Rating: 
Summary: Awesome read!
Review: I am a voracious reader, and this book really stands out in my memory as one of the better ones that I recommend to friends. Reminds me of Primal Fear and Silence of the Lambs. There's a nice twist that left me chilled to the bone.
Rating:
Summary: The Girls He Adored
Review: I found the story riviting and I was easily pulled into the world of the different characters. I wanted the heroine to succeed in out-thinking the bad guy. I also enjoyed the story's setting, having lived in that area. This is not a book to start reading at the end of the day, not if you plan on sleeping that night. Although, even after finishing the book, sleep may still be the last thing on your mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Why exactly was this book so well recieved?
Review: I just don't understand why this book has been garnering all the high marks that everyone's been giving it. This novel, while entertaining at times, is so severly flawed that I wish whomever had edited this book would have taken a bit more time before sending it away to be published. The plot itself has been rehashed before in other reviews, so I won't go into it here save to say that while predictable for the most part, the twists involved make for a compelling story, and the characters (except for the cop) are all interesting.The problem however is twofold. First, the majority of the book is written in alternating chapters detailing the activities of the cop and the killer and his psychologist hostage. Now while this is extremely interesting in theory, it suffers from two major problems (or one huge problem rather) - the sections featuring the cop and his chase of the killer are just not interesting at all, and the character of the cop is bland and uninteresting - nothing more than a Dirty Harry knockoff in my opinion. It's a shame too, because this book really doesn't 'need' the plot with the cop hunting the killer down. The novel would have been just fine, and in fact quite a bit more interesting, if it had fleshed out the killer, his escape, and the growing tension and ordeal the psychologist goes through with the killer. But instead, the author relied on 'formula' characters and predictable plot-twists, and we're left with a book that had so much promise, but in the end was just too disjointed and frustrating to really enjoy. Not really recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: Good read...
Review: I picked up this book based on an Amazon recommendation and it was definitely a good recommendation! I really enjoyed the story about a serial killer (Max), the psychologist assigned to him (Irene) and the FBI agent trying to track him down and pin him to a series of missing women - all with strawberry blonde hair (Pender). Pender is a soon-to-retire agent that is making this case his last hoorah, he is determined to find Max. Max has been caught during a routine traffic stop and Irene has been assigned by the courts to evaluate Max. The serial killer has multiple personality disorder and during the course of the book you learn about how this disorder works. I found it fascinating. The book clips along at a fast pace, similar to James Patterson (short chapters, alternating with the characters). I really enjoyed the book and look forward to other Amazon recommendations.
Rating:
Summary: Aewsome book for those who love to read suspense
Review: I read this book and I thought it was terrific. I am a huge fan of suspense and horror, and I thought this book fit right into my tastes. Being a strawberry blonde myself, the book really attracted me. If you like suspense, and love a good book, this one is perfect!
Rating:
Summary: Good read
Review: I was more familiar with Nasaw for his vampire novels (The World on Blood; Shadows), so when I saw this serial killer thriller, I had to give it a chance. What a ride!
Over the past 10 years, several women have disappeared; they all have strawberry blonde hair, and they all disappear seemingly without a trace. The killer is caught early in the novel (it begins with his psychiatric interview), and then Nasaw takes us along as the killer kidnaps his psychiatrist and breaks out of jail.
Nasaw uses some standard genre elements: the killer has multiple personalities; a psychiatrist is sucked into the killer's world; the body count is high and gruesome; victims are chosen for a specific reason. However, Nasaw then manages to twist these together in a more unique fashion to create a truly good thriller. I really enjoyed reading this, and I hope to see more from Nasaw very soon!
Rating:
Summary: FANTASTIC BOOK - FIVE STARS PLUS!
