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Unspeakable
Unthinkable Crimes
A family of four murdered in their hotel room. A single mother and her boyfriend both stabbed to death. A sordid history of violent crimes, repeated over and over--but decades apart. . .
Unrelenting Fear
Olivia Barker is a therapist with no connection to the murders. But she has heard things. Stories that keep her up at night. Details that only a killer would know. A killer who could be one of her patients. . .
Unspeakable Truth
Olivia has no proof for her suspicions. But as the body count rises, so do her fears. A rock is thrown through her window; her car tires are slashed; a chilling message is scrawled on her bathroom mirror. Olivia knows she's getting closer to the truth. But the truth could be the last thing she'll ever know...
A family of four murdered in their hotel room. A single mother and her boyfriend both stabbed to death. A sordid history of violent crimes, repeated over and over--but decades apart. . .
Unrelenting Fear
Olivia Barker is a therapist with no connection to the murders. But she has heard things. Stories that keep her up at night. Details that only a killer would know. A killer who could be one of her patients. . .
Unspeakable Truth
Olivia has no proof for her suspicions. But as the body count rises, so do her fears. A rock is thrown through her window; her car tires are slashed; a chilling message is scrawled on her bathroom mirror. Olivia knows she's getting closer to the truth. But the truth could be the last thing she'll ever know...
544 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 28, 2013
240 people are currently reading
4640 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 500 reviews
June 17, 2013
I actually finished this book a couple days ago, but I've been considering what to say in the review. I've decided to be pretty hard on the book, but bear in mind that in spite of my following critique, it was awesome, a real page turner, and I've already bought another book from the author.
Things I didn't like:
1. Normal human beings don't often speak in soliloquies that are five paragraphs long. I understand that the author needs to get this information out there, but it could have been done with more deft.
2. Normal human beings don't often so freely deliver these soliloquies to perfect strangers that they've only met two minutes beforehand. In the book, an elderly lady bared her soul to a teen boy who she'd just met.
3. The book was over five hundred pages, but some aspects of the plot seemed to wrap up way too easily and quickly.
But still . . .
This was an amazing page turner! I was lying awake at night, thinking about this book, thinking about people lurking, watching the house. Occasionally, I was glad that I wasn't sleeping alone, especially when my thoughts started to wander.
I think that O'Brien would be well served by finding a co-author. He could do the plotting and the amazing thrills, and the second author could concentrate on fleshing out the individual characters, humanizing them. But again, in spite of my critiques, this was still an enjoyable book, and there isn't a better testament to that than the fact that I've spent money on another by the author.
Things I didn't like:
1. Normal human beings don't often speak in soliloquies that are five paragraphs long. I understand that the author needs to get this information out there, but it could have been done with more deft.
2. Normal human beings don't often so freely deliver these soliloquies to perfect strangers that they've only met two minutes beforehand. In the book, an elderly lady bared her soul to a teen boy who she'd just met.
3. The book was over five hundred pages, but some aspects of the plot seemed to wrap up way too easily and quickly.
But still . . .
This was an amazing page turner! I was lying awake at night, thinking about this book, thinking about people lurking, watching the house. Occasionally, I was glad that I wasn't sleeping alone, especially when my thoughts started to wander.
I think that O'Brien would be well served by finding a co-author. He could do the plotting and the amazing thrills, and the second author could concentrate on fleshing out the individual characters, humanizing them. But again, in spite of my critiques, this was still an enjoyable book, and there isn't a better testament to that than the fact that I've spent money on another by the author.
September 3, 2017
A great suspense thriller wrapped in a mystery. A young man somehow has information about some gruesome muders that happened decades before he was even born. He does not know who to trust, but knows he needs help to figure out how the recent murders of his close friends are tied to the horrible muders of the past, and whether he is responsible. Good relatable characters and a good mystery until the end.
