Derailed

By: James Siegel

Narrated by: Gregory Harrison

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.

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.

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!

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

A real page-turner (if we had pages)

I can understand some of the earlier reviewers' comments about the main character in this book. Charles is not strong! He is not clearly focussed! He makes some really stupid choices! Is that all that unrealistic a description of many people in the real world -- maybe even some of us?

I found "Derailed" to be generally fascinating. It was often frustrating when Charles did something that I could not agree with but I had little problem in seeing his own changing motivations. The greatest book ever written? Hardly! An excellent and fun (often disturbing) read? Absolutely.

I would be remiss if I did not comment favorably on Gregory Harrison's reading. Excellent! He made me really hate that bad guy. I myself might even have . . . Well, we'll skip that.

Dark, very dark!!

Would you listen to Derailed again? Why?

This is the second time that I listened to it. The first time was about 8 years ago. Really a good read. Major suspenseful twist that I never saw coming the first time. One of the reasons I reread it was because I kept thinking about that twist and I wanted to listen again to how it was developed.

Which scene was your favorite?

The big twist mentioned above.

Who was the most memorable character of Derailed and why?

Charles. The story was told from his perspective. Gregory Harrison is an excellent narrator. Did a fabulous job.

Any additional comments?

Yeah....I also saw the movie about ten years ago. Guess I really like the story. Oh...Jennifer Aniston starred as Lucinda, so I was seeing her as I listened to the book. Made it even better. I think it is one of her best movies.

Surprisingly interesting

The story is very interesting.
The only unprovable event is the explosion in the hotel, and its timing.