Review: Fast-Paced, Engrossing Mystery with Surprise Ending!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 2, 2013
This was a much anticipated read for me, and I was immediately wrapped up in the mystery and action, esp. as someone who always says. "when I win the lottery!" Makes you think twice! In the story we are given a cast of manipulative, deceptive, lusty and greedy characters that brings home the old adages "choose your friends wisely", and "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." Manipulation is quite "the ride" literally and figuratively, and makes for a fast-paced, keep you guessing until the end murder mystery! The big glitch for me in the storyline, was the "caricatures made famous by Hollywood" of a certain psychiatric condition used in this book. I like sound science in my adventures, and hated seeing this condition yet again fall into the "Hollywood trap" of lack of understanding of how this condition develops and manifests. Unlike most readers, I do have expertise concerning this psychiatric diagnosis, and was disappointed in its portrayal. I wanted more from these authors because I know they are capable of in-depth research and more plausible, real characterizations, not the same old caricatures that are a far cry from the truth of this diagnosis, and its successful treatment( i.e. one of the most treatable "disorders" found in the DSM-IV Psychiatric Diagnosis "Bible" if you will) As a victim advocate, I would've loved to see Williams/Knerly strike down the stereotype! I'm sure people are yelling,"it's fiction, get over it!" However,the characters involved could have easily been properly portrayed and more plausible with a sounder base of fact, and education is always something I want to gain when science and medicine are involved, for the good of all. 4 stars for imagination, twists, turns,and an incredible surprise ending!