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Lovesick
A teenage boy is found on Portland Maine’s Eastern Promenade Trail holding the dead body of his best friend and the murder weapon. Forensic psychologist Lisa Boyers is called in to interview the disturbed young man, and her jailhouse interviews reveal more about her troubled, violent past than she bargained for.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 15, 2011
2 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
About the author
Spencer Seidel
9 books27 followersSpencer Seidel lives and works in suburban New Jersey but has also called Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Portland, Maine home. He is an honors graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University and attended the Berklee College of Music to study guitar, which he has been playing for over 25 years. His love of reading and books began as a child after discovering Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Later, he was drawn to darker work by authors such as Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Jack Ketchum, who continue to influence his dark novels and short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 1, 2016
Last year I read Spencer Seidel’s Dead of Wynter, and I remember thinking that Seidel had promise. I wasn’t as impressed by the book as I’d expected to be, but he’s clearly a good writer. I was looking forward to his future books. So, when I was approached about reviewing Lovesick, I was excited.
I am so glad I said yes! My instincts about Seidel were correct. He is a fantastic writer who grabbed my attention from the very beginning and left me wanting just a little bit more at the end. I’m hoping he writes more books with Lisa Boyers and Rudy Swaner. Lisa was a great, deep character. She has a lot of baggage, but she’s able to still do her job well. I felt like there wasn’t quite enough of Rudy. I wanted to know him a bit better – and see if there’s a relationship in their future. Still, this book was tied up with no loose ends and quite the exciting – and in some instances surprising – ending.
Seidel dives on into the action at the very beginning, and it hardly slows down. I found myself really wanting to read this book the more I got into it. There were times I had to force myself to put it down so I could tend to my real-world duties. If I could have, I would have read this in one sitting. I did not want to put it down. Yes, there were some plot points I saw coming. Some occurrences that seemed somewhat obvious to me, but the suspense behind everyone else piecing it together kept me going. Plus, there were plenty of surprises thrown in.
Overall, Lovesick is a fantastic mystery/suspense/thriller. Once I got into it, I didn’t want to put it down. I am definitely looking forward to more books by Spencer Seidel.
I am so glad I said yes! My instincts about Seidel were correct. He is a fantastic writer who grabbed my attention from the very beginning and left me wanting just a little bit more at the end. I’m hoping he writes more books with Lisa Boyers and Rudy Swaner. Lisa was a great, deep character. She has a lot of baggage, but she’s able to still do her job well. I felt like there wasn’t quite enough of Rudy. I wanted to know him a bit better – and see if there’s a relationship in their future. Still, this book was tied up with no loose ends and quite the exciting – and in some instances surprising – ending.
Seidel dives on into the action at the very beginning, and it hardly slows down. I found myself really wanting to read this book the more I got into it. There were times I had to force myself to put it down so I could tend to my real-world duties. If I could have, I would have read this in one sitting. I did not want to put it down. Yes, there were some plot points I saw coming. Some occurrences that seemed somewhat obvious to me, but the suspense behind everyone else piecing it together kept me going. Plus, there were plenty of surprises thrown in.
Overall, Lovesick is a fantastic mystery/suspense/thriller. Once I got into it, I didn’t want to put it down. I am definitely looking forward to more books by Spencer Seidel.
February 14, 2012
Paul was just a normal teenager. But what sets a normal person to kill his best friend and lying in his pool of blood. This is exactly where Paul is found when the cops find him.
Dr. Lisa Boyer is contacted by Paul's attorney. Who happens to be an old friend of Lisa's. Paul's attorney wants Lisa to interview Paul and learn the truth about why Paul did what he did. Dr. Boyer agrees but gets more than she bargains for.
I agree with the other readers that this book was seperated into two stories...Paul's and Dr. Boyer's. While, I did enjoy this book, I felt that it fell a little short where Dr. Boyer’s story was involved. She didn’t jump off the pages and come to life for me. In addition, she did nothing to help Paul other than just listen to his story.
Although, it was quite a story. Which I figured out pretty quickly in the beginning, what the story was. There was nothing really new about the story other than the ending was a little bit of a surprise for me. I did not really see it coming.
Paul’s story did draw me in. He had personality. He may have seemed quiet and with drawn but he was a lot stronger and grown up than he really was. I felt bad for Paul. Paul was the nice guy that finished last.
When it came to learning about Dr. Boyer and her tragic past, I thought she was a victim of it and thus was weak. After a while, I would just skim over her parts of the book to get back to Paul's. Overall, this was a pretty, good book. This book did show me enough of what Mr. Seidel is capable of and I will check out some of his other prior novels.
Dr. Lisa Boyer is contacted by Paul's attorney. Who happens to be an old friend of Lisa's. Paul's attorney wants Lisa to interview Paul and learn the truth about why Paul did what he did. Dr. Boyer agrees but gets more than she bargains for.
I agree with the other readers that this book was seperated into two stories...Paul's and Dr. Boyer's. While, I did enjoy this book, I felt that it fell a little short where Dr. Boyer’s story was involved. She didn’t jump off the pages and come to life for me. In addition, she did nothing to help Paul other than just listen to his story.
Although, it was quite a story. Which I figured out pretty quickly in the beginning, what the story was. There was nothing really new about the story other than the ending was a little bit of a surprise for me. I did not really see it coming.
Paul’s story did draw me in. He had personality. He may have seemed quiet and with drawn but he was a lot stronger and grown up than he really was. I felt bad for Paul. Paul was the nice guy that finished last.
