Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Disturbed-Kevin O’Brien

Disturbed
Kevin O’Brien
Pinnacle, May 1 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780786021376

In Seattle Molly married Jeff Dennehy and for the next months lived in the home of her husband’s ex wife Angela, who left him, the house and the kids. Angela has visitation rights and comes to the neighborhood quite frequently to see her friends who are frigid to Molly. Their coldness and the Cul-de-Sac Killer, who has murdered residents in similar homes, has Molly concerned about living in the complex.

Molly adores her two step-children Erin and Chris though they keep her at a wary distance. When Ray Corson, Chris’ former counselor, is murdered, life in Willow Tree Court has become dangerous. The Cul-de-Sac Killer is interested in the families living there. However, the psychopath has a rival as someone else is also killing people in this cul-de-sac by imitating the infamous serial killer. Other deaths occur leaving everyone badly shaken, but the culprit has left the Dennehy household for last. However, the killer had not expected resistance from Molly and Chris who refuse to die without a fight.

Kevin O’Brien is a great thriller writer because of his ability to insure the targeted individuals seem real as they face danger. The Willow Tree Court residents are three dimensional with quirks and flaws so that when the predator strikes, the audience feels a neighbor has died. The story line is action-paced as the suspense grows tenser with each kill. Readers will cheer for courageous Chris and conscientious Molly as they begin to understand to kill or be killed.

Harriet Klausner

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