Fiction Addict

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Morrow

Publication Date:  1970

Reviewed by Jennifer S. Roman

Dr. Judd Stevens is one of the most popular and sought-after psychiatrists in New York City.  He has many friends and wonderful colleagues.  All of that changes the day his secretary, Carol, is brutally murdered in the office.  The next day, a client is murdered.  Dr. Stevens tries to work with the police (including a cop who doesn’t seem to like him), to solve these murders, when he realizes that the murderer is actually after him.  Convinced that the police don’t like him and therefore don’t believe him, Dr. Stevens proceeds to investigate the situation on his own.  Dr. Stevens is forced to use psychological profiling in order to discover the identity of the murderer.

Written 40 years ago, the book still packs a punch.  It doesn’t contain as much of the violence and “creative” killing seen so frequently today, but it is one of the first to explore psychological profiling.  It moves quickly and is an easy read.  The characters are well-developed and are likeable.  The story situation immediately grabs the reader and makes the reader want to find out “whodunit.”  Some may be surprised to find out it is not exactly who they expect, and that is part of the fun.

There is minimal sex and swearing.  There is some graphic violence, but not nearly as bad as one reads today.  Since the story is 40 years old, it is nice to go back memory lane to see what the norms and mores were at the time.  Some may call it quaint, but in my opinion it is simply fun.  Overall, it’s worth the read for a good story and a little nostalgia.