Product Description
Heading home for the holidays, a high-profile TV reporter finds her parents' dead bodies in their secluded mountain retreat and turns to a handsome, lifetime friend for help, only to see him arrested for the crime. Reprint. AB. PW. " ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

Excellent Story
I have been looking for this book for years.The story line is engaging and one of the most enthralling stories I have ever read.I have never in my life experienced such a psychological ride as this book includes.I recommend this for anyone who enjoys mystery, psychology, suspense, romance, action...or just reading in general.The characters will drive you into their world and you'll find yourself inside the story instead of just reading. If you purchase this book prepare for an intense psychological ride!

Something different
This novel departs somewhat from novels that I would normally read.It is a suspense novel, with some amount of romance thrown in consistent with the case.The novel opens with a man (who has a psychopathic mind) carrying out a brutal murder. He has carefully planned his actions, and thinks he has himself covered.He has a persuasive, friendly persona in public.Why should anyone suspect him.But well made plans, of mice and men,...well, maybe there were some flaws in his plans.Readers do know his identity from the start.

The family brings in detective Jim Crowley from San Francisco to investigate, and he starts putting things together.A lot of the novel deals with the man's trial, questions about evidence, and his relationships with people.Can a case be proved?

The novel goes through some twists and turns getting to the end.There is a lot of material about relationships between people, including men who need to deal with the fact that their wives have had mastectomies.The novel contains violence; significant sexual content (including a big guy named Scully, a prisoner in the jail, who thinks that the killer is cute); and language consistent with the plot.I would rate it as an adult only novel.

Good read!
Racina's Snow Angel gave me an enjoyable day of reading.Found it very difficult to put this book down.Most definitely one of his better reads.

A Compelling, Super Suspenseful Snow Angel
Not an especial fan of the murder-mystery tale, I was surprised to find myself seduced completely and happily by Mr. Racina's bone-chilling story of human slaughter, life-shattering lies, no-holds-barred revenge, and nail-biting suspense. I was even more surprised to be captivated by "Snow Angel"because the first chapter reveals who done it, how, where, and why it was done. The author's years of grinding out network television soap operas has hone him into a master of the cliffhanger.

Start to finish, I was loathe to set down this totally compelling tome. Now I want to read everything that Racina has written.

Great book!!
I truly enjoyed this book.It was a fast read that I had a hard time putting down.I usually like to be suprised at who the killer is at the end, but that didn't really matter to me with this one.It was still a great story even though you know "who did it" from the beginning.I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Product Description
Sub zero temperatures slice across the beaches of Santa Monica. A blinding blizzard whips through Hollywood. Swimming pools turn to solid blocks of ice. Roads are impassible. Cars have been abandoned. And as night falls, so does hope... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

A page turner
A very good paperback, once you start the story pulls you in.Maybe some negative reviewers were confused because there are several subplots and they wanted "a simple boring book". Racina writes many stories and interweaves them to tell a great story.

Well, I had a good time
I don't know about the reviewers who were so upset by this book; I wasn't expecting Joan Didion.I got a solid thriller with a premise that seemed pretty ridiculous (well, that is intil this weekend when the lows in LA hit the low 30's).Is it slightly silly?Sure.But it's also a great big bon-bon of a book that I defy you to not consume in one sitting.Like one of the better disaster movies of the 70's, you may have a few minutes of "well that couldn't possibly happen!" moments afterward.

Then again if we were having precipitation in Los Angeles this weekend it would be snow....

Praise for Deep Freeze
This was my first experience reading Thom Racina. I picked it up at Sam's because it looked interesting. I read Deep Freeze within about 3 days, and was happy with it. With the recent weather problems around the world, the story is somewhat believeable. I enjoyed reading this book, and may check out his other books. I know some others give him bad reviews, but I do not judge a book by reviews or by it's "movie potential". For me, if it is a good story and written well enough that I do not notice any errors or screwups, then I am happy with it. I would reccomend this book to anyone as it is a good story with decent characters.

