Fear Itself : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Terrific thriller and one of the nastiest villains ever.
Review: "Fear Itself," by Jonathan Nasaw, stands out from other serial killer novels. Nasaw combines whimsical humor and terror expertly, without either element throwing the novel out of balance. His villain is an incredibly cold and malicious individual; yet, Nasaw fleshes out the murderer's personality so that we understand how he became so monstrous. All of this is packaged in a fast-moving, incredibly exciting and suspenseful story.

An unknown assailant is targeting a group of people who suffer from specific phobia disorders (fear of heights, snakes, drowning and masks are some examples). The killer makes the murders appear to be suicides, but one individual, a phobic herself named Dorrie Bell, suspects that these were no suicides. For example, an acrophobic (a person who fears high places) apparently jumped out of a twelfth-story window. Dorrie doesn't buy it.

Two unlikely candidates decide to help Dorrie find the out the truth. One is E. L. Pender, an overweight, fifty-six year old Special Agent of the FBI. Although Pender is on the brink of retirement, he cannot resist getting involved in one more case. The other is Linda Abruzzi, a thirty-five year old woman with a disability. Abruzzi stubbornly refuses to leave the FBI, even though her superiors have made it clear that they no longer value her services.

Abruzzi and Pender use their considerable skills to track their adversary, who is clever, ruthless and very dangerous. Nasaw ratchets up the tension almost unbearably as the book progresses. The scenes in which the killer confronts the phobics with what they fear most are not for the faint-hearted.

The dialogue and plotting in "Fear Itself" is terrific and the novel is perfectly paced. Nasaw depicts all of the characters, both major and minor, with care and they all contribute to the complex story. The author provides fascinating background information on phobia disorders, which helps the reader to understand and empathize with the plight of the victims. If you have a strong stomach, if you like nasty villains, and if enjoy a dose of both humor and horror with your suspense, pick up "Fear Itself." Just be sure to leave the light on.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Idea, But...
Review: I went looking for this book, having been told by a friend who had it on her to read list that it involved a serial killer, targeting phobics, and using their worst fears against them.

Wow, I thought, what a great idea for a plot. And it is, it really is. But that's where the great part ended.

The writing style was pretty much average for this type of novel. The ideas behind some of the characters were really good, original, potentially interesting, but that's again where it ended. In the idea stage. When it came time to develop, things began to unravel, and then, to rather promptly fall flat. With many years of experience behind him, and retirment in the offing, the main? FBI agent character suddenly goes brain dead, and forgets how to behave like a professional. Instead, he nearly gets one of the victims killed. I didn't buy that anyone with that vast a field of experience, attracted to a witness or no, would suddenly get that stupid. It frankly reeked of agism. Oh yes, and poor characterization.

The other partial, Persecuted due to disability, mostly former agent with MS, again, potentially a good character, also continues to hang, fall flat, etc. What she's even doing there is often questionable. Were it not, again, this might also be quite good. The author does have a real sensitivity, on some levels, to the plight of the disabled. Perhaps he should have stayed there.

The sister of the killer has downs syndrome. The Killer, who is far too soon revealed, and long before he could really get down to thinking up ever more horrendous ways in which to off his poor victims, frankly what one would expect, considering the idea, yet again, manages to fall flat.

Of all the characters, the sister is the one I actually liked best. Her ultimate disposition, however, felt so contrived as to be ridiculous, lead-ins for it, or no. Too, within this story line, there are places he started to go, then didn't. Rather a tendency toward tangents, that, indeed, I found running throughout the work.

The other character I liked was the phobic female artist. Having found, only halfway through the book, however, what her fate would be, I set the thing aside. Every now and then, I picked it up, thereafter, to slog on through, having paid full price for the paperback, and hoping it would get better. No such luck. The villain, who goes on the run, looks up old chums, etc., just doesn't manage to overcome the yawning.

Perhaps the author's other works are better. If ever I'd be inclined to find out, I'd do it at the library.






Rating:
Summary: Fear?
Review: I'm being generous with a 2 star rating, gripping this story was not. I had put this book down several times and it was shear stubbornness that I made myself finish it. Revealing the killer in the first quarter of the book lost my interest.
I experimented in reading the remaining chapters by skipping all sections that had reference to the killer 'Simon'and a really obscure section dealing with his sister. This did not present any problems in following the storyline. I have read many thriller stories dealing with FBI investigations and this had to be the sloppiest. Skipping sections of the book sped up the reading considerably and shortened the story, thankfully.
If this killer was using 'fear', it was a poor attempt. Just pick anyone off the street and torture them, you'll get the same results. I really want to give this one star, I'm just sorry that I spent the time finishing it.

Rating:
Summary: chaCHING!
Review: I, too, stumbled upon Girls He Adored quite unlike my typical "I know what I'm looking for; I'm not gonna try a risky unknown--" then, looking at the publisher's logo and reading the backjacket, "oookay, mebbe this once..." Girls was exhiliarating! Thus, Ive been waiting for Fear Itself: A Novel like a child waiting to hear reindeer hooves and bells outside on Christmas Eve! omg-- Nasaw did it! Do not begin this book (Fear Itself) unless you have time to totally immerse yourself. I particularly like how Nasaw cleverly weaves a sense of humor (a very risky endeavor, this) into the dark, complex fabric of his characters; be they friend or foe. Keep 'em coming, Mr. Nasaw!

