Night Visions: A Novel of Suspense [Paperback]

Thomas Fahy (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 9, 2004

Samantha Ranvali can't sleep. Haunted by nightmares and the memory of a man who attacked her years ago, she seeks a cure for her insomnia through an experimental study called "Endymion's Circle." The treatment seems to be a success, but after her first full night of sleep in months, Samantha learns that one of the other participants in the study has been murdered. The body is found crucified upside down, and a recording of J. S. Bach's "Goldberg Variations" plays at the scene. As an old lover investigates the crime, he draws Samantha into a mystery that spans over two hundred years and suggests something far more sinister than the police expect. And with each night of Samantha's newfound sleep, she awakens to another ritualistic crime. Every clue takes her deeper into her own past, her own history of loss, pain, and desperation. Every murder reveals that a dark curse has taken hold of her world. And every clue brings her closer to the revelation that she is the next victim. Here is stunning suspense that plays masterfully with the conventions of the genre and perfectly blends historical richness with modern-day terror.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fahy's debut novel hovers uncertainly on the borders of the horror and suspense genres, much like his insomniac characters hover on the edge of sleep, yearning for unconsciousness but fearing the visions and nightmares they know they will find there. In present-day San Francisco, lawyer Samantha Ranvali's ex-lover Frank Bennett shows up asking her for help locating a missing woman for his employers, the Palici Corporation, a high-priced private investigative firm. Samantha, a severe insomniac, has just begun experimental treatment at a sleep disorder clinic. She's worried about the treatment and worried about Frank, but agrees to help him. Their investigation leads to a body, the first of many, that has been slashed and crucified. Meanwhile, flashbacks to the court of the historical German Count Hermann Carl von Keyserlingk—also an insomniac, and the man who hired Johann Sebastian Bach to write what will become known as the Goldberg Variations—prove crucial to the solution of the puzzle. The problematic finish of the book aims for stylish intrigue, but ends up as simply unclear and unsatisfying. Perhaps this is because the novel is intended as the first in a projected series of five using the same characters, but unless Fahy finds some way to put a little zip into the sleepy Samantha, readers will be disinclined to pick up the next installment.
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From Booklist

Fahy's first novel has an interesting premise--insomniacs committing murders while in a sleep state--but he attempts to pack far too much into the story. Numerous italicized flashbacks--the bane of backstory--quickly become tiresome, and the main plot skips around almost randomly from the eighteenth century to the present. A convoluted subplot about Bach's Goldberg Variations only adds to the confusion. What does work here is the story of protagonist Samantha Ranvali and her relationship with former lover Frank, who comes back to San Francisco to investigate the insomniac murders. As Sam starts to see a pattern between the sleep clinic where she is being treated for insomnia and numerous murders that involve upside-down crucifixions, she realizes that she may well be the next victim. Her reluctance to rely on Frank for help frustrates him, and their relationship continues on rocky ground. Fahy's ability to develop characters, his substantial descriptive skill, and his historical knowledge are all evident here. If he can reign in his plots a bit, this could become a fine series. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks; First edition. edition (November 9, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060594624
• ISBN-13: 978-0060594626
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #526,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thomas Fahy grew up in Los Angeles, California. He has studied literature and music throughout his life and received undergraduate degrees in both fields from the University of California at Davis. After earning a Ph.D. in literature from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he taught at several schools in California. He now lives in New York, where he is a professor of literature and Director of the American Studies Program at Long Island University, C. W. Post Campus. You can visit him at thomasfahy.com or on Facebook at http://bit.ly/ut3nl

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chilling reading, October 25, 2006

By 

Frank J. Konopka (Shamokin, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night Visions : A Novel of Suspense (Paperback)

This is a very well-written book that takes the reader through the anguish of insomniacs. Their sleep deprivation problem is compounded by a series of ghastly murders that, initially to the police, appear to have no connection. As the plot progresses, the heroine and her former lover come to realize that there is something behind all of the deaths, and it may be a secret several centuries old. The plot is fast-paced, and the ending leaves itself open for a sequel, which I understand the author is preparing. I will definitely look forward to reading it!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great ride!, November 13, 2004

By 

Sara (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Visions: A Novel of Suspense (Paperback)

Fahy's story goes several imaginative steps beyond the typical thriller, and if you ever experience insomnia, this book may make you wonder what the real cause is. The inspired ending provides just enough closure that you won't look over your shoulder until the middle of the night. Be sure to go to the author's website (thomasfahy.com) for a link to the Night Visions page, where you can listen to and view the music and art that is referenced in the novel.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This was a great book., November 11, 2004

By 

Max (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Visions: A Novel of Suspense (Paperback)

What I liked most about this book was the literary tool that the author used to tell the story. The book is about a series of murders in San Francisco, but there are frequent flash-backs to other murders which span many years. By the end of the book, they are all tied together. Along the way, the story is fast-paced and exciting. This was a great read, and I am looking forward to the expected sequel.