Absolutely Horrible Writing
Even reviewing this bomb seems somewhat pointless! However, it was so bad that I just felt it my duty, as a avid reader, to warn people off from this atrocity.Deep Freeze held my attention (barely) for maybe twenty pages before I knew it was going to be a collosal groaner.The writing is...well...surprising for a multi-book published author.To call it plodding would be generous in the extreme.The characters are paper thin and BORING!The author seems to realize this and gives almost no effort to developing the absymal cast.Sometimes a great story can save bad characters but not in this case.Let's put it this way, if you are stuck on a desert island with the options of counting sand or reading this book...count the sand!

One other thing...I noticed that Amazon's # 1 reviewer gave this book a 5 star rating.Hmmmmm?

Pointless and Boring
I just finished reading Deep Freeze and what a disappointment.It was 366 pages of...well, nothing I guess.After reading about 50 pages of people describing the snow coming down I felt like saying, "enough already, get on with the story!"And that was the problem, the story never really progressed beyond that point.
The only character I even remotely cheered for was the "bad" son.He was the only one who had even a little bit of depth to him.The other characters were flat and dull.
Finally, I still don't get the whole radical faction aspect of the novel.It didn't come into play to any great extent like you're led to believe on the back cover and basically was a minor distraction while reading at best.
Save your money and go purchase a novel by Rick Mofina if you want well developed characters, great story lines and suspense. ... Read more

Product Description
Practice Run is a computer game that's captivating the imaginations of teenagers. The mastermind behind it is being hailed as a creative genius. Then, across the country religious leaders are being murdered. The connection? Each suspect was addicted to Practice Run and driven by its perverted hidden messages... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Ripping good read
The truth is: I carried this book everywhere for 48 hours until I finished it!Great pacing, and the characters are meaty enough that you want to know what happens to them. This is one of those plots where you already know whodunit, but you can't imagine how or why, and you have to keep reading to find out. This is my first book by Thom Racina, and I will keep reading.Think summer movie entertainment, not "litrajure", and you will not be disappointed!

Another Racina classic.
Flawless storytelling from the author and I (the lucky reader) got a lot of goosebumps.A great read.

CHECK YOUR KID'S VIDEO GAMES
Thom Racina, a master of what we affectionately call "fluff fiction", come up with an interesting premise here:a megalomaniac with a strong hatred of religion uses his video game, Practice Run, to brainwash teens to help eradicate important religious figures in an attempt to wipe God's influence off the face of the planet.Tyler Bryant has just married idealistic and impressionistic Quinn.It doesn't take long for her to suspect her husband in a series of hideous murders:a teen shoots an Archbishop at her confirmation and then shoots herself; a teen brutally attacks two door to door religious men, and then kills himself; and on and on.The sole factor that connects them:they all played Practice Run.Add a heroic FBI investigator; the maniac's imprisoned half-brother, and a stoic friend, and Quinn is off to tell the world.
There are some cliche scenes, some inane dialogue, but Racina knows how to hook his reader and keep them involved.His books move fast, and I enjoy them.

Deadly Games
Once again Mr. Racina has written a compelling, captivating suspense thriller.
His easy reading style makes his books a pleasure to read.
The plot and character development are superb!!!!!!
After reading this book of his, try all his others!!!

Do yourself a favor...sample a few pages before you buy it.
I like to drop in here at Amazon when I'm done with a book, to see if other readers shared my impressions of it. I made an exception in this case and checked when I was halfway through, because I honestly didn't think I would make it to the end. I somehow did, but it was a struggle.

My wife and I read a lot of mystery/suspense novels...perhaps two a week. This was the first time I had tried one of Mr. Racina's books, having picked it up based on it's premise; I'm an avid computer gamer myself. The subject matter is appealing, and in itself believable. The presentation is not.

The writing style is simplistic, to the point of being juvenile at times. I read one passage to my wife; a kidnapping scene which I suppose should have been suspenseful. She told me it reminded her of Nancy Drew. I was thinking Hardy Boys. Don't get me wrong, I was a big Hardy Boy fan...when I was ten.

The dialogue is contrived, reminiscent of a B-Movie, with characters exclaiming things along the lines of "we must stop this evil plan". The characters themselves are forgettable at best, annoying at worst.

