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drey72's review against another edition
4.0
M.J. Rose's The Hypnotist is an engrossing read revolving around an ancient statue, crime in the art world, and reincarnation. There's an FBI agent who's having previous-life flashbacks, Iranian diplomats intent on retrieving the statue by hook or by crook, and a young woman who may have be the reincarnated soul of a murder victim. An offbeat mix to be sure, but it works.
Lucian Glass is a member of the FBI's Art Crime Team investigating Dr. Malachai Samuels, whom Lucian suspects has stooped to murder to obtain information on the rare and priceless Memory Tools. When he takes the opportunity to infiltrate the Phoenix Foundation as a patient--hoping to find out more about Dr. Samuels--he instead finds himself recalling events from ages past while under hypnosis.
I really liked Lucian--he's driven, obsessed almost, by his need to see justice done. He never wavers from his course, nor does he cross the line. Not to say he's never unsure--he's not perfect. But he manages to stay true to his moral compass, even as his own head is throwing him loops. There wasn't enough of Malachai for me to care that he's a bad guy. And the Iranians were pretty stereotypical middle-eastern-baddies.
M.J. Rose's The Hypnotist is a compelling tale where each thread is woven carefully into the finished story. The plot flows well, and the story is entertaining. Add it to your summer reading for after a few fluffier reads.
Lucian Glass is a member of the FBI's Art Crime Team investigating Dr. Malachai Samuels, whom Lucian suspects has stooped to murder to obtain information on the rare and priceless Memory Tools. When he takes the opportunity to infiltrate the Phoenix Foundation as a patient--hoping to find out more about Dr. Samuels--he instead finds himself recalling events from ages past while under hypnosis.
I really liked Lucian--he's driven, obsessed almost, by his need to see justice done. He never wavers from his course, nor does he cross the line. Not to say he's never unsure--he's not perfect. But he manages to stay true to his moral compass, even as his own head is throwing him loops. There wasn't enough of Malachai for me to care that he's a bad guy. And the Iranians were pretty stereotypical middle-eastern-baddies.
M.J. Rose's The Hypnotist is a compelling tale where each thread is woven carefully into the finished story. The plot flows well, and the story is entertaining. Add it to your summer reading for after a few fluffier reads.
kmishara's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoy storylines that involve past lives and historical times, and the there are a lot of things going on in these books, though I find it far-fetched that the "Memory Tools" would be valuable enough to generate all this crime and violence. It also annoys me greatly that the Reincarnationist, who claims that the use of these tools "might end wars, murder, and crime" doesn't even understand how what he teaches applies to himself!
gawronma's review against another edition
3.0
It was a nice written adventure story. The ending was nicely wrapped up. At times the characters felt a little wooden however, I did enjoy the story and may try M. J. Rose again.
littleladyluna's review against another edition
4.0
Since this is the third in the series, I was a bit apprehensive about reading it because I was afraid that I would have missed so much from the first two books that I would be lost. Luckily, that didn't happen. At the very beginning, I felt like I was perhaps missing a few pieces of the puzzle, but I don't think that I missed out on anything essential. I will definitely be picking up the first two books (The Reincarnationist and The Memorist) in the series though! It took me a few chapters to get in to this book, but once I did, I didn't want to put it down. I thought the premise was fascinating and loved getting to read about the past lives of Lucian Glass. It was nice to have that mix of historical fiction thrown in with the mystery/thriller. My favorite thing about the whole book though, was how well all of the parts fit together. The different past lives of each of the characters melded so well with the other character's past lives and that was what had me hooked. I wanted to find out what was going to happen next and how everything would turn out, even from events that had happened centuries before. Overall, I thought this was a great book and very well written.
serenaac's review against another edition
4.0
The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose is the third book in the Reincarnationist series and FBI Lucian Glass remains on the trail of Dr. Malachai Samuels.
Reincarnation and the use of memory tools to reach deep into past lives reappears in this novel, alongside the use of hypnosis. Glass is recovering from injuries sustained in The Memorist, but he’s not eager to sit out the investigation on the sidelines. In Vienna, he’s accosted while looking at the only translation of a list of memory tools, which would surely entice Samuels.
But there are other mysteries to be solved beyond who steals the list. The Iranian government is eager to get its hands on a sculpture of Hypnos, even if it means court battles and other underhanded means. Lucian’s past also resurfaces when a painting stolen from a framing shop where his girlfriend worked reappears more than 20 years later slashed to bits.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2010/07/the-hypnotist-by-m-j-rose.html
Reincarnation and the use of memory tools to reach deep into past lives reappears in this novel, alongside the use of hypnosis. Glass is recovering from injuries sustained in The Memorist, but he’s not eager to sit out the investigation on the sidelines. In Vienna, he’s accosted while looking at the only translation of a list of memory tools, which would surely entice Samuels.
