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Monday, 6 June 2011

The Hypnotist by Lars Kepler

Published by Blue Door,
May 2011.
ISBN: 0007359103


Erik Maria Bark, is a retired hypnotist, who is called on by Detective Inspector Joona Linna to hypnotise a traumatised witness to the killing of a whole family murdered in Stockholm, to help him find and protect someone he suspects is in great danger.

It has been ten years since Erik performed hypnotism, following accusations from his patients he said he would never hypnotist anyone again, and he is reluctant to depart from that vow. But the witness is a young boy and Erik feels that he cannot refuse his help.

But nothing is at it seems and soon Erik is in fear for his life and for his son Benjamin Forced to relive his past to uncover the truth behind the killing, the reader becomes party to the events that led to Erik abandoning the use of hypnotism. We revisit with him his life, his marriage and his belief in hypnotism. Also, the frighteningly cunning manipulation exercised by his patients. 

This is one of those 'be very afraid' books. There are so many twists, that you cannot trust anyone. It is a powerful book that holds you in its thrall right to the last page.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes

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