In an Evil Time

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding craftmanship
Review: Angela married attorney David Rakubian on the rebound from her divorce. She tried to make her second marriage work but failed because David is a sociopath control freak who verbally and physically abused her. When Angela worries about the safety of her son sired by a different person she divorces David to return to the home of her parents where she knows her loving parents, especially her father Jack Hollis, would do anything to ease her troubles.

David begins to stalk Angela and threatens her and her loved ones, but in sly ways so that the police have no proof of his acts. Jack concludes that this animal of a former son-in-law must die before he kills one of them. Jack sets up a full-proof plan, but David fails to arrive at the dead zone. Jack goes to David's home to find that someone already murdered his adversary. He believes a family member killed David so Jack buries the corpse and cleaned the house. Not long afterward letters arrive informing David and Angela that someone knows what happened to David. The miserable cycle begins anew.

Bill Pronzini is a brilliant storyteller who uses his characters to propel forward a taut plot. When Mr. Pronzini provides only a last name of a cast member, he insures that the audience never becomes too close to that player. However, Jack is unique as the audience roots for his success even when he steps over the line. IN AN EVIL TIME is a chilling tale of horror with human monsters that could be living next door.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: in an evil time
Review: Another great book by a true master of mystery/suspense. I have been a fan of Bill Pronzini for over 20 years and this book ranks very near to the top. (Blue Lonesome is still my favorite) As usual Pronzini takes a plot that has been used many times before and gives it a different twist.

Rating:
Summary: The Finest Mystery Writer Now Working
Review: As a mystery writer with my first book in its initial release, I have repeatedly asserted that Bill Pronzini is the finest mystery writer now working. His NAMELESS series is a landmark in modern detective fiction. His recent stand-alone thrillers have been universally excellent, deserving of the nominations and awards that several have received. IN AN EVIL TIME is Mr. Pronzini's most recent thriller. It features Jack Hollis, a good man pushed beyond his limits by pure evil--David Rakubian. Rakubian is the ex-husband of Jack's daughter, Angela. Jack finally makes a difficult decision that a man has to do what a man has to do to protect those he loves, yet he finds someone has beaten him to the task. Jack then, once again, has to struggle to protect those he knows he has to protect. IN AN EVIL TIME is a complex and fulfilling thiller, written by a masterful writer working at the top of his craft.

Rating:
Summary: The Finest Mystery Writer Now Working
Review: As a mystery writer with my first book in its initial release, I have repeatedly asserted that Bill Pronzini is the finest mystery writer now working. His NAMELESS series is a landmark in modern detective fiction. His recent stand-alone thrillers have been universally excellent, deserving of the nominations and awards that several have received. IN AN EVIL TIME is Mr. Pronzini's most recent thriller. It features Jack Hollis, a good man pushed beyond his limits by pure evil--David Rakubian. Rakubian is the ex-husband of Jack's daughter, Angela. Jack finally makes a difficult decision that a man has to do what a man has to do to protect those he loves, yet he finds someone has beaten him to the task. Jack then, once again, has to struggle to protect those he knows he has to protect. IN AN EVIL TIME is a complex and fulfilling thiller, written by a masterful writer working at the top of his craft.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Psychological Suspense Thriller
Review: Jack Hollis has a problem. A serious problem. Jack Hollis is a regular, middle aged law-abiding Californian, with a good job, a nice house, a loving wife, a son in college and a married daughter named Angela. Angela's second husband is the problem.

His name is David Rakubian. He's an out-of-control, sadistic, control freak. Rakubian believes totally in that line in the wedding vows, the one that says `til death do us part. And he's prepared to demonstrate his commitment by killing pretty much anybody who gets between him and what he sees as his absolute and total right to Angela's body and soul. As a result of the beatings and verbal abuse, Angela and her son by her first marriage, have left Rakubian and obtained a temporary restraining order to keep him away. Threats and confrontations result.

Pushed to the law-abiding limit, as Angela prepares to go into the underground network that protects and supports abused women and their children, Hollis decides his only recourse is to murder Rakubian. This is not something he decides lightly and part of the author's high quality is his illuminating exploration of the agony that besets Hollis while he secretly plans an act so foreign to his being, without stealing interest in the story.

Eventually, after we are treated to an excellent interweaving of characters in his family, his colleagues and his close friends, Hollis sets out to track down Rakubian and kill him. But when he finds the man, Rakubian is already dead and this sets up a turbulent, excruciating effort on Hollis' part to figure out who did murder Rakubian, and to protect that person.

It is at this juncture in the novel we are able to see the genius of the author. There are any number of plausible suspects, from members of Hollis family to his colleagues. Hollis is beset by fear it was someone close and frustration that he wasn't able to protect everyone around him by killing Rakubian first. There are many surprises in this novel and its multiple layers of psychological stress are carefully explored. IN AN EVIL TIME is a novel to be savored. It is a compelling examination of spousal abuse and society's impotence when trying to protect individuals against such horrific pressures. This theme plays against the stresses and strains of communication between husband and wife and between parents and their adult children.

This is a real story about real people, brought to vibrant life by a master story teller. It is fast-paced, cleanly organized and very well-written. Walker is to be congratulated for publishing this novel and for the handsome design as well.

Rating:
Summary: CANCER OF HATE
Review: Jack Hollis has a problem. His daughter, Angela, is being stalked and threatened by her ex-husband. No amount of pleading, restraining orders or talking can keep him away. Jack must do something. After all, this is his daughter. He must protect her and his grandson from this savage animal.

In An Evil Time is a gripping drama of a man forced to lower his code of ethics in order to protect his family. Jack's stress over his daughter's problem catapults him into doing things that would never come to his mind. Out of desperation he goes out to kill this crazed stalker only to find out someone has already done the job for him. Who? Jack suspects his own son Eric who had just as much hate for the man as Jack. Now Jack has to protect his son from discovery.

If you have ever been stalked you can certainly identify with this family. Helpless and hopeless the law is impotent in stopping the harrassment of the stalker. Everyone goes through various stresses and strains until they reach their breaking poing. See a law abiding man turn into a cynical angry time bomb ready to explode. His anger is like a cancer which spreads throughout his family to the point where he makes various mistakes and assumptions that can destroy them.

You will be intrigued by the social implications of stalking upon a family. Pronzini also shows us how psychological pressures can eat away at us to the point where we become the monster that we're trying to eradicate. Find out how Jack tries to rid himself of his personal and psychological demons.