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March 13, 2021Unfortunately another book bites the "dnf" dust! The blurb sounded great and it started out with some tension, but it has slowly gone downhill from there with some confusion as the storyline jumps around from character to character. Some people really liked this book, but it is just not my "cup of tea". No star rating for a book I don't finish.
October 15, 2023
This is my first Kevin O'Brien novel and I wonder why that is. This is the style of writing I love to read; reminds me of the King himself. But one thing I believe O'Brien is better at is unguessable endings. I truly could not identify the kiler until it was revealed. I will definitely read more of his work.
December 28, 2014
If you want scary, creepy, and loads of suspense, look no further. Almost too much! A deliciously uncomfortable read. An easy 5 stars for this one. Phew! I'm beat! What a ride!
June 24, 2013
What more could you ask for? Heart-pounding suspense, unique twists and turns, perfectly-rendered and sympathetic characters and a well-drawn Seattle setting make this a near-perfect thriller.
February 23, 2014
The story line wasn't bad and kept me interested enough to finish, but the dialog was kind of cheesy, and several things just did not add up. I really think a good editor would have made all the difference.
At one point, we find out someone read that the girlfriend had messed up Olivia's car, but if it was hushed up and there were no charges pressed, that's not likely. Then there was the line of dialog that Collin repeated while sleeping, that would not have been in the taped confession that he heard as a child, so there was no way he would have known it was something that Wade had said. Several little things like this bothered me throughout the book.
At one point, we find out someone read that the girlfriend had messed up Olivia's car, but if it was hushed up and there were no charges pressed, that's not likely. Then there was the line of dialog that Collin repeated while sleeping, that would not have been in the taped confession that he heard as a child, so there was no way he would have known it was something that Wade had said. Several little things like this bothered me throughout the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 6, 2013
I don't know who really wrote this book, but I'm certain it was not Kevin O'Brien. It is so far removed from earlier thrillers like One Last Scream, First to Die, Vicious.
First off, there are entirely too many plots. If he had not added in the whole Clay/Corinne, the backstory of Collin finding Olivia, Ian's strange friendship, this could have been a lot shorter of a novel. A good thriller should be sleek and taught, every word throttling the novel ahead to a shattering climax. This has none of that. O'Brien has become wordy, stuffing his novels--Remember TERRIFIED?--with useless backstory. Is he trying to inflate the word count so they can charge more? Maybe. All I can say is that he has one more book, and if it fails as miserably as this…I'm done.
First off, there are entirely too many plots. If he had not added in the whole Clay/Corinne, the backstory of Collin finding Olivia, Ian's strange friendship, this could have been a lot shorter of a novel. A good thriller should be sleek and taught, every word throttling the novel ahead to a shattering climax. This has none of that. O'Brien has become wordy, stuffing his novels--Remember TERRIFIED?--with useless backstory. Is he trying to inflate the word count so they can charge more? Maybe. All I can say is that he has one more book, and if it fails as miserably as this…I'm done.
July 1, 2015
I wasn't sure what to expect, never having read anything from Kevin O'Brien, but am glad I gave one of his books a try and will definitely be reading more from him. This book was good at making me question what I was willing to believe and throwing my suspicions all over the place. Plus, it's always fun to read something set in a place you're familiar with.
June 1, 2013
I have to say this was one of the best books I've read this year. I really loved it. kept me guessing thru the whole thing. This is the first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last. Highly recommended you will enjoy this one.
March 5, 2015
Well, that was fun! I'm gonna grab some Tums...
July 8, 2013
Suspense lovers will be thrilled to see another work by this author who is a master at keeping one and all on the edge of their seat. In fact, Kevin O’Brien is so skilled at bringing the reader into the fear, you’ll almost want to read this book with your eyes closed.
Olivia Barker is a hypnotherapist in the State of Washington who’s faced with a very unusual problem. A young man who claims his name is Russ Leander, even though the name on the caller ID is C. Stampler, sets up a meeting with the doctor. When he arrives for his session, Olivia almost feels as if she’s experiencing déjà vu because the new client looks so familiar.
