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Bill Shannon #1
Bad Thoughts
Book by Dave Zeltserman
275 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2007
46 people are currently reading
321 people want to read
About the author
Dave Zeltserman
102 books171 followersAuthor of the crime noir novel SMALL CRIMES named by NPR as the best crime and mystery novel of 2008, and by the Washington Post as one of the best novels of 2008, and made into a major film (to be released in 2017) starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Molly Parker, Gary Cole, Robert Forster, and Jacki Weaver.
Shamus Award winner for JULIUS KATZ. Ellery Queen's Readers Choice Award winner for ARCHIE'S BEEN FRAMED and ARCHIE SOLVES THE CASE.
PARIAH named by the Washington Post as one of the best books of 2009. THE CARETAKER OF LORNE FIELD (2010) shortlisted by American Library Association for best horror novel of the year and named a horror gem by Library Journal. MONSTER selected by Booklist Magazine for their 2013 list of top 10 horror novels and WBUR for one of the best novels of the year.
OUTSOURCED (2011) and THE CARETAKER OF LORNE FIELD are also currently being developed for film.
Shamus Award winner for JULIUS KATZ. Ellery Queen's Readers Choice Award winner for ARCHIE'S BEEN FRAMED and ARCHIE SOLVES THE CASE.
PARIAH named by the Washington Post as one of the best books of 2009. THE CARETAKER OF LORNE FIELD (2010) shortlisted by American Library Association for best horror novel of the year and named a horror gem by Library Journal. MONSTER selected by Booklist Magazine for their 2013 list of top 10 horror novels and WBUR for one of the best novels of the year.
OUTSOURCED (2011) and THE CARETAKER OF LORNE FIELD are also currently being developed for film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 23, 2013
Detective Bill Shannon is still coping with the memory of seeing his mother murdered over twenty years ago. Every year around the anniversary of her death, he loses time and disappears for a week or more, awakening disheveled and completely unaware of what has occurred, OR what he DID during his blackout.
Now women are being killed in the same grisly manner as Shannon's mother. Did Shannon have something to do with the murders, or is he being framed by a killer from his past?
The parts of this book that were standard police procedural were great. I loved Shannon's relationship with his partner, DiGrazio. (Um, do I need to say we're talking "working relationship," not, well, you know...) They did a fine job of playing good cop/bad cop. (Here again - at work, people.) It was lookin' like a 5-star read.
BUT THEN...
As the philosopher Olivia Newton John once said, "Let's Get Physical" - metaphysical, that is!
GROAN!
This is a gripping read. The murders are gruesome and plentiful. The killer is creepy and disgusting. The suspense builds and keeps you turning those pages long after you need to stop reading and start making dinner.
If Zeltserman had stayed firmly rooted in reality, I would have been a happy camper. Next time, please leave the paranormal mumbo jumbo to the teen romances and Shirley MacLaine.
Now women are being killed in the same grisly manner as Shannon's mother. Did Shannon have something to do with the murders, or is he being framed by a killer from his past?
The parts of this book that were standard police procedural were great. I loved Shannon's relationship with his partner, DiGrazio. (Um, do I need to say we're talking "working relationship," not, well, you know...) They did a fine job of playing good cop/bad cop. (Here again - at work, people.) It was lookin' like a 5-star read.
BUT THEN...
As the philosopher Olivia Newton John once said, "Let's Get Physical" - metaphysical, that is!
GROAN!
This is a gripping read. The murders are gruesome and plentiful. The killer is creepy and disgusting. The suspense builds and keeps you turning those pages long after you need to stop reading and start making dinner.
If Zeltserman had stayed firmly rooted in reality, I would have been a happy camper. Next time, please leave the paranormal mumbo jumbo to the teen romances and Shirley MacLaine.
September 14, 2007
Good page-turner. The supernatural element was a little cheesy, but the twist was nice.
July 4, 2014
A good suspense-mystery that sneaks up on you with a little magical realism. Slick.