Review: If you like psychological thrillers and endless suspense, this book is for you. It has the intrigue of "Silence of the Lambs" combined with the writing style similar of James Patterson. "Max" is not your ordinary, typical criminal. Apart from the fact he is a serial killer, Max just happens to be one person with several personalities living inside. Once readers learn of Max's childhood, they will have a better understanding of why he is the way he is - a victim of DID (perviously known as Multiple Personality Disorder.) In the book we meet an alluring strawberry blonde psychiatrist, Dr. Irene Cogan, who is appointed by the court to do an assessment of Max. Max's interest in Dr. Cogan goes far beyond the doctor-client relationship, since he has a penchant for killing women with strawberry blonde hair. Max has special plans in mind for the dear Doctor and the story is filled with twists and turns, coming from every angle, from beginning to end. The characters of Max and lovely Dr. Cogan are well-developed and realistic. The only minor disappointment of the book was the character of FBI Agent Pender. For the character of an FBI agent with extensive training, Pender certainly made a ton of blunders. His inept abilities would not enhance the intellectual image of the FBI by any stretch of the imagination! The book, however, was such a spine-tingling thriller, that I overlooked the weakness of Pender's character and still gave the book a five-star rating for the riveting psychological suspense it contained.
Rating:
Summary: Splendid!
Review: If you liked Silence of the Lambs or Hannibal, you will like The Girls He Adored. Jonathan Nasaw gives alot of insight into his characters and allows you, the reader, to get inside and interact with the characters on a wonderful level. It is a must read. You will enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: exciting thriller
Review: In Monterey County, Psychiatrist Dr. Irene Cogan met Max for the first when she interviewed him in jail. Max was arrested after the police found a disemboweled woman occupying the passenger seat of his car. Max knows the psychiatric drill as if he himself is a doctor and is quite the mimic, imitating Irene on first contact as if he knew her all her life. Irene finds the charming Max fascinating even as she recognizes he suffers from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). FBI agent Pender believes Max is his "Casey," a serial killer murdering strawberry blondes over the past few years. Max pulls off the impossible and manages to escape from his maximum-security cell, abducting Irene in the process. Pender follows Max to a remote Oregon farm where his worst nightmare begins. Lector fans will enjoy THE GIRLS HE ADORED a novel that shows how much Jonathan Nasaw adores Hannibal. The story line is exciting and Max engages the audience in a morbid, but appealing way that somehow horrifies the reader for being attracted to a monster. Mr. Nasaw clearly pays tribute to Harris yet fans of serial killers will read this novel on its own merit. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Spellbinding Thriller
Review: Irene Cogan, psychiatrist and one of the country's leading authorities on dissociative identity disorder (multiple personalities), has been appointed, by the court, to examine a prisoner in the Monterey County jail. The suspect, who gives his name only as Max, was stopped for a simple traffic violation and found sitting next to a disemboweled strawberry blond woman, holding a bloody nine inch boning knife. His arrest sets law enforcement's wheels in motion as the FBI moves in on the case. For the last ten years, a dozen women from across the country have gone missing, last seen with an attractive young man. The only connection between all these missing victims is their strawberry blond hair. The FBI has dubbed this kidnapper, Casey and now, special agent Edgar Lee Pender thinks this guy may be the break they've been waiting for. But, before he can even reopen the case or interview the prisoner, the suspect breaks out of jail, kidnaps Irene Cogan and disappears, leaving a trail of carnage in his wake..... Jonathan Nasaw has written a well paced, compelling, intricately plotted novel that will put you on the edge of your seat and keep you there to the very last page. His writing is crisp, spare and suspenseful, with a wonderful ear for dialogue and his true to life, vivid scenes are graphic and riveting. This is definitely not a novel for the faint of heart. But the real strength of this novel is its characters. Once you get into their heads, you won't be able to put this book down. It is obvious that Mr Nasaw has done his homework on the FBI, psychiatry and dissociative identity disorder and his in-depth knowledge on these subjects add real credibility to the story. The Girls He Adored is a terrific thriller, destined for all the best sellers lists and a novel that shouldn't be missed.
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