I know many people will be taking off this week, heading for home and family. If you're looking for something to read in the airport, on the plane, between courses of your meal, or while the significant other is watching football, I highly recommend the latest Dr. Peter Zak mystery by G.H. Ephron, Obsessed

Forensic neuropsychologist, Dr. Peter Zak, of the Pearce Psychiatric Institute, is at it again, investigating strange occurrences in and around the hospital.

Who is stalking colleague, Dr. Emily Ryan and why? Who, or what, in her past, may be rising up to haunt her? Will Peter, himself, get entangled with Dr. Ryan, or will girlfriend, Annie Squires keep him from stumbling into something blindly?

What and where are the far frontiers of psychological scientific research? What are the psychological symptoms at work in the minds of murderers and their targets? What does it take to step over the line from passion to obsession?

These questions and more are interestingly portrayed and answered in this, the fourth book from Hallie Ephron and Dr. Donald Davidoff, the two authors who collaborate as G.H. Ephron. If you like Jonathan Kellerman, you'll enjoy anything by G.H. Ephron.

I truly enjoyed "Obsessed," and it really kept me turning the pages. I thought the characters were very well thought out and rendered, and the psychological aspects and the new science of the book were fascinating, as well.

I particularly loved the way the ending left things a little messy, just like real life, so unexpected, and certainly a good example of the repetition compulsion if I've ever seen one! Dr. Emily Ryan is a great, interesting and complex character, and she seems to have a lot more going on under the surface than is immediately apparent.

Most important to a good mystery, the plot kept me guessing who really dunnit, and who dun what else and why, until the very end!

Happy Thanksgiving

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© 2003 m. lucas