Elizabeth Adler's Sooner Or Later is a very standard thriller.  Tell me if this sounds familiar - our very likable heroine is in constant danger, from a force unbelievably twisted and evil.  Motivations are weak, contrivances pop up all over the place, and there's a romance thrown in for good measure.  How I wish I could say that this book stands apart from the thousands of other books in this genre, but it truly doesn't.  In fact, I'd better hurry up and finish this review, as nothing about this book is remotely memorable.

Ellie is hard-working, loved by all, and takes loving care of her only relative, her grandmother "Miss Lottie".  When Miss Lottie is found murdered, Ellie is grief-stricken.   But Miss Lottie was only Phase One of the twisted killer's plan.  Ellie is Phase Two.  But who could possibly want to harm these two ladies? 

Ellie and her new boyfriend, who happens to be an ex-cop, will go on the hunt to put the clues together.  Hopefully before Ellie joins Miss Lottie.

For us, the readers, there is no mystery to solve.  We know exactly who killed Miss Lottie, and, for the most part, we know why.  We even know why Ellie is the next target.  But knowing the killer's motive and understanding it are two different things.  This is truly one of the weakest aspects of the book.  The killer's goals could have achieved many other ways; there was no need for all of the violence and mayhem.

Another very weak aspect of the story has to do with events from twenty years ago.  A decision was made that makes very little sense.  Even when they try to explain the reasons, I felt it was nothing more than a convenient plot device.  Furthermore, it was a completely useless one.  Once again, goals could have been met, in ways that are far more logical.  But then, of course, we wouldn't have the story that we have.

But the worst problem with this book is the ridiculous number of coincidences that move the plot along.   The most absurd one has to do with events that take place first in New York, then later in California, and the same person just happens to be nearby for both of them, to link them together.  How convenient!  Couldn't the author have found some other way to link the events, without use of such a contrived plotline?

The bottom line: I feel the author was lazy. 

Given all of its flaws, this book is just barely readable. 

Recommended: No