Mind Games

Dr Timothy Dare is a forensic psychiatrist working as a consultant for the criminal courts in Vancouver. His wife, unquestionably the light of his life, has just left him and is having an affair with a man he is certain is a pedophile. His mother is being sued for libel over her portrayal of a serial killer in a novel. As if that isn't bad enough, Dare becomes convinced there's a real homophobic copycat killer on the loose taking his cues from her novel and targeting homosexual men in Vancouver. He's been appointed to closely monitor a man recently released from prison who makes no bones about having murdered his previous psychiatrist. Last but not least, a gorgeous nymphomaniac is stalking him. She's got more baggage than the Grand Trunk Railway and when Dare rejects her advances, she hauls him up before a disciplinary committee for "inappropriate conduct". Now he's receiving notes from somebody who "knows where he lives" and is threatening to kill him. Little wonder then that he recognizes he's a mental wreck and could use a little psychiatric couch time himself! I read the editorial reviews expecting a fast-paced heavy duty psychological thriller but was quite surprised to find that, much like Jonathan Kellerman's "Silent Partner", the murder and violence takes second place to the narration of the internal turmoil of Dr Dare and his analyst, Allison Epstein. The story unfolds primarily through first person narration and conversation as Dr Dare is poked and prodded into revealing his inner demons in the warm, quiet environment of Dr Epstein's office. As opposed to a Hollywood thriller, Deverell treats us to a warm, compelling human drama driven by an exciting set of plots and sub-plots that are kept well under control and come to their resolution in an entirely credible fashion. By the way, while I am biased about this, I'll add that the whole thing had a distinctly ... well ... understated Canadian flavour to it! Even if I was pressed, I don't think I could identify where it came from but I'm quite certain it was there and it certainly added considerably to my enjoyment. Well done, Mr Deverell! One more notch on your belt and another title in an ever expanding collection of terrific novels! My thanks to you.