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Every Fifteen Minutes
Dr. Eric Parrish is the Chief of the Psychiatric Unit at Havemeyer General Hospital outside of Philadelphia. Recently separated from his wife Alice, he is doing his best as a single Dad to his seven-year-old daughter Hannah. His work seems to be going better than his home life, however. His unit at the hospital has just been named number two in the country and Eric has a devoted staff of doctors and nurses who are as caring as Eric is. But when he takes on a new patient, Eric's entire world begins to crumble. Seventeen-year-old Max has a terminally ill grandmother and is having trouble handling it. That, plus his OCD and violent thoughts about a girl he likes makes Max a high risk patient. Max can't turn off the mental rituals he needs to perform every fifteen minutes that keep him calm. With the pressure mounting, Max just might reach the breaking point. When the girl is found murdered, Max is nowhere to be found. Worried about Max, Eric goes looking for him and puts himself in danger of being seen as a "person of interest" himself. Next, one of his own staff turns on him in a trumped up charge of sexual harassment. Is this chaos all random? Or is someone systematically trying to destroy Eric's life?
464 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2015
2398 people are currently reading
24656 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Scottoline
138 books15.6k followersLisa Scottoline is a #1 bestselling and Edgar award-winning author of 33 novels. Her books are book-club favorites, and Lisa and her daughter Francesca Serritella have hosted an annual Big Book Club Party for over a thousand readers at her Pennsylvania farm, for the past twelve years. Lisa has served as President of Mystery Writers of America, and her reviews of fiction and non-fiction have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She also writes a weekly column with her daughter for the Philadelphia Inquirer entitled Chick Wit, a witty take on life from a woman’s perspective, which have been collected in a bestselling series of humorous memoirs. Lisa graduated magna cum laude in three years from the University of Pennsylvania, with a B.A. in English, and cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she taught Justice and Fiction. Lisa has over 30 million copies of her books in print and is published in over 35 countries. She lives in the Philadelphia area with an array of disobedient pets and wouldn’t have it any other way.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,811 reviews
May 3, 2015
There were exciting parts of this book, but mostly I just found it unbelievable and overly wordy. The first 150 pages are just more and more examples of the shining example of humanity Eric is. The best and most devoted doctor, a fantastic father and better parent than that ex-wife, with whom of course he would have worked everything out if only she wasn't determined to leave, a great friend, extremely moral, etc, etc. It was really excessive. And the writing is clunky and verbose. As Eric made one idiotic decision after another (so much for his brilliance!), and unlikely scenarios converge, the reader gets to wade through 450 pages of a 250 page story.
May 13, 2023
Dr. Eric Parrish ist Leiter einer psychiatrischen Abteilung eines Krankenhauses in Pennsylvania. Er hat ein glückliches und zufriedenes Leben, bis plötzlich alles anders wird. Es beginnt mit dem Scheitern seiner Ehe. Seine Frau möchte ihm die gemeinsame Tochter entfremden, dann gerät er unter Mordverdacht und soll eine Kollegin sexuell belästigt haben. Sein ganzes bisheriges Leben gerät aus den Fugen. Was bzw. wer steckt dahinter?
***
Mein Leseeindruck:
Ich habe mich mit diesem Thriller sehr gut unterhalten gefühlt. Die Handlung ist spannend und gut aufgebaut, die Figuren sind überzeugend. Einzig Erics unglaubliche Zuversicht in Hinblick auf seinen Patienten Max hat mich doch mehrfach erstaunt. Es spricht so vieles gegen Max, dass es eigentlich nur menschlich gewesen wäre, wenn Eric auch ein paar Zweifel an seiner Glaubhaftigkeit gekommen wären, zumal es für Eric selbst immer weiter abwärts ging. Das war für mich nicht immer nachvollziehbar.
Trotzdem habe ich mitfiebern können und war immer neugierig und gespannt auf die Auflösung, die dann auch noch ein paar Überraschungen bieten konnte.
Der Schreibstil hat mir auch gut gefallen; die Geschichte hat sich für mich angenehm und flüssig lesen lassen.
=> Ein spannendes Buch, das ich gerne weiterempfehlen werde.
***
Mein Leseeindruck:
Ich habe mich mit diesem Thriller sehr gut unterhalten gefühlt. Die Handlung ist spannend und gut aufgebaut, die Figuren sind überzeugend. Einzig Erics unglaubliche Zuversicht in Hinblick auf seinen Patienten Max hat mich doch mehrfach erstaunt. Es spricht so vieles gegen Max, dass es eigentlich nur menschlich gewesen wäre, wenn Eric auch ein paar Zweifel an seiner Glaubhaftigkeit gekommen wären, zumal es für Eric selbst immer weiter abwärts ging. Das war für mich nicht immer nachvollziehbar.
Trotzdem habe ich mitfiebern können und war immer neugierig und gespannt auf die Auflösung, die dann auch noch ein paar Überraschungen bieten konnte.
Der Schreibstil hat mir auch gut gefallen; die Geschichte hat sich für mich angenehm und flüssig lesen lassen.
=> Ein spannendes Buch, das ich gerne weiterempfehlen werde.
February 24, 2018
Oh-so-chilling story of a self-proclaimed sociopath. A panel of those.
An explosive story if there ever was one. Don't want to spoil it but a reader is due for a load of surprises!
Q:
I’m a sociopath. I look normal, but I’m not. I’m smarter, better, and freer, because I’m not bound by rules, law, emotion, or regard for you.