He admits to Olivia that he had given her a fake name because he used to be a child-star, Collin Cox, and didn’t want his identity known. Russ/Collin alerts her to the fact that something bizarre happened when he was hypnotized by a friend, and he basically wants Olivia to hypnotize him to see if it would occur again. Putting him under, a new personality suddenly enters the room by the name of Wade, and the game of fear begins.
Wade is more than frightening; he apparently murdered a family back in the 60s in their hotel room. He goes on and on, listing violent crimes committed in the area that happened far before her patient, Collin, was even born. Olivia knows nothing of these horrible slayings, but through hypnotherapy she learns details of the killings that only the murderer would know.
Having no proof other than what she’s heard in her sessions, Olivia gets pulled into a nightmare. As the body count starts to pile up, her own life is put in danger. Determined to find out what’s going on she continues seeing Collin, but the truth will amaze, astound, and scare her to death.
Every thrill-seeker who picks this one up should make sure they have their blood pressure checked before reading.
Olivia Barker is a hypnotherapist in the State of Washington who’s faced with a very unusual problem. A young man who claims his name is Russ Leander, even though the name on the caller ID is C. Stampler, sets up a meeting with the doctor. When he arrives for his session, Olivia almost feels as if she’s experiencing déjà vu because the new client looks so familiar.
He admits to Olivia that he had given her a fake name because he used to be a child-star, Collin Cox, and didn’t want his identity known. Russ/Collin alerts her to the fact that something bizarre happened when he was hypnotized by a friend, and he basically wants Olivia to hypnotize him to see if it would occur again. Putting him under, a new personality suddenly enters the room by the name of Wade, and the game of fear begins.
Wade is more than frightening; he apparently murdered a family back in the 60s in their hotel room. He goes on and on, listing violent crimes committed in the area that happened far before her patient, Collin, was even born. Olivia knows nothing of these horrible slayings, but through hypnotherapy she learns details of the killings that only the murderer would know.
Having no proof other than what she’s heard in her sessions, Olivia gets pulled into a nightmare. As the body count starts to pile up, her own life is put in danger. Determined to find out what’s going on she continues seeing Collin, but the truth will amaze, astound, and scare her to death.
Every thrill-seeker who picks this one up should make sure they have their blood pressure checked before reading.
February 26, 2016
3.75. This was a fun creepy plot that had my suspicions all over the place. All the characters were well done, and it was rough seeing some of them meet their demise. This is the classic "page turner" because circumstances changed so often you just had to keep reading to see which direction this was going to go.
I did find it somewhat repetitious in spots which dragged it down a little, and any time a phone call was mentioned the number was spelled out...5-5-5-1-2-1-2 and so forth. And that was quite often. I thought maybe there was supposed to be some kind of clue in the numbers, but in the end (as far as I could tell) there wasn't. It was just unnecessary.
This was my second book by Kevin O'Brien, and it is better than the first one (Tell Me You're Sorry) so I'm certainly open to reading more.
I did find it somewhat repetitious in spots which dragged it down a little, and any time a phone call was mentioned the number was spelled out...5-5-5-1-2-1-2 and so forth. And that was quite often. I thought maybe there was supposed to be some kind of clue in the numbers, but in the end (as far as I could tell) there wasn't. It was just unnecessary.
This was my second book by Kevin O'Brien, and it is better than the first one (Tell Me You're Sorry) so I'm certainly open to reading more.
July 4, 2018
So this one got me. I couldn't figure it out. And when I read the big reveal, I was mad at myself for not picking up on the clues. But the last couple of lines.... Truly inspired!
October 20, 2024
Wow! This novel left me speechless. It is so well written. The plot will absolutely suck you in and wrap you in the mystery. Filled with tension and suspense. This is my first novel by this author, but I will definitely be reading/listening to more. I listened to the audiobook version, and the narrator was absolutely fantastic.