When it came to learning about Dr. Boyer and her tragic past, I thought she was a victim of it and thus was weak. After a while, I would just skim over her parts of the book to get back to Paul's. Overall, this was a pretty, good book. This book did show me enough of what Mr. Seidel is capable of and I will check out some of his other prior novels.
February 9, 2012
Lovesick is my first Seidel read and I hope not my last. It's a book about a teenage boy found by cops holding his best friends body, in his hand is the murder weapon. Pretty open and shut case, well forensic psychologist Lisa Boyers is brought in to pick the kids brain things get interesting.
This book I blazed through. You know some books that are good but you still plod through them, not this one! I'd start reading and the next thing I know is that 100 pages were gone. I wish I could have read it in one sitting but life kind of stuck it's nose in preventing that.
The mystery surrounding the case is one I personally felt was pretty easy to figure out the side story less so. Even with this being the case I still enjoyed it immensely. Spencer writes with great flow, so easy to get lost in his work. The point of view is interesting and very different when a character was telling something from a memory instead of their own point of view it was a third party point of view. At first I was surprised I've never read where an author has done that, not that I can recall anyway and it was just fine. Instead of throwing me off I quite enjoyed it though consciously you are aware that it's different.
Lovesick was first released in ebook it will be available in print in June. I think Lovesick is a must read for all who like mystery/thrillers. Check out Spencer's work and keep him on your author radar. I for one plan on checking out his previous novel Dead In Wynter and any future books. Love finding new fave authors!
This book I blazed through. You know some books that are good but you still plod through them, not this one! I'd start reading and the next thing I know is that 100 pages were gone. I wish I could have read it in one sitting but life kind of stuck it's nose in preventing that.
The mystery surrounding the case is one I personally felt was pretty easy to figure out the side story less so. Even with this being the case I still enjoyed it immensely. Spencer writes with great flow, so easy to get lost in his work. The point of view is interesting and very different when a character was telling something from a memory instead of their own point of view it was a third party point of view. At first I was surprised I've never read where an author has done that, not that I can recall anyway and it was just fine. Instead of throwing me off I quite enjoyed it though consciously you are aware that it's different.
Lovesick was first released in ebook it will be available in print in June. I think Lovesick is a must read for all who like mystery/thrillers. Check out Spencer's work and keep him on your author radar. I for one plan on checking out his previous novel Dead In Wynter and any future books. Love finding new fave authors!
July 2, 2012
I found this book rivetting. I am a Spencer Seidel fan after reading Dead of Wynter. I loved this book. This was my first Kindle fire read!
February 3, 2012
LOVESICK by Spencer Seidel
Published by Publishing Works, Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-1-935557-20-3
ISBN-978-1-935557-51-7
At the request of Meryl L. Moss Media, an ARC TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis (borrowed from Amazon): Late one night out on the Eastern Promenade Trail in Portland, Maine, the police discover an incoherent teenager sitting in a pool of blood, holding the body of his best friend and the murder weapon. The girl they both love has been missing for weeks.
The kid’s jealousy clearly drove him to murder. He says the missing girl is the love of his life. She also happens to be the girlfriend of the murder victim.
It’s an open and shut case, or so most of Portland thinks.
Dr. Lisa Boyers, forensic psychologist, receives a call from an old friend, a connection to her troubled past. Attorney Rudy Swaner wants her to interview the young killer Paul Ducharme, who is claiming he doesn’t remember the events leading up to the murder.
In her jailhouse interviews, Lisa helps Paul to recover his memories. But something about Paul’s disturbing love story shakes Lisa to the very core of her being. To understand Paul, she is forced to confront her own ugly violent secrets.
Media attention mounts. Reporters stream into Portland. All eyes turn to the psychologist who seems intent on exonerating the vicious teen killer. Soon Lisa finds herself the focus of an over-zealous reporter with a knack for digging up dirty secrets.
But the killer who has Lisa in the crosshairs already knows them all.
My Thoughts and Opinion: I was introduced to this author in May of 2011 with his debut novel, Dead of Wynter. http://cmashlovestoread.com/2011/05/1... in which I had stated at the time to put this author on your radar. So when I was approached to read his latest novel to read and review, I jumped at the chance. There is always a bit of skepticism, I find, when the debut book is extraordinary, is the 2nd one going to be too? Or was it a one hit wonder.
Lovesick draws you in from the first few pages. A deep, dark psychological thriller with a cast of characters that are interwoven with each other, having their own secret demons, in which they were all trying to live a normal life with. Even those that were in positions of trying to investigate a murder of a a teenage boy, his missing girlfriend and a best friend found at the murder scene but who doesn't remember anything. So many parallels between those investigating the case and those that were the victims.
Engrossing!! Spencer Seidel's writing style transports you right into the book. To the point that a few times, I would be reading while waiting to pick up my husband after he got out of work and I was so absorbed, that I did not see nor hear him approach the car and when he knocked on the window, I let out a scream. Definitely a white knuckle, thriller read!!! Even though I had figured out the "whodunit", the details surrounding the why's, what's, details, and secrets of the other characters were surprising. This was a couldn't put down book. Looking forward to Mr. Seidel's future works.
My Rating: 4
Published by Publishing Works, Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-1-935557-20-3
ISBN-978-1-935557-51-7
At the request of Meryl L. Moss Media, an ARC TPB was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest opinion.
Synopsis (borrowed from Amazon): Late one night out on the Eastern Promenade Trail in Portland, Maine, the police discover an incoherent teenager sitting in a pool of blood, holding the body of his best friend and the murder weapon. The girl they both love has been missing for weeks.
The kid’s jealousy clearly drove him to murder. He says the missing girl is the love of his life. She also happens to be the girlfriend of the murder victim.
It’s an open and shut case, or so most of Portland thinks.
