Blameless

by Barbara A. Shapiro, B.A. Shapiro (AKA)

A Boston psychologist fights for her life—and her unborn child—in this “compelling” thriller from the New York Times–bestselling author of The Art Forger (Boston Herald). In Blameless, a psychological thriller set in Boston’s Back Bay, psychologist Diana Marcus must fight to save her good name, career, and marriage when a patient, James Hutchins—who suffers from borderline personality disorder—commits suicide, and his family files charges of malpractice, sexual abuse, and wrongful death against her. Although she is far from blameless, Diana clears her name by proving that James did not commit suicide—a revelation that throws her into a battle for her life, as well as that of her unborn child, when she becomes the prime suspect in James’s murder—and perhaps the real murderer’s next victim.

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

AKA B.A. Shapiro and Barbara Shapiro.

I am the author of six novels (The Art Forger, The Safe Room, Blind Spot, See No Evil, Blameless and Shattered Echoes), four screenplays (Blind Spot, The Lost Coven, Borderline and Shattered Echoes) and the non-fiction book, The Big Squeeze. In my previous career incarnations, I have directed research projects for a residential substance abuse facility, worked as a systems analyst/statistician, headed the Boston office of a software development firm, and served as an adjunct professor teaching sociology at Tufts University and creative writing at Northeastern University. I like being a novelist the best.

I began my writing career when I quit my high-pressure job after the birth of my second child. Nervous about what to do next, I said to my mother, "If I'm not playing at being superwoman anymore, I don't know who I am." My mother answered with the question: "If you had one year to live, how would you want to spend it?" The answer: write a novel and spend more time with my children. And that's exactly what I did. Smart mother.

After writing six novels and raising my children, I now live in Boston with my husband Dan and my dog Sagan. And yes, I'm working on yet another novel but have no plans to raise any more children.

Reviews

[Joanne McPortland]

This was a real stinker. Not only a stinker -- a LONG stinker. Do not follow my example and stick with it to the end, kicking and screaming all the way, because it has an ending as unengaging and unreal as the rest of the book. Serves me right for falling for those $1.99 Kindle specials!

[Майя Ставитская]

Без вины виноватая
Она ведь была замужней, а мне клялась, что невинна...
Книг Барбары Шапиро пока нет в русских переводах, мне посоветовали ее как рассказчицу интересных историй, мастера остросюжетного триллера с динамичной интригой в которую органично вплетается любовная линия. В точности так и оказалось, судя по первому прочитанному роману.
Blameless в названии можно перевести и как безупречная и как невинная, непорочная, безукоризненная.

Психотерапевт Дайана Маркус безупречна и все у нее замечательно: молода, умна, талантлива, хороша собой, замужем за лучшим мужчиной на свете, которого любит и любима им, отменная карьера, готовится стать мамой, собственница самого необычного дома. Она не из тех, кто ропщет на судьбу, но и представить не может, насколько сказочна ее повседневность, до тех пор, пока не случается это несчастье.

Один из пациентов доктора Маркус с биполярным расстройством, Джеймс Хатчинс кончает жизнь самоубийством, что само по себе очень нехорошо для репутации практикующего психоаналитика, а в нашем случае проблема усугубляется обвинениями в сексуальном использовании молодого человека со стороны сестры погибшего Джилл, с которой он был близок, как ни с кем другим, ее слово обладает значительным весом.

Что за чушь, вот это вот, с сексуальными домогательствами? Тут все не так просто, на определенном этапе пациент переносит на фигуру терапевта нерастраченную и невостребованную предыдущей жизнью благодарность за проявленные интерес, заботу, за облегчение острой боли, как первый результат лечения, и часто влюбляется. Задача специалиста на этом тапе аккуратно перенаправить обожание на те объекты, которые будут способствовать дальнейшему излечению.

Джилл обвиняет Дайану в том, что та, преступив законы профессиональной этики, сделала брата своим любовником, играла чувствами, и в конце концов, стала причиной его самоубийства. Обвинение чудовищное, учитывая, что в детстве Хатчинсу довелось пережить крайне болезненный опыт такого рода эксплуатации. Сексуальная игрушка развращенного толстосума, съемки в порнофильмах, для ограниченного контингента ценителей. Когда подробности истории вскрылись, был грандиозный скандал, в качестве отступного за моральный ущерб на имя мальчика был открыт трастовый фонд в четверть миллиона долларов (не спрашивайте подробностей, для меня эта замысловатая история осталась довольно темной)

Что имеет значение, так это то, что нынешний размер капитала полтора миллиона, и что наследница по завещанию Дайана - прямое указание на нечистоплотные манипуляции в отношении пациента, плюс неприятные подозрения со стороны супруга. В довершение (или только начало серьезных) неприятностей, дом Дайаны и Крейга ограблен, пропали ее дневники - строго конфиденциальные записи бесед с пациентами, из которых человек, незнакомый с авторской методикой доктора Маркус, сделает абсолютно неверный вывод. Дело в том, что обаяние и страстная влюбленность Джеймса не оставили ее совсем равнодушной, и на страницах дневника, Дайана дала волю воображению, описав самыми смелыми словами сексуальный акт с пациентом так, словно он происходил в действительности. Ну такой способ избавления переносом на бумагу.

