The Last Cheerleader

One of Meg's best. A good mystery with just the right twists and turns along the way. I agree with one of the other reviews, I see a movie based on this book. Some interesting insight into the world of publishing along with plain old fashioned greed. A sequel would also be fun. One again... I really wish Meg would write another Jesse James book!

Mary Beth's comfortable world was shattered with the ring of a phone. Her ex husband had been found dead, next to her current boyfriend. Almost before she can assimilate that, one of her literary clients is also found dead. There is only one apparent conncetion between all three men, Mary Beth. Those are just the first contortions her life is about to take. The lead investigater may or may not be plying her with sex to find incriminating evidence to put her away for all three killings. Then, her best friend from high school shows up on her doorstep in the middle of the night with bleeding feet and a frightening story that could be ripped from the past two years' headlines. With Lindy's re - entrance into her life comes a flood of things Mary Beth had tried to forget, including memories the daughter she had to give up in an attempt to save the child from the rapist who sired her, Lindy's husband. **** Saving a child's life and possibly America from a potential bio terrorist as well as saving herself from jail becomes Mary Beths missions. Friendship, secrets, and betrayal tightly twine into a chilling, fast paced novel. Nonetheless, despite the darkness of the plot, there sparks of pasison and humor. The conflict of interest in sleeping with the head cop and some of the coincidences stretch crediblility, but the overall quality of the writing and the inherent tension compensate the reader. This is doubtlessly Ms. O'Brien's best book yet. **** Amanda Killgore

Meg O'Brien has written another really great suspense novel full of thrills and chills. I recommend it highly!

I am a college student in Bend, Oregon. My mother gave me this book to read and I really enjoyed reading it. I gave it to my sister (she's still in high school) and she loved it too.

From the first page it's clear Meg O'Brien has a crafty, intelligent mind. The Last Cheerleader starts off as a short narrative by the lead character, Mary Beth, reflecting on a failed relationship. Anyone who's ever had a lover fall far short of expectations will have no trouble relating to Mary Beth's musings. From there, the book takes off in a delightfully frantic pace. I found Mary Beth a determined character with a quick mind and a cool, sardonic sense of humor. What I hope for in any novel is that the author not only keep me entertained throughout, but get my heart racing every once in awhile. Meg O'Brien achieved that easily with this book. She always does, which is why I'll always be a fan of her writing.