The Case of Lucy Bending

by Lawrence Sanders

No one knows the dark side of the heart like bestselling author Lawrence Sanders. In this erotic and explosive thriller, today's most accomplished suspense novelist takes us into the sun-and-sum-drenched inner circles of Florida's Gold Coast -- where evil can be as innocent as an eight-year-old nymphet...and innocence evil as murder.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Thriller, Suspense, Novels

410 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1982

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Lawrence Sanders was the New York Times bestselling author of more than forty mystery and suspense novels. The Anderson Tapes, completed when he was fifty years old, received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for best first novel. His prodigious oeuvre encompasses the Edward X. Delaney, Archy McNally, and Timothy Cone series, along with his acclaimed Commandment books. Stand-alone novels include Sullivan's Sting and Caper. Sanders remains one of America’s most popular novelists, with more than fifty million copies of his books in print. Also published as Mark Upton.

Reviews

[Troy Stoops · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a thoroughly bizarre novel! But that, I suppose, is to be expected from Laurence Sanders. All but forgotten today, Sanders was a novelist who trafficked in the lurid, in the dissolute psyche, and in all around gothic hoariness. Uneven as hell, he was also a novelist that, when he struck oil with an idea, or a series of them, was patient and brutal in driving his fiction to strange, evocative and bloody places.

The Case of Lucy Bending is not one of his classic novels, but it's a story not to missed for Sanders enthusiasts, or simply to readers looking to find an oddball piece of eighties pop-art nastiness. In some ways, as I read this meandering tale of a group of married friends and their children's kinks and desperate attempts to find meaning in the world or sex or alcohol, I was reminded of John Updike's world of upright and nasty Wasp's grasping to find the meaning of life by bed-swapping and cogitating on the Almighty. Although Sanders does not possess Updike's dazzling, poetic prose, Sanders writing is bracing and far more earth bound.

Lucy Bending has a problem. She is a strangely sexualized eight-year old. Yes, you read that right. She goes up to male guests at parties and rubs their legs and then just reaches on up to . . . well, you know. Eight? I know! I didn't believe it either. Lucy's speech patterns and the way in which Sanders describes her physically convinced me he had NEVER been around an eight year old, even a precocious one. I have an eleven year old little girl, and I'm not sure she could behave in the manner described. But whatever. It's just a novel. Right? Her problem is pronounced enough, that her parents take her to a therapist.

And so the novel revolves around one families psychoanalysis, which Sanders broadens out to include the entire trio of families. Along the way, there's a debauched, cruel man coming to an 'arrangement' with a disabled prostitute, whom he subsequently dumps right after she's gang-raped, because now she's no longer 'innocent' enough for his fantasy. Perhaps she enjoyed it! Ugh. There's a pornographic side-business involving the mob and all three families. There's a former wheel-chair bound senator whose house is frequented by one of the more ambitious wives, who ends each meeting
by performing oral sex on the old bastard, by way of thank you for whatever advice had been proffered. Each of these side-tales are ghastly and nasty and somehow still ring true. Well, if not true, then at least affecting. Whatever you might think of the novel, it's not dull. Not by a long shot. And the ending! Man, no spoilers here, but the ending was devastating and foreshadowed and bloody and hideous.

Laurence Sanders might not have been right in the head (what novelist is?), but he was one hell of a gothic novelist.

[Liz Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to reread this book. As a young adult, Lawrence Sanders was one of my favorite authors. His descriptions were beautiful, but at the same time, his plots and characters were exciting.

I found this book has not lost a thing in my eyes. Although there is some un-PC wording, one needs to remember when this book was written some people did still speak like that. These phrases come from characters in the book and were not in the author's description.

Anyhow, this is a vivid portrayal of the upper middle class, middle aged, self-made, promiscuous, alcohol-drug-party addicted population in a south Florida beach community. Parties, cheating, wheeling and dealing are the order of the day. So is the observation of 'creamers': young (very young), beautiful, shapely young women on the beach.

I still love Mr. Sanders' books (I was saddened by his passing in 1998) and am currently searching for an ebook version of The Seduction of Peter S.. I have happily found that, for me, his stuff holds up almost forty years later!

Enjoy!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy is eight years old. She is an incredibly sweet and beautiful little girl with a precocious streak. Her worried parents send her to a psychiatrist when she begins to show signs of odd behavior. The psychiatrist searches for the reasons behind young Lucy's seductive and murderous intentions which seem incredibly practiced for an eight year old.

