This is primarily a ghost story, yet it's not the truly creepy sort. Instead, it's the kind that vividly describes how individuals can be haunted by their past. I was most definitely drawn into the narrative. In fact, whenever I had to put it down to attend to something else, I got really irritated!

However, I did have a couple of issues. The characters are well-drawn, which is great. But the main guy is a bit pathetic. At times, I wanted to give him a good kick up the pants. Then again, perhaps this was the author's intention.

Jodi Picoult's writing style is quite sharp. She jumps from place to place and character to character in a rather abrupt manner. It's easy to get confused unless you're completely absorbed in the story, especially at the beginning when the characters, names, and places are still unfamiliar.

But overall, it's a very good read. It manages to engage the reader and keep them hooked despite its few drawbacks. It makes you think about how the past can have a profound impact on our present lives and how we deal with the ghosts that haunt us.

Bestselling author Jodi Picoult has an astonishing twenty novels under her belt, achieving global success as a writer.

Perhaps best known for her 2004 novel My Sister's Keeper, which was later made into a movie in 2009, reading Second Glance was my initial foray into Jodi Picoult's work.

The blurb describes Second Glance as: "One of Jodi Picoult's eeriest and most engrossing works, this is a story about the things that come back to haunt us - literally and metaphorically." Intrigued by this description, I thought it would be the perfect starting point.

A house and a large plot of land are up for sale in Vermont. However, the buyer is unaware that the house has a history. As the developer commences the demolition of the house, strange things begin to occur. Ross, a paranormal investigator in town to visit his sister, offers to look into the situation.

What he doesn't anticipate is falling in love and reopening a 70-year-old murder case. Picoult transports us back in time to when the owners of the house were leaders in eugenics and a terrible tragedy took place.

This is a story of love, family, and identity, and Picoult skillfully weaves the story and the characters together in a meaningful and touching manner. I relished learning how the characters were interconnected and how destiny or fate influenced each of their lives. It was truly beautiful, albeit at times heartbreaking.

"I think Second Glance is my biggest accomplishment to date." - Jodi Picoult (Source: author website, August 2012)

This was a wonderful introduction to the popular author Jodi Picoult, and I'm certain to read more of her work in the future.

I just don't give five stars because the first 150 pages were boring.

It's not that the entire book is bad. In fact, after getting through those initial dull pages, the story starts to pick up and becomes quite interesting. The characters develop more depth, and the plot thickens, drawing the reader in. However, those first 150 pages really tested my patience. I almost put the book down several times. But I'm glad I persevered because the latter part of the book made up for the slow start.

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Jodi Picoult has always been a remarkable author, and this particular novel is no exception. It's the first one I've delved into that focuses on paranormal activities and ghost hunters, and it truly blew me away.

The way she seamlessly incorporated the history of Vermont into the story was nothing short of brilliant. The details about the Vermont eugenics project in the 1920s and 30s, which involved the sterilization law passed in Vermont and had parallels to Hitler's plan, were both fascinating and eye-opening.

It shed light on a very interesting aspect of American history that I was completely unaware of before. This novel not only entertained me with its engaging plot and supernatural elements but also educated me about a significant part of our past.

Jodi Picoult has once again proven her talent for creating stories that are both captivating and thought-provoking. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

I am well aware that a significant number of people have a great affection for this particular author. Driven by curiosity, I decided to pick up a copy of one of their works at a local store to understand what all the commotion was about. I delved into the book and managed to read perhaps the first 15 pages. However, I found myself in a state of utter confusion. It seemed as if I was abruptly introduced to not just one or two, but 3 or 4 distinct story lines simultaneously. Alongside that, there were approximately 8 or 9 different characters being thrown at me, one after another. The overwhelming amount of information made me feel as if my neck, which was straining to keep up with all the details, was on the verge of detaching from my body and running away in protest of the sheer torture it was enduring.

I simply could not find a way to get started on this reading journey. It was like trying to untangle a complex knot without any clear starting point.

Maybe at some point in the future, I will gather the courage to give it another try. But truth be told, the probability of that happening is rather low.

Jodi Picoult pens an enthralling 'ghost' story. In this narrative, a dedicated ghost hunter embarks on a journey to investigate supernatural occurrences.

Interestingly, it's Picoult's first foray into the supernatural genre, yet the result is one of her finest books in recent years.

The major themes explored within the story are truly thought-provoking. Eugenics, a controversial topic, is delved into, along with isolationism, which adds a layer of depth to the characters and their experiences.

Loss is another prominent theme, as the characters grapple with the consequences of their actions and the events that unfold.

Finally, intolerance is examined, highlighting the importance of acceptance and understanding in a diverse world.

Overall, this book earns a solid 7 out of 12, making it a must-read for fans of Picoult and those interested in supernatural tales with a deeper meaning.

