Saturday, May 12, 2012

Review # 159: Lovesick by Spencer Seidel

Description:
     The Portland police discover a gruesome scene on the Eastern Promenade Trail; seventeen year old Paul Ducharme is found cradling the body of his lifeless best friend, Lee Janis, while sitting in a pool of blood. To make matters worse, both men are already suspects in the disappearance of Wendy Trower, a classmate who has been missing for a couple of weeks. But Paul cannot remember what happened in either situation, so his attorney, Rudy Swaner calls on a friend he can trust – forensic psychologist Dr. Lisa Boyers.

     Her methods seem to work when it comes to retrieving Paul's memories, but she does not anticipate the truth. Paul's tragic story of love, heartbreak and deceit begins to awaken Lisa's own memories, ones that she would rather keep buried. Are the skeleton's in her closet worth dropping her client? Can the case, and Lisa's past, escape the media spotlight long enough for the police to find Wendy and determine Paul's innocence/guilt?
Review:

     I have not read Spencer Seidel's Dead of Wynter, so I didn't know what to expect from his newest release, Lovesick. The story pulled me in quickly, the plot building from page one; I managed to read it in a single sitting and enjoyed its psychological twists. I was sort of disappointed that the story-line was predictable, but overall I thought it was well-written and properly structured. I was completely thrown off course by the ending though, (no spoilers), which earns the author a thumbs-up. I also thought that the characters were very well-developed personality wise. Each character had their own distinct voice, especially Paul and Lisa who I empathized with the most. I spent a good part of the book wrestling with Paul's guilt versus innocence. I hoped he was not a murder, especially after hearing about the “love triangle” and the woods from his (third person) point of view. Spencer Seidel has an interesting way of narrating character memories that makes them seem more realistic. The dialogue had the same effect, and it fit the appropriate age of the characters. Overall, it was a great psychological thriller – gritty, compelling, and full of dark curves. Recommended for teens through adults, particularly those seeking psychological thrills. (Contains Language/Gore)

Rating: On the Run (4/5)

*** I received this book from the author (BookTrib) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.



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