Skull Session by
Daniel Hecht
pbk out August 99
(Pan)
at £5.99
The brain is a far away place of which we know little, which is why it's
such a fertile source of inspiration for crime writers. Exploring the
darker recesses of the human mind is precisely what this terrifying
thriller sets out to do and it does it with disturbing gusto.
Paul Skoglund has spent all his life struggling with Tourette's Syndrome,
the neurological disorder that produces violent physical and verbal tics.
It's already cost him his marriage and left his son with a similar legacy.
Now he's trying to forge a new life for himself with his lover Lia, so when
his wealthy aunt asks him to undertake a building project, it looks like a
great opportunity.
But the reality soon turns into a nightmare. Paul discovers Vivien's home
has been vandalised to a degree that looks like Superman went on a spree.
And suspicions are growing that there is a trail of bloody and dismembered
bodies leading back to the remote lodge. Meanwhile, family secrets are
being dragged into the light of day for the first time.
This is a complex and courageous novel that doesn't flinch from the
difficulties of its subject matter. I was enthralled by the complexities of
the plot, enraged by the outrages committed against Paul - and others - and
energised by the sheer power of the story. By the end, I felt like I'd not
so much suspended my disbelief as cheerfully tossed it away. One to keep
you awake at night.
(
Val McDermid
- Gold Dagger winner & creator of Lindsay Gordon, Kate Brannigan & Tony Hill)