October 5, 2017
In Kevin O'Brien's Unspeakable, this thriller will sent you chills straight to the core for unspeakable acts and twisted turns. When Collin Cox, a former child star, seeks Olivia Barker help for a problem, it had set a chain reaction of cold-hearted acts in motion. Young Collin witnessed the murder of his mother and her boyfriend, which had remained unsolved. Then he lived with his grandmother and grandfather in their home. But things aren't what they seem to be for him. For Olivia, she became curious on Collin's situation and took him on, while she had dealt with some issues of her home--like her husband cheating on her with a younger woman. And she believed that his mistress was out to get her out of the pitture and to have him forself with red-hot jealousy. After Collin's friend Gail hynoptized him at her home, it had released the confession of a cold-blooded killer named Wade Grinnell from fifty years old. As soon as it had unleashed it, bad things start to happen to Olivia and to Collin, especially to the closest of them, when it ended up as murder. Since Collin had nothing to do about it, he had someone looking out for him as his former cop friend did the same for Olivia as well. As they both gotten closer to the truth, the real killer resurfaces to silence his old secret. In the ending, it would blow you out on how it was and why.
October 31, 2024
This one was so hard to power through. So many times I almost gave up and DNF but then something would pull me back in and I kept going. It wasn’t a bad book but there was just too many characters and their perspective was broken up in multiple paragraphs within a chapter and not just one chapter at a time. I felt it was tough to focus and I kept having to say to myself “who is that again?” when a paragraph changed to someone else. Towards the end I was pushing myself to finish because I had come so far which is never an enjoyable way to read. I could see how some may like this author and maybe some of his other books are less “jumbly” but unfortunately I don’t think I will give any more of his a shot because of the way this one was laid out.
August 11, 2016
When former child star Collin Cox and his high school friends play at being hypnotized all are shocked when another persona is revealed. Not just any persona, but a serial killer from 50 years ago that was suspected in multiple murders during the 1962 Seattle World's Fair. There is another killer at work now. Is it possible that the killer that has been dead for 50 years is using Collin to continue his rampage?
Great book and I sure didn't see the end coming. I highly recommend this book if you like edge of your seat suspense.
May 14, 2016
Hmm...I won't go over the synopsis of the book, I sure that has been covered enough. I will just leave my thoughts.
This book was intriguing, I couldn't figure out in Collin's alter ego was some sort of mental illness, supernatural or there was another explanation and that is what kept me reading. I have to say, I was really disappointed how it all came together. I am not a fan of books where bodies just keep piling up. And the motive is just silly. It was just really dumb at the end of the day. As much as I love reading, I would say skip the and go on to something better.
This book was intriguing, I couldn't figure out in Collin's alter ego was some sort of mental illness, supernatural or there was another explanation and that is what kept me reading. I have to say, I was really disappointed how it all came together. I am not a fan of books where bodies just keep piling up. And the motive is just silly. It was just really dumb at the end of the day. As much as I love reading, I would say skip the and go on to something better.
October 6, 2013
I really loved this book. It got your attention right from the beginning and it held it to the very last page. It was definitely a page turner for me. I can't believe it was his grandfather all along with the other man he hireded. I wish Olivia and Ian had gotten together more. In the end they had called each other but I wish there was more. They didn't say much about clay being dead but over all I really liked this book. I'm just sad that Gail and Fernando had to die.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2013
The best book O'brien has written---so many twists and turns--cover tagline is misleading--you thinkyou have figured it out but you won't---536 pages of suspense
October 25, 2020
I loved the characters and I didn't figure it out. About 3/4 through, I started to get a little tired of things but it did come together nicely.
August 25, 2023
2.5 stars really. If you go into it accepting that it’s entirely implausible, you can appreciate the twists & the fact that at some point every single character seems like they might be the killer.
August 30, 2024
Page Turner!
