Book Review: Dreams in the Key of Blue

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Dreams in the Key of Blue     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
John Philpin
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Psychological Suspense   Serial Killer
Series: Lucas Frank # 3
Bantam August 2000, $6.50, 368 pp.

In his pre-retirement days, Lucas Frank was a psychiatrist bored with treating the same ailments. Lucas developed personality profiles of rapists, murderers, and serial killers that made him a pioneer back in the seventies. However, two decades of exploring the minds of killers forced Lucas to finally retire seven years ago. Now his brain recharged with vigor, Lucas travels to Ragged Harbor, New England to teach a forensic psychology class at Harbor College.

The enthusiastic students are interested in what Lucas teaches, which leaves him feeling euphoric. However, happiness turns into horror when someone kills three of his students. The local chief of police knows he is out of his depth dealing with a serial killer and asks Lucas for help. Lucas dives headfirst into the investigation, but even he cannot stop the body count from rapidly mounting, nor realize he is the ultimate target.

Anyone fascinated by the mindset of serial killers will want to read the exciting Dreams In The Key Of Blue. Fictional charcaters are cleverly employed to educate and entertain the reader on the various profile types. The edge of your seat story line teases the audience by making it difficult to decide what is happening and who is orchestrating the events. Sub-genre readers will profile John Philpin as a winner.

Harriet Klausner

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