I can read you almost immediately, get your number right away, and push your buttons to make you do whatever I want. I don’t really like you, but I’m so good at acting as if I do that it’s basically the same thing. To you.
I fool you.
I fool everybody. (c) Boo!
Q:
I’ve read that one out of twenty-four people is a sociopath, and if you ask me, the other twenty-three of you should be worried. (c)
Q:
No one’s paying any attention to sociopaths, or they think we’re all killers, which is a misconception.
It’s not being paranoid to worry about us. You should be more paranoid than you are. (c)
Q:
We’re here, and we prey on you.
We target you.
We groom you. (c)
Q:
They never see me coming.
Know why?
Because I’m already there. (c)
Q:
I don’t have any feelings, neither love nor hate, no like or dislike, not even a thumbs-up or thumbs-down like on Facebook. (c)
Q:
My face is a mask. I hide my thoughts. My words are calculated to please, charm, or undermine. I can sound smarter or dumber, depending on what you expect to hear. My actions further my self-interest. (c)
Q:
I’m neither your friend nor your frenemy, unless you have what I want.
In that case, I’m not only your enemy, I’m your nightmare. (c)
Q:
A guardian angel to the guardian angel. (c)
Q:
“They want me to give them my clothes. Can they do that?”
“Eric, they’re doing you a favor. You dress like a middle-aged lesbian.” ...
“I don’t like your attitude.” Detective Rhoades frowned.
“Neither does my wife.” Paul gestured to Eric. “My client is happy to leave you with his dorky shirt and Mom jeans. I’m embarrassed by the way he dresses—and I’ve represented pimps.”(c)
Q:
“It’s fine,” Eric answered, sensing that there was a method to Paul’s madness. The lawyer was establishing a jokey, though completely serious, dominance, and by asking Eric if he agreed, it made him feel more powerful. (c)
An explosive story if there ever was one. Don't want to spoil it but a reader is due for a load of surprises!
Q:
I’m a sociopath. I look normal, but I’m not. I’m smarter, better, and freer, because I’m not bound by rules, law, emotion, or regard for you.
I can read you almost immediately, get your number right away, and push your buttons to make you do whatever I want. I don’t really like you, but I’m so good at acting as if I do that it’s basically the same thing. To you.
I fool you.
I fool everybody. (c) Boo!
Q:
I’ve read that one out of twenty-four people is a sociopath, and if you ask me, the other twenty-three of you should be worried. (c)
Q:
No one’s paying any attention to sociopaths, or they think we’re all killers, which is a misconception.
It’s not being paranoid to worry about us. You should be more paranoid than you are. (c)
Q:
We’re here, and we prey on you.
We target you.
We groom you. (c)
Q:
They never see me coming.
Know why?
Because I’m already there. (c)
Q:
I don’t have any feelings, neither love nor hate, no like or dislike, not even a thumbs-up or thumbs-down like on Facebook. (c)
Q:
My face is a mask. I hide my thoughts. My words are calculated to please, charm, or undermine. I can sound smarter or dumber, depending on what you expect to hear. My actions further my self-interest. (c)
Q:
I’m neither your friend nor your frenemy, unless you have what I want.
In that case, I’m not only your enemy, I’m your nightmare. (c)
Q:
A guardian angel to the guardian angel. (c)
Q:
“They want me to give them my clothes. Can they do that?”
“Eric, they’re doing you a favor. You dress like a middle-aged lesbian.” ...
“I don’t like your attitude.” Detective Rhoades frowned.
“Neither does my wife.” Paul gestured to Eric. “My client is happy to leave you with his dorky shirt and Mom jeans. I’m embarrassed by the way he dresses—and I’ve represented pimps.”(c)
Q:
“It’s fine,” Eric answered, sensing that there was a method to Paul’s madness. The lawyer was establishing a jokey, though completely serious, dominance, and by asking Eric if he agreed, it made him feel more powerful. (c)
May 14, 2015
lowest rating I've ever given a book I've finished reading. low rating due to:
**Corny, ridiculous, and unbelievable dialogue between Laurie, Paul, and Eric
**irrelevant details weighing down the story...serving no purpose except to annoy the 'reader and increase the word count
**unbelievable main character
**Corny, ridiculous, and unbelievable dialogue between Laurie, Paul, and Eric
**irrelevant details weighing down the story...serving no purpose except to annoy the 'reader and increase the word count
**unbelievable main character
March 1, 2015
Watch for this novel on April 14, 2015
Have you ever read a book that stayed with you during the day while you were working, or going about your daily routine? A book that made you want to turn on the news to see what’s happening in the character’s lives – even though you KNOW you are just reading a novel? Lisa Scottoline’s “Every Fifteen Minutes” made me do just that! Poor Dr. Eric Parish, Chief of Psychiatry, with his personal and professional lives going up and down in quick succession! You want to scream at him to not make some of the decisions he makes as you watch him make them. I could not put this book down until I found out how it was ending – excellent work, Ms Scottoline!
Have you ever read a book that stayed with you during the day while you were working, or going about your daily routine? A book that made you want to turn on the news to see what’s happening in the character’s lives – even though you KNOW you are just reading a novel? Lisa Scottoline’s “Every Fifteen Minutes” made me do just that! Poor Dr. Eric Parish, Chief of Psychiatry, with his personal and professional lives going up and down in quick succession! You want to scream at him to not make some of the decisions he makes as you watch him make them. I could not put this book down until I found out how it was ending – excellent work, Ms Scottoline!
