Watermark Books and Cafe

"The Hypnotist" by Lars Kepler and Ann Long (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, ISBN 9780374173951, $27.00, coming June 21, 2011)

Sure to please fans of Stieg Larsson and Henning Mankell, "The Hypnotist" is the first novel in a series written by a husband and wife. Set in Sweden the novel opens with a triple murder and one survivor--members of the same family have been brutally killed. In addition to the survivor, a young boy, an older sister was not at home during the attack. Detective Investigator Joona Lina demands to investigate the murders. Wanting to save the older sister Lina must find out where she is living. The only person that can help them is the young boy. However, the boy is in no condition to be interrogated. Who ever committed the crimes intended for the boy to die.  

Desperate for information Lina seeks the help of Dr. Erik Maria Bark and hypnosis. Dr Bark, a trauma specialist, has not used hypnosis in ten years and has made a promise not to use this treatment again. As Lina describes the brutality of the crime Dr Bark finds himself wanting to help older sister. Bark makes the decision to use hypnosis--despite his promise. When Dr. Bark breaks his promise and hypnotizes the boy a terrifying chain of events begins. 

"The Hypnotist" is great crime fiction. The plot moved quickly with lots of twists and turns while the characters are well developed and the setting is as cold as the crime. I found The Hypnotist to be as addicting as a good episode of Criminal Minds. I enjoyed this big book and find myself anxious for the next in the series.  

Review by Wendy Ward