Privileged Conversation

by Evan Hunter

Successful psychiatrist David Chapman decides to stay in the city and work while his wife and children vacation on Martha's Vineyard. All is not tranquil in the city, however. A chance meeting with a Broadway dancer evokes his every erotic fantasy. But when bodies meet, when mystery and desire come together, there is no telling where the journey may end. And David finds he can't resist--or escape--the most dangerous woman of his dreams.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Suspense

336 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Better known by his pseudonym Ed McBain.

Born Salvatore Albert Lombino, he legally adopted the name Evan Hunter in 1952. While successful and well known as Evan Hunter, he was even better known as Ed McBain, a name he used for most of his crime fiction, beginning in 1956.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a waste of time. Then that ending that wasn't an ending. Evan Hunter AKA Ed McBain I have read most of his 187th precinct books and enjoyed them. I think there was a TV series plus he wrote The Blackboard Jungle and the screenplay for The Birds. then this.

[Fiona · Rating 1 out of 5]

Badly-written icky old-man fantasies. Includes a dull and detailed description of 'Cats' (the musical), which at least made a change from all the leggy young lasses that want nothing more than an ageing pervert crawling all over them.

I really liked other books by Evan Hunter. This has made me reconsider.

[Leona · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read all of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct books and I loved them. This is the second of his other novels he's written and the second I wasn't crazy about. Yes, the man can write about sex; I'll give him that if that's what someone is interested in. I was expecting more of a suspense thriller story and this is not what I got. I thought I missed something but I read another review and the stalker, indeed, was not identified which makes the ending....????? I'll stick to the 87th Precinct if I want to read Ed McBain again.

[Jerry King · Rating 1 out of 5]

1996

[Jan Heppner · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was absolutely terrible.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth sticking with - I found it annoyingly repetitive to start with, but it packs quite a punch by the end.

[Kim L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can one "get to know" an author by what he/she chooses as subject matter, the characters, etc. and does that author change up the story line in subsequent writings or are they a creature of habit and just continue with what they are comfortable with?
This author is on the fast track, putting out a book or two each and every year! This author is busy!
As I was reading this book and having thoughts of an anticipated outcome I was also thinking that this author did a better job with describing the character Kate's manner of dress (adding to her eroticism?)as a previous book of his and wondered if he actually had another party "take over this task." The ending of this story is not what I expected, it was somewhat of a different twist and I thought it was clever....it leaves it open to having a sequel to the story.

The author did not reveal who Kate's "stalker" was. My thoughts ran on one of David Chapmans patients, Arthur K.

This book is riddled with deception, lies and the inner workings of the mind. A good read for me.

[Laurie Stoll · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author Evan Hunter also writes under the name Ed McBain and a few other names as well. I have previously read a couple of books in the McBain series that I enjoyed. With that being said, I was expecting more from this author than the author gave this story.

Priveleged Conversation has two main characters. One is a psychiatrist, the other a dancer.

I anticipated more of this story being about Priveleged Conversation's, in other words more about the doctor and his patients.

This story is very little more than a story about an extra-maritial affair. Unfortunately, the little more is quite predictable.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unabridged audiobook. At first, the consistent use of present tense bugged the hell out of me (" 'Yes,' she says. 'Okay,' I say.' "). Perhaps, if I had read it rather than listened to it, it may not have bothered me as much. It wasn't until after I finished the book that I realized he was doing this as a conscious choice to imitate film noir, as so much of the book has a filmic theme to it. There isn't so much of a switch to Kate's point of view as much as a shift in the action. Ending isn't a "sucker punch," but does come as a bit of a surprise.

[S.A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lazy pages of babbling dialogue derailed the book. The ending really killed the story. This seemed like a "ooo, I'll do this as a shocker" but guess what, the conceit fell flat. The last call and exchange dialogue in the story is so wretched you won't believe it.

This story had potential which it squandered in gay mad abandon.

[Amy Shore]

I've been methodically reading books that were given to me over the years and came across this one. Very dirty. Skipped through most of it, because really... I have a good imagination, no need for further detail. A fast read of two nights. Going in the the yard sell box.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was less than OK, but not quite a one star. I did not care for the two lovers.They were immoral and twisted. The jacket cover mentioned a stalker and I kept reading (skimming) to find out how he fit into the mix. This is not a keeper.

[Ace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of the 87th Precinct series he wrote as Ed McBain. This induced me to pick this book up. I didn't enjoy it. A shrink gets involved with a young dancer. They have a lot of sex, blah blah blah. I usually pass books along to my book buddies. There's no one I'd pass this one off to.

[Doris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was only okay. I was expecting a murder mystery and that is not what this is. While the characters are mostly interesting, I did not find any very likable. However, I was engaged enough to want to find out what happens to them. I would classify this as a beach read.

[Jen]

Deutscher Titel: Die Katzentänzerin

[Marv · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you could divide the rating star in to a hundred pieces, one of those pieces is what this book would get from me.

[Yinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whose behind all those weird letters?

[Jackie Simons]

Read 9/96

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great up till the end...leaves to many unanswered questions

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book in many ways was fantastic great premise, compelling character, great story and dialogue. The ending made no sense to me verging on deus ex machina.

[Andrew Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great beach read.