August 10, 2018
The World Is Probably Out To Get You
Lisa Scottoline knows how to write a satisfying mystery. Just the right mix of prosaic detail, humour, and pace.
There is a downside however: sociopathy is revealed as potentially everywhere, in your spouse, your colleagues, your friends, and (if you’re a shrink) your clients.
So, if you aren’t already a bit mentally unstable, Every Fifteen Minutes may push you over the edge of paranoia. If you feel really comfortable with the idea of essential human goodness, then read on. Keep in mind, though, that you won’t emerge from the experience unscathed.
Lisa Scottoline knows how to write a satisfying mystery. Just the right mix of prosaic detail, humour, and pace.
There is a downside however: sociopathy is revealed as potentially everywhere, in your spouse, your colleagues, your friends, and (if you’re a shrink) your clients.
So, if you aren’t already a bit mentally unstable, Every Fifteen Minutes may push you over the edge of paranoia. If you feel really comfortable with the idea of essential human goodness, then read on. Keep in mind, though, that you won’t emerge from the experience unscathed.
May 2, 2015
This book was truly disappointing. As someone who works in mental health, I was expecting to enjoy the character study of a sociopath. What I got instead was a very basic and surface-level mental health drama. The main character exhibits no professional boundaries and leaves reader questioning why he is the protagonist, making one ridiculous choice after another then wondering why he is having poor outcomes. I was bored Reading this book and only finished it because I paid 12.99 for it!
August 8, 2018
Although I have never read the work of Lisa Scottoline, when a friend requested that I buddy read this book, I jumped at the opportunity. I came into this piece free from influence or expectations, but have come to feel strongly about the author’s work. Dr. Eric Parrish is the Head of Psychiatry at a rural Pennsylvania hospital, juggling a busy patient load on the ward, as well as in a private practice. When he is called down to the Emergency Department, he meets Max Jakubowski, a teenager who has been carrying much guilt on his shoulders while caring for his terminally ill grandmother. Eric sees something in Max that could benefit from some psychiatric intervention and encourages the young man to see him to chat, if not for private therapy. When Max calls to set-up the appointment, Eric jumps at the opportunity, though it seems as though the young man wants a quick fix with meds. Eric is also trying to juggle a recent separation from his wife and the strains this is putting on his relationship with Hannah, his young daughter. After a series of events put both Eric and Max in the crosshairs of the police and media outlets, things take a serious turn for the worse. Trying to keep himself level-headed, Eric reaches out to help Max as best he can, though it would seem something new pops up every fifteen minutes to derail the stability both need so badly. Interspersed with chapters told in a first-person narrative about someone’s self-diagnosis with sociopathic tendencies, the story gains momentum with each page. Scottoline has penned a winner here, as it keeps the reader fully engaged until the very end, with an ending that comes out of left field. Recommended for those who love a good thriller that mixes legal, medical, and police matters into one culminating story the reader will likely not be able to put down.
As I mentioned above, I came into this buddy read blind and hoped for the best. Scottoline delivered a strong story that kept me going as I trudged deeper into the story, full of twists and unexpected developments. Dr. Eric Parrish proves to be a wonderful protagonist, whose backstory is constantly being shaped by commentary and flashbacks. This serves to provide the reader with the needed insight to better understand his actions moving forward, as he deals with the many issues on his personal radar. Max remains an elusive character, whose emotions appear genuine and whose self-discovery is stunted by a veil of obsessive compulsive actions. As Eric and Max work together, the reader can see a strong bond that is created, though there remain mysterious cracks between them that cannot be repaired with ease. The remaining characters serve to accentuate the personality traits of the two central characters, some offering stronger support than others. Scottoline knows how to develop characters without crowding the story with a number of names to confuse the reader. The strong remains strong and serves to inform as well as entertain the reader, never losing its way as the chapters flow towards the culmination of the final reveal. With plots that grip the reader and force them to ask for more, Scottoline controls the narrative effectively, particularly that sociopath narrative, which leaves the reader wondering.
Kudos, Madam Scottoline, for this sensational read. I am sure to return and poke around to see what else you have written, perhaps even a full-on series that I can enjoy in the coming months.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
As I mentioned above, I came into this buddy read blind and hoped for the best. Scottoline delivered a strong story that kept me going as I trudged deeper into the story, full of twists and unexpected developments. Dr. Eric Parrish proves to be a wonderful protagonist, whose backstory is constantly being shaped by commentary and flashbacks. This serves to provide the reader with the needed insight to better understand his actions moving forward, as he deals with the many issues on his personal radar. Max remains an elusive character, whose emotions appear genuine and whose self-discovery is stunted by a veil of obsessive compulsive actions. As Eric and Max work together, the reader can see a strong bond that is created, though there remain mysterious cracks between them that cannot be repaired with ease. The remaining characters serve to accentuate the personality traits of the two central characters, some offering stronger support than others. Scottoline knows how to develop characters without crowding the story with a number of names to confuse the reader. The strong remains strong and serves to inform as well as entertain the reader, never losing its way as the chapters flow towards the culmination of the final reveal. With plots that grip the reader and force them to ask for more, Scottoline controls the narrative effectively, particularly that sociopath narrative, which leaves the reader wondering.
Kudos, Madam Scottoline, for this sensational read. I am sure to return and poke around to see what else you have written, perhaps even a full-on series that I can enjoy in the coming months.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
April 26, 2015
First off I won this as and ARC from Goodreads, so yay me!