I really enjoyed this book. It delved into the effect that a parent's behavior has on a child's development. I give this book an A+!

[Dharia Scarab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...

1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.

2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.

3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.

4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.

5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.

[Bárbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Retorcido, atrapante y real al mismo tiempo.
Presenta situaciones incómodas de leer, sumerje al lector en el mundo oculto de tres familias norteamicaranas millonarias, y expone la realidad que ocultan entre fiestas y autos de lujo.
Los personajes son descritos física y psicológicamente de una forma muy completa, por lo que se pueden comprender hasta los actos más insólitos que llevan a cabo. Incluye una mirada psicoanalítica muy interesante y acertada.

No sé si me atrevería a entrar en otra obra de este autor, pero sin duda lo recomiendo.
☆ 4.5 / 5

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first Sanders novel. I liked his writing style and his character development was excellent. His vocabulary is extensive but he also had a lot of crude language and for some reason I felt the combination to be a bit ridiculous.

The Case of Lucy Bending was a pretty disturbing book. When I started reading it, I assumed it was a mystery of some sort. Well it is but not the sort of mystery that I was expecting. The setting is a wealthy neighborhood in south FL where sex, drinking, and drugs are the norm. Lucy Bending is an 8 year old girl who likes to give men pleasure. The whole book is dedicated to finding out why she does this. There are other side stories about the people in the neighborhood and their sexual escapades and constant drinking. I was really bored reading sex scene after sex scene. The worst part though is a theme throughout the book of adults being attracted to kids or kid-like features. Five of the seven adult main characters expressed such attraction. To me, this was just not believable. Even the psychiatrist was attracted to his 8 year old patient’s beauty to the point where it distracted him and he took an encounter with her too far. It made me wonder if the author had those fantasies himself. The ending was a big surprise and I felt like I should have been upset by it but I was just happy it was over.

[John Grazide · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well that was an uncomfortable story. Almost put it down a few times, but decided to "speed" through the last half. Sanders is a good writer and I've really enjoyed the McNally series, but this one - I don't know. Lucy Bending is an eight year old girl that is brought to a "shrink" because she is hyper-sexed and is coming on to older men. And if that wasn't weird enough, her older brother, twelve year old Wayne, has a crush on his older friend, sixteen year old Billy (not sure of the name). And one night of vodka and marijuana cigarettes Wayne decides to act on his feeling. And his friend figures alright. And a lot of under age innuendo that just isn't needed. I guess the author was trying for something that missed the mark with me.

[Annalisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first encountered Mr. Sanders' work because at some point I had acquired a Kindle copy of The Sixth Commandment, and I finally read it. I was hooked. It is a quintessential investigator noir read, with a cast of flawed but carefully drawn characters and a satisfying ending. Having finished that book, I quickly devoured The Tenth Commandment, The Anderson Tapes, and now The Case of Lucy Bending. (I couldn't find the last book on Kindle, so had to purchase a hardcover copy from ThriftBooks. This seems to be true for several of Sanders' works, for reasons to be discussed shortly.)

I'm a big fan of novels with a high degree of atmospheric detail, including food, drink, clothing, physical appearance of the characters, even the weather. All of these exist in every Lawrence Sanders work I've read to date. While I know it's not every reader's cup of tea, I also love novels with flawed and ambiguous characters, and these abound in Sanders' works.

When I started the Lucy book, I almost put it down after the first chapter. The book delves immediately into the central problem of the book, which is the over-sexualized behaviors of Lucy Bending, an eight year-old who lives with her mother, father, and two brothers. However -- bear with me and Mr. Sanders. I'm glad I did.

The book is set in 1980's South Florida. I'm familiar with that time and area, because I grew up in Southwest Florida in the 1980's. For those who've forgotten or are too young to remember, this was the Reagan era, as well as the era of shows and bands that glorified excess, such as Dynasty and Dallas, Pantera and Poison. It was the time of the high-cut swimsuit, mentioned in Sanders' book, and overly hair-sprayed hairstyles, heavy eye makeup (often in colors such as blue and green), and thick, sticky lip gloss. Tanning was a thing, as was Sun-In bleached hair. The U.S. was still emerging from the sexual liberation of the 1970's, emancipating both for women and for gay people. At the time this book was published (1982), the country had not yet come to grips with the fact that AIDS was not going to be "just" a gay disease. Working women wore power suits with BIG shoulder pads. Everything was just ... over the top.