November 5, 2017
I'm a fan of various types of genre fiction, but I especially enjoy authors who want to go beyond the bounds of their particular genre and come up with something different and compelling. Dave Zeltserman's Bad Thoughts starts out as a saga of a cop on the trail of a particularly depraved serial killer but soon goes far beyond that, becoming a highly effective and chilling blend of the hardboiled and the paranormal.
The protagonist of Bad Thoughts is Bill Shannon, a cop in a Boston suburb who has been trying to deal with a boyhood trauma for two decades. When he was 13, he came home from school to find a psycho torturing and killing his mother. Shannon killed the man but has understandably been plagued by the memory ever since. As an adult, he has suffered weeklong, alcohol-fueled blackouts near the anniversary date of her death. Now, a new serial killer of young women is on the loose in Boston, and Shannon gets far too involved in the case.
Bad Thoughts is the type of book that should be experienced and appreciated with as little advance knowledge as possible. Author Zeltserman makes it clear early on that Shannon’s past figures prominently into the new murders, and soon makes it appear to other cops, readers, and even Shannon himself that he might be the new killer. The author cuts off this speculation fairly early in the book by revealing specifically what’s going on, and it’s not a real spoiler to reveal that there are paranormal elements at play here. But once the author does give away the solution to the killings (about a third of the way into the book), Bad Thoughts actually becomes even more interesting, as the pace of the violence accelerates.
As you might have guessed, Bad Thoughts is not for everyone. The level of violence and depravity in this book is exceptionally high, bordering on torture porn in a couple of places (the finale has some exceptionally gruesome imagery that, depending on a reader’s sensitivity, may totally disgust or totally satisfy emotionally). In addition, the book requires an enormous suspension of disbelief and a willingness to accept paranormal elements into a tough cop story. Zeltserman’s background is in hardboiled crime stories, and he is more at home in the sections of the book dealing with Shannon’s and his fellow cops’ investigations. Fans of traditional tough cop novels will easily relate to these sections. The paranormal sequences don’t seem to work as well for me, and the author wisely doesn’t go into too detailed of an explanation. Essentially, the paranormal becomes something akin to warp drive on Star Trek, something you accept in order to move the story around while you try not to figure it out too much.
Zeltserman has created a couple of memorable characters in Bad Thoughts, most notably Shannon, a man who isn’t sure for much of the book just what he’s done or what he’s capable of doing. It’s clear from the start that he’s badly damaged goods emotionally, but his struggle to get to figure out exactly who he is and what happens when he loses track of time in his blackouts is almost as fascinating as the attempts to solve the growing string of murders.
Author Zeltserman could have removed all the paranormal elements in the book and been left with a satisfying conventional cop/serial killer thriller. But he’s much more ambitious here, and the result is a truly memorable thriller that transcends the genre. Bad Thoughts is definitely not for everyone, but for those who enjoy the offbeat and don’t mind depictions of graphic violence, the book is a well thought out entertainment.
The protagonist of Bad Thoughts is Bill Shannon, a cop in a Boston suburb who has been trying to deal with a boyhood trauma for two decades. When he was 13, he came home from school to find a psycho torturing and killing his mother. Shannon killed the man but has understandably been plagued by the memory ever since. As an adult, he has suffered weeklong, alcohol-fueled blackouts near the anniversary date of her death. Now, a new serial killer of young women is on the loose in Boston, and Shannon gets far too involved in the case.
Bad Thoughts is the type of book that should be experienced and appreciated with as little advance knowledge as possible. Author Zeltserman makes it clear early on that Shannon’s past figures prominently into the new murders, and soon makes it appear to other cops, readers, and even Shannon himself that he might be the new killer. The author cuts off this speculation fairly early in the book by revealing specifically what’s going on, and it’s not a real spoiler to reveal that there are paranormal elements at play here. But once the author does give away the solution to the killings (about a third of the way into the book), Bad Thoughts actually becomes even more interesting, as the pace of the violence accelerates.
