Customer Reviews

The Madman's Diary

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

 

 

Interior designer Judy Sussman specializes in restaurant designing. Although the competition is fierce, Judy has earned quite a good reputation for herself. Even though her professional life is near perfect, her personal life needs to be reengineered. Judy lives with her soul mate Skeet, but yearns for a husband and children. One day when Judy feels extremely depressed, her father persuades her to take a tram ride where she meets Benjamin Siegal. Both are immediately attracted to one another and want to explore a relationship. However, someone calling himself the Shaman wants her for himself and has killed any male who he believes has gotten too close to his Judy. As Judy begins to fall for Ben, she begins to wonder if she is the reason that so many men who were close to her died.

Thom Racina's latest novel takes off a rapid clip and never eases off the throttle. Although the villain fairly easy to spot, it is fun to observe Judy and her associates being led by a master puppeteer. The MADMAN'S DIARY is an exciting thriller with an unexpected ending that begs for a sequel.

Harriet Klausner

"The Madman's Diary," was in my opinion, Thom Racina's best novel. I have read all of his novels and I think they are wonderful masterpieces of suspenseful literary work with an excess usage of mystery, intrigue, and adventure. "The Madman's Diary" was extremely interesting. The author starts the first couple pages with a descriptively gory murder scene that draws the reader in and tempts them to devour this novel in one sitting. The plot: Judy Sussman, who is an interior designer, has noticed that a lot of men in her life are disappearing. Some are dying in gruesome ways. Judy, her friend, Annie, and roommate, Skeet, are watching their backs carefully because somebody is out there watching them. This sadistic person has an obsession with Judy Sussman and he/she feels that no one should belong with her except for himself/herself. This person believes he is a "shaman" and is king. Mr. Racina shows off his knowledge of the Indian culture with descriptive dialogue and structure throughtout the novel. The conclusion of this novel was incredibly well thought out and impressive. Overall, "The Madman's Diary" is a wonderful work of fiction that all mystery fans need to read. Also be on the look out for his next novel coming in early 2002!

Suspenseful, thrilling and too much fun to put down, The Madman's Diary is a great story in an exotic locale. Thom Racina again weaves a nicely complicated plot with perfectly drawn, intriguing characters, including familiar real-life figures that mark his signature style. It's a pleasure to read on a number of levels. The reader not only wonders who did it . . . but also who's going to get it next . . . and the colorful glimpses into past and present Palm Springs bear the unmistakeable authenticity of everyday experience and truth. This is escapist thriller fiction at its best, another great one in the Thom Racina collection.

I made the mistake when purchasing this book of not noticing that there were only 5 reviews here at Amazon. I just noticed 4 and 5 stars and alot of praise. Those folks are obviously friends and family of Thom Racina...I'm not. This book Stinks with a capital S! I only regret that I had to give a star! In every possible way this book is a failure. The characters are incredibly shallow, the killer is obvious by page 50,the story is spectacularly implausible and pretty clearly includes very little research by the author and to top it off I constantly had the feeling that the author was getting a kickback for liberal use of brand names throughout the story. A character doesn't reach for a cell phone...she reaches for her Nokia. This happens throughout the book and is annoying to say the least. This is one of those books that you feel like throwing away 1/3 of the way through and for some strange reason I can never do that, I endure it to the end. The most amazing thing about it is that someone published it to begin with. 90% of the people reading this review could write a story as well as this.(Which tells you how bad it is!)It really is trash.

Judy Sussman is a thirty something interior designer who lives platonically with her soul mate, a former boyfriend names Skeet, who is a successful restaurateur. When a close business associate of Judy's is murdered, Judy is shocked. Then her favorite waiter, Troy, who works in Skeet's restaurant also bites the dust, a pattern begins to emerge that is linked with Judy's past, as well as with her present. When Judy Meets Ben Spiegel, a man with whom she falls in love, things begin to spiral totally out of control. Her friend Annie, an author and private investigator, is determined to discover just what is going on. The cost to Annie, however, will prove dear.

This is a quick, throwaway read. The story is formulaic and only marginally interesting, as it is peppered with mostly unlikable characters that are one dimensional, with the exception of Annie. The story is also hampered by turgid dialogue and hackneyed writing. Still, the plot is fast-paced and manages to keep the story afloat, although the discerning reader should be able to figure out who the bad guy really is, despite the myriad of red herrings that abound in the book. There is, however, a real unexpected twist to the end. Those readers who enjoy thrillers and mysteries should get a modicum of enjoyment from this book.

I couldn't put it down, but I hated myself for reading it. All formula, way too pat. Characters are one dimensional with no development. It reads like the plot of a tv movie. If you like that sort of thing, go for it.

Thom Racina has become a master of what I would call the "soap opera thriller." And that is not all meant to be derogatory. As a former writer for "Days of Our Lives," Mr. Racina has learned what people really want---escapism. So he gives us stereotypical characters, predictable plot developments, and the usual sex/scandal/murder collage. And he does it well.
Who is so obsessed with Judy that he/she wants to bump off anybody who likes the girl? Is it the strange gardener Juan? Or how about her new boyfriend, Ben? And what about her roomie and former lover, Skeet? Or is it someone else? And why did Judy's first lover kill himself? And why did her second one disappear?
Racina weaves this mystery in good style, and he keeps you guessing until you realize that the obvious killer is right in front of your eyes. The character of Annie Chestnut is a hoot; she reminds me of Kathy Bates or maybe even Roseanne Barr. Her private investigation styles are vastly reminiscent of several of the popular "cozies" and she steals most of her scenes.
The epilogue is kind of disappointing in light of what the reader has experienced in the book, but it is a twist I hadn't expected. Also, the scene in the gondola where Judy and Ben are forced to decide who jumps out is so overboard, it's hilarious. But, don't get me wrong. I devoured the book. Only reason I didn't give it the fifth star is the epilogue. Otherwise, I recommend it---it's a fun escapist fare!

I got this book because Amazon suggested I would like it. I thought the book was OK. I did like the way the author writes so I have ordered more of his books. I am not very interested in the subject he wrote about so that is probably why I didn't think it was great. The plot was good and the characters were likeable. I would suggest you read it; I didn't consider it a waste of time (I have felt that way about some books).