This book has a terrible plot and main character who is a mental case. The story is completely contrived, but I will try not to give anything away in my criticism. It is told in first person. Even though it is written as if he is revealing his inner thoughts, pertinent facts that the protagonist has and actions that he took are deliberately withheld from the reader. It isn't for lack of spaceê_ the protagonist's vicarious, sick fantasies are indulged time and again. The many twists toward the end are ridiculous and could be discovered by competent detectives. Further, even while charged with first degree murder, the guy isn't in jail or monitored, but is free to roam and create more mischief. If you appreciate Hannibal Lecter, you may like this story. The superficial self-analysis toward the end is pure Freudian--when all else fails, blame your parents! The polarization among reviewers shows that there is no accounting for taste. The narrator does the best he can with this flawed scriptê_ it isn't his fault. ( )

Listened to this on audio. I rate it 2.5 to 3 stars. It was difficult for me to care about any of the characters. The narrator was ok, but somewhat boring. Marty Kalish is a single man who is infatuated with Rachel. Rachel is a married woman of a prominent heart surgeon. Rachel is physically abused and confides in Marty that she fears for her life. She knows that Marty is out there, watching her at night as she undresses. Marty confides in us that she does this for his benefit. Rachel's husband is murdered and his body is removed from the scene. Marty is questioned by the police and once he realizes that Rachel is being looked at as a suspect, he confesses. But did Marty do it? He recants his confession, but he is charged with the murder. As his trial unfolds, Marty realizes that Rachel may not be the woman he thought she was. He loves her, but was he set up and is being tried for a murder he didn't commit? The question lingers back and forth and the reader isn't really convinced either way. The ending was somewhat believable, but it made Marty out to be smarter than he portrayed thru-out the book. I personally didn't care for any of the characters. ( )

This book starts out rather brilliantly. The narrator is stalking (and having an affair - we think) with Rachel, the wife of a well-known surgeon. One night, during dinner, as he watches from the woods behind her house for her evening flash, he sees the surgeon begin to beat Rachel. He charges in and kills the doctor. As it was very cold, he was wearing a ski mask, and he hauls off the body of the doctor. Rachel is senseless on the floor. His idea is make it look like a kidnapping. He then begins to set up an alibi, but he is constantly second-guessing himself and stumbling. A nice touch is that he is telling the story and we never quite know what the real story might be. He appears credible, but is that really the case?

There is never any doubt (or is there?) as to the killer. The narrator tells us right off he did it and even confesses, but as the police investigation continues, there is no body, no gun, no physical evidence connecting Marty to the killing/kidnapping. Was there an affair? Was he stalking Rachel, the doctor's wife? Who is manipulating whom? And who gets off Scot-free?

The trial begins and Ellis does a great job of recreating the trial scenes. I really enjoyed this book and will definitely read more Ellis. ( )

Very much another version of Presumed Innocent. Entertaining but nothing compares to the original. Kind of saw/suspected the plots twists coming. ( )

Meh. Not a very likable protagonist even though I think I was supposed to like him. The ending is fairly predictable. I will forget this rather soon. Overly long. ( )