far they would go to protect the ones they love.
About the Author
Lisa Scottoline is a highly accomplished author who has written 33 novels, many of which have become favorites of book clubs. For over a decade, she has hosted an annual Big Book Club Party on her Pennsylvania farm, which attracts over a thousand readers.
Lisa has also served as President of Mystery Writers of America and has reviewed both fiction and non-fiction for prestigious publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Along with her daughter, Francesca Serritella, Lisa writes a weekly column for the Philadelphia Inquirer called Chick Wit, offering a humorous perspective on life from a woman’s point of view.
Their columns have been collected into a series of bestselling memoirs. Lisa graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in English, and later cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she taught Justice and Fiction.
Her books have sold over 30 million copies and have been published in more than 35 countries. Lisa resides in the Philadelphia area with her lively pets, and couldn’t be happier.
Editoral Review
In Save Me, Lisa Scottoline skillfully weaves together a tale of heartbreak, suspense, and redemption in a modern-day high school setting. A bestselling author known for her legal thrillers, Scottoline takes a departure from her usual genre and delivers a gripping story filled with twists and turns that would keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.
At the heart of the book is Rose McKenna, a devoted mother and former Army nurse who volunteers as a lunch lady at her daughter Melly’s school. When a devastating explosion rips through the school, Rose finds herself catapulted into a desperate race against time to save her daughter and the other children trapped inside.
As the rescue mission unfolds, Rose is forced to confront her own inner demons and grapple with the aftermath of the tragedy. Scottoline’s writing is taut and masterful, conveying a sense of urgency and danger that makes the story impossible to put down.
She brings to life a rich cast of characters, each with their own unique struggles and motivations. From Rose’s loving but flawed husband Ned to the troubled teenager who sets off the explosion, every character is fully realized and sympathetic.
One of the book’s strengths is the way it tackles a number of timely and important issues, including bullying, mental health, and school safety. Scottoline doesn’t preach or offer easy answers, but instead explores these complex topics with sensitivity and nuance.
She also expertly balances the emotional weight of the tragedy with moments of humor, proving that even in the darkest of times there is still room for love and laughter. If Save Me has any flaws, it’s in some of the plot twists that strain credulity, and in a few instances the dialogue can feel a bit clunky or on-the-nose.
However, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise compelling and well-crafted novel. Overall, I would highly recommend Save Me to fans of suspenseful, character-driven fiction, particularly those with an interest in contemporary social issues.
It’s a book that will keep you up all night reading, and one that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. For that reason, I’m giving it 4.5 stars out of 5.