Dr. Lisa Boyers, forensic psychologist, receives a call from an old friend, a connection to her troubled past. Attorney Rudy Swaner wants her to interview the young killer Paul Ducharme, who is claiming he doesn’t remember the events leading up to the murder.
In her jailhouse interviews, Lisa helps Paul to recover his memories. But something about Paul’s disturbing love story shakes Lisa to the very core of her being. To understand Paul, she is forced to confront her own ugly violent secrets.
Media attention mounts. Reporters stream into Portland. All eyes turn to the psychologist who seems intent on exonerating the vicious teen killer. Soon Lisa finds herself the focus of an over-zealous reporter with a knack for digging up dirty secrets.
But the killer who has Lisa in the crosshairs already knows them all.
My Thoughts and Opinion: I was introduced to this author in May of 2011 with his debut novel, Dead of Wynter. http://cmashlovestoread.com/2011/05/1... in which I had stated at the time to put this author on your radar. So when I was approached to read his latest novel to read and review, I jumped at the chance. There is always a bit of skepticism, I find, when the debut book is extraordinary, is the 2nd one going to be too? Or was it a one hit wonder.
Lovesick draws you in from the first few pages. A deep, dark psychological thriller with a cast of characters that are interwoven with each other, having their own secret demons, in which they were all trying to live a normal life with. Even those that were in positions of trying to investigate a murder of a a teenage boy, his missing girlfriend and a best friend found at the murder scene but who doesn't remember anything. So many parallels between those investigating the case and those that were the victims.
Engrossing!! Spencer Seidel's writing style transports you right into the book. To the point that a few times, I would be reading while waiting to pick up my husband after he got out of work and I was so absorbed, that I did not see nor hear him approach the car and when he knocked on the window, I let out a scream. Definitely a white knuckle, thriller read!!! Even though I had figured out the "whodunit", the details surrounding the why's, what's, details, and secrets of the other characters were surprising. This was a couldn't put down book. Looking forward to Mr. Seidel's future works.
My Rating: 4
May 13, 2012
Description:
The Portland police discover a gruesome scene on the Eastern Promenade Trail; seventeen year old Paul Ducharme is found cradling the body of his lifeless best friend, Lee Janis, while sitting in a pool of blood. To make matters worse, both men are already suspects in the disappearance of Wendy Trower, a classmate who has been missing for a couple of weeks. But Paul cannot remember what happened in either situation, so his attorney, Rudy Swaner calls on a friend he can trust – forensic psychologist Dr. Lisa Boyers.
Her methods seem to work when it comes to retrieving Paul's memories, but she does not anticipate the truth. Paul's tragic story of love, heartbreak and deceit begins to awaken Lisa's own memories, ones that she would rather keep buried. Are the skeleton's in her closet worth dropping her client? Can the case, and Lisa's past, escape the media spotlight long enough for the police to find Wendy and determine Paul's innocence/guilt?
Review:
I have not read Spencer Seidel's Dead of Wynter, so I didn't know what to expect from his newest release, Lovesick. The story pulled me in quickly, the plot building from page one; I managed to read it in a single sitting and enjoyed its psychological twists. I was sort of disappointed that the story-line was predictable, but overall I thought it was well-written and properly structured. I was completely thrown off course by the ending though, (no spoilers), which earns the author a thumbs-up. I also thought that the characters were very well-developed personality wise. Each character had their own distinct voice, especially Paul and Lisa who I empathized with the most. I spent a good part of the book wrestling with Paul's guilt versus innocence. I hoped he was not a murder, especially after hearing about the “love triangle” and the woods from his (third person) point of view. Spencer Seidel has an interesting way of narrating character memories that makes them seem more realistic. The dialogue had the same effect, and it fit the appropriate age of the characters. Overall, it was a great psychological thriller – gritty, compelling, and full of dark curves. Recommended for teens through adults, particularly those seeking psychological thrills. (Contains Language/Gore)
Rating: On the Run (4/5)
*** I received this book from the author (BookTrib) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The Portland police discover a gruesome scene on the Eastern Promenade Trail; seventeen year old Paul Ducharme is found cradling the body of his lifeless best friend, Lee Janis, while sitting in a pool of blood. To make matters worse, both men are already suspects in the disappearance of Wendy Trower, a classmate who has been missing for a couple of weeks. But Paul cannot remember what happened in either situation, so his attorney, Rudy Swaner calls on a friend he can trust – forensic psychologist Dr. Lisa Boyers.
Her methods seem to work when it comes to retrieving Paul's memories, but she does not anticipate the truth. Paul's tragic story of love, heartbreak and deceit begins to awaken Lisa's own memories, ones that she would rather keep buried. Are the skeleton's in her closet worth dropping her client? Can the case, and Lisa's past, escape the media spotlight long enough for the police to find Wendy and determine Paul's innocence/guilt?
Review:
I have not read Spencer Seidel's Dead of Wynter, so I didn't know what to expect from his newest release, Lovesick. The story pulled me in quickly, the plot building from page one; I managed to read it in a single sitting and enjoyed its psychological twists. I was sort of disappointed that the story-line was predictable, but overall I thought it was well-written and properly structured. I was completely thrown off course by the ending though, (no spoilers), which earns the author a thumbs-up. I also thought that the characters were very well-developed personality wise. Each character had their own distinct voice, especially Paul and Lisa who I empathized with the most. I spent a good part of the book wrestling with Paul's guilt versus innocence. I hoped he was not a murder, especially after hearing about the “love triangle” and the woods from his (third person) point of view. Spencer Seidel has an interesting way of narrating character memories that makes them seem more realistic. The dialogue had the same effect, and it fit the appropriate age of the characters. Overall, it was a great psychological thriller – gritty, compelling, and full of dark curves. Recommended for teens through adults, particularly those seeking psychological thrills. (Contains Language/Gore)
Rating: On the Run (4/5)
*** I received this book from the author (BookTrib) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
January 2, 2015
I received this book as a gift from the author via The Books Machine in exchange for an honest review.