I often found myself thinking about this book when I wasn't reading it. There's a very complex mystery wrapped in suspenseful and often heartbreaking drama. I think the main character is too quick to doubt himself and shows all his cards too often. For about the 4th time ever, I didn't guess the killer until it was upon me. Slightly drawn out, it was still interesting and kept me engaged until the very last word.
I often found myself thinking about this book when I wasn't reading it. There's a very complex mystery wrapped in suspenseful and often heartbreaking drama. I think the main character is too quick to doubt himself and shows all his cards too often. For about the 4th time ever, I didn't guess the killer until it was upon me. Slightly drawn out, it was still interesting and kept me engaged until the very last word.
November 19, 2024
A little creepy and very interesting . It did have a jaw dropping moment that I never saw coming !
September 4, 2013
During a for fun hypnosis session with friends, former child actor Collin Cox discovers a sinister personality within himself. Does possession, reincarnation or mental illness explain why the terrified teen has the memories and speaks in the voice of a suspected murderer who died fifty years ago? As new bodies start piling up, Collin enlists the aid of a troubled psychotherapist, Olivia Barker, in an attempt to discover whether the dead killer, Wade, through him, is continuing the wave of terror begun decades before.
Despite a resolve that I thought required a bit of suspension of disbelief, as regards the workings of the human mind, Unspeakable was a fascinating psychological horror/suspense novel with clever twists. The two MCs, Collin and Olivia, were very well-developed sympathetic and likable characters, while the antagonists of the story rivaled some of the most malevolent of supernatural baddies with their all too human evil. For those who can stomach some truly “unspeakable” crimes committed by those who have little motivation but their own perverted pleasure and sick self-serving ends, it’s definitely a story that shows how twisted the human soul can become when it lets darkness in.
In a maybe (explanation to follow) unrelated note, Unspeakable got off to a shaky start with me when it began with the dangerous suggestion that a 5’5”, 128 lb. woman was overweight (when, in fact, this height/weight is a healthy and not overweight at all BMI of 21 – overweight = 25 + BMI, so to be overweight at 5’5”, a woman would need to weigh more than 144lbs.). But despite my upset about this incorrect (and left uncorrected in the book) weight assessment in a looks-obsessed society that has contributed to lethal eating disorders, I kept reading and began to wonder if the author used this opening to make a sort of symbolic or generalized statement about faulty self-perception and the preoccupation with how we look to others – a theme that is very significant to the plot of the story in more ways than one. In any case, once I got past this bumpy start, I was hooked, and the story remained so interesting that, even at a fairly lengthy 500 plus pages, the novel was a fast-paced read. Unspeakable was the first book I’ve read by Kevin O’Brien, but it definitely won’t be my last.
Despite a resolve that I thought required a bit of suspension of disbelief, as regards the workings of the human mind, Unspeakable was a fascinating psychological horror/suspense novel with clever twists. The two MCs, Collin and Olivia, were very well-developed sympathetic and likable characters, while the antagonists of the story rivaled some of the most malevolent of supernatural baddies with their all too human evil. For those who can stomach some truly “unspeakable” crimes committed by those who have little motivation but their own perverted pleasure and sick self-serving ends, it’s definitely a story that shows how twisted the human soul can become when it lets darkness in.
In a maybe (explanation to follow) unrelated note, Unspeakable got off to a shaky start with me when it began with the dangerous suggestion that a 5’5”, 128 lb. woman was overweight (when, in fact, this height/weight is a healthy and not overweight at all BMI of 21 – overweight = 25 + BMI, so to be overweight at 5’5”, a woman would need to weigh more than 144lbs.). But despite my upset about this incorrect (and left uncorrected in the book) weight assessment in a looks-obsessed society that has contributed to lethal eating disorders, I kept reading and began to wonder if the author used this opening to make a sort of symbolic or generalized statement about faulty self-perception and the preoccupation with how we look to others – a theme that is very significant to the plot of the story in more ways than one. In any case, once I got past this bumpy start, I was hooked, and the story remained so interesting that, even at a fairly lengthy 500 plus pages, the novel was a fast-paced read. Unspeakable was the first book I’ve read by Kevin O’Brien, but it definitely won’t be my last.
