Review: Absolute Fear

I was given this book when I was in Bermuda and told that I would enjoy it. And the short version of the story is that I did. It is nice to find books written by different authors, to break out of normal patterns. A word that I would use to describe this book is vivid. Not “graphic” in a lurid or violent sense, but close. Certainly walking closer to that line than my usual fare. I guess the genre would be thriller or suspense but it really wasn’t much of either, except at the end when I did get quite intent on finishing it.

The idea of the story is that there is a serial killer in New Orleans, and it seems that he is focused on Eve–the main character. Events happen which may stem back to her childhood. As people die, the police desperately try to piece things together and uncover the bizarre twists and turns.

What makes a book like this a thriller rather than an action novel is the element of reality. There is nothing in this book which is beyond being possible or even believable. It could have been a true crime book, albeit one that had a few fanciful elements added to give it more commercial appeal. I have no problem with commercial though, as most of my favourite novels reek of it. I will admit that when I started reading this book–on the plane from Toronto to Vancouver on my way back from Bermuda–I wasn’t impressed. Not at all. I almost didn’t continue with it. The beginning, while not without a bit of intrigue and action, wasn’t really gripping. But I prevailed, my intent to finish and review this book was strong. Things started to get interesting somewhere after the halfway point. I’m not sure what it was, but the suspense and bizarre story twists did keep me yearning for a bit more. And it escalated from there, what the beginning lacked in interest grabbing, the end certainly made up for it.

It was a tad predicable, at least certain elements, but I’ve never found that to be a bad thing. People whine about that all the time so I figure it might matter to someone and that is why I mention it. In the aftermath of finishing it, I do realize that there were some points of the story which weren’t explained very well. That either we were supposed to determine on our own or the author forgot about. Not major points, but worth mentioning. Regarding the author, I don’t know much about her other than her books seem to carry a similar theme which I am basing on titles alone. I’m not sure how I feel about another Lisa Jackson novel, but at least if I do find another book of hers, I’ll know what I’m getting into.