Customer Reviews

Kunma

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I like horror stories and started this with high hopes. There is an idea here, somewhere, but the writing is very bad. Partly it's as if: Now, I've got to do sex, now I've got to switch for suspense. Often, it's hard to know who is the current character.

Besides his American medical training, Manhattan psychiatrist David Sussman studied in Asia so not surprisingly he uses many Buddhist concepts in his practice. Still his eastern flavored methodology has not stopped David from being a bit jaded, as he feels he has heard every psychosis known to mankind until Laurel Hunt visits him. She begs David to treat her Connecticut art dealer husband, Hugh, who allegedly has had a breakdown caused by his belief that he is literally "burning up." Shockingly she believes a malevolent force is assaulting her spouse.

David rejects Laurel's plea, but consults with a friend Ara Havakian, who abruptly says the word "KUNMA". Not long afterward, David finds Ara dead. Stunned, feeling guilty, and now unable to resist, David begins to investigate Hugh, Laurel and the couple's son. He also looks into the word Kunma, which he finds out is Tibetan for "thief of the soul". David digs deeper into the puzzle though he questions his beliefs while he wonders about past lives.

KUNMA is at its best when David explores Buddhism while seeking answers to the enigmatic Hugh. Once David feels he knows what is going on, the plot becomes a standard thriller especially the ending. David is a delightful lead character and the Hunts will intrigue the audience. Though a slight feel of disappointment will occur once the plot westernizes, readers will appreciate this interesting, insightful, and innovative use of Buddhism to solve the mystery.

Harriet Klausner