Search - Black Out

I really enjoyed this book! As others have mentioned, the book runs on three seperate tracks: the main story line, where "Annie" is a wife and mother with a past she can't perfectly remember, that past as Ophelia, which comes back to her in bits and pieces, and the present, where she's dealing with her imperfectly merged lives. Add to that that her mental issues make her an unintentionally unreliable narrator, and you have a book with twists and turns that may or may not be real.

I liked that the book jumped between past and present, slowly revealing the back story as the action took place in the present. I found that it heightened the level of suspense for me, as did the unreliability of the narration.

There are many good authors out there who write enjoyable, well done novels on murders or serial killers with good suspense and usually a little romance. This novel is so superior to that genre. It is so literate and intelligent. It is character driven and provides amazing psychological depth to all the characters.

We have Annie Powers Gray who has a very troubled past. She grew up in an abusive household and a serial killer became a member of her family at an early age. Her innocence was destroyed, she lost all ability to see any clarity in life and found love and identity where she could. As victims do, she became easy target for one particular predator and became his puppet as she lost her own identity more and more.

She marries the man who saved her from this life and supposedly killed this man who haunted her life. She reinvents her identity and starts life anew. But is he really dead? Things start to happen that show maybe he isn't. But are these things really happening or all in her mind?

Lisa Unger has created a psychological suspense novel of the highest caliber here. She has done her research and treats her main character and how she deals with her abuse with respect and knowledge. Every aspect of Annie and how her life works due to the abuse she has endured is carefully illusrated and explained. The victim is shown openly and honestly and she clearly shows what victims such as Annie actually do endure perfectly. Then she adds to this an amzing, edge of your seat story line that has no holes. You ride the journey with Annie and there are twists and turns that will have you just as confused as she is.

But the bottom line is - it all works. This book is very intelligent as I stated and in no way pop fiction. The plot contains serial killers, murder, childhood abuse, mental illness and all are dealt with accurately, respectfully and with the highest skill.

This novel is very intense and is one of the most satisfying reads I have had all year. I will now read all the books by Lisa Unger and put her on my list of favorite authors. She put me on a suspenseful journey that was so strong I could not put the book

Interesting book. I was really into it-it involved the reader into the plot. I did find the ending a bit weak though (it could have been me). I would recommend reading it. I feel it is worthy of the time and is one you will remember.

Very interesting book with a lot of twist and turns. The end is a little far fetched, but a suspenseful book none the less.

I thought I would love this book. I fought halfway through it and could never get into it. Maybe someone else will find it more to their liking.