Knowing that the author of this book is Jodi Picoult, I must say that it almost guarantees its amazingness - and this book truly is. Although it is a work of fiction, it contains excerpts about the true history of the Eugenics program in Vermont in the 1920s and 30s. In the acknowledgments, the author states that "Thirty-three states enacted a sterilization law. During the war crimes trials after WWII, Nazi scientists cited American eugenics programs as the foundation for their own plans for racial hygiene." The sections on eugenics are based on true history, not fiction.

The plot of this book is a real page-turner, exploring how love can transcend death and time. Loved ones may have unfinished business or search for those who have been lost. Interwoven into this captivating plot are the socially elite in a small Vermont town who start a society to eliminate all those who are "feeble-minded" from the human "breeding program" in order to improve the human race. As you can imagine, the feeble-minded included those who were needy or poverty-stricken, of other races, Native American, Gypsy, Irish, and more. Google "American eugenics programs" and you'll find that under this program, many "undesirable" people were sterilized. What was called voluntary sterilization simply meant that two doctors had to sign off on it to perform the sterilization.

However, eugenics is only a part of this story. The real story delves into the power of love, the paranormal, a murder mystery that occurred decades earlier, and the fine line between "desirable and undesirable" bloodlines.

You will not be disappointed with this book. In fact, upon reading it, I realized that I had read it some years ago, and yet I read it again and was just as captivated by it.

This book is completely different from the usual ones of Jodi.

Jodi is a well-known author who has written many excellent works. However, this particular book stands out.

The style, the theme, and the overall feel of this book are distinct. It takes the readers on a unique journey that they might not have expected from Jodi.

Perhaps it's the new perspective she brings, or the way she explores different emotions and ideas.

Whatever the reason, this book challenges the readers' expectations and offers something fresh and exciting.

It shows that Jodi is not afraid to step out of her comfort zone and try new things.

Readers who are familiar with Jodi's previous works will be pleasantly surprised by this departure, while those who are new to her writing will find a captivating story that will keep them engaged from start to finish.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves good literature and is looking for something different.

I really liked this book to the extent that I might possibly read another one of JP's works. However, I do think that the book could have been more concise and cut down by approximately 100 pages. The writing style was quite good, with some beautiful and descriptive language. But at certain moments, it became overly flowery, which might have distracted the reader a bit.

Moreover, there is one aspect that I'll never quite understand. How is it possible for people to meet at the very top of a page and then, by the time you reach the bottom of that same page, they are already absolutely in love? It seems a bit too rushed and unrealistic.

Overall, despite these few drawbacks, I still found the book enjoyable and look forward to exploring more of JP's literary offerings in the future.

First things first - trigger warning - suicidal ideations from 1 character throughout.

I've read several Jodi Picoult books before, and I don't mind having lots of characters and the constant switching from one to the next. However, while reading this particular one, somehow, all of it just didn't feel "put together."

The characters do manage to tie together by the 3rd section, but it always had a disjointed feel to it. Maybe I'm being a little harsher in my judgment because I've read other books by her that were executed superbly.

It's a story about the ghosts of the past (literally ghosts) who are still trying to find their way 70 years after they died. The eugenics project in Vermont comes into play, as does the mistreatment of Native Americans.

I found myself scrolling through my phone when I could have been reading a lot during this one. This is a sure sign that the story didn't grab me as much as other books I've read. It seems that the plot, despite its interesting elements, didn't manage to hold my attention firmly. I was constantly distracted, and the disjointed nature of the narrative didn't help matters. I had expected more from a Jodi Picoult book, especially after having been so impressed by her previous works.

In such multi-character and multi-theme exploring novels, I love how the threads that were thought not to fit together beautifully and slowly connect.

A mysterious father suddenly appears, we meet the woman we have dreamed of, an old family secret is revealed or we are shocked when opening a coffin. I love when each puzzle piece falls into place and the picture is formed at the end of the book - I realized again how well Jodi Picoult can write.

Of course, it was quite difficult to keep in mind the countless central characters at the beginning, and moreover, around the quarter of the novel, I felt that I was unable to put it down because it had sucked me in by then. This reading was a very twisted, incredibly complex and complete emotional roller coaster for me!

My favorites: Ross, Ethan, Eli and Shelby. I liked Ross and Eli's investigation and how they see the world and love, but I also loved Ethan's views on life and death.

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Jodi Picoult has once again delivered a truly captivating read.

She is truly one of a kind among the authors I have encountered. What sets her apart is her remarkable ability to engage the reader fully throughout every single stage of her characters' journeys.

In this particular book, I simply adored the characters. The way they were linked was fascinating and it really made me think about how interconnected we all are in the grand scheme of things.

Not only that, but the historical context provided in the book was also extremely well done. It added an extra layer of depth and authenticity to the story.

I was so engrossed in this book that I just couldn't put it down. Before I knew it, it was 3 am and I was still reading!

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good story that will keep them on the edge of their seat from beginning to end.