"Madeline's Miracles" by Warren Adler is a psychological thriller that explores the dark consequences of manipulation and the power of suggestion. While the premise promises a tense and chilling narrative, the execution left much to be desired, earning this novel a two-star rating.

The story follows an artist, her stockbroker husband, and their twin daughters who move to Los Angeles and fall under the influence of Madeline, a self-professed "psychic." The plot is built on the unsettling premise of Madeline gradually taking control over every aspect of their lives, from their careers to their parenting and even their sex lives. While the concept is intriguing, the execution becomes predictable, and the narrative fails to deliver the anticipated tension.

The characters lack depth and fail to evoke empathy from the reader. The family's descent into becoming willing accomplices feels forced, and the motivations behind their actions are not sufficiently explored. As a result, the emotional impact of the story is diminished, and the reader may struggle to connect with the characters on a meaningful level.

While the novel attempts to delve into the psychological aspects of manipulation and the vulnerability of the unsuspecting, the exploration remains surface-level. The book lacks the nuance and subtlety needed to effectively convey the impact of Madeline's control over the family. The writing style, while clear, lacks the atmospheric quality necessary for a psychological thriller.

The tension promised in the description fails to materialize, and the climax lacks the intensity expected from a page-turning thriller. The resolution feels rushed and leaves unanswered questions, contributing to an overall sense of dissatisfaction.

In conclusion, "Madeline's Miracles" falls short of its potential to be a gripping psychological thriller. While the concept of manipulation and the power of suggestion is intriguing, the execution lacks the depth, character development, and narrative tension needed to make it a compelling read. This novel may appeal to those looking for a light exploration of psychological themes, but readers seeking a truly immersive and impactful thriller may find themselves disappointed.

Virginia Sargent, a commercial artist living the California lifestyle with her stockbroker husband, Jack, and twin pre-teen daughters, who are undisputed masters on the soccer field, meets an enigmatic woman at her beauty parlour. That woman is Madeline Boswell, and she knows everything about Virginia and her family.

Virginia feels drawn to her, and before long, as Madeline’s predictions begin to come true, she begins to trust her completely. She becomes so obsessed with Madeline that she makes her the sole subject of her canvas. She truly believes Madeline’s promise that she can keep their family safe and happy, help them achieve their dreams and protect them from all dangers.

At first Jack is sceptical and spends time and energy trying to expose Madeline as a two-bit psychic and a charlatan. But when his daughter is saved from near tragedy at a football game, he becomes a fanatical convert.

Before long, Madeline is invited to live in their beautiful home, and the couple accord her the status of a demi-god. She dictates terms on every aspect of their lives, from their work, parenting and the stock market. They begin to follow her advice, no matter how outlandish it may seem. But then strange things begin to happen. Lines that should never be crossed are transgressed. Who is Madeline? Is she really clairvoyant, able to see the future and protect their family from unknown dangers, or is she nothing but a sleazy conwoman?


The story is written in the 3rd person past tense PoV of Virginia and Jack in alternate chapters. We don’t see much of the girls. For the most part, we are told that they are busy at soccer practice. It would have been interesting to have their 3rd person PoV too to see how their parents’ acceptance of this woman affected them, and what they made of it.

The writing is good, and the dialogue believable. The football match in which the twins work their magic is a turning point for the family and is well written.

While the author builds up the story well, the ending is not very convincing. There wasn’t enough conflict to make the characters credible. Also, we get to see Jack’s journey from scepticism to conviction, but for Virginia, it seems as if it takes almost nothing for her to become a complete believer. The fierceness with which she places Madeline on a pedestal, and worships her, treating her at once as a god and a mother made me uncomfortable.

There are references to sex, but they are not gratuitous, even though they are sickening to read about because of what they represent.

Madeline seems like a one-woman cult, and like Jack and Virginia, we hover between rejection and acceptance of the strange things happening in the life of the Sargents. Though a work of fiction, we have seen enough evidence of sensible people giving over their lives into the control of another person to know that such things are very much possible.