I wanted to love this book but alas that was not the case. The main character, Dr. Parrish is the most ridiculous doctor I have ever read about.
This is the story of Dr. Eric Parrish, Chief of the Psychiatric department at Havenmeyer General Hospital or HGH. He is loved by his staff and the board of directors because he has almost singlehandedly made the unit the most talked about psychiatric hospital/unit in the area for the way they treat their patients and getting them better. While his career is thriving his is separated from his wife who is being a bitch (we have to hate her)in regards to selling the marital home and keeping him away from his daughter.
Eric is being pursued by one of the interns in the psyche rotation who won't take no for an answer and later screams sexual harassment right in the middle of his custody battle. He is suspended from work. Also while this is going on he has been asked to consult on a case regarding a woman who is dying of cancer. She has a 17 year old grandson who takes care of her and Dr. Laurie Fourtunato asks him to evaluate Max because she is concerned about his reaction when his grandmother dies. Eric agrees and learns that Max is stalking a girl name Renee Bevilacqua.
Renee is later murdered and everyone thinks Max did it except Eric because in the 3 SESSIONS that they had Max doesn't seem like the type who would kill. Later the tables are turned sort of and the police believe that Eric may have killed Renee or that he helped Max do it. There's a race against time to figure out who the real killer is otherwise Eric and/or Max will go to prison for murder.
The reason I did not love this book was the ending was a bit ridiculous for my blood. I won't give any spoilers but when you find out who the killer is and then the unnecessary second ending all I can say is what the fuck was that and WHY???? Also, as I stated above Dr. Parrish is ridiculous as well. He is the HEAD of a hospital unit and didn't seem to know anything about the internet, Facebook and the like for god's sake.So while I don't believe you have to know everything about social media because I don't and don't want to, he should have a working knowledge of some basic shit.
Also when he was talking to and being interrogated by the police all I could do was role my eyes at his naivete about how the police work. He should know some basic stuff about how the law works just by watching Law and Order, cop, 48 hours and any program on the ID channel. HE IS A PSYCHIATRIST FOR PETE"S SAKE. That requires some level of basic knowledge about everything as far as I'm concerned. The best thing about this book was Paul, Eric's lawyer.
I wanted to love this book but alas that was not the case. The main character, Dr. Parrish is the most ridiculous doctor I have ever read about.
This is the story of Dr. Eric Parrish, Chief of the Psychiatric department at Havenmeyer General Hospital or HGH. He is loved by his staff and the board of directors because he has almost singlehandedly made the unit the most talked about psychiatric hospital/unit in the area for the way they treat their patients and getting them better. While his career is thriving his is separated from his wife who is being a bitch (we have to hate her)in regards to selling the marital home and keeping him away from his daughter.
Eric is being pursued by one of the interns in the psyche rotation who won't take no for an answer and later screams sexual harassment right in the middle of his custody battle. He is suspended from work. Also while this is going on he has been asked to consult on a case regarding a woman who is dying of cancer. She has a 17 year old grandson who takes care of her and Dr. Laurie Fourtunato asks him to evaluate Max because she is concerned about his reaction when his grandmother dies. Eric agrees and learns that Max is stalking a girl name Renee Bevilacqua.
Renee is later murdered and everyone thinks Max did it except Eric because in the 3 SESSIONS that they had Max doesn't seem like the type who would kill. Later the tables are turned sort of and the police believe that Eric may have killed Renee or that he helped Max do it. There's a race against time to figure out who the real killer is otherwise Eric and/or Max will go to prison for murder.
The reason I did not love this book was the ending was a bit ridiculous for my blood. I won't give any spoilers but when you find out who the killer is and then the unnecessary second ending all I can say is what the fuck was that and WHY???? Also, as I stated above Dr. Parrish is ridiculous as well. He is the HEAD of a hospital unit and didn't seem to know anything about the internet, Facebook and the like for god's sake.So while I don't believe you have to know everything about social media because I don't and don't want to, he should have a working knowledge of some basic shit.
Also when he was talking to and being interrogated by the police all I could do was role my eyes at his naivete about how the police work. He should know some basic stuff about how the law works just by watching Law and Order, cop, 48 hours and any program on the ID channel. HE IS A PSYCHIATRIST FOR PETE"S SAKE. That requires some level of basic knowledge about everything as far as I'm concerned. The best thing about this book was Paul, Eric's lawyer.
May 24, 2023
“I’ve lied to everyone, even you. I’ve fooled you … You’ll see what I mean, by the time it’s over”
EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES is a psychological thriller, a carnal smorgasbord of delightful meaty tidbits of plot to chew on and mull over as you try to puzzle out the identity of the sociopath who has their sights on Dr Eric Parrish – the ethical considerations of confidentiality in psychotherapy; the Tarasoff judgment requirement for psychiatrists to report dangerous patients or potential harm to the community to authorities; contentious, adversarial divorce and child custody issues; stalking; suicide; the dark, deeply narcissistic mental pathways of a sociopath; sexual harassment and the social implications of false, unwarranted accusations; OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and its manifestations; childhood or teenage mental illness; and more.
EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES is the kind of novel that few people would class as literary but I dare say that very few readers will find it less than compelling, gripping, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Well done, Lisa Scottoline. You may definitely count me a fan and be assured that I’ll be looking for more of your work.
