Derailed

By: James Siegel

Narrated by: Gregory Harrison

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Every day Charles Schine rides the 8:43 to do the job he has done for over a decade in a New York advertising agency. With a wife and an ill child who depend on him, Charles is not a man who likes changes or takes risks...until he is later for his regular train, and sits down across from the woman of his dreams.

Her name is Lucinda. Like Charles, she is married. Like Charles, she takes the train every day to work in New York City. Her train is the 9:05, and tomorrow she will be on it again, and so will Charles. For there is something about Lucinda, the flash of thigh beneath her short skirt, the way every man on the train is eyeing her, something about this time of the morning that will make Charles take a chance he shouldn't take, break a vow he shouldn't break, and enter a room he should never enter.

In a matter of days, a flirtation turns to a passion, and Charles and Lucinda are drawn into the dark side of the American Dream. In a matter of weeks, Charles's life is in shambles. A man is dead. A small fortune is stolen. Charles's home is violated and everything violently spirals out of control.

But Charles is about to discover that once you leave the straight and narrow, getting back on track is the most perilous journey of all. And for Charles, that journey - of lies, terror, and deception - has just begun.

©2003 James Siegel. All Rights Reserved (P)2003 Time Warner Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"The buzz is warranted: this story of a middle-class professional whose life goes incredibly, criminally awry is one of the most exciting thrillers in years. With its clean prose, high-velocity plotting and just the right amount of emotional shading darkening its sharply drawn characters, this novel is the bomb." (Publishers Weekly)

Kept me on track

I liked this book - there was enough suspense to keep my interest and I didn't have to suspend disbelief to accept the plausibility of the plot. The reader was excellent - he added to my enjoyment of the book. Note to author and editor, however: be sure you know the meaning of police radio calls - receiving a "10-4" is not an emergency call, but an acknowledgement of message received.

All twists and Turns

I just love this author. You never see all the twists and turns coming! Always a good listen if you like surprises!

Wow

This had my husband and I on the edge of our seats for the entire book! This is a must read!

Strange Story

I had a hard time getting into this at first,but then, I realized there was a story line.

COMPLETE SUSPENSE

I am only one third of the way through the book and I find it totally engrossing. I absolutely hate the villian and do feel for Charles. Whether I agree with his choices or not are totally irrelevant to the enjoyment of the story. I find it a truly "Can't put Down" and can't wait for Siegel's next book.

Terrific!

One of the best books I have listened to in the last year.

Way Better than the movie

I saw the movie and really enjoyed it> I never knew that there was a book I accidently came across it and I loved it. I felt that there was so much more to the book. even though I saw the movie., the book was still able to surprise me because of the twists and turns that they weren't able to put in the movie. I have to say that I enjoyed it so much more then the movie

Compelling story

The writer's style wins the day for this book. I was really caught up in the story. When I had to leave it, I could hardly wait to get back to it to find out what happened. And that's just what this kind of book is supposed to do, right?

Best I have listened to in Years

Fantastic book complete with twists and turns. Wonderful, I would highly recommend!!!

Strong Positives and Negatives

This is a well-written, gripping story, portions of which are shockingly violent or somewhat implausible. The narration, with its many twists and turns, is very skillful. The reader really gets to know the protagonist, Charles Shein. The novel also gives a very plausible picture of the agonies experienced by a successful, refined family man descending into a world of deception and criminality.

However, the empathy with Charles and his family that the story enables makes its violence very disturbing. Also, certain aspects of Charles' quest to rebuild his life and eliminate his persistent tormentor do not withstand scrutiny. The most troubling of these is Charles' loyalty to his ex-lover when his own family is threatened, even as he regrets the affair.

If you like a well-written, suspenseful New York novel, but don't mind and violence and occasional implausibility, then this selection may be for you.