Andrew Klavan's (I hope I'm spelling that right) most recent literary contribution, A Strange Habit of Mind is a strange and wonderful book. So far as I can tell it's unlike anything being published at the moment. It is a psychologically complex thriller, masterfully plotted and paced, with all of the excitement and suspense one could ask for. It is populated with an array of compelling characters who feel eerily real. Happily, it also deals (albeit obliquely) with themes that few authors dare touch today in any sincere way, in our postmodern, God-is-dead secular culture.
The story revolves around the guilt-ridden, former spy, now English professor, Cameron Winter, who made his debut in the marvelous When Christmas Comes. In his mind, he has done terrible things; thus the guilt. As a member of The Division, an ultra-secret unit within the U.S. intelligence community (presumably fictional), Winter has served his country. This service entailed death. More precisely, it entailed killing. A lot of it.
Throughout the book, he is tortured by his conscience. Brooding on his supposed transgressions, he finds some relief in therapy. Margaret Whitaker is his psychologist. She is more a priest masquerading as a psychologist. In a wonderfully satisfying literary device, Klavan uses Whitaker to reveal Winter's secrets and sins (at least a few of them). Thus we get to know him and his past. Moreover, through Whitaker's ministrations Winter begins to regain the wholeness that he lacks and desperately needs back.
Winter also has his titular strange habit of mind. When needed, he can enter a diffuse state where facts, impressions, and thoughts take shape of their own accord, leading him to the truth about a given mystery or problem. This ability comes in handy over the course of the story, giving him an edge that he will need if he is to match wits with his formidable antagonists.
One of them is Gerald Byrne, a tech billionaire with the God complex endemic to people with that kind of wealth. Byrne has a problem: he thinks (and acts as though) he is a god--a real titan. As such, he feels entitled to god-like powers: The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. An all too familiar type in our day, Byrne, owner of Byrner (an influential social media platform) wields his power against his enemies with impunity. That is, until he lands on the radar of Cameron Winter.
And so the story goes, dotted with extraordinary characters and scenes. E.g. The Recruiter: Winter's shadowy mentor. A devout Bible thumper full of certainties about God, life, and man's duty to country. A psychologist par excellence, who can penetrate into a man's being with preternatural ability, he appears periodically throughout the book to aid Winter in his campaign to bring Byrne low.
Reading this book was a pleasure. Knowing that the author is a true American patriot makes it that much better to read. It is a delightful page-turning romp, full of twists and turns and one of the great twists that you're likely to read in this genre. It truly feels like Winter has the potential to become one of those rare characters who can carry a series of books.
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A Wonderful Escape
This book was wonderful in two ways. First, the story had me thoroughly enthralled to the point that I would repeatedly stop reading, place the pages to my face, and exclaim things like, “I can’t believe it” or “Are you serious” or the like. Andrew Klavan (no “Es”) really takes the reader on a grand adventure through Professor Winter’s internal and external struggles to get to what matters - the truth. Second, I was gloriously pulled away, for a little bit, from the hustle and bustle of life to just dive in and enjoy this book because, again, it’s so engrossing. I truly can’t wait for Andrew’s next book and hope it arrives soon! Till then, I highly recommend this book to anyone.
Top reviews from other countries
Magdalena P.
One of the best fiction books of the 21st century
Reviewed in Germany on August 17, 2023WilmslowWoman
Absolute page turner - couldn't put it down
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2022
Shaz Ginns
The first book was good, this is as good and more.
Reviewed in Australia on March 5, 2024
