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Twice Dying |
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 Twice Dying byNeil McMahon Harper Collins 256 pages, 2000 ISBN 0060193646 Reviewed by PJ Nunn Technically, NGI stands for "not guilty by reason of insanity," but guilt or innocence is really a matter of fact, not legality, isn’t it? Psychologist Alison Chapley works with men that bear the title every day and is well aware of their dark secrets. She’s noticing a pattern. One that scares her. Rather than standing trial for the atrocities they commit, these men are being remanded to Clevinger - where Alison works. But instead of being locked away forever from the unsuspecting public, they’re being fast-tracked and released to disappear back into society. When a particularly vicious patient is scheduled for release, supposedly rehabilitated just two short years after being admitted, Alison turns for help to Carroll Monks, a former lover who is also a physician and medical investigator. Monks is something of a rebel himself, but he knows a problem when he sees one. Reluctantly, he agrees to help Alison, who has dark secrets of her own. They soon find they aren’t the only ones trying to find these men. Is it possible they’re being released on purpose, only to become unwitting prey in a macabre game of justice? Whoever is orchestrating the deadly game soon makes it clear that Alison and Monks can either play along - or be hunted down too. McMahon has an interesting style of writing. It’s as sparse and unyielding as the script he presents, lending an ominous atmosphere throughout the book. TWICE DYING leans heavily on the dark side of human nature and examines it thoroughly under a glaring spotlight. The author makes it plain that anyone can cross the line. Even so, Monks is an engaging character, an underdog of sorts, struggling to be right in a world gone wrong. This is not a book for the squeamish, but for those who enjoy a psychological thriller. It’s a great ride with a satisfying conclusion. |
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