As I mentioned, I have not read any of Mr. Racina's previous efforts; he may very well be an excellent suspense writer. Even the best authors fail at times however, and I would strongly advise that you read a few pages first, before heading to the cashier with a copy of "Deadly Games". ... Read more

Product Description
His first thriller Snow Angel was a surprise USA Today bestseller. Hidden Agenda, Secret Weekend and The Madman's Diary established him as a rising star of suspense.

Now, former TV writer Thom Racina turns to the dark side of Hollywood in a seductive story of madness and murder. The victim had as many lovers as he had enemies. And the killer is still on the loose ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

EASILY FORGOTTEN
Sex, sex, and more sex....where's the suspense?Even with the great opening sequence in which Max Jaxon crashes his glider into the side of a mountain, what happens in the rest of this soft-porn farce is tedious, confusing and full of characters it's hard to like.How can we like our hero, Max?He thinks with his you know what, and his lack of commitment and his own egotistic desires brands him superficial and super-boring.Kristen is almost as bad, she falls for anything; Maggie is a Jekyll-Hyde lesbian with more teeth than a comb; Nicole is a self-centered and murdering golddigger; Chris Daniel is a cop with no sense of humor and some of the stiffest dialogue ever written.
While the ending does pull a good surprise, it's torture getting there.
NOT RECOMMENDED.

Let Thom Racina take you in his storytelling grasp.
Once upon a time, there was a legendary supercouple named Luke and Laura.

Luke and Laura revolutionized the daytime soap opera with their romance, a love story that began as a rape, carried on into a summer on the run from the mob and culminated in a ratings extravaganza of a wedding after stopping the evil Cassadines from freezing the world.

The whole phenomenon took place on ABC's "General Hospital" more than two decades ago.

Writer Thom Racina was the head writer of "GH" back during the L&L heyday, and he's still making waves today.

Today, Luke and Laura may essentially be kaput (she's in a mental ward after apparently murdering long beloved character Rick Webber; he's going nuts without her), but Racina's thriller, "Never Forget," proves he's still got what it takes to grab the attention of an audience.

The new novel opens with the death of Hollywood superstar Max Jaxon as he films a climactic hang-gliding scene for his new movie. From there, it's up to police detective Christopher Daniel to retrace Max's steps and uncover the events leading up to his apparent murder, which we see unfold.

Max is discovered by hot director Maggie Nash, with whom he has a sizzling affair. They are joined by rising ingenue Kristen Caulfield, but soon Kristen and Max are falling in love behind Maggie's back. Did his spurning of her turn Maggie insane? Or did Max's inability to commit drive Kristen over the edge?

Along the way, we are introduced to several other characters who might have had their own reasons to see Max crash and burn, like Maggie's wicked younger stepmother, Nicole, who had her own designs on Mr. Jaxon. Or did producer Bruce Borger, who carried a torch for Kristen, do the dirty deed? And what of Max's mysterious old friend, the unseen Nicky?

It's a nest of vipers, a den of snakes, and they all writhe under Racina's careful watch. The author has said this is most likely to be his biggest success because it is his sexiest, and the graphic nature certainly lends credence to that speculation.

After all, "Never Forget" did get picked up as a book of the month for the Doubleday Book Club and the Mystery Guild for September 2002.

"Never Forget" follows Racina's grand tradition of books with interesting, gripping plots that are a sight to behold as they progress.

In his "The Great Los Angeles Blizzard," (a precursor to Mikkos Cassadine's weather machine), a, um, blizzard hits Los Angeles. In "Snow Angel" we see a psychotic killer murder the parents of the object of his obsession to grow closer to them. In "Hidden Agenda," the heroine is a big star news reporter who might just be the center of a massive conspiracy to control the news, while the heroine of "Secret Weekend" finds herself trapped at the top of an unfinished apartment building and at the mercy of a killer.

Like these, "Never Forget" is very much a "Watch what happens under these circumstances" book, ruled by Racina's wild imagination and fueled by his great sense of entertainment and intrigue.

They're wild, unpredictable and fun.

And like the legends of Luke and Laura, these creations of Racina's may prove to be unforgettable indeed.

Was good......
Never Forget was a good book with some great characters. I read Snow Angel by Thom Racina awhile ago and although this was a great story, I have to say Snow Angel was better. Still, Never Forget was written very well.