This book has been on my TBR list for a while so I was very excited to get the opportunity to review it. It did NOT disappoint. I was drawn in from the first page and it kept me guessing. Many times, I thought I had it all figured out and many times I was wrong.
Late one evening, police come across a distraught and disoriented young man. The man is covered in blood and has a knife in his hand. Cradled in his lap is another young man, his throat cut, and also stained in blood. The man tells the police his name is Paul Ducharme and his friend's name is Lee. He tells the police that he thinks there is something wrong with his friend and asks for help. The police, thinking that Paul is the killer and mentally unstable, cuff him and take him into custody.
Lisa Boyers, a forensic psychologist, is asked by an old acquaintance to speak with Paul because he can't recall the events leading up to the murder. The acquaintance, Rudy Swaner, also happens to be Paul's defense attorney. She relents and agrees to meet with Paul. But seeing Rudy after such a long time dredges up painful memories for Lisa of a past she thought was long buried. She immediately regrets her decision and considers backing out.
Paul tells Lisa about his volatile friendship with Lee Janis and his love for Wendy Trower, their classmate. Wendy is nowhere to be found. The case becomes a media circus and takes over, even endangers, Lisa's life.
Seidel very smoothly weaves in flashbacks of Lisa's past life as well as the school days and troubled lives of Paul, Lee, and Wendy. His language is readable and very authentic, whether he is writing in a teen voice or that of an abusive mate. The story is told in alternating points of view, a style I prefer because it helps me to get to know the characters.
The plot twist caught me totally off-guard!
Overall, I loved this book. The story was compelling, the plot was fast-paced, the characters were well-developed, and the ending was conclusive. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
This book has been on my TBR list for a while so I was very excited to get the opportunity to review it. It did NOT disappoint. I was drawn in from the first page and it kept me guessing. Many times, I thought I had it all figured out and many times I was wrong.
Late one evening, police come across a distraught and disoriented young man. The man is covered in blood and has a knife in his hand. Cradled in his lap is another young man, his throat cut, and also stained in blood. The man tells the police his name is Paul Ducharme and his friend's name is Lee. He tells the police that he thinks there is something wrong with his friend and asks for help. The police, thinking that Paul is the killer and mentally unstable, cuff him and take him into custody.
Lisa Boyers, a forensic psychologist, is asked by an old acquaintance to speak with Paul because he can't recall the events leading up to the murder. The acquaintance, Rudy Swaner, also happens to be Paul's defense attorney. She relents and agrees to meet with Paul. But seeing Rudy after such a long time dredges up painful memories for Lisa of a past she thought was long buried. She immediately regrets her decision and considers backing out.
Paul tells Lisa about his volatile friendship with Lee Janis and his love for Wendy Trower, their classmate. Wendy is nowhere to be found. The case becomes a media circus and takes over, even endangers, Lisa's life.
Seidel very smoothly weaves in flashbacks of Lisa's past life as well as the school days and troubled lives of Paul, Lee, and Wendy. His language is readable and very authentic, whether he is writing in a teen voice or that of an abusive mate. The story is told in alternating points of view, a style I prefer because it helps me to get to know the characters.
The plot twist caught me totally off-guard!
Overall, I loved this book. The story was compelling, the plot was fast-paced, the characters were well-developed, and the ending was conclusive. I will definitely be reading more from this author.
December 27, 2012
I liked Dead of Wynter but was not as crazy about it as some reviewers, but I was intrigued by Lovesick's blurb so I had to read it. Oh my, I am so glad I did. Mr. Seidel really stepped it up to me. This is a thriller to the max. So much is going on that I did not even realize until I was told and that made it awesome. I won't go into specifics in my review because I don't want to spoil things, but suffice it to say that Mr. Seidel is now on my must-read list.
Lovesick is what I consider a psychological thriller and it was right up there with some of Chelsea Cain's books if you like a comparison. This involves three teenagers in a love triangle of sorts only one teenager ends up missing, one is murdered and it looks like the other is to blame. Enter in Forensic Psychologist Lisa Boyers, who talks to Paul, the one who is accused of murdering Lee to get the full story. The story is fascinating as well as the story that unfolds in Lisa's life in both the past and present. The characters, were fascinating, they were broken and interesting and this seems to be the way Mr. Seidel likes them. And this also seems to be best for this type of thriller. The characters personalities add a lot to the book, and I think Mr. Seidel has done an amazing job writing them into the story so they make perfect sense in the storyline.
The plot is amazing. Mr. Seidel weaves it and paces it perfectly. It never grows stale or moves too fast. It goes just right, keeps your interest and keeps you turning pages to find out what will happen next. I could not turn pages fast enough. I was fascinated. I was horrified. And every time I thought I knew where it was going, Mr. Seidel switched it up on me. That's what made it really great.
If you are looking for the next great psychological thriller, then you have found it in Lovesick. It will keep you turning pages until the very last page and when it's done you will hope to have more books with Forensic Psychologist Lisa Boyers in it.
