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Brian Hanson #1
Borderline
Psychologist Brian Hanson, a Vietnam Vet and recovering alcoholic, is crushed by the death of one of his clients. He's sure it's not suicide. When he investigates, he discovers that a string of suspected criminals have been murdered without explanation. Is Portland America's safest small city because of a vigilant police force, or are there other forces at work? Hanson soon learns of a dark secret lurking just below the surface of the City Administration, risking his job, his marriage, and his life. A story of blackmail, political corruption and murder, Borderline is truly a thrilling read.
325 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 5, 2006
4 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Mark Schorr
14 books7 followersMark Schorr is the author of 11 previous published mysteries/thrillers. He was nominated for an Edgar award, had books published in France, Spain and Japan, and had three books optioned by Hollywood. He’s also the author of hundreds of articles, with work published in The New York Times, New York Magazine, Esquire, and The Oregonian. He’s been on staff for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, USA Today, CBS and NBC.
Aside from his work as a writer, he’s been a bookstore manager, a bouncer at Studio 54, a private investigator, an international courier, a crisis de-escalation trainer, and a decoy during training for TSA’s bomb-sniffing dogs.
He is currently a mental health and addictions counselor in Portland, Oregon.
Aside from his work as a writer, he’s been a bookstore manager, a bouncer at Studio 54, a private investigator, an international courier, a crisis de-escalation trainer, and a decoy during training for TSA’s bomb-sniffing dogs.
He is currently a mental health and addictions counselor in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
April 16, 2018
A Vietnam vet with PTSD issues has turned his life around, and now works as a counselor, but he's burning out.
He gets involved with finding a serial killer, while his realtor wife has problems of her own.
It seemed a bit messy to me, like the author wasn't sure what he wanted to do with this book.
He gets involved with finding a serial killer, while his realtor wife has problems of her own.
It seemed a bit messy to me, like the author wasn't sure what he wanted to do with this book.
January 4, 2020
A troubled therapist becomes obsessed with a former client's death, invades her home, manipulates her housemate and goes through her underwear drawer in search of clues. The psycho therapist main character then behaves in racist, sexist, ageist, ableist, body-shaming prejudiced ways to every other character in the story. This is a problematic novel.
September 9, 2008
I got interested in reading this book when I saw a comment about Schorr in a counseling newsletter and his series of novels. Schorr is a counselor so it's not surprising that his main character (Hanson) is too. He's created an interesting detective dressed up as a counselor but I think he may spend too much time on Hanson's hang ups at times. Not a particularly thrilling read but not a waste of time either.
April 2, 2008
A pretty good mystery story about a social worker/psycologist, Brian Hansen, who is pulled in after one of his patients is killed. As Hansen researches what happened forces in local government begin to try and shut him down.
The writing was a little uneven but I liked the characters and would definitely read another book by this author.
The writing was a little uneven but I liked the characters and would definitely read another book by this author.
November 2, 2023
This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.0 of 5
Brian Hanson is a Vietnam Vet, a recovering alcoholic who still struggles with PTSD. He's now a psychologist, working in Portland, and he's upset over the death of a client - ruled a suicide but Hanson doesn't believe it. He decides to do some investigating on his own and discovers that there have been a number of criminals and lowlifes who have been murdered in the Portland area in the past few years.
Is this coincidence, or is there someone inside the City administration or police force culling the criminal herd on the sly?
While Hanson starts looking at the city administrators (who've been boosting of a reduction in major crimes), Hanson's wife, Jeanie, is an ambitious banker working with the city on some major projects. One city administrator has his eye on Jeanie, but not for her working skills. That same administrator sees Brian Hanson as a potential threat to his work and claiming Jeanie as a conquest is only one step in his plan to ruin the psychologist.
It's been a few decades since I read a Mark Schorr novel but I remembered really liking his books, which is why I dug through some book stores looking for a few his books.
