Dangerous Attachments

I have read all of the Sylvia Strange novels, and of course it was this first one that grabbed my attention. I found it interesting, well written, and compelling. The psychological basis of the book is well considered and accurate, a major point given that Sylvia is a forensic psychologist. Well worth it!

Sarah Lovett is a really good writer. I know what you're thinking: get this *genius* out of the reviews. But it's true. I've read three of her books, and each time I've been thoroughly impressed. Her characters, especially the aptly named Sylvia Strange, are always memorable, interesting people. And her books are never "recyclabe" mysteries...You'll feel a need to keep ahold of them. Dangerous Attachments, while the first book in the series, is the third one that I've read. This is not edge of your seat suspense. It's a form of a quieter (but by no means milder) kind of suspense. It's creepy, dark, and ominous. Like a rainy overcast Sunday afternoon. I could definitely see this being made into a movie which says more about the visual imagery and atmosphere of the novel than the lack of plot or anything. It was a bit slow in the beginning, but as the mystery of they "jackal" deepens it becomes compulsively readable; very difficult to put down. I won't say it's predictable but it doesn't pack any punches which could be a good thing as the straightforward storytelling and deepening sense of dread add to the appeal of the novel. Very enjoyable as is the rest of the series by the solid and reliable Sarah Lovett. Be sure to check out Dantes' Inferno. It's very similar to this one, but a bit more of a dynamo, like The Bone Collector.

In her work as a forensic psychologist, Dr. Sylvia Strange has had to deal with a lot of people with severe mental illness and depraved minds. When she is called into evaluate Lucas Wilson for parole she is definitely against it. He demonstrates a high level of paranoia and delusion. There is political pressure on her as Lucas is the son of an ambitious politician who already has a skeleton from the past in the form of his wife's apparent suicide.When Lucas escapes from jail during a riot, he does not want to run away to another state or country, but pursue Sylvia who has become an object of obsession. Prison officials are also concerned about someone the other inmates have dubbed "the jackal" who is making off with body parts of those both dead and alive. This is the first in a series Sylvia Strange novels. The protagonist is strong and intelligent, but still realistic in the fact she carries around emotional baggage from the past and is shown "warts and all". The secondary characters are well developed and add greatly to the texture and depth of the story. The vivid descriptions are grisly and graphic, but suit the subject matter. The author takes you on a roller coaster ride that keeps you holding on until the last page. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in this series in the very near future.

I had never heard of this author before, and came across "Dangerous Attachments" in a used book store. The book will keep you reading non-stop until the very end. Sarah Lovett ranks at the very top of the list of super writers, such as James Patterson and Jonathan Kellerman. If you like serial murders, thrown in with a good liberal dose of criminal psychology, and an "on the edge of your seat" ending, you will love this book. Having studied criminal psychology, there was one particular segment of the book that seemed out of character. After Merry Maids cleaned up Sylvia's house it mentions that the service left the keys to the new door lock in the mailbox. If one was being stalked and your house was broken into, it is highly unlikely, anyone with any smarts at all would have a service leave "your new keys" in the mailbox when someone could be watching your home and all activity going on. Overall, it was still a great book.

I have never read a book written by Sarah Lovett before this one. I enjoyed it so much that I am buying her other books as well.