Lovesick is what I consider a psychological thriller and it was right up there with some of Chelsea Cain's books if you like a comparison. This involves three teenagers in a love triangle of sorts only one teenager ends up missing, one is murdered and it looks like the other is to blame. Enter in Forensic Psychologist Lisa Boyers, who talks to Paul, the one who is accused of murdering Lee to get the full story. The story is fascinating as well as the story that unfolds in Lisa's life in both the past and present. The characters, were fascinating, they were broken and interesting and this seems to be the way Mr. Seidel likes them. And this also seems to be best for this type of thriller. The characters personalities add a lot to the book, and I think Mr. Seidel has done an amazing job writing them into the story so they make perfect sense in the storyline.
The plot is amazing. Mr. Seidel weaves it and paces it perfectly. It never grows stale or moves too fast. It goes just right, keeps your interest and keeps you turning pages to find out what will happen next. I could not turn pages fast enough. I was fascinated. I was horrified. And every time I thought I knew where it was going, Mr. Seidel switched it up on me. That's what made it really great.
If you are looking for the next great psychological thriller, then you have found it in Lovesick. It will keep you turning pages until the very last page and when it's done you will hope to have more books with Forensic Psychologist Lisa Boyers in it.
February 25, 2012
Review: Lovesick - Spencer Seidel - June 2012
Every now and again a favourite genre of mine to read has always been murder mysteries , serial killer novels, pyschological thrillers, legal thrillers . The more fast-paced the better , Lovesick by Spencer Seidel was one of those books that reminded me of a hint of Jack Kerley's Carson Ryder books and Chelsea Cain's Gretchen and Archie novels.
Lovesick tells two stories and normally I don't like this as I have experienced some authors who have written in this way and have not yet acquired the skills to pull it off in a way that it flows. However, Spencer proved that he can pull it off as we have Lisa the psychologist's story of how she was formerly abused by her then husband Dorien and how one night he pushed her too far and she killed him , the secret though that nobody knows and if she isn't careful as she works on the Lovesick Case and reporters get near -her secret may come out to the world and her life that she has worked so hard to rebuild may crash and Lisa may find her new home a prison cell. The second story is the main tale of what seemed like a Love triangle gone wrong featuring Wendy - the girl , Lee - the lover and Paul- the best friend. When Wendy goes missing and when it's discovered she is pregnant , the suspicion lays on Lee- her lover but then he is found dead and what comes out into the open is that Paul - Lee's best friend had a crush on Wendy and believed she was the girl of his dreams and Paul is arrested for the murder of his best friend Lee. The police believe it is an open and shut case , but as Lisa gets to know more about Paul - is he being set up by someone more powerful and what really happened that fateful night ? Who is the real father of Wendy's baby ? Is "the father" connected to the crime ?
Find out in a thrilling novel which can cross over from Older YA to Adults novel.
Every now and again a favourite genre of mine to read has always been murder mysteries , serial killer novels, pyschological thrillers, legal thrillers . The more fast-paced the better , Lovesick by Spencer Seidel was one of those books that reminded me of a hint of Jack Kerley's Carson Ryder books and Chelsea Cain's Gretchen and Archie novels.
Lovesick tells two stories and normally I don't like this as I have experienced some authors who have written in this way and have not yet acquired the skills to pull it off in a way that it flows. However, Spencer proved that he can pull it off as we have Lisa the psychologist's story of how she was formerly abused by her then husband Dorien and how one night he pushed her too far and she killed him , the secret though that nobody knows and if she isn't careful as she works on the Lovesick Case and reporters get near -her secret may come out to the world and her life that she has worked so hard to rebuild may crash and Lisa may find her new home a prison cell. The second story is the main tale of what seemed like a Love triangle gone wrong featuring Wendy - the girl , Lee - the lover and Paul- the best friend. When Wendy goes missing and when it's discovered she is pregnant , the suspicion lays on Lee- her lover but then he is found dead and what comes out into the open is that Paul - Lee's best friend had a crush on Wendy and believed she was the girl of his dreams and Paul is arrested for the murder of his best friend Lee. The police believe it is an open and shut case , but as Lisa gets to know more about Paul - is he being set up by someone more powerful and what really happened that fateful night ? Who is the real father of Wendy's baby ? Is "the father" connected to the crime ?
Find out in a thrilling novel which can cross over from Older YA to Adults novel.
January 1, 2012
LOVESICK by Spencer Seidel is two stories. One is the story of Lisa, a psychologist and former abused wife. The other is the story of Paul, a 17-year-old who is accused of murdering his best friend, Lee, a crime Paul doesn't remember because of a head injury he sustained at the time.
Lisa is working with Paul's attorney to try to help Paul remember the crime. The attorney is a former policeman who worked with and was a friend of Lisa's former husband.
Lisa feels that the best way for Paul to remember is to have him recount his friendship with Lee. And so about half the book is about what Paul calls his "friendship" with Lee and the love triangle they were both involved in with the mysterious Wendy.
Paul's story is not told in first person, as you would expect. It's in third person, maybe so that it could be more detailed and stand on its own as a story separate from Lisa's. Whatever the reason, this third-person narrative did not seem at all like it came from a high school kid.
Paul's story was a good one, and Paul should have told it.
Another problem with this story was that it came across as one I would have liked when I was a teenager. My taste has evolved since then along with my reading level.
While Lisa listens to Paul's story of the high school kids' love triangle, her own memories that she's worked hard to forget make her consider giving up on trying to help Paul's memory. On top of that problem is a TV reporter telling lies about her, hundreds of other reporters trying to get her to talk, men harassing her, and a weird college student obsessing over her.
It was plain to me who the bad guy was almost from the beginning of Paul's story, yet Lisa didn't guess it until the evidence slapped her in the face.
Lisa is working with Paul's attorney to try to help Paul remember the crime. The attorney is a former policeman who worked with and was a friend of Lisa's former husband.
