Jun 07, 2006 01:24 PM
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Browsing through the stacks of books and magazines, I selected this book of Sheldon's along with Master Of the Game. Yes, I openly admit that I am a fan of Sheldon's form of writing. Dan Brown and Sidney Sheldon have effectively targeted their niche by drawing in readers between the ages 0f fourteen and twenty. Well, being a fifteen year old, I love his books and have read most of them. Let's get to the topic at hand ,though, which is "The Naked Face".
WHAT DOES THE BOOK SAY ABOUT ITSELF?
Judd Stevens is a phsoanalyst faced with the most critical case of his life. If he does not penetrate the mind of the murderer he will find himself arrested for murder or murdered himself...........
Two people closely involved with Dr. Stevens have already been killed. Is one of the doctor's patients responsible? A neurotic driven by compulsion? A madman? Before the murderer strikes again, Judd must strip away the mask of innocence that the criminal wears, uncover the inner emotions, fears, desires, to expose his NAKED FACE.
THE BEGINNING
A man is brutally murdered in the middle of a busy street, but everyone is too busy running away from the falling snow to take notice of the man bleeding to his death below their feet. Not a very good beginning. The fact that NO ONE saw the man falll is inconsistent and ridiculous. Sorry, Sidney Sheldon, your start disappointed me.
Later in the day, a young black woman is murdered brutally in her office. The murderer had used acid as a weapon, reducing the body to a crippled rug or a discarded doll. What is the connection between the two murders? Who was desperate enough to murder TWICE on the same day?
Judd Stevens has to find the answers to these questions for two very important reasons: the police suspect him for comitting these crimes and the other one being that he himself is the murderer's next target................
CHARACTER SUMMARY
Judd Stevens- psychoanalyst and prime suspect
Angeli - a cop who trusts Stevens and backs his innocence
McGreavy- a cop who believes that Stevens is guilty
John Hanson- man murdered on the street
Carol Roberts- young black girl murdered in her office
Annie- Stevens' patient and secret crush
Moody- private detective hired by Stevens
Norah- wife of Peter, who is a friend of Stevens'
The primary question is, who is the murderer? Or is it a group of them? Is it one of the patients or someone from outside? What was the motive?
WHAT DO THE CRITICS SAY?
"A tingless, breathless cliff-hangar with a smashing climax." -- Bestsellers
"Sheldon's novel is first-rate." --- New York Daily News
"A master storyteller at the top of his game." --- USA Today
In conclusion, I would like to say that read this book if you like Sheldon's style of writing where everything is fast-paced and no time is wasted on unnecessary details. The book is not humorous nor does it seek to educate anyone about the social life of humans....... It is just entertainment value.