Paul Weiss
EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES is a psychological thriller, a carnal smorgasbord of delightful meaty tidbits of plot to chew on and mull over as you try to puzzle out the identity of the sociopath who has their sights on Dr Eric Parrish – the ethical considerations of confidentiality in psychotherapy; the Tarasoff judgment requirement for psychiatrists to report dangerous patients or potential harm to the community to authorities; contentious, adversarial divorce and child custody issues; stalking; suicide; the dark, deeply narcissistic mental pathways of a sociopath; sexual harassment and the social implications of false, unwarranted accusations; OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) and its manifestations; childhood or teenage mental illness; and more.
EVERY FIFTEEN MINUTES is the kind of novel that few people would class as literary but I dare say that very few readers will find it less than compelling, gripping, and thoroughly enjoyable.
Well done, Lisa Scottoline. You may definitely count me a fan and be assured that I’ll be looking for more of your work.
Paul Weiss
February 28, 2017
I had only ever read one Lisa Scottoline book before this one, and I can remember it as being okay, just. So Every Fifteen Minutes was a very pleasant surprise.
Having trained as a psychiatric nurse way back when, I am inexorably drawn to anything to do with psychiatry, mental institutions, mental instability. And Every Fifteen Minutes has all of this in spades.
I started off thinking that this was merely an okay book, but as I got further into it I became engrossed in it. There are twists and turns that you are not aware of until the ending, and even that is not the end. The real end is explosive! Which is where she should have left it. The following chapters, although they tidy things up, are frankly a let down; and a rather glib and unlikely one at that.
I really liked the narrator, whose name I am sorry I can't remember. I found his voice so effective that as I am reading a book written by a different author, I can hear his voice narrating it.
An enjoyable read/listen.
Having trained as a psychiatric nurse way back when, I am inexorably drawn to anything to do with psychiatry, mental institutions, mental instability. And Every Fifteen Minutes has all of this in spades.
I started off thinking that this was merely an okay book, but as I got further into it I became engrossed in it. There are twists and turns that you are not aware of until the ending, and even that is not the end. The real end is explosive! Which is where she should have left it. The following chapters, although they tidy things up, are frankly a let down; and a rather glib and unlikely one at that.
I really liked the narrator, whose name I am sorry I can't remember. I found his voice so effective that as I am reading a book written by a different author, I can hear his voice narrating it.
An enjoyable read/listen.
May 29, 2015
The marketing hook for this novel is that the main character has been targeted by a sociopath, and in my case, the advertising worked. This was the first Lisa Scottoline novel I've read, and I picked it up because it sounded like a good thriller.
"I'm a sociopath. I look normal, but I'm not. I'm smarter, better, and freer, because I'm not bound by rules, law, emotion, or regard for you. I can read you almost immediately, get your number right away, and push your buttons to make you do whatever I want. I don't really like you, but I'm so good at acting as if I do that it's basically the same thing ... I fool everybody."
Every Fifteen Minutes is what I call a bad-decision novel. Our protagonist, the psychiatrist Eric Parrish, kept making poor choices and got caught in a mess, both at home and at work.
For Eric, everything started to go wrong when he met a teenager named Max, who was emotionally unstable. Eric wanted to help the boy, but after only two meetings, a tragedy occurred, and the police blamed Eric.
Meanwhile, Eric's wife had left him and was threatening to change their child custody agreement. Eric was also being pursued by a flirtatious medical student, which caused even more trouble for him.
The plot moves quickly and the writing is fast-paced, but I got frustrated with this novel. I wanted to reach into the book, grab Eric by the collar and lecture him on everything he was doing wrong. There were also a few too many plot twists — I think the story should have ended 30 pages earlier.
But the book kept me entertained on a long car ride, so I should thank Scottoline for that. Recommended for readers who like psychological thrillers.
"I'm a sociopath. I look normal, but I'm not. I'm smarter, better, and freer, because I'm not bound by rules, law, emotion, or regard for you. I can read you almost immediately, get your number right away, and push your buttons to make you do whatever I want. I don't really like you, but I'm so good at acting as if I do that it's basically the same thing ... I fool everybody."
Every Fifteen Minutes is what I call a bad-decision novel. Our protagonist, the psychiatrist Eric Parrish, kept making poor choices and got caught in a mess, both at home and at work.
For Eric, everything started to go wrong when he met a teenager named Max, who was emotionally unstable. Eric wanted to help the boy, but after only two meetings, a tragedy occurred, and the police blamed Eric.
Meanwhile, Eric's wife had left him and was threatening to change their child custody agreement. Eric was also being pursued by a flirtatious medical student, which caused even more trouble for him.
The plot moves quickly and the writing is fast-paced, but I got frustrated with this novel. I wanted to reach into the book, grab Eric by the collar and lecture him on everything he was doing wrong. There were also a few too many plot twists — I think the story should have ended 30 pages earlier.
But the book kept me entertained on a long car ride, so I should thank Scottoline for that. Recommended for readers who like psychological thrillers.
July 13, 2018
I saw this book at Walmart and picked it up because the cover was intriguing. Once I read the back and I know this is exactly the type of book I love, so I rented it from the library. When reading it I had no idea all the twists and turns and adventures this book would take me it. It kept surprising me and I constantly had no idea what to expect. I suggest this book to everyone! Especially people that like murder books, suspense and mystery.