Lisa feels that the best way for Paul to remember is to have him recount his friendship with Lee. And so about half the book is about what Paul calls his "friendship" with Lee and the love triangle they were both involved in with the mysterious Wendy.
Paul's story is not told in first person, as you would expect. It's in third person, maybe so that it could be more detailed and stand on its own as a story separate from Lisa's. Whatever the reason, this third-person narrative did not seem at all like it came from a high school kid.
Paul's story was a good one, and Paul should have told it.
Another problem with this story was that it came across as one I would have liked when I was a teenager. My taste has evolved since then along with my reading level.
While Lisa listens to Paul's story of the high school kids' love triangle, her own memories that she's worked hard to forget make her consider giving up on trying to help Paul's memory. On top of that problem is a TV reporter telling lies about her, hundreds of other reporters trying to get her to talk, men harassing her, and a weird college student obsessing over her.
It was plain to me who the bad guy was almost from the beginning of Paul's story, yet Lisa didn't guess it until the evidence slapped her in the face.
February 19, 2012
Spencer Seidel’s Lovesick. Just the kind of thriller I love. A troubled girl, missing. Her boyfriend dead, his throat slit. The only suspect? The boyfriend’s best friend, Paul Ducharme, who just happened to love the girl, too. But now, Paul says he can’t remember what happened to Lee that night on the Promenade Trail. And Wendy is still missing. Enter Dr. Lisa Boyers, a forensic psychologist brought in to help Paul recover his memories. Except as Paul recounts more and more, Lisa’s own past comes back to haunt her.
Lovesick kept me turning pages. Seidel drops enough clues that my inner detective was trying to piece together the evidence. At the same time, Seidel reveals just enough and at just the right time that the voracious reader in me didn’t figure out the whole whodunnit and enjoyed reading until the very end.
Paul, Wendy, and Lee are all deeply flawed. At times, I hated Lee. Other times, I thought Wendy was a cruel manipulator. But at the same time, I felt empathy for each of them. Without being melodramatic, Seidel gives us enough insight to each character to help us understand them and their motivations, but without revealing their whole story. Because in a situation like this- a missing girl, a dead boyfriend- when do we ever really know the whole story? Hindsight is great for speculating on motivation, and that’s what Seidel provides here. We get the background we need, enough of the story to leave us satisfied, but not so much that we feel we completely understand each of the characters. Not so much that the story turns into something cliche.
Lovesick is one I read in just a couple of days because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. If you like thrillers, be sure to pick up this one, now available in paperback.
Lovesick kept me turning pages. Seidel drops enough clues that my inner detective was trying to piece together the evidence. At the same time, Seidel reveals just enough and at just the right time that the voracious reader in me didn’t figure out the whole whodunnit and enjoyed reading until the very end.
Paul, Wendy, and Lee are all deeply flawed. At times, I hated Lee. Other times, I thought Wendy was a cruel manipulator. But at the same time, I felt empathy for each of them. Without being melodramatic, Seidel gives us enough insight to each character to help us understand them and their motivations, but without revealing their whole story. Because in a situation like this- a missing girl, a dead boyfriend- when do we ever really know the whole story? Hindsight is great for speculating on motivation, and that’s what Seidel provides here. We get the background we need, enough of the story to leave us satisfied, but not so much that we feel we completely understand each of the characters. Not so much that the story turns into something cliche.
Lovesick is one I read in just a couple of days because I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. If you like thrillers, be sure to pick up this one, now available in paperback.
March 10, 2012
Many of my readers know that I'm a fan of suspense thrillers but over the years I've become quite selective and I don't often venture into new author ground. I'm a little conflicted about Lovesick; whilst I enjoyed the plot the execution didn't really grab me, ... the storyline itself kept me turning the pages but the writing felt unpolished.
The plot was engrossing in a morbidly fascinating way. When forensic psychologist Lisa Boyers is called in to assess Paul Ducharme, accused of the murder of his best friend Lee, a can of worms is opened for Lisa and secrets are slowly doled out to the reader. As Paul shares his memories and recollection of events leading up to the murder, we get to know the dysfunctional, flawed teenage trio of Paul, Lee and Lee's girlfriend Wendy.
By now, Paul was beginning to understand that Wendy and Lee were like two volatile chemicals that, when combined, produced a violent explosion, leaving behind a toxic mess that made the likelihood of another blowout even greater.
I liked the subplot surrounding Lisa's past, a separate story to the murder but Seidel ties the two together plausibly; attempting to help Paul regain his memory forces Lisa to acknowledge her own troubled past.
It was relatively easy to see where the story was headed and I figured out the 'baddie' early on (despite this apparently being an open and shut case) but I'm happy to say I was compelled to read on to learn the how. The graphic violence and language wasn't gratuitous and I was impressed with the awareness Seidel brings to all manner of abusive relationships.
All up a satisfactory psychological crime thriller.
The plot was engrossing in a morbidly fascinating way. When forensic psychologist Lisa Boyers is called in to assess Paul Ducharme, accused of the murder of his best friend Lee, a can of worms is opened for Lisa and secrets are slowly doled out to the reader. As Paul shares his memories and recollection of events leading up to the murder, we get to know the dysfunctional, flawed teenage trio of Paul, Lee and Lee's girlfriend Wendy.
By now, Paul was beginning to understand that Wendy and Lee were like two volatile chemicals that, when combined, produced a violent explosion, leaving behind a toxic mess that made the likelihood of another blowout even greater.
I liked the subplot surrounding Lisa's past, a separate story to the murder but Seidel ties the two together plausibly; attempting to help Paul regain his memory forces Lisa to acknowledge her own troubled past.
