Keith Ablow, Murder Suicide

Murder Suicide

Keith Ablow

St. Martin's July 2004, $21.95, 320 pp.

ISBN 0312323891

John Snow was a genius who made millions from his inventions but the money came at a price. Every time he was near a breakthrough, he suffered a severe grand mal epileptic seizure. Unable to live with the affliction anymore, he decided to have cutting edge brain surgery that could cause blindness or leave him unable to remember any of the people closest to him. An hour before he was due for surgery someone killed him in the alley near the hospital.

Forensic psychiatrist Frank Clevenger is asked by Detective Mike Coady of the Boston police department to determine whether John committed suicide or was murdered, as the autopsy results were inconclusive. By accepting the case, Frank has to look at all the people who were closest to the man, his wife, business partner, children and mistress to see who had a motive. He discovers they all did.

Keith Ablow is one of the best thriller writers on the market today. His protagonist, a psychologically flawed person, overcomes the abuse he suffered from his sadistic father to help people and to make sure the killers are caught so they won't hurt anyone ever again. There is a lot of action scenes in MURDER SUICIDE but the best parts of this exciting thriller is watching the hero put the pieces of the puzzle together.

Harriet Klausner