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paulabrandon's review against another edition
2.0
Thomas Lamark is devastated by the suicide of his mother. And extremely, extremely angry. He blames her death on her psychiatrist, Dr. Michael Tennent, and sets out to get his revenge.
This got off to an exciting, interesting start as Thomas kidnaps and tortures those he feels had wronged his mother during her lifetime. It was gruesome and captivating. And then proceedings just kind of die in the ass! Thomas kills an actress rival of his mother's, and kidnaps and holds hostage Amanda Capstick, a woman that Michael has recently fallen in love with. The rest of the book is just Michael trying to find out where Amanda is, and a detective trying to prove that this rival actress didn't commit suicide in the way it was staged to look.
It just got really boring. I, the reader, already know where Amanda is. I, the reader, know that Thomas killed the actress and didn't commit suicide. It was really, really dull following around two characters trying to find out information I already knew. That device has never worked for me. The chapters with the detective, Glen Branson, were particularly interminable. The pacing just completely ground to a halt whenever he showed up.
It does have its moments here and there. But at over 400 pages in a tiny font, this was sometimes quite the slog to get through. I skim read various chapters and still didn't miss anything!
This got off to an exciting, interesting start as Thomas kidnaps and tortures those he feels had wronged his mother during her lifetime. It was gruesome and captivating. And then proceedings just kind of die in the ass! Thomas kills an actress rival of his mother's, and kidnaps and holds hostage Amanda Capstick, a woman that Michael has recently fallen in love with. The rest of the book is just Michael trying to find out where Amanda is, and a detective trying to prove that this rival actress didn't commit suicide in the way it was staged to look.
It just got really boring. I, the reader, already know where Amanda is. I, the reader, know that Thomas killed the actress and didn't commit suicide. It was really, really dull following around two characters trying to find out information I already knew. That device has never worked for me. The chapters with the detective, Glen Branson, were particularly interminable. The pacing just completely ground to a halt whenever he showed up.
It does have its moments here and there. But at over 400 pages in a tiny font, this was sometimes quite the slog to get through. I skim read various chapters and still didn't miss anything!
aliceplant2505's review against another edition
Could not get into this book and had no desire to pick it up. It was a gift so I didn't know anything about the author or the book. I read some reviews after 66 pages and it did not sound like it was going to get any better, there were reviews saying characters names changed throughout the book and very graphic torture scenes which is just not for me.
ghost_cat99's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Torture
emma_ireland's review against another edition
2.0
Is it believable that if a woman went missing, the search for her would be led by a man she'd only just started seeing? And that her family would be asking HIM to keep THEM updated on what was going on? So, her mother wouldn't bother going to the police, or have anything to do with the investigation into her disappearance; instead, the police would be communicating with a man who, let's face it, would probably be the main suspect. Add to that the most cringeworthy sex scene I've read in yonks, and it suddenly becomes clear why I found this is Asda for a quid.
thosedarkpages's review against another edition
4.0
A brilliant early piece from Peter James; a piece that introduces us to Glenn Branson who is a regular feature in the Roy Grace series. Tense throughout with lashings of violence (which is something I really do enjoy in books, call me morbid maybe)
nigelbrown's review against another edition
3.0
Woah; Psychosis safari. is everybody in this story a fruitcake?
I picked this up as I've always liked Peter James and I have to say, I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a Roy Grace novel,however,I soon got into the story and as long as you take it in the spirit it's written you'll find it a quick and enjoyable read.
The main reason it's only a three star for me,is that the characters are just so unrealistic.If I ever needed therapy I hope I don't get this guy.Probably the most neurotic, love-struck wierdo I've ever come across in a book. You're constantly shouting in your head for him to man up and get a grip.
The police officers are intelligent one minute and thick as pigs pooh the next and the psychic Nazi briefly flits in and out of the story making you wonder why he's there.(Probably because James couldn't come up with any other link with the killer.)
All in all a reasonably satisfactory read with too many flaws to make it good read.
I picked this up as I've always liked Peter James and I have to say, I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a Roy Grace novel,however,I soon got into the story and as long as you take it in the spirit it's written you'll find it a quick and enjoyable read.
The main reason it's only a three star for me,is that the characters are just so unrealistic.If I ever needed therapy I hope I don't get this guy.Probably the most neurotic, love-struck wierdo I've ever come across in a book. You're constantly shouting in your head for him to man up and get a grip.
The police officers are intelligent one minute and thick as pigs pooh the next and the psychic Nazi briefly flits in and out of the story making you wonder why he's there.(Probably because James couldn't come up with any other link with the killer.)
All in all a reasonably satisfactory read with too many flaws to make it good read.
urbansapphire's review
4.0
I read this not long after it was first published and then picked it up again recently when I saw it in Asda for a bargainous £1! PJ is one of my favourite authors and this book is no exception.
As usual his villain is completely mental, and at times makes me worry for PJs mental state for coming up with him! Some elements of the story make me cringe (surrounding the relationship with his mother, not to mention one of the sex scenes which descends into something out of an unlikely bodice-ripper), but in the case of the former, it adds a certain something to the character and although it doesn't excuse what he does, it somehow makes him and his actions a little more understandable.
Another interesting element of this book for me was that it introduced Glen Branson, the policeman from PJs later-written Roy Grace series, although it's clear that at this point he was a stand-alone character in this one book, rather than someone to be revisited in a series.
Unfortunately it looks like someone has gone back and rewritten this book to tie in with the character as written in the new series - because once or twice the names change - Glen's wife changes from Ari (as it is in the later books) to another name (can't remember what) it is. This doesn't detract from the fantastic storytelling though, and would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers that have a little bit extra - and that can quite literally, scare you silly!
As usual his villain is completely mental, and at times makes me worry for PJs mental state for coming up with him! Some elements of the story make me cringe (surrounding the relationship with his mother, not to mention one of the sex scenes which descends into something out of an unlikely bodice-ripper), but in the case of the former, it adds a certain something to the character and although it doesn't excuse what he does, it somehow makes him and his actions a little more understandable.
Another interesting element of this book for me was that it introduced Glen Branson, the policeman from PJs later-written Roy Grace series, although it's clear that at this point he was a stand-alone character in this one book, rather than someone to be revisited in a series.
Unfortunately it looks like someone has gone back and rewritten this book to tie in with the character as written in the new series - because once or twice the names change - Glen's wife changes from Ari (as it is in the later books) to another name (can't remember what) it is. This doesn't detract from the fantastic storytelling though, and would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers that have a little bit extra - and that can quite literally, scare you silly!
undomiel's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely one of my favourite stand-alone books by Peter James, this story had all his trademark talents as a writer.
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