Wow! Definite 5 stars here. Madeline's Miracles grabbed my attention from the first page and kept it to the last. That's not my usual experience. If you like thrillers read this book!

This was a creepy and twisted story of how someone can fall under the total influence and control of another. Enjoyable read.
Many thanks to Stonehouse Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

A story of sly manipulation that was rather creepy. I know if a person is a skilled taker without remorse they can accomplish more than the average person can imagine. I hope I never run into this kind of person.

The Sargent family has recently moved to LA where they are creating a new life for themselves. When they meet Madeline, a psychic, they're life is filled with promise. But only if they submit to Madeline completely.

This was a hard novel for me to get into. The writing style was awkward, especially when it shifted to following the father. The way the author would describe how Jack felt about his twelve year old twin daughters felt gross. "...perhaps in some secret fatherly way, a lover of sorts... fatherhood was not without sensory stimulation, erotic perceptions and a type of passion." When I read that passage in chapter ten, I had to tell my friend that if my husband ever made a comment like that about our daughter, I'd take her and run. There were other offhand comments similar enough that I was waiting for a CSA reveal.

Thankfully that didn't happen. But this story also felt unbelievable from the moment Virginia met Madeline. Readers don't get enough characterization about Virginia for her to be confiding in Madeline by the second chapter. Hell, she even automatically started believing in the woman's abilities and would not even listen to her husband's concerns. How is that realistic after a decade or so of marriage?

As the last five chapters hit, we finally got to the grit of the story. The tone of the writing changed into more of the thriller I was anticipating. But the end was lackluster. I never really connected with the characters, and ultimately didn't care about how the story would end.

from the introductory chapter, i realized that this book was not for me.

the protagonist is approached by a stranger who knows too much about her & her instinct is to tell her more?

nope.

Madeline's Miracles
by Warren Adler

Synopsis:
"When a commercial artist, her stockbroker husband and their twin daughters move to Los Angeles, they unwittingly fall prey to a woman who convinces them that she is a psychic and can foresee their future.

By persuading them that she holds the key to their success and can protect them from the dangers that threaten them, she gradually takes full control over their careers, their parenting, even their sex lives, until they become her willing accomplices.

This chilling tale rises to a tense crescendo as the psychic dissects and manipulates the family’s beliefs and paralyzes their will to protect themselves. This classic story of brainwashing offers a cautionary tale for anyone who has lost the ability to question an illogical certainty."

Review:
What would you do if a fine, respectable, middle-aged woman, knows things about you and your family that you know for certain she cannot know? Well, meet Madeline, a psychic! Find out how she knows so much about this family of four. I wasn't expecting the twist part-way through! Fast-paced and creepy! Well-written characters. This book was originally published in 1989.

I was gifted this advance copy by NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Virginia and Jack Sargent are a financially well-off couple with lively twelve year old twin daughters and are living the "good life" in beautiful, southern California. The happy and well balanced family have almost everything they could possibly want or need in life until the day Virginia unexpectedly meets her soon to be best friend and confidante Mysterious Madeline. Within days, Virginia realizes Madeline seems to be gifted with the power of clairvoyance and she is undoubtedly intrigued. Jack, a true skeptic is very uncomfortable with this new friendship and he can feel and see his wife is changing and slipping away right in front of him. Madeline has become an unwelcome presence in their lives until he and their children quickly fall under her seemingly mystical spell as well with her predictions of great wealth and fortune along with illness and accidents starting to take place just as she claims. Their lives as a family unit are becoming more and more distorted after she temporarily moves in with them and she continues to gain ultimate control by receiving their unwavering faith and trust. They truly believe they love her as a member of their family until lines are crossed and start getting very blurred in the role she is playing with each person and they are so mesmerized that they can't see how twisted and sick their lives have become. How has Madeline gained the power that she has exhibited in so many ways? Who is Madeline really, and what's is her ultimate motive for moving in with the Sargents? Will this family come to their senses before all their lives come crashing down upon them like a devastating earthquake or will they find out that Madeline is the real deal and fate was meant to bring "Madeline's Miracles" into their lives?

