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A review by tristanrobinblakeman
The Serial Killer's Wife by Blake Crouch, Robert Swartwood
4.0
I just finished reading Pretty Little Things and decided to take a break from serial killers, and began reading Fiona Davis' The Address, as it's been recommended to me by several people. After the first fifty or so pages it hadn't grabbed me yet, so I decided to switch over and pick up a serial killer stand-by...there's never anything like a blood-thirsty whackjob to get my reading interest piqued!
This turned out to be a real page turner! I will admit, there were some jumps (leaps?) over reason and logic - and the heroine/victim/protagonist does a couple really stupid things. However, these books aren't written for the doctoral thesis crowd, and I can deal with them. If you can't get past the "they did what?!" syndrome, skip this one. But, if the occasional lack of judgement on the part of the characters doesn't bother you, go for it!
I really felt that I was almost watching a thriller film. The tension and suspense is palpable in the reading - and I would find myself straightening up and reading fast and furiously during certain moments of danger. Looking back, it's kind of funny. But, who cares? It's supposed to be a thriller/psychological action mystery and it is.
Of course, children in danger is always a good hook - and maniac's families are always rather forgotten characters in the real life world of serial killers, and they probably do have a remarkably difficult time dealing with their history and their own sense of guilt and naivete.
The author has written a taut, terse book which has a maximum of violence potential and deeds with a minimum of gore descriptions. I don't remember the language being particularly vulgar or offensive, if that sort of thing bothers you.
I recommend this to anybody who wants a fast, suspenseful, tense read with a good twist ending and a few surprise corners to turns along the way. Don't expect The Alienist - it's not. But, not every book has to be. Especially during the dog days of summer!
This turned out to be a real page turner! I will admit, there were some jumps (leaps?) over reason and logic - and the heroine/victim/protagonist does a couple really stupid things. However, these books aren't written for the doctoral thesis crowd, and I can deal with them. If you can't get past the "they did what?!" syndrome, skip this one. But, if the occasional lack of judgement on the part of the characters doesn't bother you, go for it!
I really felt that I was almost watching a thriller film. The tension and suspense is palpable in the reading - and I would find myself straightening up and reading fast and furiously during certain moments of danger. Looking back, it's kind of funny. But, who cares? It's supposed to be a thriller/psychological action mystery and it is.
Of course, children in danger is always a good hook - and maniac's families are always rather forgotten characters in the real life world of serial killers, and they probably do have a remarkably difficult time dealing with their history and their own sense of guilt and naivete.
The author has written a taut, terse book which has a maximum of violence potential and deeds with a minimum of gore descriptions. I don't remember the language being particularly vulgar or offensive, if that sort of thing bothers you.
I recommend this to anybody who wants a fast, suspenseful, tense read with a good twist ending and a few surprise corners to turns along the way. Don't expect The Alienist - it's not. But, not every book has to be. Especially during the dog days of summer!