As you might have guessed, Bad Thoughts is not for everyone. The level of violence and depravity in this book is exceptionally high, bordering on torture porn in a couple of places (the finale has some exceptionally gruesome imagery that, depending on a reader’s sensitivity, may totally disgust or totally satisfy emotionally). In addition, the book requires an enormous suspension of disbelief and a willingness to accept paranormal elements into a tough cop story. Zeltserman’s background is in hardboiled crime stories, and he is more at home in the sections of the book dealing with Shannon’s and his fellow cops’ investigations. Fans of traditional tough cop novels will easily relate to these sections. The paranormal sequences don’t seem to work as well for me, and the author wisely doesn’t go into too detailed of an explanation. Essentially, the paranormal becomes something akin to warp drive on Star Trek, something you accept in order to move the story around while you try not to figure it out too much.
Zeltserman has created a couple of memorable characters in Bad Thoughts, most notably Shannon, a man who isn’t sure for much of the book just what he’s done or what he’s capable of doing. It’s clear from the start that he’s badly damaged goods emotionally, but his struggle to get to figure out exactly who he is and what happens when he loses track of time in his blackouts is almost as fascinating as the attempts to solve the growing string of murders.
Author Zeltserman could have removed all the paranormal elements in the book and been left with a satisfying conventional cop/serial killer thriller. But he’s much more ambitious here, and the result is a truly memorable thriller that transcends the genre. Bad Thoughts is definitely not for everyone, but for those who enjoy the offbeat and don’t mind depictions of graphic violence, the book is a well thought out entertainment.
July 14, 2018
Good read. I liked the idea of the ability to mentally leave yourself and invade someone's dreams/thoughts and actually affect their thinking.
Don't want to spoil with more info, but I really enjoyed this book.
Don't want to spoil with more info, but I really enjoyed this book.
April 20, 2023
Buy it new, he needs the money, money inspires writers to keep writing, that said I have never read a bad book by this guy.
May 21, 2010
Human beings have a finite capacity to digest the evil that happens around them. At the age of 13, Billy Shannon walked into his home while his mother was in the act of being murdered. Incredibly, he was able to turn the tables on the killer, Herbert Winters. But Shannon has paid the price. Now it's 20 years later, he's a cop in Massachusetts; but he's never been able to put the whole incident to rest. Every year as the anniversary of his mother's death approaches, he escapes reality by going on a binge (and he's not normally a drinker) and entering a black-out period of several days, which he can never recall. He's never been able to share his memories with anyone, including his wife, Susie; and he's never divulged anything about the yearly horrors he endures.
Lately, his nightmares are getting worse. Winters visits him in his dreams and tries to distort everything that Shannon knows to be true. At the same time, other women are being murdered in the same manner as his mother was—could Winters somehow have returned from the dead? Or has Shannon gone completely insane?
Unfortunately, I could never accept the main premise of the book. Being the type of reader that generally needs situations based in reality, I was unable to go along with the idea of a person who could transport himself into another person's dreams and try to direct their memories and waking actions. I also thought it was a cheat to include a "replicator" character into the mix and I found the resolution implausible.
On the other hand, the author does many things well, most particularly in building suspense and an interest in unraveling Shannon's past secrets The reader who is more able to accept occult events and has a higher threshold for horror will likely enjoy BAD THOUGHTS more than I did. If Zeltserman had been able to create a villain who was steeped in reality, I would have been much more satisfied with the book.
August 14, 2010
I rarely write more than a thought or two on my Goodreads reviews, but after finishing this book, I've got lots on my mind. I could easily give this story three or even fewer stars. But I didn't. I gave it four.
I recommend this book if you like hardboiled suspense with a touch of horror. If you like books with an edgy twist of the supernatural all the better.
I personally find most books with that kind of story unreadable.
But that's just the thing. I found Zeltserman's writing to be compelling, tight, and well-fashioned. He's one of those writers who (at least in Bad Thoughts) tries to shock you with his story, and ends up doing it more with the quality his writing.
