Extinction

by Carol Anne Davis

A dark and disturbing tale of twisted passions and dangerous desires from - Outwardly suave and charming, psychotherapist Adam Neave’s role as a voluntary bereavement counsellor offers him the perfect opportunity to target his female victims at their most vulnerable, safe in the knowledge that the police can pin nothing on him. But is his newest client, attractive young widow Olivia Marsden, really what she seems? When, despite herself, Olivia finds herself falling under the charismatic Adam’s spell, events start to spiral dangerously out of control . . .

224 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2011

Reviews

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wow. If I could give this half a star, or no stars, I would. I actually can't even believe I finished it. So terrible. The writing is perfunctory in the worst way, the dialogue completely unimaginative and banal, and the plot ludicrous. To think that "Noise Abatement" was so great. You'd never imagine this was the same writer. PASS on this one.

[Nick Davies · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been very impressed previously with Carol Anne Davis' thrillers, her characterisation of ordinary people as well as of psychopaths is disturbingly effective (demonstrating her expertise in criminal psychology) and three or four of her others I have enjoyed and been affected by. 'Kiss it Away', 'Safe as Houses' and 'Shrouded' I particularly liked.

This was less so. The story surrounded a manipulative man who preys on vulnerable women he meets as part of his job as a grief counselor. The shock value seemed to have been turned up even further than Davis's usual explicit stuff - lots of sex and violence. There were plenty of twists and turns which kept me interested and 'hanging on' to the plot. I just thought it could've been more focussed, not tried to incorporate quite so many characters, not gone quite so far and so fast. It stretched credibility at times, and this author's main talent seemed previously to be to make the reader believe that such evil can lurk beneath apparently normal facades.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book, it kept me reading, but there were some features regarding the characters that annoyed me. There are two main male characters, psychotherapist Adam Neave and his patient Brandon - both are psychopaths whom I thought were so evil and cold-blooded that they were not real, flesh and blood characters, and I thought the police undercover agent Olivia was far too gullible and naive to be in that role. The story is told from multiple viewpoints which I thought made the story ramble a bit and slow down the pace.

Overall, not as good as I thought it was going to be.

[Shawn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the worst book I have ever read. Terrible from the beginning, but I convinced myself to keep going since it was short. What a waste of time. I wish I could give it negative stars.

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally liked the plot--though very graphic sexually in places, but great insight into the human mind.

[Kathleen · Rating 1 out of 5]

wanted to try new author-didn't even finish.