Youu may start blushing, but you won't stop reading!
Reading a page of this book, like any other by Thom Racina, is a lot like eating potato chips: you'll find it hard to stop after just ONE!This is another of his compelling mysteries full of glitzy characters and locations, with plenty of steamy and sordid sexual activity peppered throughout.What's especially wonderful about this is the author's ability to consistently pull of the satisfying surprise endings!And NEVER FORGET is no exception.Stick it in your bag when you're packing for vacation--the perfect beach book.I actually kept it in my car and devoured it in 3 or 4 sessions when I found myself with time to spare.Instantly engaging!

Spectacular escapism
This book is a trip . . . a fast, winding story that radiates a first-hand knowledge of the entertainment industry all the way to a spectacular finish. The cover and title will probably draw women readers, and others who like romance . . . but it could easily be billed as something from a modern-day Harold Robbins. Highly recommended! ... Read more

Product Description
Hoping to persuade her boyfriend to propose, Audrey Goh "kidnaps" him for a fantasy weekend in the unfinished luxury hotel she owns in Hawaii, but an obsessed stranger has slipped through the hi-tech security system, someone who is determined to have Audrey for himself. Original. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

GUILTY PLEASURE
If one reads the Kirkus Review of this book, they would be tempted to pass it by, as they call it "...painfully bad..".Well, that's why it's so much fun."Hidden Agenda" reads like the script for a tv movie of the week with Jaclyn Smith and Gregory Harrison, with Leslie Nielsen and Dabney Coleman as the villains.But, I have to admit, I really enjoyed this book.It certainly sets no new standards for contemporary fiction, but as an old fashioned, good guys vs. bad guys, political vs. religious fanatics, it's a whopper!We NEED perfect husbands like Steven Patterson; we need gullible heroines like Jonelle Patterson, who works her way up from a child with an alcoholic mother, not to mention a problem of stuttering, to become the most famous newscaster in the world!Sure, the use of real people in fictional roles is quite a manipulative move, but it adds a little color and humor to the goings-on; and the love scenes between Rex and Clay, though brief in number, are outright ridiculous.But, what a fun read.There are several scenes of suspense and you have to wonder---will they make it in time???The finale is so over the top it's wonderful!Catching the villain right on t.v.!And the epilogue is so woefully predictable, that you almost want to say, "What else?"
Ah, but readers, if you are looking for a way to kill some time and have some fun along the way, grab this one and have fun!
RECOMMENDED

Twisting. Compelling. Wonderful.
This was a terrific book, full of twists that would be completely unbelievable . . . if they weren't so true-to-life! As usual, Thom Racina sets up a compelling conflict and uses his sharp, remarkable storytellingskills to spin it towards a rewarding resolution.For all of you thrillerfans who are tired of getting disappointed by "big" books with"high concept" plots that end up being wordy and poorly written(ie: the bestsellers that publishers hit you with the instant you walk inthe big-box stores) look to the tightly evocative writing of Thom Racinafor the real thing.

A Bit of a Disappointment
This was an okay book...something to keep you entertained on the long train ride to work.However, a 4 year old could have guessed the ending.

A pleasent surprise
When I bought Hidden Agenda, I was not sure I would read it until the end. It really surprised me, it was a fart turning page book, that I not just read to the end but really had a good time with it.

Great concept; really stupid product
All books of this type ask the reader for a certain suspension of disbelief. This book asked so much that it generated groaning instead of suspense. A real waste of time. A screed for the author's own politicalagenda. He can write fairly well, but he obviously can't come up with aremotely plausible plot. ... Read more

Product Description
Her name is Judy. She is an interior designer in Palm Springs. He cannot stop thinking of her. And he cannot stop killing.... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

MEDIOCRE THRILLER...
Judy Sussman is a thirty something interior designer who lives platonically with her soul mate, a former boyfriend names Skeet, who is a successful restaurateur. When a close business associate of Judy's is murdered, Judy is shocked. Then her favorite waiter, Troy, who works in Skeet's restaurant also bites the dust, a pattern begins to emerge that is linked with Judy's past, as well as with her present. When Judy Meets Ben Spiegel, a man with whom she falls in love, things begin to spiral totally out of control. Her friend Annie, an author and private investigator, is determined to discover just what is going on. The cost to Annie, however, will prove dear.

