Customer Reviews

Before I Wake

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Famous for bringing serial killer Wendell "the Slug" Sligo to justice, New York City homicide detective Jimmy Montone is accustomed to the spotlight, and so doesn't think twice before agreeing to allow British novelist Terence Peregrine Keyes to observe as he works a case "from start to finish." Likable and intelligent, Keyes has promised to stay out of the way, and Montone figures the NYPD can use the publicity.

Soon after agreeing to this arrangement, Montone is confronted with the apparent suicide of TV news anchor Mackenzie Davis. Skeptical from the start, Montone quickly determines the "suicide" was staged--someone forced Davis to tape a suicide video, then hurled him from the window of his thirty fifth-floor apartment. Days later, when Montone's new girlfriend is found dead under similar circumstances, he realizes that the killings are meant as a personal attack. It takes him longer, however, to realize that the murderer, one Terry Keyes, has been under his nose the whole time.

Keyes, who resents Montone's fame, has laid an intricate trap for his prey, toying with him for sport. Even when he becomes aware of Keyes' machinations, Montone lacks the solid evidence he needs to arrest him, and is forced to play a game of cat and mouse with his deranged opponent, a game that will result in the death of one of the players.

Eric Bowman is a pseudonym for Mark Frost, familiar to many readers as the co-creator of Twin Peaks and as author of The List of Seven and The Six Messiahs, which chronicle the fictional adventures of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes prototype Jack Sparks. This novel is different from those works, more straightforward and action oriented. Frost, clearly interested in describing the psychology of a madman, immediately lets readers know that Keyes has targeted Montone, and spends the rest of the novel making them squirm as they watch a killer manipulate his prey.

Although Frost has crafted a fast paced, intricate thriller that lends itself to quick reading, you'll want to take your time, because there's plenty to savor. Especially interesting are the excerpts from the writings of Terry Keyes which open each chapter. Here, Frost provides tantalizing glimpses into the mind of his killer, increasing the tension as the book hurtles towards its violent end.

While not as colorful as his previous novels, the book is well worth your time, mainly because of Frost's consummate skill in getting you to turn the next page.

The novel is unique in telling the murderer on page one and building from there. The character development is thorough. It's intense & a great thriller, but the end seems like the author just needed to be finished.

Bowman/Frost has written a very exciting book. His villian, Terrance Keyes is one of the most evil and intelligent crimminals ever created. The suspense builds as the reader along with hero Jimmy Montone relise what Keyes is up to. I really enjoyed the way the author moved from scene to scene the suspense growing on each page. The only reason i didn't rate this work five stars was because i found some of detective Montone's actions, near the end, hard to believe. Other then that a super read!!!

I really liked the book but it made me very curious about the author. Does anyone know who the author is? I am trying to track him down and not having much luck. I am wondering about the screen plays he's written ... any made into movies? What writing award did he win? Are there other works of fiction available under another name? I guess I am more curious about the author than anything else.

I am always curious to know how a tirle comes into being. This one has left me a bit befuddled but did not spoil the enjoyment of this excellent thriller. Like a previous reviewer. I was almost put off by the first chapter but glad that I persisted. Eric Bowman's intros to each chapter could not be missed as they were an important element of the plot. In fact one could not read sloppily--skimming paragraphs or whole chapters without losing the plot completely. I love it when the vilain is known at the outset to see how the detectives figure it out. But why the pseudonym? It took some searching to discover just who this excellent writer is so I can read more!

I liked the book except for the ending. Would have liked to have seen him connect the dots as far as the sister/other love interest goes. Pretty believable, good story line, I particularly liked the detective character.

Of course, I was on an airplane but who wants to quibble?

I picked this up after being attracted to its neat little twist of revealing the killer and seeing the game he plays with the detective. I enjoyed it immensely but the ending seemed at times to be the result of the writer trying to finish the book rather than matching the intensity of the first part of the book.

I will say that I am not a plant as some of the other reviews here appear to be. If you are looking for an enjoyable mystery with a memorable villian straight out of a Thomas Harris book or 'Seven', pick this one up!

This book kept be reading past my bedtime! It was a fast read, and as another reader noted, even though one knew from page one who the killer was the plot was so cleverly entwined that the reader was kept on the edge of her/his seat until the very last page. I can't believe this book hasn't made the best seller's list!

When Mackenzie Dennis, a TV news anchor, jumps to his death, he leaves a videotaped suicide message. However, after studying the tape very carefully, Jimmy Montome, the New York City police officer in charge of the case, believes that Dennis was pushed. British mystery writer Terrence Keyes, who is in New York studying police procedures for his next book, convinces Jimmy to allow him to observe the investigation. ....... Soon Jimmy's girl friend is found dead with a similarly taped message. Jimmy thinks the two apparent suicides are connected and wonders if Keyes might hold the key to linking the two deaths. Soon a Scotland Yard inspector confirms that he has had personal run-ins with the writer and suspects that Keyes is a psychopathic killer. However, like the English police officer, Jimmy lacks evidence to prove that Keyes is the murderer. Montome must stop Keyes soon before someone else, perhaps a dedicated Manhattan detective, becomes the next victim of this deranged killer. ..... BEFORE I WAKE is an incredible who-done-it because the killer announces that he did it on the very first page (Hitchcock's FRENZY) and yet the remaining 293 pages are filled with mounting suspense. The cat and mouse game between the desperate cop and the suave English gentleman is brilliantly developed into a fantastic story line. In his first novel, Eric Bowman scores big time with this twisted chilling thriller. ......Harriet Klausner

I suggest you read his other two books, "The List Of Seven" & "The Six Messiahs"