In Lucy's South Florida, there reside three families, who all own beachfront properties right next to one another along the same stretch of beach. This proximity fosters all sorts of interactions (friendships, parties, affairs) among the characters. One family consists of a husband, wife, and husband's mother. Another family is a husband and wife with a daughter and son, as well as the wife's father. The last family is Lucy's.

As the plot proceeds, we learn about the interactions among members of these three families, as well as other characters such as paramours and "business" associates. We also learn that every character, despite their apparently privileged '80s lifestyle, has secret wounds. Some of these hurts have been simmering for many years. Lucy's is the central wound of the book, as it gives rise to the behaviors that force her parents to take her to a psychiatrist (who is also a central character in the book). But all of these individuals have things in their past, and their present, especially for the child characters, that cause them to behave in sometimes deeply flawed ways.

Back-stabbing and day-drinking swirl around the cynosure of Dr. Levin's attempt to sort out Lucy's problem. There is lots and lots of sex in this book, and some of it does involve child characters, and some of it is gay sex. The sex involving the Lucy character is mainly implied and not graphic, but two other characters (ages 15 and 16) do have more detailed sexual scenes. Those who don't want to read about this sort of thing, or who don't believe that children and teens have sexual lives, won't care for this book. But there was nothing that to me was overly gratuitous or unrealistic, including the reason, eventually discovered by Dr. Levin, for Lucy's behaviors.

The other issue that some readers may find problematic is the language sometimes used to discuss people of color and women. Again, in the time the book was written, the sort of characterization, terminology, and slang used by some of the characters in the book was rather more accepted (although not entirely). I suspect this may be why more of Mr. Sanders' novels haven't been transcripted to Kindle format.

The book does build toward a shocking conclusion that nonetheless seems inevitable. There are a lot of complex characters to keep track of with a lot of machinations going on among them. However, if you read carefully, the ending becomes expected. What I especially like about Mr. Sanders' books, including The Case of Lucy Bending, is that at the end they become something of a morality play. Basically, all the flawed characters in this book either get punished (sometimes very, very badly), or are on a path that unavoidably will lead to their eventual destruction. Meanwhile, the four characters who aren't up to dreadful shenanigans the entire book go into the sunset happily, or at least as happily as their circumstances will allow.

[Gary Barrett · Rating 2 out of 5]

A friend of mine recently gave me a box of used books he no longer wanted. I chose to read from that box "The Case of Lucy Bending" by Lawrence Sanders. I'm a fan of crime novels so from the title I thought that the book might be worth reading, especially since I have never read Sanders.

Boy, was that a mistake! Though I've seen many book reviews on the internet ranking the novel fairly high on the scale (even a "classic), I realize that I may be in the minority since I've rated it only two stars. And that was generous. I came very close to giving it only one.

Why? IMO, not only is the subject shocking, to say the least, but the book is poorly written. Too many sub-plots to try to keep track of. Many twists and turns but often rambling. With a story so over-the-top in its excess and overall depravity that I couldn't buy into its basic premise, the tragic behavioral effects of Lucy's trauma. Moreover, the ending may prove to be a complete surprise to some readers, but I felt that despite the violence, blood, and depravity, too many questions remained unanswered.

Normally, I would donate a book like this to my local library for resale. But not this one. I'm going to do the unthinkable (for me). Into the trash can it goes. (And no more Sanders for me!)

[Elisa Vangelisti · Rating 3 out of 5]

mentre frequentavo il quarto anno di un istituto tecnico, aspiravo a iscrivermi alla facoltà di psichiatria dell’università di Padova. Allora (parlo dei primi anni ’80) era la più vicina a casa mia. Quando rileggo romanzi come questo (perché lo lessi la prima volta all’incirca in quel periodo) o come “Gente senza storia”, insomma romanzi in cui uno strizzacervelli tenta di risolvere il rompicapo di una mente umana in difficoltà, mi torna sempre in mente la mia prima vera inclinazione. Alla fine, dopo il diploma, non ho proseguito gli studi perché ho avuto il mio primo figlio e avevo ben altro a cui pensare. E meno male, altrimenti non sarei qui! Perciò non ci si dovrebbe stupire di quanta psicologia abbia provato a inserire nei miei romanzi e quanta mi attragga in ogni lettura che mi passa davanti agli occhi. In effetti ho riletto con attenzione le sedute psichiatriche più che il dipanarsi della trama e il mio plauso va a Lawrence per la capacità di inchiodare il mio interesse allo scorrere delle righe. Nonostante sia un romanzo datato è ancora perfettamente moderno e lo stile scorrevolissimo. Bello, lo consiglio, mi è piaciuto.

