The eyes were always watching. Probing. Hungry. She could feel then as she huddled there, naked, vulnerable, in an iron cage in a twisted man's basement.
But now she's free. She isn't vulnerable anymore. She's the one with the power, the need to close the eyes. And she'll close them all.
When she's done the will be no more hungry eyes...
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The books best attribute might be the passionate introduction by William F. Nolan, a well known author from the sci-fi, fantasy and horror genre. I have to admit I was quite intrigued about his description what the book is about and how he described Barry Hoffman's background. The reader will know by the second chapter who the killer is. At least that's something that really happened.
Unfortunately the book didn't hold up to the rest of what was promised: a taunt and arresting offbeat thriller rich in psychological insight, mind control and manipulation of our human side in an artfully textured book. Oh well.
Instead I found an interesting plot made into something lacking any of the attributes mentioned above.
We meet former reporter Deidre Caffrey, who just found back into life after her son and husband died.
We meet Shara, former Renee Barrow, who took Shara's identity, one of her only friends, after her sudden death. Shara's the killer or so called 'Vigilante', who killed 5 men accused or already sentenced of raping girls.
Deidre and Shara have one connection: When Shara was still Renee, and got kidnapped at age 11, Deidre was the first one to interview her. From there on Renee only talked in her presence, even to the police.
When Deidre visits the fifth crime scene she she's a notice left by Shara: 'No More Hungry Eyes.'
Could that be ? Renee killed herself by jumping from a bridge the same year she got abducted. She knows she's alive and she knows nobody's going to believe the little postcard she received two days after Renee's death. Deidre's forced to investigate and find Renee herself before she will kill again.
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That's all there is to say about. The plot feels a bit like long chewed chewing gum. The little highlights I found were tiring and the whole books seems to lack a good writers imagination and research. It's a bit beyond belief that a ten year old is capable to plan the rest of her life in detail and therefore manipulate the people, including psychologist, around her.
Rating:
Barry Hoffmans books.
Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Leisure Books (November 1998)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0843944498
ISBN-13: 978-0843944495
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