But there are other mysteries to be solved beyond who steals the list. The Iranian government is eager to get its hands on a sculpture of Hypnos, even if it means court battles and other underhanded means. Lucian’s past also resurfaces when a painting stolen from a framing shop where his girlfriend worked reappears more than 20 years later slashed to bits.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2010/07/the-hypnotist-by-m-j-rose.html
literaryfeline's review against another edition
4.0
I was first introduced to M.J. Rose's writing through her crime fiction series, featuring a sex therapist Dr. Morgan Snow. I enjoyed the series and so was excited when she came out with the Reincarnationist series, especially given the subject matter. Like so many books, however, the series went on my wish list, and I hadn't had the opportunity to read any of the books until now, beginning with the third book in the series, The Hypnotist. Although labeled a series, the Reincarnationist books (The Reincarnationist, The Memorist and The Hypnotist) can be read in any order. Their only connection seems to be the fact that they deal with past lives at their heart. The stories and the characters are independent of one another.
The above synopsis only covers a piece of what can be found in The Hypnotist. So much is going on that I would not recommend setting the book aside once you start for days a time before returning to it. You may lose a thread or forget an important detail. I had the luxury of reading most of this book in one sitting and found it captivating all the while. It was never dull and each thread of the story seemed carefully crafted to create a suspenseful and fascinating ride. As I read, I could hardly wait to see how everything would come together in the end.
The idea of past lives has long interested me, and so I was especially drawn to that aspect of the book. I haven't done nearly as much research into the subject as the author has, but my interest has been piqued. While the novel itself stretches believability, it does not do so in a way that interferes with the suspension of disbelief. I was hooked from the start and lost in the novel right through to the end. The characters were well developed, some more complex than others.
Art history has never been one of my strong suits, but I am fascinated by history itself and find the world of art theft intriguing. One issue the novel brought up that especially caught my interest was the trail of ownership a piece of art may leave, the complexities of it and just how difficult it could be to trace the art back to its origin. History is full of its own mysteries. It is no wonder I love it so.
Having been reading so many books about the Vietnam War recently, The Hypnotist was a nice change. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.
The above synopsis only covers a piece of what can be found in The Hypnotist. So much is going on that I would not recommend setting the book aside once you start for days a time before returning to it. You may lose a thread or forget an important detail. I had the luxury of reading most of this book in one sitting and found it captivating all the while. It was never dull and each thread of the story seemed carefully crafted to create a suspenseful and fascinating ride. As I read, I could hardly wait to see how everything would come together in the end.
The idea of past lives has long interested me, and so I was especially drawn to that aspect of the book. I haven't done nearly as much research into the subject as the author has, but my interest has been piqued. While the novel itself stretches believability, it does not do so in a way that interferes with the suspension of disbelief. I was hooked from the start and lost in the novel right through to the end. The characters were well developed, some more complex than others.
Art history has never been one of my strong suits, but I am fascinated by history itself and find the world of art theft intriguing. One issue the novel brought up that especially caught my interest was the trail of ownership a piece of art may leave, the complexities of it and just how difficult it could be to trace the art back to its origin. History is full of its own mysteries. It is no wonder I love it so.
Having been reading so many books about the Vietnam War recently, The Hypnotist was a nice change. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.
unabridgedchick's review against another edition
2.0
This, to me, was a perfect summertime escapist read: exciting settings, a large cast of easy to remember characters, some improbable plot twists, and a bit of romance. Set (mostly) in New York City, the story follows a number of characters including Lucian, an agent with the FBI's Art Crime Team who witnessed his girlfriend's murder twenty years ago; Emeline, a young woman who may or may not be a reincarnation of that girlfriend; Samimi, an Iranian man tasked with recovering (or stealing) a sculpture of immense importance; and Dr. Malachai Samuels, a past-life researcher desperate to locate 'Memory Tools', artifacts thought to assist in accessing past life memories.
Although this is the third book in M.J. Rose's Reincarnationist series, I had no problem getting into the story and understanding the plot and premise. The story moves at a very brisk pace and I could easily race through the chapters; the characters are pretty notable; and the reincarnation element was a great twist on the standard crime thriller. There were a lot of coincidences I usually hate in these types of thrillers, but given that the characters are connected by their past lives, I was willing to forgive that to see where the story would go.
I do have to confess, however, I was disappointed that one of the major criminal factions in the novel were Iranian Muslims. Given the Islamophobia in the US, I find it dangerous to feature Muslims as criminals (and worse, pointedly as 'terrorists' at one point) and it ultimately took away some of my enjoyment of the story. (I rather wish Rose had invented a country to feature as the historical home of the sought-after statue, perhaps.)
My quibble aside, in the end this was the kind of novel I can understand being described as a 'romp': it's just straight-up fun. For folks in the market for an entertaining series to become addicted to, this might be it.
Although this is the third book in M.J. Rose's Reincarnationist series, I had no problem getting into the story and understanding the plot and premise. The story moves at a very brisk pace and I could easily race through the chapters; the characters are pretty notable; and the reincarnation element was a great twist on the standard crime thriller. There were a lot of coincidences I usually hate in these types of thrillers, but given that the characters are connected by their past lives, I was willing to forgive that to see where the story would go.
