Review: A Brief Lunacy by Cynthia Thayer

Title: A Brief Lunacy

Author: Cynthia Thayer
Genre: Suspense, adult fiction
Publication: 2005
Source: Library

Summary: Jessie and Carl should never have let Jonah in. When he comes to their Maine cabin, asking to use their phone, Jessie feels bad and lets him in. He tells them his campsite was robbed and he has no way home. He asks to stay the night, to have dinner. Soon, though, they discover that Jonah knows a lot more about them then they even know about each other, brutally revealing their past secrets. He knows about their mentally ill daughter, Sylvie, who has recently gone missing. He also has no plans to leave. He is holding them captive with their own gun, torturing them, and hurting them relentlessly. Soon they discover his bizarre motives and get a glimpse into his own disturbed mind. It will be a fight to stay alive.

My Thoughts: This book gave me the creeps . . . which is a good thing! It was really remniscent of films like, "The Strangers," and "Funny Games," which are both excellent. What made this book so scary was the fact that this could really happen.

This book starts out slow, and continually builds up to the point that you cannot stop turning the pages. There is backstory, but it is only revealed over time, as you delve further into the story: Carl's lifelong secret, Sylvie's violent illness, why Jonah is there. Everything is answered, but never overdone. Questions will remain long after you've finished reading.

I really liked the build-up that the author was able to create, but I did find that the pacing was sometimes a bit slow, the writing sometimes a bit too eloquent for this type of book. With suspense, I really like the story to move along as fast as I'm tearing at the pages and don't care for poetic language in these situations. So, if she had sped it up a bit and focused more on the story than the language, I would have liked it even better! I really do appreciate eloquent language, believe me, but it's not always fitting.

I did like the dynamics of Jessie and Carl a lot. At first glance, Carl appears to be the strong, protective one, but this soon changes as he gets taped to a chair and becomes vulnerable to Jonah's knowledge of his secret and painful past. Jessie takes charge of the situation, attempting to maintain and manipulate Jonah, and managing to stay strong throughout the entire ordeal, despite the horrendous things that Jonah does to her. Armed with a gun and intimate knowledge, Jonah seems insurmountable. Jessie refuses to give in, even in moments of complete desperation.

So, in all, I did think this book was gripping, disturbing, and thoroughly enjoyable to read (not to be confused with pleasant, mind you). There were a few things I would have liked to see different, but in the end, this book was one of a kind, and creepy to the last page.

My Rating: 3.5/5