Schorr's writing is very crisp and clean, making this a really easy read. It helps, too, that in Brian Hanson, Schorr has a recognizable everyman. His Vietnam PTSD isn't a major focus of the character, but it does a play a part in the construction of the story. When this book was first published, back in the mid-1980's, this would have been a much more recognizable issue.
One of the great assets to Hanson's character is his quiet, straight-forward attitude. Even the infidelity of his wife is address, not head-on - he's too quiet for that - but in a manner that likely gets most male readers agreeing with his method.
Hanson doesn't rely too much on luck (something I see with a number of detective-style action books (but the ending does come through with a bit of luck)) though he does need to call on some helpful acquaintances at times.
Looking for a good book? Borderline by Mark Schorr is a solid, satisfying mystery thriller.
Brian Hanson is a Vietnam Vet, a recovering alcoholic who still struggles with PTSD. He's now a psychologist, working in Portland, and he's upset over the death of a client - ruled a suicide but Hanson doesn't believe it. He decides to do some investigating on his own and discovers that there have been a number of criminals and lowlifes who have been murdered in the Portland area in the past few years.
Is this coincidence, or is there someone inside the City administration or police force culling the criminal herd on the sly?
While Hanson starts looking at the city administrators (who've been boosting of a reduction in major crimes), Hanson's wife, Jeanie, is an ambitious banker working with the city on some major projects. One city administrator has his eye on Jeanie, but not for her working skills. That same administrator sees Brian Hanson as a potential threat to his work and claiming Jeanie as a conquest is only one step in his plan to ruin the psychologist.
It's been a few decades since I read a Mark Schorr novel but I remembered really liking his books, which is why I dug through some book stores looking for a few his books.
Schorr's writing is very crisp and clean, making this a really easy read. It helps, too, that in Brian Hanson, Schorr has a recognizable everyman. His Vietnam PTSD isn't a major focus of the character, but it does a play a part in the construction of the story. When this book was first published, back in the mid-1980's, this would have been a much more recognizable issue.
One of the great assets to Hanson's character is his quiet, straight-forward attitude. Even the infidelity of his wife is address, not head-on - he's too quiet for that - but in a manner that likely gets most male readers agreeing with his method.
Hanson doesn't rely too much on luck (something I see with a number of detective-style action books (but the ending does come through with a bit of luck)) though he does need to call on some helpful acquaintances at times.
Looking for a good book? Borderline by Mark Schorr is a solid, satisfying mystery thriller.
March 14, 2021
It was a good read but not a good mystery halfway through the book all he basicly had of any substance was oh tammy might of been murderd. Really was not a great thriller it was one of them of the bad guy just would of left things settle and not went after the main guy he never woulda got any where lol. And to marrisa he was not racist and agest is stupid idea. And ofcourse he went into her apartment he was investigating because he believed she did not kill her self. Oh my someone i cared about i think is murderd but the cops wont investigate i will do it oh well i cant invade her privacy to investigate her death so uhh idk how should i go about solving this without knowing anything about her other then what i learned in therapy which i wont divulge. I could explain how stupid your review is but ill just say is he a racist sexist agest pig just because he was a white straight male?
February 16, 2020
Sophisticated modern noir
July 6, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this & had a lot of fun reading!
February 6, 2022
Only made it to six chapters and cannot go further.
February 25, 2011
Brian Hanson, a therapist, does not accept the death of his patient, Tammy Grundig, as a suicide. In his quest for answers he stirs up a hornets nest that ruins his marriage and, almost, gets himself killed. His instincts and military training help him overcome all obstacles. The story is well developed and told , but, this reader had difficulty with the author's style. It did not allow for an easy flow, and it detracted from the wonderful story that developed.
November 7, 2016
3 /2 stars. The ending seemed pretty rushed. All in all, it was a pretty entertaining story, and I especially enjoyed all the Portland references. I may try to get more books by this author for that reason alone.
February 12, 2009
This is fun, since the setting is totally Portland! Great mystery, too.
March 9, 2009
First in the Brian Hanson series set in the grittier side of Portland.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews