4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Suspense and Strong Characters Combine for Gripping Novel, October 19, 2009
You know that you've hit the literary jackpot when you find a novel that combines several of your interests into one great story. For example, someone who enjoys reading about both sports and romance may be intrigued by a book that features the long-distance relationship between a football star and his girlfriend. Or, perhaps you prefer a book with a science-fiction focus that also includes military confrontations. For me, I found a great synthesis of setting and plot in the new release It's in the Eyes by Dr. Charles Toftoy. This thriller is set in my hometown of Washington, D.C. and features academia, action, and suspense. Knowing this information gave me high expectations before I even read the first page, and I was not disappointed.
It's in the Eyes grabs the readers immediately by placing us at a crime scene that is central to the entire plot and whose victim returns posthumously throughout the book to motivate the self-proclaimed detectives to solve her murder. Readers quickly learn that there is a series of murders of young women who attend universities in the Washington, D.C. area. These crimes have created uneasiness among the population and a sense of urgency in the Arlington Police Department. Lars Neilsen, a college professor with very personal reasons for wanting to catch the predator responsible for these gruesome deaths, assembles his "Alpha Team" of experts to piece together clues and hopefully end the violence.
One of Dr. Toftoy's greatest strengths in his writing is his ability to select language that creates a sense of tension in the readers. While the murderer remains anonymous for most of the novel, we are let into his mind periodically as the story unfolds. His narcissism and lack of emotion for any of the pain he has caused is quite disturbing. As he ponders the fate of his next victim, you want to find the woman yourself and warn her before it is too late. The author maintains this sense of discomfort by revealing just a little more about the criminal and his motivations with every chapter. With such a well-developed mystery, I often found myself nervous as I turned the page because the next event was either so shocking or revealing. And, I will simply say that I did not see the ending coming at all. It's in the Eyes is a suspense novel from beginning to end.
For those who have not been to Washington, D.C., Dr. Toftoy does a wonderful job of illustrating everyday life in that world capital. By providing details like the traffic reporter of the local news station, favorite eateries, and the feel of the diverse neighborhoods, you really get a sense of the environment in which the characters live. And, the decision to include what Lars Neilsen and the other members of his Alpha Team prefer to eat at the local Silver Diner or drink at the Capitol City Brewing Company drives home the idea that these are ordinary private citizens with whom all of us can relate. It just so happens that they are choosing to put themselves in extraordinary circumstances.
The author of It's in the Eyes, Dr. Charles Toftoy, brings a wealth of academic and business experience to his writing. I hope that he finds the opportunity to put this great background into another novel soon. It's in the Eyes is a complex thriller that combines history, action, strong character development, believable dialogue, and a plot that will keep you guessing. If you enjoy curling up with a compelling mystery, this is most certainly a book for you.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exciting read, March 29, 2010
Chuck Toftoy has written an exciting novel that gets your attention early and holds it ! He captures the fragrance of Washington,DC - a particularly intriguing spy town- and flavors the read as only one who has lived there can do. His accurate representation of names and places make the book all the more complete and the story all the more captivating. If this is his first fiction book, Toftoy needs to keep on pumping them out. Read and enjoy a Washington insider's take on international terrorism !
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An exciting read, January 13, 2010
Living in the vicinity of Washington, DC I am especially intersted in books that use the area as a setting, as this one does. This book is set in DC and Arlington, VA, and Toftoy obviously has researched the sites carefully, lending an air of authenticity to the story, and helping it come alive in the reader's mind. For example, the lead character lives in a real apartment building, in fact one I used to live in myself when I first moved to this area. Some of the action takes place in a real diner in Arlington. In other words, unlike many books set in DC, the places he describes actually exist, so that the characters move through the real world of the Capital area.
Another interesting aspect of the book is the way the chapters alternate between first-person accounts by the hero and the villain. This device allows us to see the story from both viewpoints, setting up a tension that becomes nearly unbearable as we move toward the climactic moment.
On top of this, the book is filled with interesting asides, such the discussion of the Thuggees of India, bandits from whom the English word thug is derived. These asides show Toftoy's breadth of knowledge and ability to bring it to bear on his story, enlivening the work and providing some interesting insights along the way.
Altogether, a good read and a likely candidate for a sequel.
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