Prager's Pattern [Paperback]

John Alvar (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1999

Douglas Prager, an adult survivor of child abuse, struggles with his attraction to fourteen-year-old Aimee. When contract killers mistake Aimee for the daughter of a turncoat mobster and try to kidnap her, Prager intercedes and takes Aimee on the run. While investigating Aimee's disappearance the police uncover Prager's past and wrongly conclude that he is a violent sex offender who has abducted Aimee. Caught between the police and the killers, his fantasies and his conscience, Douglas Prager must decide between his past and Aimee's future.

Editorial Reviews

Review

An impressive and memorable debut. More than a page-turner; a thriller that can not only make you squirm, but also think. -- Kevin Burton Smith, Editor, The Thrilling Detective Web Site

The action is fast-paced and kept me reading all the way through. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes Elmore Leonard or Barry Gifford. -- James LaBudde, President, The Filmmakers Collective, Sponsor, FilmContest.com

The title character, Douglas Prager, finds himself caught in the middle of a chase where identities are mixed up in more ways than one. Although his initial instinct is to help, his influence could make the problems even worse if his struggle against his own dark side fails, and he could be in even greater danger if details of a tragic event from his past reaches the ears of the pursuers. As this page turner progresses, the reader wonders if Prager will live long enough to redeem himself. This is a very good first book, and I hope to see more by this author. The theme of "man against himself" is one not often seen in an action-oriented book like this, and the title character is likely to evoke strong feelings among readers. -- Recommended Books, Erika Lockhart ,October 1, 1999

From the Author

The idea for Prager's Pattern came to me after I had read a newspaper article about a girl who was molested and murdered. I was driven to understand why any adult would have an erotic interest in a child.

What I thought would be a couple days research turned into weeks of investigation that included everything from medical textbooks to abuse-related Web sites and bulletin boards. Instead of the purely evil monsters who are portrayed in the media and popular fiction I learned about men and women whose own abusive childhood often contributed to their erotic attraction to children.

A person's childhood can't be used as an excuse for their actions as adults, but the cyclic nature of abuse explains why the problem is so persistent. What I found particularly intriguing was that people who are clinically diagnosed as a pedophiles often never act on their fantasies but struggle with their affliction like an alcoholic who fights the urge for a drink. I see that analogy as a hopeful sign -- that a person's free will can overcome the most aggressive obsessions, sexual or otherwise.

So I wrote Douglas Prager as a person who could be living next door -- maybe someone that you know. He holds down a job, shops at the local supermarket and says hello when he passes you on the street. But Prager is also a highly conflicted character facing very tough moral decisions. I hope you find the course he takes to be compelling reading.

Regards, John Alvar

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Product Details

• Paperback: 257 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse; 1 edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 189365222X
• ISBN-13: 978-1893652224
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,497,262 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating read., January 5, 2000

By 

Jane - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prager's Pattern (Paperback)

Fascinating. I found it so personally intense at points I had to stop and then read again later. The characters are captivating in a very real way. Congratulations!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A surprising story, October 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Prager's Pattern (Paperback)

A friend of mine told me I should read this book and I said no because it seemed too creepy. But he gave me his copy and insisted and I'm glad I took his advice. The book was a real surprise because it told what could have been a distasteful story in a very sensitive and entertaining way. There were enough twists and turns to keep me turning the page, and I got to see the story from the viewpoint of several very different characters. Some flashbacks are used to explain the main character, and I particularly enjoyed one where he has a revealing discussion with a psychiatrist. There is a mob boss that I would have liked to know more about but overall I liked the book very much and would recommend it.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Read, December 21, 1999

By 

James LaBudde (West Orange, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Prager's Pattern (Paperback)

I really liked this book. It's got detestable hoodlums, likable hired killers, dead housewives, and page after page of sexual tension. And not "normal" sexual tension either. What more could you ask for?

The writer, John Alvar, is able to take a seriously screwed-up main character, (who has some issues with teenage girls), and make him likable and sympathetic. But at the same time, I kept waiting for the other shoe, or the other dead body, to drop.

The action is fast-paced and kept me reading all the way through. I would recommend this to anyone that likes Elmore Leonard or Barry Gifford.

I can't wait for the sequel, or better yet, the movie.