Helpline : A Portia McTeague novel of suspense

Rating:
Summary: A thrilling work of psychological suspense
Review: Ever since the infamous Jimmy Weir trial in South Carolina, North Carolina forensic psychologist, Portia McTeague, has withdrawn from high profile cases that used to be her crusade. Instead, Portia is paying closer attention to her private practice as well as providing volunteer counseling at the Help Line. However, to her chagrin, Portia misses the stress and challenge of diving inside the mind of a sociopath.

As Portia becomes antsy, a famous TV psychic, allegedly having healing hands, is raped, mutilated, and killed. The media jumps all over the case, adding pressure on the Charlotte police to identify the culprit. Portia tries to profile the perpetrator by getting inside his head so she can predict his next action. While the psychologist plays mind games with a serial killer, he intends to make her his next victim.

HELP LINE is an outstanding, yet unusual, psychological suspense that includes a surprise but believable ending. Fay Sultan is the queen of providing a mesmerizing tale that has the heroine and the villain sharing similar traumas and abuse. This leaves readers wanting to understand Portia's behavior and choices. There has to be a sequal to this book so that the auduence can see if Portia can get out of her current troubles and to discover if she learned anything from the experience.

Harriet Klausner