The Girls He Adored

My first novel by this author and it was an interesting fast paced psychological/crime drama. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

As this dark and deeply disturbing tale begins, FBI agent Pender has been investigating the disappearances of a number of women from across the country over the past 10 years. The disappearances appear to be random, with victims of a variety of ages and lifestyles. The only thing they have in common is that they're all strawberry blondes.A suspect is finally apprehended in California after a routine traffic stop but before Pender can interrogate the man who calls himself Max, Max escapes from jail. Once free, Max abducts Irene Cogan, his court-appointed psychiatrist, and flees to his secluded house of horrors on a ridge in Oregon. Max is a multiple personality who views the strawberry blonde Irene as not only his prisoner but as the only person who can help him integrate his personalities and allow him to function as one entity. Max's Oregon compound is shared by an eerie, disfigured woman and the place is overshadowed by ghosts, literally and figuratively.The author evinces a certain sympathy for Max, who was the victim of horrific abuse as a child. Still, the wanton barbarity of his crimes would seem to abrogate any hope of redemption. As Irene Cogan tries to survive both by counseling Max and searching desperately for some means of escape, Pender makes his way to Oregon following one obscure clue after another. This book will keep you up all night with the lights on and the door locked as the suspense builds to a shattering conclusion.

Irene Cogan, psychiatrist and one of the country's leading authorities on dissociative identity disorder (multiple personalities), has been appointed, by the court, to examine a prisoner in the Monterey County jail. The suspect, who gives his name only as Max, was stopped for a simple traffic violation and found sitting next to a disemboweled strawberry blond woman, holding a bloody nine inch boning knife. His arrest sets law enforcement's wheels in motion as the FBI moves in on the case. For the last ten years, a dozen women from across the country have gone missing, last seen with an attractive young man. The only connection between all these missing victims is their strawberry blond hair. The FBI has dubbed this kidnapper, Casey and now, special agent Edgar Lee Pender thinks this guy may be the break they've been waiting for. But, before he can even reopen the case or interview the prisoner, the suspect breaks out of jail, kidnaps Irene Cogan and disappears, leaving a trail of carnage in his wake..... Jonathan Nasaw has written a well paced, compelling, intricately plotted novel that will put you on the edge of your seat and keep you there to the very last page. His writing is crisp, spare and suspenseful, with a wonderful ear for dialogue and his true to life, vivid scenes are graphic and riveting. This is definitely not a novel for the faint of heart. But the real strength of this novel is its characters. Once you get into their heads, you won't be able to put this book down. It is obvious that Mr Nasaw has done his homework on the FBI, psychiatry and dissociative identity disorder and his in-depth knowledge on these subjects add real credibility to the story. The Girls He Adored is a terrific thriller, destined for all the best sellers lists and a novel that shouldn't be missed.

If you liked Silence of the Lambs or Hannibal, you will like The Girls He Adored. Jonathan Nasaw gives alot of insight into his characters and allows you, the reader, to get inside and interact with the characters on a wonderful level. It is a must read. You will enjoy it.

FBI Agent E.L. Pender has spent 10 years investigating the disappearances of young women, all with something in common...their strawberry blonde hair.A routine traffic stop ends with the gruesome discovery of a disemboweled woman...she too had strawberry blonde hair.Court appointed psychiatrist, Irene Cogan, has the task of interviewing the suspect, a man with multiple personalities.After a staged prison break, Irene is taken hostage in a secluded cabin, there she will have to unravel the twisted past of this young man, and play his sick game...if she wants to come out of this alive."The Girls He Adored" is a suspenseful thriller, with enough twists and turns to have readers finish it in one sitting.Jonathan Nasaw has crafted a superb novel, he handles the multiple personalities carefully, as to not confuse the reader, and his main character (Irene) is one we look forward to seeing in up-coming novels.Thriller fans should do themselves a favor and READ this book, it is fast-paced, exciting, and thoroughly enjoyable.A MUST read!Nick Gonnella

This is a gripping page-turner. For me, it's even more powerful than Silence of the Lambs, my standard to which all similar books were (`till now) held. The Girls He Adored best feature is the way Nasaw deftly switches the personalities of the main character-often several times within a chapter. We see the killer's strikingly different persona from both his own perspective and from other characters points-of-view. Nasaw's superb handling of these often rapid switches is flawless. As an added surprise, the main character tosses around some engaging humor. In the middle of a chilling scene, he says something such as: "Sometimes having a dissociated identity was no frigging picnic." This fast-paced, well-plotted story with depth of character should appeal to thriller fans and mystery readers alike.