This was a captivating, eerie and creepy story of misplaced trust and moral values. The book was quite clever and interesting as it was different from any book that I have read. I still have mixed feelings about the book as it was definitely cringe-worthy in more than a few parts.that were very unsettling. All the characters were well-written and I enjoyed how each person fell under Madeline's spell although I felt it happened too quickly not to be questioned more by both Virginia and Jack, since Madeline was always mysterious, vague and cold in all her answers to them. Madeline was a fantastic character although I disliked her enormously. When I started the book I thought it was written in the present years but then it mentioned phone booths and a typewriter so I would have liked to have known the decade and year when the story took place as it helps my imagination visualize the story better. As the story reached the halfway point I felt it became somewhat muddled with many things being thrown in and happening way too fast for a period of three months especially, for how Virginia was mothering her children and what she was allowing them to witness in the home was a little over the top so that is why it was be three star rating instead of four. I do recommend this strangely good story and look forward to reading more.books by Warren Adler.

I want to thank the publisher "Stonehouse Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this story and any thoughts of opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given this captivating story 3 1/2 SINISTER AND TWISTED 🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!

This was a fairly quick read and quite captivating read. I gave the book 3 stars and would have upped it to 4 but I found things got a bit muddled about 3/4 through. I would have liked to see a bit more put into the discovery of Madelines background and when the tables started to turn and how Virginia comes to her senses and makes a plan to recover her families lives. Overall I enjoyed this psychological thriller and the mind games Madeline played and drew this family into succumbing to everything she asked of them.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley all opinions are my own.

I would recommend this book to friends.

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. This story is amazing - it grabs the reader by the throat and hangs on until the finish. I loved it! The characters are wonderfully flawed and the twists and turns are non-stop. The best part is the reader is not sure who to believe or who is gullible or who can be trusted throughout the book. I totally recommend this book to readers who enjoy a psychological struggle with an unclear outcome.

This author has written a story that had me believing right along with the characters. It made me think. Virginia and her family are perfectly happy, when she is approached by Madeline, a psychic, who tells her things that no one could know. The story takes us down a path that is entirely possible and has probably happened to others. I found myself immersed in the story, and it kept my interest throughout...highly recommend. I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my review.

Review of eBook

Virginia and Jack Sargent relocate to southern California with their twin daughters. When Virginia meets Madeline at Mel’s, she wonders how the woman seems to know about her and her life.

It isn’t long before Virginia and Madeline are best friends, with Virginia hanging onto every word of Madeline’s psychic predictions. Soon the mysterious woman has insinuated herself into their lives and even lives in their home. And, because Virginia is certain Madeline’s psychic gifts are true and real, she soon turns to the woman for advice on everything and follows whatever she suggests.

What is the difference between informed knowledge and manipulation? Will the Sargent family find the psychic’s advice helps their family? Or is all a particularly cruel way for Madeline to take advantage of their friendship?

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The narrative in this envisioned tale is both predictable and admonitory. The twin girls are believable characters; the adults all tend toward being somewhat stereotypical and all of them are quite unlikeable.

The plot unfolds pretty much as readers will expect with no huge surprises along the way. Some of the events are unexpected; however, considering the nature of the parents’ subjugation to the woman who has so completely inserted herself into their lives, most of them anticipated to occur.

Although this is, perhaps, meant to be a cautionary tale for those who might fall victim to a quasi-psychic or to some other form of brainwashing, readers are likely to find this story of exploitation and manipulation to be nothing short of disappointing.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Stonehouse Press and NetGalley
#MadelinesMiracles #NetGalley

I found this book very slow and in all honesty, not very interesting. The characters were flat and they didn't relate well. The plot was prosaic and the ending came as no surprise.

I received a free copy. Ivam leaving my honest review.

This was honestly pretty chilling and scary. It’s probably one of the only thrillers that has willingly unsettled me and made me uncomfortable but it was excellent. 5 out of 5stars it was crazy but in the best possible way!