This is a quick, throwaway read. The story is formulaic and only marginally interesting, as it is peppered with mostly unlikable characters that are one dimensional, with the exception of Annie. The story is also hampered by turgid dialogue and hackneyed writing. Still, the plot is fast-paced and manages to keep the story afloat, although the discerning reader should be able to figure out who the bad guy really is, despite the myriad of red herrings that abound in the book. There is, however, a real unexpected twist to the end. Those readers who enjoy thrillers and mysteries should get a modicum of enjoyment from this book.

Trash!
I made the mistake when purchasing this book of not noticing that there were only 5 reviews here at Amazon. I just noticed 4 and 5 stars and alot of praise. Those folks are obviously friends and family of Thom Racina...I'm not. This book Stinks with a capital S! I only regret that I had to give a star! In every possible way this book is a failure. The characters are incredibly shallow, the killer is obvious by page 50,the story is spectacularly implausible and pretty clearly includes very little research by the author and to top it off I constantly had the feeling that the author was getting a kickback for liberal use of brand names throughout the story. A character doesn't reach for a cell phone...she reaches for her Nokia. This happens throughout the book and is annoying to say the least. This is one of those books that you feel like throwing away 1/3 of the way through and for some strange reason I can never do that, I endure it to the end. The most amazing thing about it is that someone published it to begin with. 90% of the people reading this review could write a story as well as this.(Which tells you how bad it is!)It really is trash.

I FOUND YOUR DIARY....
Thom Racina has become a master of what I would call the "soap opera thriller."And that is not all meant to be derogatory.As a former writer for "Days of Our Lives," Mr. Racina has learned what people really want---escapism.So he gives us stereotypical characters, predictable plot developments, and the usual sex/scandal/murder collage.And he does it well.
Who is so obsessed with Judy that he/she wants to bump off anybody who likes the girl?Is it the strange gardener Juan?Or how about her new boyfriend, Ben?And what about her roomie and former lover, Skeet?Or is it someone else?And why did Judy's first lover kill himself?And why did her second one disappear?
Racina weaves this mystery in good style, and he keeps you guessing until you realize that the obvious killer is right in front of your eyes.The character of Annie Chestnut is a hoot; she reminds me of Kathy Bates or maybe even Roseanne Barr.Her private investigation styles are vastly reminiscent of several of the popular "cozies" and she steals most of her scenes.
The epilogue is kind of disappointing in light of what the reader has experienced in the book, but it is a twist I hadn't expected.Also, the scene in the gondola where Judy and Ben are forced to decide who jumps out is so overboard, it's hilarious.But, don't get me wrong.I devoured the book.Only reason I didn't give it the fifth star is the epilogue.Otherwise, I recommend it---it's a fun escapist fare!

I want my day back
I couldn't put it down, but I hated myself for reading it. All formula, way too pat. Characters are one dimensional with no development. It reads like the plot of a tv movie. If you like that sort of thing, go for it.

A Good Book
I got this book because Amazon suggested I would like it. I thought the book was OK. I did like the way the author writes so I have ordered more of his books. I am not very interested in the subject he wrote about so that is probably why I didn't think it was great. The plot was good and the characters were likeable. I would suggest you read it; I didn't consider it a waste of time (I have felt that way about some books). ... Read more

Product Description
Audrey Goh kidnapped her boyfriend for a romantic weekend alone in her luxury high-rise apartment on Hawaii's scenic coast. The building's state-of-the-art security system would make sure that no one else got in--or out.But someone seems to have slipped through the empty building's cracks.Someone who has been watching--and waiting for--Audrey for years.Someone who has wanted her all to himself...

