Book Review: Animosity

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Animosity     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
David Lindsey
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller
Warner, May 2001, $24.95, 339 pp.

Highly regarded sculptor Ross Marteau ends his three-year relationship with Marian on rather bad terms with acrimonious words exchanged. He lingers for two and a half months doing nothing on the Left Banke except for some emotionally healing before returning to his home in San Rafael, Texas.

Beautiful Celeste Lacan asks Ross to sculpt her sister Leda for a fee. Celeste shows a photograph of Leda's face, which Ross realizes is that of the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Still, he refuses because he already has a commission, but agrees to meet Leda. However, in person, he finds the beautiful visage is marred by a horrendous looking hunchback. He cannot resist the lure of beauty and the beast. As Ross embarks on an affair with Celeste, he feels the torment destroying Leda, but does not realize how close the siblings are until murder accentuates the obvious.

ANIMOSITY is a powerful novel that looks deep into the soul of humanity and finds it lacking. The story line is strange as David Lindsey keeps the plot nebulous until the ending so that the reader never knows the truth until the twisting climax ends. The sisters are weird and Ross is an enigma, but that fits the scheme of this spooky thriller that lays bare man's inhumanity.

Harriet Klausner

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