Mortal Fear

Rating:
Summary: Iles makes a BIG departure from his previous novels...
Review: I found Greg Iles quite by accident several years ago when I was in the slump of what I like to call, 'Not-having-anything-to-read-at-the moment' syndrome. I came across 'Spandau Phoenix' by Mr. Iles, and normally I rarely read the so-called 'blurbs' written on the cover that make the book out to be the best thing since sliced bread, but for some reason, I took them seriously this time. I found myself reading quite possibly the best action/adventure novel about events that happened in WWII that I had ever come across. His follow-up novel, 'Black Cross' was an even more facinating and powerful account of an historical event during the Second World War that didn't happen, but COULD have... well a few years pass and I begin to wonder where Mr. Iles went to, and suddenly I discover 'Mortal Fear'. I was a bit disappointed because I was expecting it to be another adventure based on a real event from WWII, and of course it wasn't, so on that level alone I was a tiny bit upset--but I should know that authors shouldn't be held to writing one particular genre for all of eternity (although if Mr. Iles could continue producing novels like his first two, I would have been perfectly happy if he did...).

I am a BIG fan of Murder/Mysteries, and this novel took off like it was going to be one of those rare stories that compelled you to read for hours on end without regard to waking up early the next morning...but somewhere along the way it just lost its steam--for ME anyway. Don't get me wrong, it is still a good example of the Murder/Mystery genre, however I had a hard time with the incredibly HUGE departure from his previous works into a sordid tale of sex and murder. It seemed to me such a large gap that it was written by someone else. Now I am not claiming that 'Mortal Fear' was written by another person, not at all--however you would be hard pressed to find any similarities between his first two books and this one. I found myself absorbed by the characters in his first two novels because he made them 'real' and people I could identify with (to a degree, of course) and with 'Mortal Fear' this was a story about a man who operates an erotic internet site and I'm sorry, but I just didn't care about what happened to him mostly because I just couldn't identify on ANY level with him. Based on this alone, this novel disappointed me very much. If you have not read either of Greg Iles first two novels, and you enjoy a good Murder/Mystery, by all means, pick this one up and enjoy--but if you have read them, be prepared for an amazing change of pace and subject matter with 'Mortal Fear'. All in all, a pretty good story, but it just didn't 'do it' for me.

Rating:
Summary: Gripping -- A Wonderful Re-read!
Review: Its philosophical beginning turns suddenly into a heart-stopping race against time to find a psychopathic killer of great intelligence, one who selects victims through an online service. As Greg Iles spins the tale through Harper Cole's point of view, we get to experience Cole's life, his memories of his wife's haunting sister Erin, his determination to capture the real killer and clear his name--and his fear. Its philosophical beginning turns suddenly into a heart-stopping race against time to find a psychopathic killer of great intelligence, one who selects victims through an online service. As Greg Iles spins the tale through Harper Cole's point of view, we get to experience Cole's life, his memories of his wife's haunting sister Erin, his determination to capture the real killer and clear his name--and his fear. To lure the killer into showing himself, he must play the killer's game...a plan that places everything he has ever loved into the killer's embrace. For the woman he chooses will be one he has crossed paths with before, a woman with whom he once held a passion for, a woman so hauntingly tragic and beautiful that no man has ever denied the right to her body--his wife's sister.

MORTAL FEAR is more than just a heart-stopping account of a man trying to save those he cared, more than just one of my favorite books--it was heartrending too, a no-holds-barred narrative of one man's life, his loves, his stakes in a dangerous game of "being bait"....and most of all, his fear, motivating him to match wits with a killer, to protect those he loved. Greg Iles created the ultimate humanifestation ever in Harper Cole.

MORTAL FEAR is, without a doubt, great reading.

Rating:
Summary: Not perfect, but a highly readable thriller
Review: Thirty-something Harper Cole makes a comfortable living trading commodities from his isolated Mississippi home, but it is his second, less lucrative job that offers the more interesting perquisites: Harper is a systems operator of an exclusive online sex forum, EROS (Erotic Realtime On-line Stimulation), whose members pay hundreds of dollars a month to engage in anonymous sex chat in a hyper-private environment. As a sysop Harper can cruise the hundreds of discussions within EROS, his presence in allegedly private chat rooms undetected by the participants, and he can take part in discussions himself under assumed identities. It is an avocation his wife Drewe--a beautiful and highly intelligent obstetrician--has become uncomfortable with in recent months.