"Dr. Eric Parrish is the Chief of the Psychiatric Unit at Havemeyer General Hospital outside of Philadelphia. Recently separated from his wife Alice, he is doing his best as a single Dad to his seven-year-old daughter Hannah. His work seems to be going better than his home life, however. His unit at the hospital has just been named number two in the country and Eric has a devoted staff of doctors and nurses who are as caring as Eric is. But when he takes on a new patient, Eric's entire world begins to crumble. Seventeen-year-old Max has a terminally ill grandmother and is having trouble handling it. That, plus his OCD and violent thoughts about a girl he likes makes Max a high risk patient. Max can't turn off the mental rituals he needs to perform every fifteen minutes that keep him calm.
With the pressure mounting, Max just might reach the breaking point. When the girl is found murdered, Max is nowhere to be found. Worried about Max, Eric goes looking for him and puts himself in danger of being seen as a "person of interest" himself. Next, one of his own staff turns on him in a trumped up charge of sexual harassment. Is this chaos all random? Or is someone systematically trying to destroy Eric's life?"
"Dr. Eric Parrish is the Chief of the Psychiatric Unit at Havemeyer General Hospital outside of Philadelphia. Recently separated from his wife Alice, he is doing his best as a single Dad to his seven-year-old daughter Hannah. His work seems to be going better than his home life, however. His unit at the hospital has just been named number two in the country and Eric has a devoted staff of doctors and nurses who are as caring as Eric is. But when he takes on a new patient, Eric's entire world begins to crumble. Seventeen-year-old Max has a terminally ill grandmother and is having trouble handling it. That, plus his OCD and violent thoughts about a girl he likes makes Max a high risk patient. Max can't turn off the mental rituals he needs to perform every fifteen minutes that keep him calm.
With the pressure mounting, Max just might reach the breaking point. When the girl is found murdered, Max is nowhere to be found. Worried about Max, Eric goes looking for him and puts himself in danger of being seen as a "person of interest" himself. Next, one of his own staff turns on him in a trumped up charge of sexual harassment. Is this chaos all random? Or is someone systematically trying to destroy Eric's life?"
January 5, 2016
So having always thoroughly enjoyed Lisa Scottoline’s thrillers I was looking forward to Every Fifteen Minutes and I really loved it – I found it was actually the most addictive novel yet from this author with a really intriguing story, some lovely little twists and turns and some great characters.
So Eric Parrish is not having the best time in his personal life – meanwhile in his professional one he has attracted the attention of a dangerously unstable personality – oblivious to this he is walking a fine line without even knowing it..
It was completely compelling throughout – Eric was fascinating, conflicted and intelligent, perhaps a little too committed to his patient care occasionally he was a great character to follow along with and Lisa Scottoline does a terrific job of obscuring the truth and keeping you on your toes as to who, exactly, is causing Eric these problems.
The little chapters from the point of view of the psychopathic personality were fascinating, adding a great depth to the ongoing drama and occasionally sending a shiver up the spine, the fact that people like this can be so well hidden. Really, it could be anybody. Probably best not to think too much on that one in case you decide the hermit lifestyle might be safer…
With an ending that may well surprise you and plenty of page turning action going on, overall this was a really terrific read and I would recommend it for thriller fans, as I would this authors other novels.
So Eric Parrish is not having the best time in his personal life – meanwhile in his professional one he has attracted the attention of a dangerously unstable personality – oblivious to this he is walking a fine line without even knowing it..
It was completely compelling throughout – Eric was fascinating, conflicted and intelligent, perhaps a little too committed to his patient care occasionally he was a great character to follow along with and Lisa Scottoline does a terrific job of obscuring the truth and keeping you on your toes as to who, exactly, is causing Eric these problems.
The little chapters from the point of view of the psychopathic personality were fascinating, adding a great depth to the ongoing drama and occasionally sending a shiver up the spine, the fact that people like this can be so well hidden. Really, it could be anybody. Probably best not to think too much on that one in case you decide the hermit lifestyle might be safer…
With an ending that may well surprise you and plenty of page turning action going on, overall this was a really terrific read and I would recommend it for thriller fans, as I would this authors other novels.
March 7, 2015
This is the story of a prestigious young psychiatrist who is chief of psychiatry at a large hospital. He is clear-thinking and full of compassion for his patients. Suddenly his life begins falling apart - he is separated from his wife and has custody issues around his seven year old daughter, and then the sky falls in on his life. He first accused of sexual harassment of a pretty young resident, then put on indefinite leave from his position, all the while trying to treat a young man with a serious anxiety disorder and OCD. The book has more twists and turns than a maze; just when you think you have it all figured out, another shock turns up to change the whole picture. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense. I enjoyed it immensely and could barely put it down! I did notice a very few editing errors, such as the word "two" instead of "to" on page 169. I know this one will be a best seller!
July 11, 2015
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
I started out loving this book. I could not put it down! But then some of the things that Dr. Eric Parrish let his soon-to-be ex-wife do to him started getting on my nerves. And the fact that he did nothing over the sexual harassment he was getting from a student at his hospital. All of that stuff just went on and on until they blew up in his face and I wanted to throw the book across the room.
But.... I kept going because I wanted to know what the outcome would be. He was also seeing a boy named Max who had OCD, he was having a hard time with the fact his grandmother was dying from cancer. She was the only one in his family close to him. His mother was a drunk and his father left when he was young. Some of the things Max said got Eric worried he might kill a girl, but he wasn't too sure yet, it was only the second time seeing him so he had to wait and see.
