Book Review: Land of the Living

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Land of the Living     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Nicci French
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller   Woman Main Character
Warner, May 2003, $23.95, 341 pp.

Twenty-five year old Londoner, Abbie Devereaux awakens to find herself tied up in a dark room with no memory of how she got there or any other recent event. Amongst the abuse she receives, her host also taunts her with a list of his previous victims. Abbie manages to escape.

As she recuperates from her ordeal the hospital, at no one believes her story including her doctors and Detective Inspector Jack Cross, who insists there is no crime scene. Abbie returns to her life, but finds her home, her job, and her boyfriend not quite matching her memories. She wonders if her doctors are right that she is screaming for help or was she really kidnapped and that impacted her recall. She also questions why her roommate is missing and who is this Ben now in her life. Abbie needs to know if she had a breakdown or is he still there stalking her? Whatever is the truth Abbie plans to find her flat mate and regain control of her life.

Abbie is obviously the key player in this thriller that readers will have to read to decide whether this is a serial killer suspense tale or a work of psychological suspense. The story line works quite well when the disconcerted heroine wonders about the truth while feeling deep in her soul the terror of abduction and whether it happened or not. Nicci French provides a powerfully taut thriller.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner