Customer Reviews

At Risk

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Game Master kept a memento from each of his victims to remind him of the euphoria of hearing the Sophomore, the Wife, and the Nurse scream until their blood stopped flowing. His next intended victim, the Professor, seems perfect for his tastes though he ponders what he will take from her as his keepsake. He assumes she should prove the easiest because her farmhouse borders nothing except a remote isolated swamp.

Professor Liz Clark teaches history at Somerville College in Dover, Delaware. She feels pretty good about her work and her personal life as she has hunks to choose from for a change. She fantasizes sleeping with the grad student, her former boyfriend, or the wheelchair-bound ex cop. However, her sexual dreams turn into a nightmare when Liz finds the brutally slashed corpse of Tracy Fleming a sophomore in her office. Unbeknownst to her, that is a gift from a serial killer who plans to make the Professor his next victim.

Suspense thriller fans will not be AT RISK reading Judith E French's terrific tension driven tale. Interestingly most of the cast is two dimensional, which adds psychological intrigue to the exhilarating story line as the one fully developed person Liz (and readers) has no idea who is stalking her or why. Instead the culprit remains murky except in terms of serial killing. Will the Game Master check mate Liz who seems to have no allies or will she survive this murdering machine; fans will read this book in one sitting to learn what happens to Liz.

Harriet Klausner

At Risk is yet another 5 star for French...this is a novel with a fast-paced plot line, yet the characters are thoroughly developed. You will be so vested in the characters that the book should come with a warning lable that reads "Start Reading on a Weekend or you will be AT RISK for Sleep Deprivation." Honestly, I could not put this book down; I spent one night, getting literally two hours sleep before work! And you know what? It was worth it! Having studied pyschology in college and worked in the mental health field, I found French's portrayal of a pyschotic entirely accurate, without getting bogged down in too much detail of early childhood trauma. French sketches that picture, but more focuses on the long-term effect to the killer, resulting in a gruesome plot. Her knack for weaving clues into the plot line that will leave you constantly guessing and reassessing who the killer is. Having lived in a small shore town, I found the community entirely believable and chuckled more than once over some similarities to my fishing community. That said, I enjoyed the author's use of levity throughout the book. Usually, I trade my most of my paperbacks in, but this one will hold a spot on my book shelf.

AT RISK is so compelling and suspenseful you can't put it down once started. College professor Liz Clarke teaches American History at Somerville College in Dover, Delaware unaware that she is at risk. A serial killer is stalking her and she has no idea. The characters are great and so believable. I felt like I was in the story myself it was so realistic. The plot keeps going at a fast pace and at times you will find yourself holding your breath and calling out to Liz to be careful. Yes, you are in for quite an adventure while reading AT RISK.

As the Game Master keeps tracking Liz, all the while committing murders, it keeps you guessing right to the end. Actually, it scared the pants off me time and again while reading. Judith French does a bang up job with her first romantic suspense. She is a master storyteller whether writing historicals or suspense.

Suzanne Coleburn, Reader To Reader Reviews/The Belles & Beaux of Romance

Judith French has created a compelling portrait of a serial killer in this brilliant thriller. At Risk is a fast-paced tale, with enough plot twists to keep you guessing--right up till the final moment! As a forensic psychologist, I thought I had seen everything--but Ms. French's creation of The Game Master gave me goosebumps. This chilling read has it all--a psychopathic opponent, an appealing heroine, and enough heart-stopping suspense to keep you turning the pages. Judith French has proven, once again, that she is a master story-teller.

A killer stalks a small town. All across it, women are dying; a student, a nurse, a housewife. His next chosen target is a professor. Perhaps she was the main target all along. Weaving a carefully crafted web of terror around Liz, the Game Master keeps the tension level high. By both terror and sexual longing, Liz is tormented. Fantasies of three men plague her, but is one of them out to kill her? Is the killer drawing closer, or is he there already?

*** It will be impossible to solve the mystery before the denouement. Some of the eroticism appears to be frivolous, however, the psycho drama is well enough crafted to compensate for that. ***

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore, freelance reviewer.