It was relatively easy to see where the story was headed and I figured out the 'baddie' early on (despite this apparently being an open and shut case) but I'm happy to say I was compelled to read on to learn the how. The graphic violence and language wasn't gratuitous and I was impressed with the awareness Seidel brings to all manner of abusive relationships.
All up a satisfactory psychological crime thriller.
February 22, 2012
Lovesick starts off by introducing the reader to Paul, a teenage boy who is found crouched over his best friend Lee's body, covered in blood and holding a weapon. Seems like an open and shut case, right? It's not. Paul claims to have amnesia and not remember what he saw at the crime scene, but never stops proclaiming his innocence. Psychologist Lisa Boyers is brought on board to interview Paul about that night, and she begins unraveling secrets about the victim, Lee, and his girlfriend, Wendy, who is missing. A love triangle is uncovered, which is just as delightfully dramatic as you'd expect a teenage relationship to be. But there are more secrets in this book, including some of Lisa's own. The last hundred pages or so will keep your heart pounding in suspense until you unravel the whole truth. The story is mostly told through Paul's flashbacks as Lisa interviews him, but there is enough present action to keep you reading to see how the case will be solved, as well as what pans out with the current mystery.
I received this book for free from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. to post a review on my blog (http://www.allisonwrites.com/2012/02/...).
I received this book for free from Meryl L. Moss Media Relations, Inc. to post a review on my blog (http://www.allisonwrites.com/2012/02/...).
March 7, 2012
I read this book in one sitting! I had to know who had done it! The story is told by Paul and he is relating his history with Wendy and Lee to Dr. Lisa Boyers. She has been hired by an attorney to help evaluate Paul and see if she can get him to remember the events leading up to the night he is found with Lee's body. Because he is the one telling the story, it is told in chunks as they only have a couple of hours a day to meet.
There is plenty going on in between those times though! Lisa's past, which she has never effectively dealt with on a personal level, begins to rear it's head. Between the media hype that this case has created and reconnecting with Rudy Swaner, the attorney who hired her, she was bound to have to deal with some of the events from her past. She didn't realize when she took the case though, how much she had in common with Wendy.
This was a fast-paced book that at times was predictable, still had a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. I very much enjoyed Dead of Wynter last year, and really enjoyed this one as well. Spencer Seidel is definitely going to be an author I keep my eye out for.
There is plenty going on in between those times though! Lisa's past, which she has never effectively dealt with on a personal level, begins to rear it's head. Between the media hype that this case has created and reconnecting with Rudy Swaner, the attorney who hired her, she was bound to have to deal with some of the events from her past. She didn't realize when she took the case though, how much she had in common with Wendy.
This was a fast-paced book that at times was predictable, still had a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. I very much enjoyed Dead of Wynter last year, and really enjoyed this one as well. Spencer Seidel is definitely going to be an author I keep my eye out for.
April 16, 2012
Dr. Lisa Boyers is a forensic psychologist who has helped on many cases for the police. But when she gets a call from an old friend, she's not sure if she should take the case. There are too many similarities to her own past and she doesn't want her involvement publicized. Paul was found next to his best friend's body with no recollection of what happened that night and the girl they both love is missing. It's up to Lisa to walk Paul through the events from the beginning of his relationship with the missing girl to figure out the truth. Along the way, Lisa comes face to face with her past and experiences some vicious attacks of her own. Can she figure out the truth in Paul's case and save herself, too?
Lovesick is another stunning novel by Spencer Seidel. The author has written a spellbinding psychological mystery above love, obsession, revenge, and abuse. The reader will get drawn in deeper to the ever spinning web of secrets, lies, and tragedy as Lisa draws out Paul's memories. A slick and tight thriller, Lovesick will grab you, shake you, and leave you breathless until the very end.
Lovesick is another stunning novel by Spencer Seidel. The author has written a spellbinding psychological mystery above love, obsession, revenge, and abuse. The reader will get drawn in deeper to the ever spinning web of secrets, lies, and tragedy as Lisa draws out Paul's memories. A slick and tight thriller, Lovesick will grab you, shake you, and leave you breathless until the very end.
January 20, 2012
A book that is more than a suspenseful who dun it. This book begins with one friend dead, one friend missing, and one friend in jail with the police assuming that he had orchestrated the entire scene. But did he. With this main story there is one underneath that involves the forensic psychologist who is asked to interview the suspect and get to the bottom of the story. These two plotlines were intertwined so well, that the reader was able to effortlessly flow from one story to the other.
You fall in love with the suspect, Paul, but you want to know how these friends ended up in such tragedy. Every once in awhile, a book can take you away where it is beyond impossible to put it down - so was this book. With an ease of reading, the story was able to take center stage.
So many twists and turns, this book ended in completely different spot than I expected, but I loved it. For those who love a little mystery in their lives, this is the perfect book to curl up with and hours later you will realize that you are mere pages from the end.
You fall in love with the suspect, Paul, but you want to know how these friends ended up in such tragedy. Every once in awhile, a book can take you away where it is beyond impossible to put it down - so was this book. With an ease of reading, the story was able to take center stage.
So many twists and turns, this book ended in completely different spot than I expected, but I loved it. For those who love a little mystery in their lives, this is the perfect book to curl up with and hours later you will realize that you are mere pages from the end.
February 11, 2012
From the cover of Lovesick, I wouldn't have given it a second glance but the blurb was worth looking into. I have enjoy reading Lovesick. It has two stories. One is about a murder in a love triangle and the other is about the character Dr. Lisa Boyers' past. From the beginning of the story, the reader will wonder if this is a love triangle murder. Did Paul killed his best friend Lee over Wendy? or Did Wendy killed Lee and framed Paul for the murder? The ending is shocking.
