Customer Reviews

Skin Deep

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

There are certain expectations with every genre: with romance you expect passion; in literary novels it should be all about the characters arcs; and in sci-fi, it should all be out of this world. In a thriller, you want there to be a mystery to unravel, you want a villain so evil that s/he's almost inhuman, and you want it all at a pace that could burn out your heart. Gary Braver, my friends, has done it again, and he's hit every mark without fail. He's even hit a few marks that you'd never expect in a thriller...

Steve Markarian is troubled. He's in hot water with his job at the Boston PD, he's separated from his wife, and he's suddenly caught up in the biggest case of his career. They find a beautiful woman who appears to have accidentally killed herself during a scarfing session, but could it be more than that? The more they search, the more the clues lead them to murder, but the suspects are few. Maybe it's the college professor... or the bouncer at the strip club. Could it really be his partner? Or could it possibly be... himself? Steve spirals into darkness as he searches for the killer, and comes face-to-face with some terrifying personal demons in the process.

Dana is Steve's wife and unsatisfied with her looks. She's not as young as she used to be and, in the course of switching professions, comes to the conclusion that she needs a little help to battle the beautiful twenty-something's who will be her competition in the workforce. At the urgings of a friend, Dana books an appointment to see the best plastic surgeon in Boston, and there's no turning back. Everything seems to be going fine, until Steve starts to see connections between the steadily mounting victims and Dana, connections that have him fearing for her life.

Where Braver really stretches his legs is in a parallel storyline that takes place almost forty years in the past, the story of a boy and the strange hold his aspiring actress of a stepmother seems to hold over him. It's enthralling, it's disturbing, and it really showcases Braver's talent as a writer. If he weren't so good at writing thrillers, I'd hope to see a literary novel from him at some point...! I'd say it's worth reading the book just for these scenes, but the rest of the book is equally worth your time!

This one will have you guessing almost until the very end. The reveal of the killer's identity comes a little sooner than the regular thriller, but then there's nothing normal/ordinary about this book. Not only will the killer's identity shock you, but the REAL twist is WHY the killer is murdering these women. And, believe me when I say, you'll have to pick your jaw up from the ground.

Gary Braver's best novel to date. I don't really know how he's going to top this one, but I have no lack of faith that he will!

As a fan of Gary Braver, I've read all his books, but I think this one may be the best, because it's so multidimensional. The psychological suspense is excellent, and the characters compelling. Who is choking the beautiful redheads in a manner reminiscent of the Boston Strangler? Could it be the lead detective and main character, Steve Markarian? This plot line is almost Dostoeveskian. The English professor? This character's an inside joke for those of us who know Braver is a college English teacher. Or is Markarian's tempermental partner the villian?)

Then you've got the medical subplot, about plastic surgery, which Dana, Markarian's separated wife (who he still loves), is pursuing. The details here are well researched and informative for those of us curious about the practice. And as the book progresses, what appeared to be a subplot twines neatly into the main murder mystery plot.

And finally, there's the fascinating back story of one of the male characters - presented in alternating chapters - about their twisted relationship with their stepmother - but which one is it? Markarian? His partner? The professor? Though we figure it out before the climactic scene, as I think Braver intended us to, it's still quite delicious.

This is Braver's most sexually explicit book, but he handles it in classy way. There are shades of greatness here and it's wonderful to see a favorite author upping his game instead of letting things slide, as so many do.

I am an avid mystery reader. This book rates at the top of my list. It holds your interest until the end. Interesting characters. I want to read more Braver books.

I have been following Gary Braver's writing career since I discovered that my college fraternity brother was an accomplished author. However, in those days I knew him as Gary Goshgarian. I just finished Skin Deep and it is by far his best creative work to date. Although it is primarily a murder mystery, Gary never strays too far from the medical thrillers he is known for. I will not reveal any more than that with regard to the plot. This is a book you simple cannot put down. I will anxiously await his next novel. I highly recommend that you go out, buy a copy of Skin Deep, and lose yourself in this wonderful thriller.

As a long-time reader of mysteries, thrillers, and horror novels, I was naturally drawn to Gary Braver's "Skin Deep." An intriguing concept blending elements of a cop thriller, murder mystery, and just a dash of Jack-the-Ripper suspense, I was drawn into the story in such a way that I find to be very uncommon for contemporary popular fiction. I was particularly pleased with Mr. Braver's restraint; while dealing with such an intimate subject as plastic surgery (the relationship shared between patient and doctor, the stresses such changes can inflict on personal connections between family and friends), I never felt that a moment was included which was gratuitous in any sense. As is the case with any good story, there was nothing superficial, a particular triumph for a novel which can be seen as a "whodunnit" type of mystery. Each time I thought I knew who the criminal was going to be, I (naturally) found myself to be wrong, but never annoyed. The red herrings were logically constructed and all equally justifiable without being too blatant or leading; with each turn and corrected assumption, my only reaction was to KEEP READING so that I might discover the conclusion to the whole affair. My only quibble: the ending, while certainly satisfying, proved to be SO outlandish that I had to read it several times to wrap my head around what exactly was going on. On the whole, however, I would thoroughly recommend this book for those who enjoy thought-provoking novels of blended genre. This isn't the mystery of Doyle, or the horror of King, or the cop action of "Die Hard" (truth be told, I don't read police fiction), but an enjoyable mix of all of these, topped off with Mr. Braver's own unique flair and grasp of Boston style.

