Customer Reviews

The Lost Diaries of Iris Weed

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At a highly regarded Connecticut university, Professor Jason "Lars" Larson teaches literature. Because of his antics in the classroom, students enjoy Lars' classes and anyone fortunate to attend his seminars is considered lucky. Some of the prettier females go so far as to share a bit more than just his professional time. Because she believes he loves her, Lars' spouse Emma quietly accepts his trysts and the emotional ups and downs of his extracurricular activities.

However, Emma begins having doubts about Lars feelings when Iris Weed becomes his latest student involvement though she rejects his advances. Iris has obtained Lars' permission to write a journal about living in a truck with no other modern convenience. However, Lars feels like a moth to Iris' flame as her élan pull him into her sphere. When someone murders Iris, Lars hides her diary from the police. Though it can help capture her murderer, it provides insight into the darker elements of the charming Lit Professor that Lars prefers buried for now even if the police feel he committed homicide.

If you have not read a Janice Law novel, you are missing out on one of the better writers of psychological mystery on the market today. The story line allows the audience to get inside the heads of the key cast members so that each individual is quite understandable on how they behave following the homicide. This deep character development enables the powerful plot to gain incredible speed and suspense until the tale is finished. THE LOST DIARIES OF IRIS WEED is another triumph from a strong author.

Harriet Klausner

Janice Law's latest thriller is perhaps her most accomplished to date. As a longtime fan of her Anna Peters series I was prepared for a fast-paced thrill-ride; what I wasn't prepared for is Ms. Law's newfound depth of characterization. Her "hero," Lars, is charmingly odious; and the namesake of the novel isn't entirely what she appears to be. I don't want to give away the central plot twist, but readers who devote 20 pages to this book are in for a nasty shock -- and just wait until the ending. This one would make a great movie.

If you're looking to read a spooky, psychological suspense novel, look no further than "The Lost Diaries Of Iris Weed." Janice Law has written a thriller with this unusual book. Although not action-packed, (slow at times), it is riveting in its own way, and gathers lots of speed before it reaches a stunning conclusion. Her complex characters, their development and quirkiness, are a treat to read about.

Professor Jason (Lars) Larson is a charismatic scholar of Romantic and Victorian literature at an upscale Connecticut university. To say he is frivolous is to put it mildly. I, personally, would evaluate him as terminally narcissistic. He adores teaching and is as romantic as the subject he specializes in. Occasionally, he also finds himself adoring one of the inevitable female students who swoon over him. He believes he does no harm with his infidelities. He is sophisticated, he thinks, like the Europeans. "Flirtation, romance, discreet affairs; these were his metier, his gift." There is no doubt that Lars cherishes his family - his wife, the beautiful and understanding Emma, and precocious Cookie, his daughter, now on the cusp of adolescence. Unfortunately, Emma aids and abets him in his extra-curricular activities by indulging him more than he deserves, and remaining silent. Although he is discreet, he does have quite a reputation around campus. Students line up in droves to take his creative, dynamic classes. Particularly sought after are the few spots he has allotted each semester for independent study.

The whimsical, eccentric Iris Weed enters Larson's life and the impact she is to have on him and his family will last forever. Iris is an attractive young woman, though quite complex, with an extraordinary gift for writing and a particular penchant for Blake, Byron and Shelly. Her talent is truly unusual. Lars recognizes this almost immediately and offers to supervise her in independent study. Iris is living in a truck for the semester - sleeping in the back, without running water or other modern conveniences. Fortunately she has a swimming class in the morning, which she has specifically taken to use the showers. Iris thinks of herself as a modern day Thoreau and is keeping diaries to document her experience for her senior project. Lars finds himself falling for Iris, even obsessing about her, a new experience for him.

When Iris is brutally murdered in a parking lot, near her truck, Professor Jason Larson is thrust into the middle of a criminal investigation. He becomes prime suspect numero uno when the police discover his intense interest in the victim. To make matters worse, Lars had been seen arguing with Iris near the murder scene just before the crime was committed. His heretofore successful life spirals out of control as he himself loses control. He makes frantic efforts to cover up any potentially damaging evidence that would link him to his former student. This time, however, he is not able to use his charm to make things better.

Although Larson is not the most likeable of fictional characters, the author ultimately treats him with sympathy and manages to win over her readers - at least she won me over. Her use of satire is very effective when depicting the smug world of academia. Ms. Lawson dramatically weaves her narrative along with Iris' diary entries to provide a thrilling read.
JANA

The Lost Diaries of Iris Weed is a well-written page turner with one of the most unlikeable characters I have encountered for awhile. Professor Jason (Lars) Larson is a smug, arrogant, self-serving womanizer, with a semester worth of new conquests awaiting him each year. His long-suffering wife tolerates this behavior for her own reasons, and the couple is blessed with a young daughter whom they adore. When Lars encounters student Iris Weed, his world begins to turn upside down. Lars finds himself obsessed and lustful over this unusual, headstrong, young woman, who does not play into his hands as he expects. When Iris turns up dead, the police begin to focus their suspicions on Lars, who knows much more than he is revealing. The ending takes a nice twist and the story is suspenseful and satisfying. It would rate 5 stars if only for one thing; Lars' character is so unrepentant that I found myself wishing bad things to befall him too.

You won't like Professor Jason "Lars" Larsen. He's uppity, arrogant, philandering, and just plains annoying. One of his colleagues wishes Lars would grow up. Students love his classes; some female students love more of him. Lars gets away with his dalliances; Emma Larsen forgives him and vows never to tell daughter Elizabeth "Cookie" Larsen. Lars lives in the world of literature- thinks, dreams, breathes his favorite genres. The reader is treated to his literary insights, which is always a bonus.

Lars is obsessed with young, eccentric, homeless Iris Weed. Until her death, we learn how Lars perceives his relationship (deep fascination) with Iris. We feel haunted by his obsession, yet also annoyed that he follows her around at her favorite places. Iris, we learn through her diaries, is aware of his obsession. The death of her father makes her boundaries blurred. Not only is she somewhat enraptured by all the attention from Lars, including his academic counsels, she is also involved in an abusive, sex-based relationship with Sven. Iris starts fearing for her life- her only consolation is her diary.

Iris dies. And thus begins the author's version of "The Telltale Heart". Lars didn't kill Iris. But, he does have her last diary, something that will help the police catch her killer. He refuses to admit to any sort of romantic involvement. And he's wrought with guilt for the rest of the novel.

We learn much more about the dynamics of the Larsen family, the Weeds, and the English department. Lars seeks redemption in promoting Iris's novel; his guilt kept hidden from her mother, Isobel. Lars attempts to conceal his guilt with everyone he knows. The reader feels pain for him as he gets involved in awkward conversations, alternately embarrassed for the pompous professor. When an unexpected stalker starts to threaten Lars, the story gets especially scary.

The non-sociopathic reader will worry for Lars, even though he is full of sin. The reader wants to guard Isobel, Cookie, Emma, Polly, and Jake with his or her life. The reader is sickened along with Lars as he must fend off the stalker's horrifying messages. Worse yet, the reader knows Lars is innocent of murder, yet there is nothing he or she can do to defend him against the stalker's accusations.

The book is a page-turner, beautifully written with suspense, romance, and raw emotion. Law uses actual, applicable quotes from Romantic and Victorian era literary works, and a few other gems from before and after those periods. Such a work of art!