Customer Reviews

Primal Fear

5 star:		(56)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Although past its prime, this book is an absolute classic and has withstood the test of time to prove itself to be one of the very best psychological thrillers. Fast-paced and thorough, this thriller combines the best elements of the legal and psychological thriller genres to make for a fantastic read. As someone who is generally very critical of the realism in modern legal thrillers, I found little not to like in Primal Fear. Diehl is a first-rate writer.

I just got finished reading this and first, like has been mentioned in reviews in addition to mine, the ending was incredible. The book keeps you guessing right up until the second to last page about Aaron. Also, as mentioned, very nice love scenes, but it's curious to note that the women are on top each time...ah, but anyway, the courtroom scene was magnificently written and drew many, "Oooooh, nice one!" and the like from me as I read. All the characters are spectacular. I'm especially fond of Martin because I am a wise ass at heart. Aaron of course was the most well done. I am eager to pick up Show of Evil to see where the story goes from here.

I'm gonna tell you right now, the last line of this book alone is worth the purchase price (and a lot more). I was left thinking about this book long after I finished it. TRUST me, if you saw the movie version, you will be forever disappointed with how they twisted it for whatever reasons to make it NOWHERE NEAR as good as it could and should have been.

Aaron Stampler is a FANTASTIC character, not 2-dimensional like so many in popular fiction today. Fully realized, and VERY complex. IS he guilty? Does he really have multiple personalities? OR is he a genius PRETENDING to be a somewhat backwards inbred mountain outcast? These questions will be raised and it won't be until the INCREDIBLE conclusion on the VERY LAST PAGE that you will be treated to one of my all-time favorite endings.

'Primal Fear' ranks as one of my favorite books, and after you finish it, I'm sure you will agree that it deserved all of the praise it received. I have to admit, the following sequels to 'Primal Fear' just didn't do it for me. I tried, honest to goodness I TRIED to enjoy them as much, but it didn't happen. And if someone tells you that one of the sequel's are BETTER than 'Primal' DON'T BELIEVE IT. If you count yourself a fan of John Grisham, Steve Martini, Richard North Patterson or MY personal favorite legal thriller author: Phillip Margolin do yourself a supreme favor and pick this amazing thriller up and devour it TODAY.

Primal Fear. A believable story. It could happen.

Aaron Stampler, accused of murdering a church Bishop plays to the reader's compassion with his stutter and country charisma. We think that Aaron is truly innocent, as we subconsciously help his defense attorney, Martin Vail, to get his client acquitted. But Aaron is not your typical country bumpkin. He is equipped with a clever psychotic mind that manipulates his attorney and the reader's mind and leads them on a trail of doubt of his guilt.

The story is suspenseful and well written with great character development and a look into the mind of a person with multiple personality disorder. Diehl cleverly masks the truth through Primal Fear and keeps the reader turning pages until the real truth of the murder is revealed in an unsuspected ending.

This book is my favourite novel of all time. The story line is fantastic and the ending is simply chilling. The complex and descriptive paragraphs are completley stunning. The way Diehl can keep the story flying along with unbelievable speed and excitment is a rare and raw talent and is a joy to read. Also, as well as being fantasic read, it is also fasinating-it reveals the world of the court room in all its glories, as well as looking in to the human brain. Fasinating! If you haven't read it shame on you! Read it, you haven't read a thriller untill you read a novel by William Diehl!

The city of Chicago is shocked when their "saint of Lakeview Drive," Archbishop Richard Bernard Rushman, is brutally murdered in his own rectory.

Nineteen year old Aaron Stampler is found crouched in a church confessional, covered in the bishop's blood, mumbling, "Didn't do it, Mama."

Attorney Martin Vail is known for his rough tactics as well as his brilliant performances in the courtroom. He is hated by every prosecutor in the city. Vail loves and lives the law.

Vail is forced to defend Aaron Stampler as sort of a "slap on the wrist." Aaron's Appalachian mountain accent and angelic appearance is only the beginning to a great defense.

Author William Diehl hits the jackpot with this tale of murder and suspense. His characters are so real in their descriptions and dialog, it's easy to love and/or hate them. Great book to recommend.

Probably the best book I've read all year. It kept me up all night - and the absoulte last line in the book was the best!!!

The book is a masterpiece. I saw the movie version first, but when I read the novel, there was no hesitation when I decided that the book was much much better. It keeps you guessing till the end. I know this is a cliche, but it does. I started off thinking that I know what's going to happen next, but the course of events kinda altered my thinking. Archbishop, a "living saint", is killed and they caught the suspect red-handed. The prosecutor thought it was an open-and-shut case, only to be proven wrong. Aaron Stampler (that's the "killer") is backed up by a guilty but insane defense. In the movie, the judge (a lady) declared a mistrial, but in the novel, the judge (a guy) let the two lawyers work something out. The defense attorney, Martin Vail, is really cunning and clever, and so with his assistants. Apparently, Aaron was too smart for them - read about it in the book :-) All in all, the story is, lemme put it this way, something I'll always add to my carry-on on a trip.

I read this book a few years back, and loaned it to a good buddy.

Four hours later, after he'd read it, we got together for a Steinlager and a chat; the topic under discussion was "Who would play Marty Vail in the movie?"

It's a book that shouted "Make Me Into A Movie!!"

And so they did. But Richard Gere as Marty Vail?? No way!

If you've seen the movie but not read the book, then pick it up and devour it. The film was... OK. People I know who haven't read the book say the flick's fabulous. But the book's so much better. The plot is so much richer, and the court-room scenes would have Grisham wishing he could write half as convincingly. Good gore, good psychology (whether it's accurate is another matter. It reads well.) and all 'round, it's fun.

Relax with it, and enjoy.

I don't normally like books with a lot of legal matters in it. I prefer stories by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Shirley Jackson. I have no idea how this book got my attention but outside of "It" by Stephen King...i have never read a book that came anywhere close to being as exceptional as "Primal Fear" it is intelligent, very suspenseful, mastefully crafted, completely distubing. What makes this book perfect is it's ending...i have never seen one like it. READ THIS BOOK...then read SHOW OF EVIL because it is every bit as good...if not almost better...but don't waste your time with "Reign in Hell" I have no idea what happened with that one. it's the best psychological thriller ever.