If someone were to ask me to read this book based on a summary of the plot, I'd thank them politely and go read something else. (No offense to the author -- more than a few Stephen King novels have have had the same impact on me.) And now, having read Bad Thoughts, I'll gladly concede that I'd be missing an opportunity to discover a talented writer. So, not only am I generously giving Bad Thoughts four stars, I am going to read more from Dave Zeltserman. He managed to keep me turning pages on shear storytelling ability. That's pretty rare. (I also grant that in a genre of heavy-handed, unoriginal and often catastrophically boring plots, Bad Thoughts does offer some interesting, original twists, so please don't take my fault-finding as anything more than one bloke's narrow opinion.)
Four stars. Three for the story in Bad Thoughts, an extra one for a fine writer who impressed a generally finicky (and frequently grouchy) crime-fiction-reading critic. I especially look forward to reading The Caretaker of Lorne Field
I recommend this book if you like hardboiled suspense with a touch of horror. If you like books with an edgy twist of the supernatural all the better.
I personally find most books with that kind of story unreadable.
But that's just the thing. I found Zeltserman's writing to be compelling, tight, and well-fashioned. He's one of those writers who (at least in Bad Thoughts) tries to shock you with his story, and ends up doing it more with the quality his writing.
If someone were to ask me to read this book based on a summary of the plot, I'd thank them politely and go read something else. (No offense to the author -- more than a few Stephen King novels have have had the same impact on me.) And now, having read Bad Thoughts, I'll gladly concede that I'd be missing an opportunity to discover a talented writer. So, not only am I generously giving Bad Thoughts four stars, I am going to read more from Dave Zeltserman. He managed to keep me turning pages on shear storytelling ability. That's pretty rare. (I also grant that in a genre of heavy-handed, unoriginal and often catastrophically boring plots, Bad Thoughts does offer some interesting, original twists, so please don't take my fault-finding as anything more than one bloke's narrow opinion.)
Four stars. Three for the story in Bad Thoughts, an extra one for a fine writer who impressed a generally finicky (and frequently grouchy) crime-fiction-reading critic. I especially look forward to reading The Caretaker of Lorne Field
May 28, 2013
This is a good example of really flawed book that keeps bending and twisting to keep your attention on the page despite its shortcomings. BAD THOUGHTS is melodramatic and has a plot worthy of airport paperbacks, but it's dynamic and unpredictable. It's what book you keep reading to know what-the-hell-is-going-to-happen-next?
Bill Shannon is equal parts cliché and original details. Loved that he's straight, hardass cop that is often maligned in that kind of stories. Love the detail about his fingers and how he doesn't shun therapy by any means necessary. Sure he's a taciturn cop having nightmares all the time, but those original details about him keep him from getting boring. Like many other reviewer said, quick, pleasant page-turner.
Bill Shannon is equal parts cliché and original details. Loved that he's straight, hardass cop that is often maligned in that kind of stories. Love the detail about his fingers and how he doesn't shun therapy by any means necessary. Sure he's a taciturn cop having nightmares all the time, but those original details about him keep him from getting boring. Like many other reviewer said, quick, pleasant page-turner.
April 19, 2011
If you want to be completely creeped out, then, this is the book for you. There is a bad guy in this story who will show up throughout under the most unusual circumstances, and will have you looking over your shoulder and investigating every creak and house whisper before you're halfway into it.
Dave Zeltserman really has a gift when it comes to creating believable characters, and showing us the strength of the human spirit in the face of a nightmare. Definitely read Bad Thoughts on a dark, stormy night when you're all alone in the house. I guarantee that you will enjoy the ride!
Dave Zeltserman really has a gift when it comes to creating believable characters, and showing us the strength of the human spirit in the face of a nightmare. Definitely read Bad Thoughts on a dark, stormy night when you're all alone in the house. I guarantee that you will enjoy the ride!