As I approached the middle of the book, I figured out who done it except for the how. There are some indications that seemed suspicious but the reader will need to pay attention in order to figure out the how.
Even with Lisa, her past catches up to her. There is a stalker connected to her past. That part seemed obvious of who is the stalker but the reader will want the explanation on how the crime is being committed.
I have to give credit that the book pulled the reader in that you will want to finish the book to find out who are the antagonists to Paul and Lisa.
As I approached the middle of the book, I figured out who done it except for the how. There are some indications that seemed suspicious but the reader will need to pay attention in order to figure out the how.
Even with Lisa, her past catches up to her. There is a stalker connected to her past. That part seemed obvious of who is the stalker but the reader will want the explanation on how the crime is being committed.
I have to give credit that the book pulled the reader in that you will want to finish the book to find out who are the antagonists to Paul and Lisa.
February 21, 2012
A friend of mine (who has exquisite literary tastes) highly recommend Spencer Seidel’s debut novel, Dead of Wynter, (which I loved) so when I received the opportunity to review Lovesick I immediately knew I had to read this book.
I should start out by saying that Lovesick is more like two stories in one book and while I had hoped that both would be equally intriguing that was not to be. I found myself highly interested in Paul’s story while I had to force myself to focus on Lisa’s story.
Lovesick was a quick and interesting read…although it was a bit too easy to see where the story was headed, I would have liked for it to have been a bit harder to figure out.
Overall, the book kind of reminded me of a Lifetime movie—a steady plot too easy to uncover where one story stands out above the rest with an ending you can easily predict.
I should start out by saying that Lovesick is more like two stories in one book and while I had hoped that both would be equally intriguing that was not to be. I found myself highly interested in Paul’s story while I had to force myself to focus on Lisa’s story.
Lovesick was a quick and interesting read…although it was a bit too easy to see where the story was headed, I would have liked for it to have been a bit harder to figure out.
Overall, the book kind of reminded me of a Lifetime movie—a steady plot too easy to uncover where one story stands out above the rest with an ending you can easily predict.
February 15, 2012
Lovesick by Spencer Seidel (available in ebook now, and paperback in June 2012) is a crime thriller with a psychological twist. Dr. Lisa Boyers is a forensic psychologist and she agrees to assess Paul Ducharme, whose now infamous murder of his best friend Lee on the Eastern Promenade Trail in Portland is gaining national attention. Boyers is brought closer to her past than she’s comfortable with when a former friend, Rudy Swaner, asks for her help on his case. Boyers and Swaner tap dance around their past flirtation and her own dark secrets, while she attempts to discover the truth about Lee and Paul’s friendship and the disappearance of Lee’s girlfriend, Wendy.
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2012/02/l...
Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2012/02/l...
February 13, 2012
A thoroughly gripping tale that begins with teenager Paul Ducharme being found kneeling over the dead body of his friend, Lee Janis. Initially, Paul cannot remember how he got there, and no one seems to know where Wendy Trower, Lee’s girlfriend and Paul’s friend and love interest, has disappeared to.
The truth of what really happened between Paul and Lee and Wendy is told primarily through a series of interviews between Paul and Dr. Lisa Boyers, a forensic psychologist with her own troubled past.
Read the rest of my review at 5 Minutes for Books.
The truth of what really happened between Paul and Lee and Wendy is told primarily through a series of interviews between Paul and Dr. Lisa Boyers, a forensic psychologist with her own troubled past.
Read the rest of my review at 5 Minutes for Books.
February 2, 2012
Lovesick is a very intense mystery thriller. Seidel starts the book out by describing the scene of a very bloody murder. Then Seidel plays back through the events leading up to the murder. It all starts out in a small town in Maine and the lives the seeming normal townsfolk are exposed in this story. Seidel is very graphic in his descriptions of the things that go on behind closed doors such as perversion and domestic violence. This book does contain strong violence and adult themes as you follow along as the crime is solved.
June 26, 2015
Author done a great job with keeping the story going as it was quite lengthy. The doctor/forensic psychologist personal connection with the victim was quite intriguing. The most enjoyable character had to be Lee although he never really was developed. Actually, none of the characters really developed in the traditional sense of development as it seemed to be more along the lines of self discovery.
January 14, 2012
This is almost two stories in one, but they entwined perfectly. A killer who doesn't remember or does he, a he loves her and she loves him love triangle, a doctor with buried past secrets amd troubles of her own. This is a story of three young friends growing up together and the terrible secrets that they hide.
March 26, 2015
I've read some of Spencer Seidel's work before, and he delivers brilliantly again in this novel. He cleverly pieces together a complex story of past and current relationship abuse and domestic violence using multiple story threads. The author has clearly done a lot of research, and the characters and situations are frightening real as a result.
January 10, 2012
Actual rating: 3.5
Full review to come. Will go live on http://www.goodchoicereading.com on February 22nd.
Full review to come. Will go live on http://www.goodchoicereading.com on February 22nd.
November 10, 2024
Wow! Reading Lovesick was a thrill ride. I was hooked in from the start. The plot is intense.
February 18, 2012
Terrific twisting thriller.
July 24, 2014
Good
Good
the people who teach in schools are usually good people but there are evil abuse people every where.the physically abuse is horrible.
Good
the people who teach in schools are usually good people but there are evil abuse people every where.the physically abuse is horrible.
December 17, 2014
I could not stop reading this! Fast-paced - & a great plot-twist that I didn't see coming. A must-read!
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