* Thom Racina is the bestselling author of Snow Angel (9/97) and Hidden Agenda (3/99)

Praise for Snow Angel:

"Chilling suspense."--Judith Gould

"A tale of obsessive love run nastily amok."--Kirkus Reviews

"Powerful, compelling....A highly charged thriller with a surprise ending." --Tulsa World

"Highly cinematic." --Publishers Weekly

"A chilling cliffhanger." --Booklist

Praise for Hidden Agenda:

"Fast-paced...a smart read."--San Francisco Examiner

"Colorful...fiendish...good entertainment...could be a heck of a movie." --Publishers Weekly ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

MARRY ME OR ELSE
Once in a while you come across a book that is so painstakingly bad it's like one of those cheesy old sci-fi movies---you can't help but like it.Racina is such a "cinematic" writer, in that his books feel like made for tv or straight to video movies. But, that's okay, as long as they're entertaining.
This one is a hoot!Some of the dialogue and the descriptive narrative is a riot.I remember one section where one of the characters, Ben, is said to "chortle."Who in the world uses the word chortle?And the characters are some of the most shallow I've read in some time.
Audrey Goh is supposed to be so beautiful she stops clocks..but she's also a tease, and rather a self-centered one at that.She kidnaps her boyfriend, Mark, and whisks him off for a secret weekend in a maximum security apartment complex she is building.And all, just to get him to propose.In addition, she is pregnant.Her best friend, Bobbie, your typical "dumb blonde" warns her that Mark is not worth it.
Earlier in the book, we find that someone wants revenge on Audrey and her family for causing the suicide of his father and subsequent death of his mother, too. So he waits ten years and lo and behold, he's back to carry out his revenge.
I was kind of surprised at the identity of the revenge-filled lover; the inclusion of a "Rear Window" peeping Tom is also misleading, but that's okay, cause it does keep you guessing.But then the plot really soars into mayhem.A Chinese couple wants to buy an apartment in the complex; turns out they aren't who they say they are; then an elderly Chinese couple gets mercilessly killed; and we find out that somehow (and I still haven't figured out yet how), a bomb is placed in the safe, set to go off at 1:00 a.m. on Saturday morning.
An unlikely, but courageous, hero emerges and the race is on to save the damsel in distress.It's suspenseful, but still I found myself smiling at the predicaments our heroes get in during the big chase climax....and then the killer is taken care of, but you won't believe what happens, even though if you've seen any "Halloween" movies, you can guess.
What a hoot!But it's fun, quizzical, and a good read.If you like to find another guilty pleasure, "Secret Weekend" is worth it!

I couldn't put the book down . . .
. . . for reading or content. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The ending was a cop-out when the bad guy finally catches the protagonist. Still a great pool-side read though. I loved the descriptions of the building. I found myself thinking I would love to have a realtor's job and live the life of a millionaire by "borrowing" an incredible condo overlooking Hawaii for the weekend. Yeah, the book took me out of this world.

Plot is a Strange Blend of Stalking and Real Estate
This book looked good initially, but as I read, I started to wonder: Is Racina an author or an interior decorator?He spent way too much time describing the details of the expensive apartments Audrey is selling.Who cares?When he did move on to the action, the events were ridiculous.Thecharacters are generally shallow and unlikable, so it's hard to care ifthey get killed or not.

It was OK
I just finished this book, and although it wasn't the most exciting book I've ever read, I didn't think it was so bad.I thought the plot was pretty good, but it was the characters that I wasn't crazy about.Theauthor doesn't make you care about them or have any sympathy for them likeother authors do.I would try this author again, but I would not pay fullprice for one of his books.

It's so bad, it's laughable
First of all, the story drags and drags.It seems like the stalker has "impure" thoughts about Audrey every other page, which gets awfully boring.Also, the characters are written like stick figures from abad straight-to-video movie.I love this genre of book -- but this onejust doesn't cut it.I was so bored, I ended up reading the ending about1/3rd of the way through the book so I could get it over with.Don't wasteyour money. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Most amazing book
I really felt this story. It was well written and well imaged. I laughed, cried and cursed. This is a story of twins, one a simple college girl, the other a high end model. Deciding to trade lives they go through a tangled mess with an ending one would never expect. This is not the usual trading places story. Warning: extreme language and actions portrayed.

I bought this book years ago in my early twenties. Later, my daughter borrowed it and some pages got lost. It took forever to find a replacement. The book is out of print. I even contacted the writers who were actually going to find me a copy. I later found it on amazon. It is now packed up because I know I will never find another copy in the same shape. ... Read more