Rating:
Summary: Solid, but not that scary...
Review: If the first Pender book was by turns revolting, scary, and creepy...this one tries to be, but has a lighter tone. Pender is great fun (I wish we had more of Sid, the wise cracking, dapper best friend to Ed), but we don't get even get as much of him. Linda is a decent character, who is not fleshed out. We get a lot of Simon Childs (not real clever with that name, but oh well), who is fascinating in theory, but only fairly interesting in reality. I would have liked more Pender. The book is good in that it does not dwell too long on any one chase (as the last book did at times). The last one worked for pure scare factor, this was more fun, but there are many better thrillers out there. Oh, and why is Nasaw always trying to show us that he must have scored well on his Verbal SATs? I wonder what he is trying to overcompensate for. Still, I'd welcome another Pender novel, but I hope he enjoys his retirement first.

Rating:
Summary: Solid, but not that scary...
Review: If the first Pender book was by turns revolting, scary, and creepy...this one tries to be, but has a lighter tone. Pender is great fun (I wish we had more of Sid, the wise cracking, dapper best friend to Ed), but we don't get even get as much of him. Linda is a decent character, who is not fleshed out. We get a lot of Simon Childs (not real clever with that name, but oh well), who is fascinating in theory, but only fairly interesting in reality. I would have liked more Pender. The book is good in that it does not dwell too long on any one chase (as the last book did at times). The last one worked for pure scare factor, this was more fun, but there are many better thrillers out there. Oh, and why is Nasaw always trying to show us that he must have scored well on his Verbal SATs? I wonder what he is trying to overcompensate for. Still, I'd welcome another Pender novel, but I hope he enjoys his retirement first.

Rating:
Summary: Left Me Breathless
Review: Johnathan Nasaw has done it again. I stumbled upon his Girls He Adored quite by accident and absolute went nuts. When Fear Itself came out I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. I was not disappointed. By the time the last 3 chapters came around I had palpitations and had to remind myself to breath. I couldn't read fast enough and yet wanted to slow down to prolong finishing because I didn't want it to end. Agent Pender is wonderful and I hope we are treated to more of him in the future. He's one of the most believeable characters out there. Since Mr. Nasaw's earlier books are out of print, just this last week I tracked down some used copies in Amazon's used book store; can't wait for them to come. If you have never read Nasaw before, treat yourself. Shadows and World on Blood are the other titles I purchased and I expect them to be every bit as entertaining. Grab a copy of Fear Itself, pour yourself some coffee (or whatever) and settle back for a ride you won't soon forget.

Rating:
Summary: FEAR ITSELF, EXCELS ITSELF!!!
Review: The best book I have ever read. Jonathan Nasaw does it well. And deserves credit. The research Nasaw must have done is amazing considering the ammount of information he knows on FBI Protocal and Phobias. Well Done Nasaw you surpass Weaver in my opinion

Rating:
Summary: What are you afraid of?
Review: The second E.L Pender novel by Jonathan Nasaw has a strong plot consisting of a serial killer attacking people with various phobias.
Pender nearing retirement recieves a letter from a woman in California who suffers from a phobia, but Pender and new F.B.I. liasson agent Linda don't believe she is with the MDA (Martian Defense Association I believe?)So Pender decides to "unofficially look into the mysterious suicides the letter writer informs them about.
Nasaw writes a creepy disturbing thriller, and what's more he makes the telling of the story effortless. There is real subtlety dark humor, touching moments and style in his prose. I read this novel in little over 24 hours that should be a hint about how intense, gripping it is, too many novels are dubbed "compelling" reads but if there is a case where cliche meets fact Fear Itself is that book.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing
Review: While this is not up to par with Nasaw's previous "Girls He Adored", it is nonetheless an effective, if somewhat muddled, little thriller. The hero, E.L. Pender, continues to be an unconventional hero, overweight, balding, and not someone who stepped out of GQ. His replacement, Linda Abbruzzi, is likewise likeable, considering she has a life threatening disease and the FBI doesn't want her around. Add phobic Dorie Bell as a mask-fearing heroine, and you've got the setup for a tasty thriller.
Unfortunately, the sum is not as good as the parts. The villain, Simon Child, is nasty enough, and his relationship with his Down Syndrome sister Missy, is touching, yet repulsive. What hurts the book, I think, is that instead of a tense whodunit, it becames an example of police procedural, and let's see how long we can keep these people tucked away in the basement. Pender's romance with Dorie sometimes gets in the way of the action. Child's reunion with his childhood buddy Nelson Carpenter, is also drawn out to the point of losing its momentum. Although the deaths we share are gruesome and nerve-wracking, they are so coldly presented, they manage to lose some of their impact.
And Nasaw missed a great opportunity to finish off his villain. Way late in the book, Dorie remembers what Simon is afraid of--after all, they met a convention for phobics, which he put together to suit his dastardly purpose. Why didn't Nasaw use this fear in the end?
Oh well, I don't mean to sound too negative.
It's a good book that could have been better.

RECOMMENDED.