As it happens, there is much to be uncomfortable about. When author Karen Wheat, an EROS client with whom Harper is more than passably familiar, is found beheaded, Harper contacts the authorities: a number of EROS clients have gone missing, and he thinks he knows who's behind their disappearances. But Harper's noble attempt to stop a serial killer's grotesque butcheries lands him and his family in peril.

Greg Iles's Mortal Fear is not a perfect book. There are some loose threads left dangling in the narrative (particularly the "Eleanor Rigby" side story), and Harper is made on p. 439 to consider briefly an action entirely unworthy of his character. Some of the middle chapters, too, are rather slow going. But the book builds to a breakneck pace, so that in its final 200 pages you will forgive the story its flaws, cursing the interruptions of impertinent employers and offspring while you neglect your responsibilities and read Iles's exciting conclusion.

Rating:
Summary: NOTHING TO FEAR BUT FEAR ITSELF?
Review: This is my first Greg Iles' book, as I have not been a favorite of espionage or spy thrillers. However, this book is one heck of a read! Over 600 pages long, it still maintains interest throughout and is definitely one of the best serial killer books I've read.
With that said, I won't go into the details of the book, as it has been expertly done by other reviewers. What makes this such a stunning novel is the rich characterizations Iles has given to his characters;not just the leads, but even some of the supporting characters, as well.
Of course, the book would have no foundation if not for the main character, Harper Cole. This is not your typical hero, in fact, he's quite an antihero at times. Selfish, childish, sexually confused at times, and a keeper of dark secrets. However, Harper is so well fleshed out, I felt like I was right with him during the entire narrative. His relationship with Drewe, his wife, goes from intermittently shallow, to an incredible depth of emotion. He is intelligent and savvy in his dealings with the on-line killer, but still sweats out any confrontations with him, either on line or off. His response to what happens with his sister-in-law, Erin, is heart-wrenching, and I found a little moisture in my eyes during much of this and his confrontation with Drewe about his secret.
Drewe, likewise, is no usual heroine. Not only is she brilliant, but she is deep in her love for Harper, and proves to be a formidable adversary to the killer in the flinchingly suspenseful climax.
Miles Turner, Harper's friend, also turns out to be quite the antithesis of a true hero. His involvement in the killings is quite surprising, and establishes the many levels this gentleman goes through in the book.
The policemen and FBI characters are quite good, too. Although many books try to portray cops and FBI agents as pretty ineffectual, Iles gives them the depth of human nature we all possess. One of them, Billy, is the freshest depiction of a "Down home" cop on paper. Billy is not quite the typical redneck you expect, although he's not the brightest guy, either. But he possesses a strong sense of justice and takes his job seriously.
Bob Anderson, Drewe and Erin's father, at first appears to be one of those stuffy influentials that everyone in political circles is afraid of. Nonetheless, by the end of the book, we again see a well-developed, complex man, driven by the love for his daughters.
Of course, what would this kind of book be without a superior villain? And we have one of unbelievable cunning; heartless, brilliant, and in a rare accomplishment, Iles actually makes you feel just a pinch--pinch, mind you--of sympathy. The on-line conversations he has with Dr. Lenz, Drewe and Harper are brilliantly written.
The only character we never really fully understand is Erin's husband, Patrick, but I think Iles wanted us to feel isolation from him, as his role is one of mystery as well.
All in all, this book ranks up there with the best, and Iles has won me over!
HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book for a Long Trip
Review: This was a great trashy novel, and it really is trashy. There were many places in the book where I laughed out loud because of the terribly clichéd dialogue and general stupidity of the characters. For instance, the FBI cannot discover that a quote left by the killer was written by famous author Henry Miller. However, Harper Cole, stockbroker and porn site systems operator, recognizes the quote at a glance. In fact, every law enforcement agency in the country is made out to be a bunch of complete idiots in this book. Harper also feels the need to rehash explicit details of his sexual escapades in the name of therapy...and the reader's voyeurism! A simply summary never suffices in "Mortal Fear." We get to hear every steamy detail, even when it's completely unbelievable that Harper would go into so much detail. But that's really what's great about this book. It doesn't take itself too seriously. It's just a fun, mysterious, gory, sexy read that would be wonderful for a long plane trip. The plot is fast paced. The mystery kept me guessing. The characters aren't necessarily likeable, but they're believable in the context of the world the author creates. Just a note though-if you know anything about computers, most of the complexity attributed to them in this book will seem really silly. EROS is made out to be an amazing creation, when it doesn't seem like much more than a chat room and some message boards. This isn't "War and Peace," but I couldn't finish "War and Peace" anyway, because it got too boring in the middle. "Mortal Fear" is far from boring and I'll happily pick up another book written by Greg Iles.