[S D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written. Very descriptive. Mr Sanders clearly has a talent for writing sex scenes. It's also dreary as all hell.

As others have noted, the novel seems to simply stop. It also feels in an effort to make each character seem fleshed out, there are intertwining stories.

It's less a book about the case of Lucy Bending and more of "a bunch of middle class people in Floridia who really like to party keep lying and having sex with each other"

[Chris Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rereading a book off my shelf. Guess I first read it 40 years ago? I didn’t remember the actual plot but I remembered the title very clearly. It was thoroughly readable, fast paced, rather interesting. For some reason I couldn’t keep the characters straight… like oh yeah Bill is married to who? And which one has the gun? And who’s sleeping with Eddie? Anyway, fun read, bit of a bizarre tale from a warped mind.

[Gordon Popular · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can you say about Lawrence Sanders but that his stories deliver with a great read. This one delfts into the lives of south Florida and how twisted people can get. As with most of Sanders books he really gets into the psychology of his characters. There no heroes in this book except for maybe the doctor. The book is slightly dated due to when is written. A very enjoyable read. Highly recommended.

[Carol Spiegel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first Lawrence Sanders book and it will not be my last. I like psychological thrillers and think this falls into that category. It didn’t have many (any?) likable characters other than those for whom I could feel sorry. The story didn’t evolve in the way I thought it would, but I had anticipated some unhappiness.

[Julie Richter · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started out good, but thought it started dragging. Thought the ending was very abrupt.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite Lawrence Sanders book.

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good!

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book and story.
It's incredible how a child mind can keep a vision for years, and make wrong things for a precoce age.
The final of this book is very unspected!

[Bob Box · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in 1982. One of Sanders most provocative best sellers. Evil disguises itself as a precocious eight year old girl with unnatural desires. One of my favorites that year.

[Debbie Burchell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the ending upsetting. Would not pass on to friends unless they seem the type to enjoy train wrecks. I suppose that's a circuitous compliment on the character development!

[Ejike Precious · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to read this novel

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

That was a very strange story.

[greatgrayprairie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It appears that popular people are ground out like sausages from a very strange mill.

[Ricci · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a wild, fucked up ride.

[Andrea]

🥲😶

[Monica abarca melo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy interesante, con un final abrupto e inesperado.

[Sohe V. N. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Todo lo malo que pudo pasar paso. Me arrepiento de haber leído este libro. Ni se acerquen a él.

[Shady Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Case of Lucy Bending is the story of an 8-year-old girl named Lucy. Lucy is not a normal little girl. She has an abnormal sexual obsession with older men. Her parents take her to a psychotherapist to see if he can help her.

This is also a story of sex, betrayal, lust and lies. The characters in this book are so messed up! I’m not sure if even one of them has a grip on reality. They are all too focused on their own lives to see the chaos that is happening around them.

This is a very interesting and entertaining novel. It kept me wondering what would happen next; Just when you think you know what’s next, something else happens that leaves you speechless.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book – I loved the ending; it was truly unexpected. Lawrence Sanders did a wonderful job in writing this.

[Ned · Rating 1 out of 5]

Booze drugs and infidelity among the hip set in the beach homes of the 1980's in Florida. from the perspective of a psychologist called in to try and help one of the messed up kids from these relationships.

The author's point may have been to show that wealth and power are no protection from the evil men and women can do when they have no moral compass. I don't believe he did a good enough job of showing how redemtion was rejected so the whole story remains pretty bleak.

I know of no reason why anyone else would need to read this book, so go enjoy something else.

[George Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

My third Lawrence Sanders book and I'm discovering what a versatile writer he was. The interwoven lives of a group of disparate Floridians, including the young, the middle-aged and the old, provide a rich hunting ground for Sanders to reveal their human needs and failings: love, sex, lust, violence, power and greed. This entertaining and thoughtful view of beach life in "paradise" kept me thoroughly involved with the characters right through to the "fool's paradise" denouement.