STILL LIFE
Bruce Elliott, STILL LIFEBruce ElliotWith its breakneck pacing and complex, though not entirely lovable, characters, Elliot's disturbing debut thriller is likely to give readers the summertime chills. Veteran L.A. police detective Amiel "Touch" Benson has few leads to go on when a serial killer begins slitting the throats of beautiful actress hopefuls and positioning their bodies to resemble famous subjects from artistic masterpieces. Touch's only link to the killer, who smugly phones in reports of his morbid "re-creations" for an eager KXOK radio audience, is gorgeous talk show host Dr. Teri Fields. It seems the perpetrator possesses an unsettling amount of intimate knowledge about the relationship adviser, and Touch feels that the killer may be a past acquaintance of hers. Although Touch's misogynistic superior is none too happy that his department has to work with the love doctor, Teri's womanly charms, intelligence and fine arts background are not lost on Touch—even though he is already dividing his romantic attentions between his estranged, manic-depressive wife and his attractive partner. Despite Elliot's occasionally clunky prose, this relentless thriller will keep readers guessing right down to its jarring and unforeseeable conclusion. (May 8)
closeDetailsReviewed on: 04/09/2001
Genre: Fiction
With its breakneck pacing and complex, though not entirely lovable, characters, Elliot's disturbing debut thriller is likely to give readers the summertime chills. Veteran L.A. police detective Amiel "Touch" Benson has few leads to go on when a serial killer begins slitting the throats of beautiful actress hopefuls and positioning their bodies to resemble famous subjects from artistic masterpieces. Touch's only link to the killer, who smugly phones in reports of his morbid "re-creations" for an eager KXOK radio audience, is gorgeous talk show host Dr. Teri Fields. It seems the perpetrator possesses an unsettling amount of intimate knowledge about the relationship adviser, and Touch feels that the killer may be a past acquaintance of hers. Although Touch's misogynistic superior is none too happy that his department has to work with the love doctor, Teri's womanly charms, intelligence and fine arts background are not lost on Touch—even though he is already dividing his romantic attentions between his estranged, manic-depressive wife and his attractive partner. Despite Elliot's occasionally clunky prose, this relentless thriller will keep readers guessing right down to its jarring and unforeseeable conclusion.
Reviewed on: 04/09/2001
Genre: Fiction
