The Killing Gift

Even though the settings are a little dated, this book is very exciting and I thoroughly enjoyed it and would happily recommend it to anyone who likes psychological thrillers. I was so happy with the author that I sought out other, less enjoyable, books by her. This one is a winner.

When on honeymoon in 1928, Tom and Kate List are in a motor car accident that leaves Kate with a broken hip. Not knowing she was already pregnant, she receives a turn-of-the-century x-ray during treatment. Nine months later, her daughter Jennifer is born. Jennifer is different from all the other children, in an indefinable way. The only person who does not feel any discomfort in her presence is her own mother. Even Tom has an aversion to his daughter. `The Killing Gift' is a story of Jennifer's achingly lonely life, alone as she grew up and alone as a young college woman and even alone after her eventual marriage. Starting with an incident of a broken vase when she was but a child, strange things happen around Jennifer when she is upset or cornered. Her only friend is Ellen Compton, a beauty who is so self centered she has no room to fear what Jennifer is; and her husband Dr. William Gilbert is a kind and quiet man who does not notice much around him. Even in the presence of the only two people who have ever tolerated her, Jennifer is alone. The book skips around from Jennifer's past to her present, when maniac killer Amos Roberts is found dead in the Gilbert's apartment. Assigned to the case is Captain David Stavitsky, a homicide cop obsessed with a case folder of criminals who escaped prosecution. Amos Roberts was one of his obsessions, until now. Stavitsky digs into the death of Roberts with tenacity, uncovering Jennifer's past and trying to solve the mystery around the woman. Absolutely perfect read for lovers of detective novels or horror novels, very fast and compelling storyline with enough shivers in it to leave a satisfying, tingling taste in your mouth. Enjoy!

When I picked this up, I thought it would just be a horror book. The story of Dr. Jennifer List Gilbert, a very ordinary and lonely woman whose extraordinary and unwanted "gift" repulses all the other people in her life. It begins with a sociopathic intruder to the Gilbert home dying an inexplicable and painful death during a home invasion robbery. The story of the police officer trying to get to the bottom of the mysterious death is interwoven with the strange and sad life story of Dr. Gilbert. Scary, suspenseful, tragic - I've read this book so many times I've worn out my copy and need a new one! Definitely recommend.

This is a story about a woman who is a recluse. Attacked by an armed man, the main character kills him by wishing him dead. The homicide detective who investigates the crime becomes enthralled with this woman and her killing gift. Excellent suspense story, more suspense than horror. It's a Putnam Award Novel. definitely worth a look.

A truly unusual book written 20 years ago. I've read it several times to relive the thoughts of the main characters and their stuggles with the amazing power of Jennifer.