Ablow's Frank Clevenger series began with an appearance by this forensic psychologist back in 1998 in Denial. In every subsequent book, we get a great thriller story interspersed with Clevenger's own personal trials, and THE ARCHITECT is no different.

The main storyline of this book, that of an architect who believes he's doing God's work by reshaping the lives of the people he builds houses for, is definitely overshadowed by the story of Clevenger himself. His own battle with alcoholism (reminiscent of that of Lawrence Block's Matthew Scudder), his on-again-off-again very realistic relationship with his FBI girlfriend, and the tightrope he walks with his adopted son, Billy, take front row.

Although the bad guy in this book keeps the story fresh and the plot intense, to me it was the underlying story of Clevenger and his life that held my real interest. I was left at the last page not with the feeling of "good, the bad guy is dead," but that of "what's going to happen to Billy?"

I guess you could say I'm hooked.

I was not as pleased with this one as I was with 'Psychopath'. It seemed to run a little slower or something. Perhaps it was all the problems the hero himself has ?/?. But after you finish the book it all kind of makes sense. As a last thought, though I will try another and see how that one goes.

This is a typical Ablow, with a complex and creative bad guy and a heart-wrenching peek into Clevenger's relationship with his son Billy.

Creepy bad guy. Loved it.

I love this series - gritty and clean.

The author is a forensic psychologist who weaves a very original suspense novel that is hard to put down.

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Bit of a downer ending. As usual, the villain takes the cake.

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