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Book Review of The Hypnotist (Joona Linna, Bk 1)

The Hypnotist (Joona Linna, Bk 1)
Linda avatar reviewed on + 770 more book reviews


The premise of the story is a good one. Bodies of a family are found butchered. There are no survivors except for the teenaged son who is lying at death's door. Under hypnosis, the son confesses to the crime. This is where things get bit disjointed for me.

I found it confusing with the back and forth from present to past. Lots and lots of characters, which I think the author managed very nicely. I did not like the main characters. Detective Linna is a bit arrogant ...always demanding people to tell him he was right. Dr. Bark (the hypnotist) was portrayed as a very good father .. but a really lousy husband. And his wife was a woman who could forgive, but never forgot. She was constantly throwing his 'faults' in his face. Their son, Benjamin, also a teenager constantly called his parents liars and referred to living in a house of lies.

Throw in Dr. Bark's patients.. the ones who have been severely abused one way or another and you have a ton of back stories to remember.

I found the book a little disjointed .. not sure whether it was the actual writing or something may have been lost in the translation. Not the best book I've ever read, but not the worst, either. I will probably try another book of his just to make sure this one wasn't an anomoly.

I was told by someone who recommended this book to not rush through it .... now I can see why. I gave it 3 stars.