May 13, 2014
Every year around February 10th Bill Shannon has a blackout. He doesn't know why and he can't remember where he goes and what he does. It has been happening for several years now. His marriage is just about over because of it. This year is different his dreams are being invaded but a person who is supposed to be dead. Bill is desperate to find out what is going on before the police arrest him for murder.
It was a attention grabbing story. I was worried that it might be a bit gruesome, but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined.
It was a attention grabbing story. I was worried that it might be a bit gruesome, but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined.
November 18, 2012
Not a bedtime story! During the first few pages I came close to just closing this book and putting it in the "not worth the time" category, something I very rarely do, but kept reading and it did get quite a bit better. It's a combination of murder mystery and the supernatural, held my interest, and even though I might not recommend it to everyone because of some of the graphic brutality, it was worth the read.
January 18, 2014
I TRIED TO LIKE THIS BOOK, JUST COULDN'T. WHEN I READ THE DETAILS OF THE STORY LINE I REALLY THOUGHT, THIS SHOULD BE GOOD. THE PROBLEM I HAD WAS ALL THE CHARACTERS WERE SO SAD AND FREAKIN' DEPRESSING, EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS BOOK MADE ME DEPRESSED. EVEN THE ENDING WAS WHAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED, IT WAS JUST SAD, SAD, SAD. BUMMER! ;<
January 5, 2016
This mystery was just intriguing enough to keep my interest and make me want to finish reading the book. Overall, I thought the book was well written.However, three stars because the plot was not believable. Other reviewers felt the same and since this is the first in a series, I will probably read #2 to see if the supernatural flair is gone.
September 17, 2011
I really liked this book...It was one of those "mind f**ks" that keeps you guessing as to what happens next...and gives you something to think about! What if you COULD do what the killer could? No spoilers here but it gives you food for thought!
September 16, 2013
SNORE fest. OMG it was boring and slow and dull and the characters were completely unlikable. If it were any longer, I would have stopped reading it, but since it was shorter and I had read 25% initially, I didn't want to lose that time. So, I read it and it sucked!
March 22, 2013
This book was less than perfect, but really good overall. This is a really dark book, with a lot of taboo things that most people won't talk about, and that's one of the reasons I like it so much. This book is pretty ballsy!
December 14, 2013
Okay, it wasn't a great work of literature and I'm sure I'll never see this on any classics list, BUT, if you're in the mood for a good thriller, this is it. I do have to say the ending reminded me of 'Ghost' but it was a good read and it kept my attention through the end. I'd recommend it.
December 30, 2013
Spoiler! I was hooked and enjoyed the mystery until the bad guy takes over the body of Shannon and talks to him in his dreams. I guess I'm not a believer. Found it to be weird and took away from the story.
February 3, 2014
I often enjoy creepy, violent stories, but I tend to lose interest when supernatural elements are introduced. This is, perhaps, more suited to fans of the crime/horror genre. I usually prefer my bad guys to be a little more, err, human.
July 1, 2009
Grusome...craziness!
May 23, 2011
It was a fun read, but I don't think the writing was very good and I could predict a lot of the "twists." Nevertheless, I scare easy and this book had me looking over my shoulder a lot.
February 25, 2012
I really wanted this book to be fantastic and it tried. Alas, what started out as a good story fizzled into shoddy storytelling and a truly bizarre (and not in a good way) ending.
February 25, 2012
This was a good read. I read the book in about 3 days. It is fast paced and unpredictable.
January 1, 2013
interesting read with all dream travel and out of body experiences.could have used a bit more details when it came to the murders to give it some shock factor.
July 8, 2013
Creepy characters, good mystery!
October 28, 2013
Good book.
December 10, 2013
Got to have a strong stomach for this one - a mystery with a touch of the supernatural.
Can't really recommend it - too much violence and gore.
Can't really recommend it - too much violence and gore.
December 8, 2013
The story wasn't quite what I expected and I'm not sure that I can say that I liked it.
January 16, 2014
This was a fun read even though it is not very believable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews