Book Review: The Red Room

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Red Room     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Nicci French
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Psychological Suspense   Psychological Suspense
Mysterious, Aug 2001, $24.95, 384 pp.

The Stretton Green Police ask Market Hill Hospital for the Criminally Insane and Welborn Clinic Dr. Katherine "Kit" Quinn to evaluate Michael Doll. Parents have complained about the seemingly disturbed young male hanging around elementary schools and since he has a bit of a record for exposure, the police want a professional psychiatric opinion. However, in front of DI Furth, Michael smashes a mug and uses a sharp piece of glass to carve up Kit’s face.

A few months later, Kit is out of the hospital having physically recovered except for a scar, but suffers nightmares from the assault. When DI Furth asks for her help with the murder investigation of a female teenager in which Michael is the prime suspect, a reluctant Kit agrees because she knows she must "humanize" her demon. Perhaps if Kit knew what is in store for her with this case, she would have said no and preferred to lived with her demonizing Doll.

THE RED ROOM is an exciting psychological thriller starring a great lead character psychologically suffering from the aftermath of the brutal attack by Michael. Kit knows she must confront the evil she has painted on the face of her attacker. Once she succeeds in de-demonizing her assailant, Kit still cannot let go of the case as her need to do the right thing propels her to continue to work on the investigation. It is her character that turns Nicci French’s tale into an absorbing chiller that never allows the audience to catch their breath.

Harriet Klausner

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