Tone of blood, murders, and endless persecution from the States. Also, very difficult development, predictability, and extremely expensive translation.

I reached it with effort, as all the tensions came to me more, especially when I felt what was going to happen throughout the time. I stopped caring about the heroes quite early and if the book had ended 100 pages earlier, surely I would have given 3 stars.

The story seems to be filled with elements of mystery and danger. The tone of blood and murders creates a sense of excitement and anticipation. However, the development of the plot might be a bit challenging, perhaps due to its predictability. The translation also appears to be a significant factor, as it is described as extremely expensive. Despite these drawbacks, the author managed to reach a certain point with effort. The early disinterest in the heroes might be a result of the overall tone and predictability of the story. If the book had been shorter by 100 pages, it could have potentially received a better rating.

**** 4.4 STARS ****

I almost had to put this book down during the first chapter, due to a pretty shocking scene. However, I'm truly glad I didn't. "Mine" by the great Robert McCammon is an exciting and thrilling ride that lasts from start to finish.

The story is mostly told from the point of view of Laura, a pregnant/new mother, and the psychopathic Mary Terror who steals Laura's newborn child. Mary Terror absolutely steals the show in this one. The first quarter of "Mine" has a lot of excellent build-up of the characters, revealing who they are and what makes them tick. As is typical for a McCammon book, the characterization and dialogue are top-notch.

From the second quarter on, the pace is relentless, and it remains fantastic throughout. Robert McCammon is truly a master novelist. His ability to create such engaging characters and a gripping storyline is truly remarkable. "Mine" is a must-read for fans of thrillers and anyone who enjoys a well-written novel.

This book is every mother's worst nightmare.

Let me clarify, it is indeed a good book, masterfully told by one of my favorite authors. I should also note that this is a psychological horror/thriller, not a supernatural one. However, I had an extremely difficult time dealing with the subject matter. In fact, I almost DNF'd (Did Not Finish) the book because I simply couldn't endure any more.

Thankfully, I persevered in the end. This way, there was a sense of closure and resolution. But if you struggle to read about bad things happening to babies, it is advisable to put the book down and walk away. Far, far away.

It's important to be aware of your own sensitivities when choosing what to read. While this book may have its merits in terms of storytelling and literary quality, it can be truly distressing for some readers.

We all have different thresholds for what we can handle, and it's okay to respect that and make the choice that is right for us.

So, before picking up this book, consider your own emotional state and whether you are prepared to face the potentially disturbing content.

Remember, reading should be an enjoyable and fulfilling experience, not a source of unnecessary stress and anxiety.

If you do decide to give it a try, proceed with caution and be ready to step away if it becomes too much.

After all, your well-being is of utmost importance.

Mine • Robert R. McCammon • Pocket Books 1991 • Book 42 of 52 •

If I wasn't already convinced by "The Wolf's Hour" and "Swan Song", this novel has surely secured Robert R. McCammon a private shelf in my library for a full collection. The characters were constructed with such cleverness. You don't truly notice how crucial they are to you until they are placed in danger. The action is so thrilling and vividly descriptive that my heart raced as I turned all 200 pages of a car chase. As the end of the novel drew near, my blood pressure rose because I still couldn't fathom how it would all conclude, even with just 3 pages remaining!

The last surviving freedom fighter, still loyal to her LSD-fueled cause of the 60s, perceives a call to reunite her former terrorist organization, Storm Front. She requires what she lost 20 years ago before she can show her face to her former leader… their deceased son. When she steals a newborn baby, she creates a new adversary, more resolute and voracious than the FBI and their most wanted list. Does a new mother possess the strength, cunning, and stamina to retrieve her son from a trained, cold-blooded killer? Can Laura Clayborne rescue her son alive before Mary Terror snaps and kills him herself?

The strength a mother can discover within herself when her child is endangered is truly astonishing. But what about the strength of insanity when someone has convinced themselves that they are the true mother of a child they have stolen? Two mothers engaged in battle with very different weapons, yet both evenly matched.

This book is not a favourite of mine from this author, sadly.

I have read several of his other works and in my opinion, they are far superior.

The writing style in those books was more engaging, the storylines were more captivating, and the characters were more well-developed.

However, this particular book seemed to lack the same level of depth and charm.

The plot felt a bit flat and predictable, and the characters didn't really come alive for me.

It's a shame because I had high expectations based on the author's previous successes.

Maybe it's just a matter of personal taste, but I was definitely disappointed with this one.

Despite that, I will still be looking forward to the author's future works, hoping that he will return to the form that made me a fan in the first place.

This is a truly disturbing novel, yet it is VERY good.

The pacing is excellent, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

The author does a remarkable job of making you really hate the antagonist. You can't help but despise her actions and the chaos she causes.

However, at the same time, the author also manages to make you feel slightly bad for her. By revealing what happened to her in the past, you get a glimpse into the events that may have shaped her into the psychotic lady she is today.

The end of the book is super cool, tying up all the loose ends in a satisfying way.

I absolutely loved the protagonist. She was so strong throughout the whole thing, facing numerous challenges and never giving up.

Overall, this is a must-read novel for anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller.

This book, overall, is centered around what Laura does to rescue her newborn David from a woman who snatched him from the hospital. It has some really creepy parts and, on the whole, it's a great story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. Unlike some others, I truly didn't have any issues connecting with the characters. However, I did have a few problems. Some parts were just too unbelievable for me. For instance, consider all the things that David, a newborn, endures but is only hurt a tiny bit once! This newborn, just a few days old, spends the majority of the book on the floorboard of a car. The car gets rammed into, slides all over the ice, and yet the baby never sustains any serious injury or broken bones? Oh, and he is even dropped at one point, and not gently! So, for me, it was just a bit too much and I wanted to roll my eyes. Also, the part about Laura giving birth was rather lacking. Clearly, the author knows very little about this process because it really didn't make much sense. From the epidural to her having no bleeding after the baby was born, only when she tore her stitches? Again, these are just things that detracted from the story a little for me.

The book could have wrapped up a little sooner. Towards the end, it was extremely obvious what was going to happen and the extra scenes would not have been missed at all.

Overall, though, I really did enjoy the story. The first half was truly excellent and I will definitely be looking up more of the author's work as this is the first book I have read of McCammon's. I wouldn't really classify this as horror, though. It's more of a thriller or a suspense novel.

Mine is an extremely intense read that you are highly likely to encounter.

There are certain moments in the novel when the story builds up to a frenzied pace, causing your palms to sweat.

At its essence, the book is centered around a mother's love for her child and the extreme lengths that parents will go to for those they cherish.

This forms the core of all the tension throughout the entire book.

The reader will wince as Mary Terror attempts to care for poor baby David in her own peculiar way, and they will surely be on the edge of their seats as Laura realizes that the only person she can trust is herself in the pursuit of Mary.

It is a classic cat-and-mouse game that is written with sniper-like precision.

McCammon portrays Mary Terror with a frightening degree of realism.

The descriptions of her thoughts, drug use, and habits make this character truly come alive on the page.

McCammon presents the present-day Mary Terror without any bias, enabling the reader to discover just how far-reaching her madness truly is.

These descriptions are beautifully contrasted with flashbacks of Mary with the group known as The Storm Front Brigade.

The reader can start to make the connections in their mind between the two eras as we gradually begin to see how Mary's mind has deteriorated.

Having these flashbacks adds a significant amount of depth and substance to the story and also allows the reader to catch their breath during this heart-pounding narrative.

One of the last standalone novels I had remaining to read by R. McCammon was this one, and I must confess that initially, I was the least enthusiastic about delving into it. However, boy, was I in for a pleasant shock!

This turned out to be an astonishing thriller. At first glance, you might be inclined to think that it wouldn't distinguish itself. But, in fact, it truly did, thanks to the villains' remarkable backstory and their morbid mindset.

This serves as an outstanding example of the author's remarkable character work and engaging story-telling. I would highly recommend this novel to just about anyone, provided that you don't have an aversion to a bit of violence in your literary choices.

It's a captivating read that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish, with well-developed characters and a plot that twists and turns in unexpected ways.

This bloody thriller is a constant pursuit filled with tense moments and high doses of action. It drove me crazy to read all those confrontations with the newborn baby in the middle.

The author knew how to maintain the interest from beginning to end. It's a recommended novel.

The story unfolds at a breakneck pace, with the protagonist constantly on the run, facing one perilous situation after another. The addition of the helpless newborn adds an extra layer of tension and drama.

Readers will be on the edge of their seats as they follow the protagonist's desperate attempts to protect the baby and escape from the clutches of the pursuers.

The author's vivid descriptions and masterful pacing make this a truly engaging and thrilling read.

Whether you're a fan of thrillers or just looking for a fast-paced and exciting novel, this one is definitely worth checking out.

Mine belongs to the genre “Horror” and it won the Bram Stoker Award in 1990.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is not a genre that I read very often, and I don't plan to return to it in the near future. I had proposed it for the book club, but it was not the winning choice.

Thankfully, because I believe it would not have been well received in this particular group.

It was quite gruesome. A character named Mary Terror was part of a terrorist organization in the 1970s. She saw an ad in some off-the-wall magazine and believed that Jack Gardiner (Storm Front Founder) was sending her a message.

Mary kidnapped a newborn baby from a hospital maternity unit and planned to take this baby as an offering to “Lord Jack.” However, she didn't realize how determined the baby's mother would be to get her baby back.

This book is a wild ride, filled with lots of death and plunder. Although it's not the type of novels I'm usually attracted to, it did hold my interest, and I wanted to find out what happened at the end.

It will be a while before I read any more horror stories.

The ATY Goodreads Challenge - 2024
Prompt #20 - a book with a single word title

4.5 This is yet another excellent read by this author. The story is engaging from the very beginning, filled with interesting characters and a captivating plot. The author has a unique writing style that makes it easy to get lost in the book. I found myself completely immersed in the story, unable to put it down until I reached the end.

I was truly impressed by the author's ability to create such a vivid and believable world. The details are rich and add depth to the story, making it feel almost real. The characters are well-developed and their actions and decisions are consistent with their personalities.

Overall, this is a great book that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good read. I can't wait to see what else this author has in store for us and I'm eagerly looking forward to reading more of their work.