Book Review: The Horned Man

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Horned Man     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
James Lasdun
Class/Genre:   Fiction   Psychological Suspense   Thriller
Norton, April 2002, $24.95, 208 pp.

Lawrence Miller left England over seven years ago to come to the United States where he taught gender studies at many different colleges. When he arrived in New York, he met Carol and later married her, tremendously simplifying his obtaining a permanent visa. He and Carol are separated but not a day doesn’t go by that he doesn’t miss her or hope that they will reconcile.

He currently teaches at Arthur Clay College in a Manhattan suburb when he discovers that the previous occupant of his office walked away from this job. When pranks appear, Lawrence thinks that the previous occupant is hiding out in his office. When the capers escalate into something far more dangerous, a determined Lawrence plans to confront his tormentor who he believes is the reason Carol is keeping her distance from him.

James Lasdun’s debut novel is a powerful tour-de force about a man’s ability to twist reality to suit his need to delude himself from the truth. Still the question the reader must ask is the simple paradox that though a person is paranoid, some one still might be out to get him or her. So is some one out to get the paranoid somewhat tormented Lawrence or is the threat to his peace inside his mind? THE HORNED MAN is worth reading for those fans who enjoy a taut psychological thriller similar to the Dustin Hoffman movie Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?

Harriet Klausner

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