August 10, 2015
Well this was my first Kevin O'Brien book & def not my last!! This book was awesome!! I'm not a fan of long books specially more than 500 pages, but when there this good I don't mind at all. This book was filled with non stop guessing & suspense. Every time you think you might be close to figuring out a clue a new twist comes into play & just keeps your jaw dropped the more pages go by. The plot was incredible I thought it was very creative. All the characters were very likable Collin was a awesome character along with Olivia. The back of the book explains just a few details about the book that's enough to get you interested, but then when you finally get into it your so glad you did & it's not one f those long boring books where it takes 100 pages to get into it & start picking up & it's not one of those long books that seems like it just drags you on & your just tired of reading it. It's a great suspense-thriller filled with crime. & the end is a total mind fuck!!(in a good way)Action around every corner(or every page lol) but this book def got me a fan of Kevin's work & I will def be grabbing a lot more of his books. If there are any recommendations for anymore titles he's written please lmk, but I recommend to anybody who likes those jaw dropping, page turning, crime thrillers filled with suspense & non stop guesses. I also recommended this author to anybody who likes this genre you won't be upset or dissatisfied!!
June 12, 2013
I thought this book was superb, another great book by Kevin o'Brien. This book is a high demand in my household, father in law, hubby, and one day i was freshning up and my colleague read the back thinking it was another prostitution book lol, anyhow, when i got back, she had to put it down, someone was knocking on the door,( in the book) she was going to read it and i would have to wait, when i was about 60 pgs to finish yesterday.
Olivia's charachter is great and collin's character is fantastic! Imagine that you are a hypnotherapist to help people with sleeping disorders, stop smoking etc... and to only find out that there have been recent reports on killings and it is happening almost daily or weekly, Olivia is scared that it is one of her patients and not knowing who is killing her, plus she cannot tell the police it is patient/doctor confidentiality. Was upset that i found out whom it was about 30 pgs in but the ending was ok,
I have to say that the twists and turns were great, and the only other thing that Kevin is guilty of is keeping me up at night, i usually read before i go to bed and when my eyes get tired then i go to bed, as soon as my head hits the pillow i wonder what will happen next, highly recommend this book
Olivia's charachter is great and collin's character is fantastic! Imagine that you are a hypnotherapist to help people with sleeping disorders, stop smoking etc... and to only find out that there have been recent reports on killings and it is happening almost daily or weekly, Olivia is scared that it is one of her patients and not knowing who is killing her, plus she cannot tell the police it is patient/doctor confidentiality. Was upset that i found out whom it was about 30 pgs in but the ending was ok,
I have to say that the twists and turns were great, and the only other thing that Kevin is guilty of is keeping me up at night, i usually read before i go to bed and when my eyes get tired then i go to bed, as soon as my head hits the pillow i wonder what will happen next, highly recommend this book
July 10, 2018
This book has been on my "To-Be-Read" list for far too long.....I wish I had read it sooner. To be honest, I didn't expect to like it nearly as much as I did. It took awhile to really catch my interest, but before I was halfway through, I couldn't put it down. Olivia Barker is a therapist with a horrific past of her own, and now she has a new teenaged patient who appears to be the reincarnation of a young serial killer from decades past. When in a trance, the boy speaks and has the personality traits of the murderer and somehow knows all the details of the awful crimes he committed. Collin, the patient, was also witness to his mother's gruesome murder and is currently living with his grandparents. A new series of horrifying murders begins involving not only Collin's friends and family, but also Olivia's. The suspense is, to say the least, intense through the whole book, with one new horror after another, making this definitely a major entry in the "page-turner thriller" category.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 500 reviews