The Escape Artist

by Diane Chamberlain

Susanna Miller loses custody of her 11 month old son, Tyler. She knows that just because her ex-husband and his new wife (the woman he cheated on Susanna with)who are both attorneys, have money and can give him more things doesn't mean that they can be as loving and caring as she can be. She defies the court order and runs away with her son. She leaves without a word to anyone, even her best friend, Linc, who she's loved since childhood. She is able to start a new life but finds out that it is unpredictable at best, and dangerous sometimes too.

Susanna was a very likable character. I related a lot to her too, because I know with certainty that I would do the exact same thing. There is no way I would have ever let someone else raise my children just because they had more money then I did.

Plus, Susanna's ex was really slimy. He was an attorney and able to earn that much money because Susanna worked to put him through school. The beautiful home everyone raved about had been picked out and decorated by Susanna. When Susanna and her husband were still married, he didn't want the child. He even suggested an abortion when he found out that she was pregnant. Most of what he does is to keep his new rich wife happy!

Quotes I liked:

"You're hyper vigilant," Adam said.
"What does that mean?"
"It means that you're always on the lookout, as if you're expecting something terrible to happen."
"It's not that I expect someone to leap out of the shadows at me, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did. I don't trust the world much anymore. I don't trust it to be the same tomorrow as it is today. Things can change so quickly."

Thoughts:

In the end of this book, Susanna reflects that in the end, Peggy (the new wife) was really no different from her. No better or worse, and really equals when it came to strength and courage.

I wish that all people would start thinking like this and stop acting judgmental about others.