Тут уж вы как хотите, а по мне - что-то мудрит наша девушка. Дальше все будет только чудесатее, интрига закрутится, туже некуда. Сомнения Крейга относительно отцовства, вакханалия в прессе, невозможность положиться на людей, которых искренне считала друзьями и неожиданная доброта со стороны тех, от кого ждала только глумления. Финал совершенно неожиданный, как и подобает хорошему триллеру.

[Ferne (Enthusiastic Reader)]

A multi-generational women’s group with diverse interests organized many author events titled "Open a Book...Open Your Mind with [author's name]" held in an intimate setting in a suburb of Philadelphia, PA. In this setting I had an opportunity to meet Barbara Shapiro in late April 2017. Listening to the author's writing technique was fascinating and as anticipated from reading any of her work I was impressed by the amount and compilation of research which adds not only interest but to the quality, effectiveness, and soul of her writing.

In preparation for attendance for the book talk and signing, I purchased several novels by the author in addition to "The Art Forger" and "The Muralist" which I had already read. Reading "Blameless" completes reading of the novels purchased to have autographed. Reviews were posted earlier for "Blind Spot" and "The Safe Room." The writing style for these three (3) novels is totally different than "The Art Forger" and "The Muralist." I enjoyed both of those novels but I have been totally surprised by the intensity of her compelling psychological thrillers and that these earlier novels did not catapult her work to bestseller lists.

Reading the twists and turns had me changing my mind about the outcome of the riveting storyline more than once but that is a challenge which I always welcome especially when the stakes are high for the protagonist. In this case, the stakes are high not only for Dr. Diana Marcus (psychologist with expertise in borderline personality disorders) professionally but also personally for her marriage and unborn child. I can truly say that I didn't guess the ending. If you've not read the novel, now it's your turn to test your hypothesis or hypotheses. Even if you don't guess correctly, I hope you enjoy the reading challenge of this thriller as much as I did.

[Virginia]

I loved "The Art Forger" and thought I had found an author that I wanted to read more from. Unfortunately "Blameless" didn't live up to my expectation. It was full of outrageously unreal characters, caught up is psychotic behavior. I felt captured by the book in the way "Gone Girl" captured me. I couldn't stop reading it but at the same time just wanted to be done with it and find out what happened.

[Carole Cornell]

Blameless

Wow! This is full of suspense. I read it all in one day. I have read other books by B.A. Shapiro, all of which have been satisfying.

This one concerns a psychotherapist who treats patients who have borderline personality disorder. When one of her patients ends up dead, she becomes a suspect.

[Lou Ann Cooper]

Ran out of steam

This was a pretty good read even though I had figured the big surprise plot twist by the middle of the book. Didn’t seem to accurately describe a murder investigation. The end was abrupt with very little substance. Not very believable.

[Deborah Spence]

Incredulous plot. Diana is a deeply flawed, unlikable main character. In fact, all the characters are pretty unlikable. And the ending left me speechless. Overall, my reaction is "yuck." I gave this book three stars, which seems both generous and inadequate.

[Sara]

Great read!

I enjoyed this a lot. I'm not sure if James killed her...the revelation from Diana was crazy! Surprises like that make books great.

[Carol Kotrozo]

Another page turner

I have read many books by this clever author and each one is a thrill. Don’t miss any of them.

[Carol Spiegel]

I loved this book and got to meet the author at a local book signing in 1995!

[Paula]

Not bad… but

[Liz Warner]

Blameless is a riviting book from begining to end, full of unexpected turns - especially the final few pages! Just about the best book I have read for a very long time.

[Reva]

I have read other books by this author that I have really enjoyed. Sadly this was not one of them.

Mostly while reading it, I was all:


And then it ended so abruptly, I just...



The book could have been at least 10-15 pages longer with an epilogue, so I didn't have the confusion level of this guy...

[Peggy Walker]

I read this because I enjoyed "The Art Forger" so much. What a disappointment. It seemed that the author was only interested in providing an unfolding tale full of twists to surprise the reader and not at all interested in telling a believable story. Would NOT recommend.

[Angie]

Good book. You don't really know where it's headed unless you're one of those super sleuths who always figures it out. But I wasn't thrilled about the ending......left me hanging.

[Diane]

This is an interesting read about a strong woman. The author does an excellent job telling the story.

[Lisa Greer]

Good... I didn't know where it was going until very near the end.