Eric has the sweetest little girl named Hannah and his wife/ex Caitlin was dragging him through the dirt on so many things. I COULD NOT believe some of the stuff this witch was doing to him and her daughter, but I will say that it all worked out in the end for them and that is all that matters there.
So... in the beginning of the book in the short chapter one the sociopath was telling his/her little story and it was creepy. The thing is those kind of people exist out there and you never know where they are creeping around. I was thinking it was one of the characters for a long time, but I couldn't see the author making it that obvious. Suffice it to say, I NEVER saw it coming, NEVER believed who the killer was in a million years. And that brings me back to the first chapter where the killer/sociopath says... They never see me coming. Know why? Because I'm already there. Well, that sentence ladies and gentlemen rang true for me in this book!!!
I loved the over all premise of the story, but some of it just irritated me so bad that I'm going to give this one a 3.5 stars.
I would like to read more of this author's books and see what they are like as this one wasn't that bad, just a little too much of me wanting to smack too many people!!
I started out loving this book. I could not put it down! But then some of the things that Dr. Eric Parrish let his soon-to-be ex-wife do to him started getting on my nerves. And the fact that he did nothing over the sexual harassment he was getting from a student at his hospital. All of that stuff just went on and on until they blew up in his face and I wanted to throw the book across the room.
But.... I kept going because I wanted to know what the outcome would be. He was also seeing a boy named Max who had OCD, he was having a hard time with the fact his grandmother was dying from cancer. She was the only one in his family close to him. His mother was a drunk and his father left when he was young. Some of the things Max said got Eric worried he might kill a girl, but he wasn't too sure yet, it was only the second time seeing him so he had to wait and see.
Eric has the sweetest little girl named Hannah and his wife/ex Caitlin was dragging him through the dirt on so many things. I COULD NOT believe some of the stuff this witch was doing to him and her daughter, but I will say that it all worked out in the end for them and that is all that matters there.
So... in the beginning of the book in the short chapter one the sociopath was telling his/her little story and it was creepy. The thing is those kind of people exist out there and you never know where they are creeping around. I was thinking it was one of the characters for a long time, but I couldn't see the author making it that obvious. Suffice it to say, I NEVER saw it coming, NEVER believed who the killer was in a million years. And that brings me back to the first chapter where the killer/sociopath says... They never see me coming. Know why? Because I'm already there. Well, that sentence ladies and gentlemen rang true for me in this book!!!
I loved the over all premise of the story, but some of it just irritated me so bad that I'm going to give this one a 3.5 stars.
I would like to read more of this author's books and see what they are like as this one wasn't that bad, just a little too much of me wanting to smack too many people!!
August 5, 2023
"I'm a sociopath. I look normal, but I'm not. I'm smarter, better, and freer, because I'm not bound by rules, law, emotion, or regard for you. I can read you almost immediately, get your number right away, and push your buttons to make you do whatever I want."
Dr Eric Parrish is a dedicated, caring psychiatrist and the chief of an award-winning psychiatric unit. He's going through a divorce, and trying to maintain strong ties to his seven-year-old daughter.
Dr Parrish has a new teenage patient who is fixated on a teenage girl. The psychiatrist is bound by confidentiality rules unless he feels that the boy is actually dangerous.
Suddenly, everything seems to be going wrong in Dr Parrish's life, and he is a suspect in several crimes. He's trying to investigate matters himself, but his actions are making him look more suspicious. Everything is falling apart in both his professional and personal life.
Although the book starts off slowly, the second half will have the reader turning the pages quickly in suspense. There are lots of red herrings, and I could not guess the identity of the sociopath who is trying to destroy the doctor's life. I would give this psychological thriller 3.5 stars, but rounded it down because
Dr Eric Parrish is a dedicated, caring psychiatrist and the chief of an award-winning psychiatric unit. He's going through a divorce, and trying to maintain strong ties to his seven-year-old daughter.
Dr Parrish has a new teenage patient who is fixated on a teenage girl. The psychiatrist is bound by confidentiality rules unless he feels that the boy is actually dangerous.
Suddenly, everything seems to be going wrong in Dr Parrish's life, and he is a suspect in several crimes. He's trying to investigate matters himself, but his actions are making him look more suspicious. Everything is falling apart in both his professional and personal life.
Although the book starts off slowly, the second half will have the reader turning the pages quickly in suspense. There are lots of red herrings, and I could not guess the identity of the sociopath who is trying to destroy the doctor's life. I would give this psychological thriller 3.5 stars, but rounded it down because
March 18, 2015
I was lucky enough to win and receive this book through GoodReads FirstReads Giveaway Program. Thank you!
This was the first book I read by this author and I loved it. The twists in this book were exciting and unexpected. There were a couple of things I never saw coming and when I thought I had it all figured out, there was another twist! Such an amazing suspense book. Great ending too- once again, I was shocked.
This was the first book I read by this author and I loved it. The twists in this book were exciting and unexpected. There were a couple of things I never saw coming and when I thought I had it all figured out, there was another twist! Such an amazing suspense book. Great ending too- once again, I was shocked.
April 28, 2015
Great book, great read and well worth the time and money. But, the hardest part of reaching the point where no one reins in your imagination is knowing when you reached the end twenty pages before you stop typing.
Sometimes an author goes one step too far when they get to the end. And when the author is a bestseller, it's often hard for an editor to tell them to stop-- enough is enough.
As an author, I've experienced the desire to keep adding another twist, another turn. A rule I've learned is: Less is better.