Right of the bat I have to say that this isn't a medical thriller, I have read dozens in the last decade and this is laced with some procedures but don't expect Robin Cook or Michael Palmer, nevertheless this had some bits and pieces of surgery laced story that added to the tale and made for an interesting ending. This was my first time reading Gary Braver and after this experience I am curious enough to read more in the future. This tale starts off with a crime, unfortunately this is the only crime that happens for a very long time, how long I can't say but when serial killers are involved, one would expect a bit more action. It appears that beautiful and provocative women are in danger, someone is stalking and killing them, reasons are unknown but for one cop his work becomes reality when it hits little too close to home.

Lieutenant Steve Markarian has just separated from his wife Dana, only to find her visage in all his latest victims. Suddenly every face he sees in criminal files seems to resemble his wife, to make things worse she declares her need for plastic surgery to get rid of imperfections, adding herself to the list of beautiful women that seem to be in danger. Steve is torn between his failing link to his wife and a strange and cruel killer that is outsmarting everyone and running circles around his toughest enemies. The story is fast and intense but seems to run longer than necessary, although it's hard to tell which parts could have been eliminated. The mystery is childishly easy, I pretty much knew who the suspect was from the beginning but it was a decent read with some seductive tid-bits thrown in to keep the reader spell bound.

- Kasia S.

Gary Braver's Skin Deep is billed on its cover as a medical thriller, and it is that. I'll try not to give away too many secrets, but the book operates at several levels. It's a mystery: like any good whodunit, the reader is provided clues but not the identity of the killer until the end. It's a crime novel: the major character is a homicide detective working on the case. It's a psychological thriller: the detective is in deep turmoil as clues pile up linking him to the murder; is he a killer? is he going insane? It's an exposé: the reader witnesses the desperate desire of people to improve their appearance via cosmetic surgery. And it's a relationship story: the major character's marriage and friendship with his partner provide compelling story lines.
Did I say that Skin Deep was a ripping good medical thriller? One of the best I've read.
-Rob Smythe, Burlington, Ontario

i really enjoyed this deliciously myterious story, showing the development of the criminal mind in dark detail. the plot kept you guessing throughout, and the suspense built toward a satisfying ending. i liked the details about the investigative police work, all seemed very authentic. the characters were intriguing and realistic. the author skillfully managed to walk a fine line between disturbing and darkly suspenseful.

Skin Deep is a harrowing braintwister of a thriller filled with characters that have populated the neighborhoods and lives of most of the reader who will pick up this book. Well-crafted, smart and perfectly paced, Braver also imbues his characters with realistic foibles and relationships. What worked especially well for me was the combination of the imperfect hero, Steve, who recognizes his own potential for extreme violence and the killer, who we are shown as a vulnerable child en route to becoming a confused psychopath. By flipping the expectations of empathy, Braver creates an unusual mood for the novel, one that causes the reader to look deeper inside her own heart.

I think that by making the killer someone that the reader might be able to identify with or at least recognize as a human being, the novel becomes more disturbing and urgent. Add in excellent dialogue and the timeliness of people going under the knife to become someone different or better than who they are, Skin Deep rises above the ordinary thriller and becomes a greater statement on the unpredictability of human beings.

A great read. I'm looking forward to his next book.

Gary Braver has done it again. Having read all his books he just continues to amaze me. After reading FLASHBACK I could not wait for Gary to write again. I wondered how could he do better. Well he has. You will not be disappointed. In fact, you will beg him to write another one. The book is excellent and is well written. His ability to develop characters is absolutely outstanding. The way in which Gary formulates the conflicts within the protagonist is stunning. SKIN DEEP covers an array of intriguing themes. His attention to detail is remarkable. The accuracy of his forensic science concerning the murders clearly demonstrates he did his homework. The physical and psychological profiling provides the story with significant depth and credibility. It is a must read. Do not deprive yourself. Get the book. You will not put it down until you are done. Fom the first to the last page, you will be captivated and surprised.

Go meet him at a book signing. He is an extraordinary person and a gentleman. You will immediately realize why he is a tremendous author.

You have to view his narrative regarding the book at his website.