This is the sixth book I’ve read by the same author, and I have to say, so far he’s never disappointed me. Nothing to complain about regarding the style and readability: reading sporadically in the evenings, I finished it in just a few days, despite its 350 pages. I do notice, however, that perhaps, book after book, the writer’s ideas are getting a bit recycled.
I’d like to express some of my perplexities about the plot, so everything that follows is a blatant SPOILER — if you still need to read the book, close everything now!!
Spoiler Section Link to heading
Caro Link to heading
Caro is a character introduced almost at the beginning of the book, and right away I started smelling “The Psychiatrist” in the air. The girl blatantly materializes as needed in the most improbable situations, has almost zero interactions with other characters, and so in my opinion gives herself away very easily.
Henning Link to heading
Honestly, I didn’t think for a single moment that he was involved in the murders. What also leaves me very perplexed is the complete absence of any other suspect in the plot. Too often, Henning’s emotional reactions are inexplicable. At the beginning of the book, he gives the impression of wanting to take Simon under his wing, probably aware of his psychiatric problems. He shows resentment (more than reciprocated) toward Mike because, in his view, Mike led her down the wrong path. Frankly, I don’t understand what Simon has to do with all this.
In the canoe episode, he has a disproportionate reaction because Simon asks questions about the hotel and mentions Mike — why?
At the end of the book, he lunges at Simon because he suspects that his “accomplice” is Mike — but why? What was he afraid of? Why does he strangle Simon?
A series of behaviors that confuses me greatly. Is he a kind of mentor who tried to help Mike, or did he really have ulterior motives?
The Lockpick Link to heading
In the book’s most frenzied pages, a lockpick is mentioned that Simon brings from home to open the door to room 19. I admit that on first reading, I thought I was dealing with a term whose meaning I had wrong, so I immediately went to check on the internet. A lockpick is a small curved metal rod, about the size of a pen, that is inserted into locks to force them. That said, I don’t understand the episode where Simon threatens Henning — I quote verbatim:
Simon put Melina’s chain back in his pocket and brandished the lockpick with both hands. “Stay where you are, or I’ll hit her!”
To be clear, that’s an operation you could do with a crowbar, not a small hook. A few pages later, however, when Simon tries to get out of the room, it’s said that the lockpick is inserted into the lock. So what kind of object are we talking about?
The Blood Link to heading
As implied at the end of the book, after attacking Melina, Simon goes home and the next morning runs the washing machine and hangs the clothes out in the sun. Did he really manage to wash the blood out in the washing machine? Sorry, but this really made me raise an eyebrow.
Inspector Stark Link to heading
When Simon calls him from the hotel, Stark rushes to Mike at the clinic saying they both knew who carried out the attack. So why was Simon still free? Why did Mike know and not say anything to him? The last conversation between Mike and Stark was the previous morning, and afterwards Mike met with Simon — did they really not say anything to each other about it?
Simon Link to heading
When his parents’ death is recounted, it surfaces that Simon was already disturbed well before the accident. Is it really possible he had never shown any signs before that moment? Seriously, I can’t answer this myself. I understand the development of a psychiatric illness following a serious accident or a bereavement, but a boy who suddenly loses his mind because his parents threaten divorce and tries to kill everyone?
Nightmares Link to heading
Dorn Wulf has always been excellent at conveying a sense of anxiety and terror, but here there are some weak spots. When Simon has visions of his parents terrorizing him — burnt flesh and deformed faces — I personally couldn’t feel any kind of fear. Maybe it’s because it feels more like a horror scene than a thriller, but such explicit manifestations are, in my opinion, unconvincing.
Conclusion Link to heading
As I said, it’s a pleasant and smooth read. Unfortunately, just past the halfway point, I had already figured out where it was going. It’s a read I’d recommend, but it definitely falls short compared to works like The Psychiatrist or The Survivor.