I do have to confess, however, I was disappointed that one of the major criminal factions in the novel were Iranian Muslims. Given the Islamophobia in the US, I find it dangerous to feature Muslims as criminals (and worse, pointedly as 'terrorists' at one point) and it ultimately took away some of my enjoyment of the story. (I rather wish Rose had invented a country to feature as the historical home of the sought-after statue, perhaps.)
My quibble aside, in the end this was the kind of novel I can understand being described as a 'romp': it's just straight-up fun. For folks in the market for an entertaining series to become addicted to, this might be it.
whatsheread's review
In the interest of full disclosure, I did read this book without having read any of the previous books in the Reincarnationist series. While I know that there were some parts of the entire story that may have been more clear had I read the first two books, I do not think that my lack of knowledge in any way influenced my opinion of The Hypnotist.
I did enjoy The Hypnotist. It was the second reincarnation book I read within a week, and I remain fascinated by this idea of past lives coming back to haunt us and the very literal idea of history repeating itself. The interconnections and the story drove me to read, while the building tension throughout the novel was intense at times. Add to that the fact that the story is complex enough to leave the reader guessing, and The Hypnotist becomes a clever but quirky thriller.
Unfortunately, the multiple characters became difficult to follow, especially when added to the characters in the past. Three different stories/mysteries occurring at the same time became quite confusing. In addition, the resolution of all three was somewhat anti-climatic. There was great build-up, but the end of each story line fizzled. In a similar vein, the characters were rather one-dimensional, almost caricatures of their real-life counterparts: the tortured, passionate, artistic good guy, the evil entrepreneur who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, the mysterious love interest with a shady past, a shadow government getting involved where it should not. As a result, the reader is unable to generate a vested interest in any one character, which greatly detracts from the story.
In the end, The Hypnotist was enjoyable but left me wanting more. I'm left confused why anyone would want to know more about his or her past lives. What is to gain by the knowledge? Still, as with any reincarnation story, the possibilities behind this idea are intriguing. It was these possibilities that kept me interested and allowed me to take pleasure from the story rather than become bogged down with the more obfuscating aspects of The Hypnotist.
I did enjoy The Hypnotist. It was the second reincarnation book I read within a week, and I remain fascinated by this idea of past lives coming back to haunt us and the very literal idea of history repeating itself. The interconnections and the story drove me to read, while the building tension throughout the novel was intense at times. Add to that the fact that the story is complex enough to leave the reader guessing, and The Hypnotist becomes a clever but quirky thriller.
Unfortunately, the multiple characters became difficult to follow, especially when added to the characters in the past. Three different stories/mysteries occurring at the same time became quite confusing. In addition, the resolution of all three was somewhat anti-climatic. There was great build-up, but the end of each story line fizzled. In a similar vein, the characters were rather one-dimensional, almost caricatures of their real-life counterparts: the tortured, passionate, artistic good guy, the evil entrepreneur who will stop at nothing to achieve his goals, the mysterious love interest with a shady past, a shadow government getting involved where it should not. As a result, the reader is unable to generate a vested interest in any one character, which greatly detracts from the story.
In the end, The Hypnotist was enjoyable but left me wanting more. I'm left confused why anyone would want to know more about his or her past lives. What is to gain by the knowledge? Still, as with any reincarnation story, the possibilities behind this idea are intriguing. It was these possibilities that kept me interested and allowed me to take pleasure from the story rather than become bogged down with the more obfuscating aspects of The Hypnotist.
lisabage's review
way too many characters. couldn't see the story for the number of new people introduced
abookishaffair's review
3.0
Lucian Glass, FBI agent, is haunted by a crime he couldn't prevent. He throws himself into a new case as a part of the FBI Art Crime Team that will take him beyond where he ever thought he'd be able to go. (Side note: Who knew that the FBI Art Crime Team existed? How awesome would it be to work on that team? Sign me up now, please!).
Reincarnation is a very interesting concept to me. It's not something that I have really given much thought to before. Rose does a really good job of making this phenomena seem realistic and possible. She definitely made me think a little bit. Rose's writing pulls you right into to this new world where reincarnation really is the order of the day. I'm not usually a thriller reader but this one definitely sucked me in.
The Hypnotist is the third in the Reincarnation trilogy. At first I was a little apprehensive to read this book because I thought I was going to be lost. I really thought that The Hypnotist worked well as a standalone book and while I didn't feel like I was missing anything, I would be interested to go back and read the first two books in the series just to make sure that I wasn't missing anything!
Reincarnation is a very interesting concept to me. It's not something that I have really given much thought to before. Rose does a really good job of making this phenomena seem realistic and possible. She definitely made me think a little bit. Rose's writing pulls you right into to this new world where reincarnation really is the order of the day. I'm not usually a thriller reader but this one definitely sucked me in.
The Hypnotist is the third in the Reincarnation trilogy. At first I was a little apprehensive to read this book because I thought I was going to be lost. I really thought that The Hypnotist worked well as a standalone book and while I didn't feel like I was missing anything, I would be interested to go back and read the first two books in the series just to make sure that I wasn't missing anything!