By John Mars

The Short Take:

This book is disturbing on many levels. It offers a voyeuristic view into the mind of a psychopath alongside a morality play about the repercussions of unbridled revenge. It’s not for everyone, maybe not for anyone.

Why?

This was a freebie through Amazon Prime. While I download these regularly, this one is the first I’ve read. I wouldn’t have finished it but I was on an extended trip in German-speaking countries, with no time to search out alternatives.

It actually has a strong concept and two very well drawn characters. However, neither of these characters have much in the way of redeeming features. The first portion of the book focuses on a woman who works in a suicide crisis center. She’s a terrible person, no doubt about it, and suicide prevention is not her goal.

Her nemesis is little better. His obsession with revenge spirals out of control, ensnaring others in harmful ways.

There’s no upside to this tale, but it has the strong “can’t look away” quality of a deadly car crash.

A Little Plot:

Laura volunteers at a suicide crisis center that respects callers’ decisions, whether choosing life or death. That suits her just fine.