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Two young woman, Holly and Vanessa, are kidnapped while they are walking near the beach in Santa Barbara, California. Both women are trying to shape up at an exclusive spa called Paradise Plaza. This experience is anything but paradise. Holly's mother, Connie, soon learns that there has been an abduction. Holly's parents are entertainment attorneys and Vanessa is a television star. The police know there will be extensive media coverage. When the ransom message arrives and Holly's mother receives the information, the instructions are very exact and explicit. This story is a combination of excellent visual storytelling and strong realistic characters. Intermittent chapters visit the kidnapped women and their captors. The alternating pages introduce the readers to Holly's parents and the police. The relationship between Holly and her captors is the most interesting to me. This is one of the best kidnapping scenarios that I have read. The diversionary mind games that Holly fosters show why I like her fortitude and her intelligence. Since she has spent so much time alone as an overweight young person, her capture is not as traumatic and horrific for her as it could have been. Vanessa, the other victim, portrays a shallow, Hollywood type person. She is too over the top for me. Her main focus is twofold: what she will look like when she is released which will be good for her star image and having sex with one of the captors. Having said that, Holly more than makes up for Vanessa. As much as I like Holly, her parents are a strange anomaly. The mother's character is well drawn, showing a multi-dimensional woman filled with anger, professionalism, energy and vulnerability. Her father is not a prominent character and has limited dialogue but you know that he truly loves his daughter. Taffy Cannon is not new to the scene of excellent action and storylines. A steady story reveals that PARADISE LOST is an enjoyable read.
Reviewed by Rita Ratacheck, June 2005
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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