Customer Reviews

MESMERIZED (Bloodlust)

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Jane Blackwell was the only witness to her mother's senseless murder. A suspect has been arrested, and it's Jane's testimony that will keep him behind bars. There's only one problem: Jane's dissociative amnesia. Her memory of the murder is entirely repressed.

When the prosecutor in charge of the case suggests hypnotherapy might help Jane recall that fateful day, Jane agrees to give it a try. Little does she know, the celebrated doctor who quickly gains her confidence and puts her so effortlessly into a trance is not who he claims to be. When Jane begins experiencing bizarre flashbacks, violent urges, and other unusual behavior changes, Jane finds her sanity called into question . . . and the lives of her friends and family in danger.

"Mesmerized" is a quick, fun read. Parts are silly (a girl complaining that the man who tried to kidnap her damaged her Halloween costume) or over-the-top (is it really necessary to have the antagonist, who is otherwise quite evilly sane, haunted by the voice of his father?), but the characters are likable, the premise intriguing, and the story exciting. The story alternates between the protagonist's and the antagonist's points of view, so that the reader knows exactly what's going on even when Jane and her friends don't - but there's always just enough held back to keep the reader in suspense.

Whether criminal behavior can actually be induced by post-hypnotic suggestion, and to what extent, remains an open question. If you're looking for a thoughtful exploration of the topic, this book is not for you. If you're just looking for a few hours of fun reading, "Mesmerized" fits the bill.