The Naked Face

“Life is a very thin thread and it only takes a second to snap it”
― Sidney Sheldon, The Naked Face

This book is a A slow simmer of intensity and madness.

This was Sidney Sheldon's first book and I somehow only got around to reading it after I had read most of his others. This was highly enjoyable.

So this is a story about a Psychologist who starts to believe one of his patients is trying to kill him. As time goes on though he wonders if he might be going mad. Is what's happening REALLY happening?

It is a riveting book and that does not surprise me because after all..it's Sheldon!

This is not my favorite by the author but it is a quick and fast paced FUN read. And anyone interested or in, the field of psychology who enjoys mysteries show more about psychologists would LOVE this. To me, I'd never have known this was his first novel.

So if you are a Sheldon fan do not miss this one. I do not know why it took me so long read it but I am glad I did. show less

John Hanson died quickly - with a knife in his back. Carol Roberts was next to die - she was covered with acid and tortured to death. Dr. Judd Stevens is a psychoanalyst who is facing the most critical case of his life. John and Carol were both closely associated with Dr. Stevens at one time, and if he doesn't penetrate the mind of a murderer he will either find himself arrested for murder or the killer's next victim.

Is one of the doctor's patients responsible? Someone overwhelmed by his problems? A neurotic driven by compulsion? A madman? Before the murderer strikes again, Judd must strip away the mask of innocence the criminal wears, uncover the inner emotions, fears, and desires, to reveal... The Naked Face.

I really enjoyed this show more book! This was Sidney Sheldon's debut novel and I had never read it before, even though I somehow have acquired a paperback copy of The Naked Face by Sidney Sheldon - in addition to this copy - that was hidden on my bookshelf. The book seemed familiar to me, but it just never clicked with me that I already had a copy in my collection. I have to say, that to my knowledge, I have never read an inferior or unsatisfactory book by Sidney Sheldon. He was an outstanding author and I give The Naked Face an A+! show less

I read this book the first time 5 years ago discovering what a good writer Sidney Sheldon is.

Reading it again it's just as good as I remember; it really grabs you from the start with a man walking home to his wife thinking about how good the future will be now he's free... only to be brutally murdered in the street.

Police then interview the dead man's psychoanalyst who can't tell them much... not long afterwards they're back again only this time it's the psychoanalyst's receptionist whose been killed in the office and a big question mark arises over his head.

Well written, good development, keeps your attention but could be longer, feels short.

Wow!! Is all I could say when I read the first chapter of The Naked Face. This book captures your attention in the first chapter. I picked the book up at the library mainly to get a feel for the author Sidney Sheldon. I own a few of his books and wasn't sure about reading them. After reading The Naked Face I know that I will be reading his other books too.

The Naked Face starts out with a man happy because he is going to be going home to his wife and letting her know that what happened in the past is over with. You wonder what he is happy about and what was it was from his past when he is stabbed in the streets. You are left thinking did his past already catch up to him? You are thrown into a story of suspense and mystery that revolves show more around Dr. Judd Stevens.

Dr. Stevens is a psychoanalyst. He analyzes people and their behaviors, life style and has them discover who they really are. He doesn't tell them that they are insane or paranoiac. He tries to help them to discover what is really inside them. His patients range from a house wife to a prominent business man. You discover that the person murdered in the first chapter was one of Dr. Stevens patients.

The detectives assigned to the case are Angeli and McGreavy. Dr. Stevens and McGreavy have a history. McGreavy has animosity towards Dr. Stevens. As the story progresses I was trying to figure out who did it and why.

As Dr. Stevens starts to analyze things in his own life you start to wonder if maybe he is a paranoiac. He believes some one is out to kill him when he is hit by a car. Is the doctor going to go to the nut house, or is he sane? That is what I started to ask myself.

The Naked Face is a detective mystery that keeps you glued to the pages of the story. I found myself reading the book in less then 2 days. I will be picking up more of Sidney Sheldon's books show less

I read it when I was a kid and was riveted by it. I'd like to read it as an adult to see if it still holds up. It probably doesn't but for now it gets a five start based on my childhood memory of it.

It was okay. I've read better thriller and suspense mysteries. It was actually a disappointment in the end. It was an ending unexpected but it failed to satisfy me. I wished the killer was someone different. Mr. Sheldon tried to insert a romance in his book which did not work for me and actually ruined the book for me.

I’m not one to read many mysteries. I read one for a college class and hated it. I’ve never read any Sheldon either, so I didn’t really know what to expect. Why did I pick this one up? Really only because it was on top of a box lot I received recently from eBay. Overall though, it really wasn’t that bad and was a quick read. Not sure if this is a typically book for Sheldon, but I might be convinced to try him again, though I probably won’t go out of my way to read another. Not bad but just not my style either.