I struggled through this book. It started with an exciting premise, but was very slow-moving and then Kava made the ultimate mistake - she didn't resolve the story! I've never read this author before and might try and earlier book because the writing is good, but there's too much Deus Ex Machina.

I have been reading Alex Kava novels since 2003, and never before have I been disappointed. This book at just under 300 pages feels like almost 500. It is slow moving, and relies on conspiracy theories (and the fact that the reader knows these theories) to move the plot along. In this book, Special Agent Maggie O'Dell, a profiler for the FBI, is called in by the Interim Director to investigate a series of explosions inside the Mall of America on Black Friday (according to the book this was Nov. 23, but unless it takes place in 2007 that is not possible since 11/23/09 was a Monday). My first major problem came after Maggie received the phone call. Instead of immediately getting ready, she and her friends gather around her television to watch Fox News to see what is being reported. This makes little sense to me. It seems that if Kava wanted to create a sense of urgency, she would not have had her main character standing around talking to her friends about the Interim Director's reasons for bringing her in on the case. My next problem is that it seems that in order for Nick to be present in several of Maggie's investigations, he needs to change jobs left and right: Sheriff, lawyer, and now security consultant? This is starting to get ridiculous. Another problem was the lack of her circle of ancillary characters, which were only present at the beginning and end of the book. Yet another problem was the fact that unbeknowst to Maggie her half brother (referred to as her step-brother, although they have the same father) was tangentially involved in the bombing. It took more than half of the book for her to find that he was there, despite the fact she saw someone who looked like her father in the lobby of the hotel the investigation is headquarted at.

My biggest problem, however, is Kava's use of the Oklahoma City Bombing to further the plot. Technically, this is not a spoiler, but the antagonist is allegedly John Doe #2, the man believed to have helped McVeigh and Nichols plan and execute the attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995. This wasn't the only national tragedy that she used either. She also mentions Columbine, Virginia Tech, 9/11, and the mass killings at a Nebraska mall a few years ago. These seemed to be present for shock value, and did little to help the plot along.

Further, there was almost no character growth in this novel. Maggie is still untrusting, especially of Nick, who doesn't trust her either. Patrick doesn't know or trust Maggie, going so far as to "think over" whether he wanted her help with his situation. This was so implausible to me. If you are a suspect in a terrorist bombing and your sister is part of the investigative team, wouldn't you run to her for help? No matter how little you know each other, there is no reason not to accept help when it is offered. In the end, he is the only one that seems to have grown.

I love the Maggie O'Dell books by Alex Kava. She grips your senses from the 1st page, and then you have to hang on from there.

This book was riveting and a great thriller, The Black Friday concept is what caught my attention. I would never have thought about when I go out to a mall the day after Thanksgiving, that there would be a bomb at a place I would be shopping. This book will make you think about that, with the way the world is today.

All in all I really enjoyed this book, but the ending fell a little flat. If you are a Kava fan and a fan of Maggie ODell then you will enjoy this book. I hope that this story will continue in another book to help tie up some loose ends!

i have every one of kava's books. maggie o'dell has been one of my favorite characters. however, that has all changed with this latest addition to the series. black friday started out as a very good story but quickly fell short of my expectations. kava seemed rushed and detached. how many books, in a series, do you write before you give your readers what they want?
maggie has turned into a woman that is terrified to have a real emotion. i was expecting a lot more progress between maggie and nick at this point. what is this, the seventh book in the series and maggie still has done little more than kiss nick. she still can not commit to any real emotions, kava appears to pattern herself after james patterson. she has a long way to go. kava lost me as a follower with this one. i want my money back.

If you can set aside four or so hours for uninterrupted reading of this, do so, because chances are you'll resent anyone who disturbs you while you're engrossed in it. The only slowdowns are in romantic interludes, and those are short and quick. The villainous "project manager" is the scariest bad guy you're likely to encounter in current literature, and there is a hook at the end that might well leave you hoping for an eventual continuation.

as always love all of Alex Kava's books. This was no exception. Great book!!!!

Once again Alex Kava writes a wonderful Maggie O'Dell novel leaving us readers foaming at the mouth for another one! Anyone who is a fan of Alex Kava will love this book and anyone who is not needs to be one! I read it in one day, it was intense and very fast paced. I love Nick coming into the story, he brings a great bonus to the O'Dell books! Thank you Alex Kava for another fantastic book!

I am hot and cold on Alex Kava - although, for the most part, I have enjoyed them. The firs thing I noticed about this book was the cover - its perfect and absolutely creepy and scary! The down escalotor into a blaze of fire!!! Perfect.

This novel once again features Maggie O'Dell - who is called in to assist after an absolutely horrific act of terrorism (domestic) is committed at one of the busiest malls in the country, on the busiest shopping Day of the year (hence the title).

This book is seriously scary and had me thinking that this could happen absolutely anywhere at anytime - especially if we factor in the idealistic and easily influenced young adults - which is what this book is partly based on. This mass murder is actually committed by a group of young adults who have been influenced by the Project Manager - a mysterious figure who somehow gets away with the deed.

There are alot of dead bodies and although the author does not go into huge, huge details, she gives us enough to make us use our imagination about what the end effect of bombing a mall would be. This is a strength with this author - less is more as she asks the reader to use their imagination.

Maggie, as always is very likeable and between herself, Nick and a supporting team, will work towards finding the "mastermind". There are some neat little twists in this story and I thought that was a nice touch. I could have done with less romance between Nick and Maggie as I thought it removed from the core story.

I am also a little confused as to the ending which gives us the "whoddunnit" but had me wondering about some of the loose ends.

Still, this was a weekend read that I enjoyed and look forward to more books by Kava. Having said that, I am not sure that I will be entering any malls between now and December 31, 2009 - too scary.