One Two Buckle My Shoe

This, the second book written by Jessie Hunter was phenomonal! Once I picked it up I could not put it down. The story is written superbly, the characters come to life. If thrillers and serial killers are your cup of tea, jump at the chance to pick up this book. Hopefully this is not the last we've heard from Ms. Hunter!

I am currently reading One Two Buckle My Shoe by Jessie Hunter. A serial killer whose targets young boys mistakeningly nabs a little girl and it throws his entire routine out of whack. The story takes place in New York in December 1996, beginning two days before Christmas, when the girl is first taken. The narrative, written in third person, shows us how each main character reacts to the situation. Emily Rose, the victim, is a very astute nine-year-old who has every intention of staying alive and running away. Her mother, Laurie, is worried sick at home and finds herself reliving her own past. George, aka The Chocolate Man, the serial killer, is obsessed with the number seven, repetition and cleaning. The detectives on the special Task Force that has been trying to locate The Chocolate Man for years are determined to find this man and child. Readers are also privvy to the thoughts and lives of various witnesses, neighbors, friends and strangers whose lives are somehow connected to those involved in the case. My favorite character is Emily Rose, who is aware of her surroundings and her situation. Her love for her mother, her vivid imagination and her passion for Nancy Drew mysteries help to keep her strong. It is written in a very direct style. Since you know from the start - from the book jacket itself - the identities of the kidnapper and of the victim, the story is more about the psychological impact on the murderer, on the child, on her mother. The bulk of the story takes place in 24 hours - a day in the life of many. If you enjoy novels about missing persons and prefer characters with heart rather than characters ripping out people's hearts, give this book a try.

This book was awsome! Very intense and a real nail biter! I loved the way the author put you in the minds of all the characters involved. I started the book late in the eveining and ended up staying up all night long. There just was not a stopping point, I literally could not put the book down until I found out if Emily was able to escape her real-life nightmare! Oh! My poor nails! The only reason I did not give it five stars is because of the ending. I wish the author would have told in more detail of what happened to all the characters. Still, I would recommend this to anyone who loves suspense. It was a wonderful fast paced book. I have no idea why the other people say this book was slow and boring. Are they sure it was THIS book they were reading?!?

This riveting novel from Hunter gives new meaning to "fast-paced!" "One, Two, Buckle My Shoe" is one of the VERY few books to keep me, page after page, literally unable to put it down - and up until I finished it. I've just read the last two-thirds in one sitting! When I wasn't reading, I was thinking about George and Emily and Laurie. These three, as well as every single other character, became living, breathing people - even if they were only briefly involved in the story. I found myself ROOTING for these characters. Unable to predict any part of this book, I was held at the mercy of Hunter just as Emily is at the Chocolate Man. The one thing keeping it from a perfect 10 in my book is an off hand development that, instead of lessening tension, distracts interest. Though I'd LOVE to see where these folks go from here! Laurie, Emily, Keisha, Carolyn, Brian and even George won't be easily forgotten.

The Chocolate Man holds the city in a grip of fear as he kidnaps, molests, and kills little boys. He climaxes his actions by calling the parents of his victims , demanding a ransom of $20,000 before he deposits their corpses so that they are immediately spotted. Nobody has a clue as to who this animal is, but he has been known to kill seven times in the past three years. .......Now, he is on the prey again for his next victim. He scopes out his target and successfully completes his mission by making the snatch. However, he has blundered for the first time when his latest abductee is a girl. He takes his prisoner back to his apartment, but this time nothing goes right for the serial killer. He cannot even touch her because he only does boys. The child, Emily quickly realizes that she is dealing with a dangerously sick individual, who has two personalities: a hostile pedophile and a frightened little boy. Emily psychologically plays his game, praying that help will come along before he adds his first female scalp to his collection. ........Jesse Hunter has written a chilling psychological thriller that turns into reality every mother's worst nightmare. Readers are cleverly drawn into the story line and the characters, primarily because of the author's skill in subtly shifting back and forth between the minds of the latest victim and the serial killer. Ms. Hunter even manages to allow her audience to feel a twinge of compassion for the monster, who was created from parental abuse. ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE is not a graphically violent novel, but it is an emotional psychodrama that is very compelling in what it says. A must read for those who enjoy getting inside the heart and soul of a book's characters. ......Harriet Klausner