I don't want to give any spoilers but re-read this review when you finish the book and let me know what you think.
Sometimes an author goes one step too far when they get to the end. And when the author is a bestseller, it's often hard for an editor to tell them to stop-- enough is enough.
As an author, I've experienced the desire to keep adding another twist, another turn. A rule I've learned is: Less is better.
I don't want to give any spoilers but re-read this review when you finish the book and let me know what you think.
January 2, 2016
★★½
Every Fifteen Minutes ended up not being that dark in actuality, which is OK. I mean, it's a mystery/thriller first and foremost, and I liked that it offered some unexpected twists and turns which are always fun. I loved reading a character with clinical Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - his reported symptomology was fascinating and I enjoyed learning about how a psychiatrist might respond both directly and indirectly. I had to smile at the conscience of the particular psychiatrist in this story, Dr. Eric Parrish, as he went so far out of his way to protect his patient. I don't envision that this is very realistic, but it is a lovely thought that a vulnerable teenager in a predicament such as this may have such a strong advocate. However, even with all these positives, I felt this story was too long for me personally. It didn't drag per se, but I found myself losing interest once in a while, more often as the story progressed. Fortunately though, something would happen to tweak my interest but overall I had trouble remaining consistently engaged, and by the end, when yet another twist was added, I didn't really care about the surprise factor anymore.
Please note that I believe I am in the minority of readers who didn't give this book a four or five-star rating. Every Fifteen Minutes is the first book I have read by author Lisa Scottoline, and it could be that she just offers a storytelling style I don't fully connect with. I would never discourage anyone from reading a book though. We all respond to material in different ways. If you enjoy this author, or if you just enjoy a mystery with lots of twists throughout, then give this one a try! If nothing else, it will leave your thoughts with a lingering reminder that there are indeed sociopaths among us, apparently one out of every twenty-four if Ms. Scottoline's statistic is correct.
“Eric had always heard the expression that you didn't know what you had until it was gone. But he suddenly had a different insight, that you didn't know what you were missing until you had it.”
“You should be more paranoid than you are. Your typical suburban mom worries all the time, but she worries about the wrong things. Because she doesn't worry about me.”I loved how this book started out. It was dark and frightening. An anonymous sociopath narrates in the beginning, warning the reader of his or her existence. I even did a little happy dance. I love the dark stuff...in moderation of course.
Every Fifteen Minutes ended up not being that dark in actuality, which is OK. I mean, it's a mystery/thriller first and foremost, and I liked that it offered some unexpected twists and turns which are always fun. I loved reading a character with clinical Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - his reported symptomology was fascinating and I enjoyed learning about how a psychiatrist might respond both directly and indirectly. I had to smile at the conscience of the particular psychiatrist in this story, Dr. Eric Parrish, as he went so far out of his way to protect his patient. I don't envision that this is very realistic, but it is a lovely thought that a vulnerable teenager in a predicament such as this may have such a strong advocate. However, even with all these positives, I felt this story was too long for me personally. It didn't drag per se, but I found myself losing interest once in a while, more often as the story progressed. Fortunately though, something would happen to tweak my interest but overall I had trouble remaining consistently engaged, and by the end, when yet another twist was added, I didn't really care about the surprise factor anymore.
Please note that I believe I am in the minority of readers who didn't give this book a four or five-star rating. Every Fifteen Minutes is the first book I have read by author Lisa Scottoline, and it could be that she just offers a storytelling style I don't fully connect with. I would never discourage anyone from reading a book though. We all respond to material in different ways. If you enjoy this author, or if you just enjoy a mystery with lots of twists throughout, then give this one a try! If nothing else, it will leave your thoughts with a lingering reminder that there are indeed sociopaths among us, apparently one out of every twenty-four if Ms. Scottoline's statistic is correct.
“They never see me coming. Know why? Because I'm already there.”My favorite quote:
“Eric had always heard the expression that you didn't know what you had until it was gone. But he suddenly had a different insight, that you didn't know what you were missing until you had it.”
June 29, 2015
Dr. Eric Parrish, Chief of the Psychiatric Unit at Havemeyer Hospital in Philadelphia, is enjoying the fruits of his labor at work. His hospital has even earned an award for its performance, which many credit him for.
His personal life, however, is at an all-time low. His wife Caitlyn has left him, and she is doing sneaky things with regard to his visitation with their daughter Hannah. Eric realizes that she has a new boyfriend, and this probably explains a lot about her new attitude.
Then Eric is abruptly brought into the case of a seventeen-year-old boy named Max, who is suffering from depression and possibly other issues due to his grandmother's impending death.
In treating Max, Eric soon learns of the boy's obsessions, part of his OCD, which center on a young girl named Renee.
Suddenly everything is seemingly out of control for Eric, as Max goes missing after his grandmother's death, and the young woman Renee has been found murdered. And at the hospital, a young medical student named Kristine has filed sexual harassment charges against him, which stuns Eric, since she has been coming on to himand he has shut her down. Are these events random, or is someone pulling the strings? What is the end game?
Every Fifteen Minutes was a fast-paced suspense story narrated in Eric's first person voice, and alternately narrated by an unidentified sociopath. The sociopath also uses the first person voice, and calls himself/herself a "sociopath" and outlines a vague plan to take Eric down. Who is this unidentified sociopath and why is he or she fixated on Eric?
I could not read this book fast enough, eager to find out who had done what. I had suspicions that the "puppeteer" had to be a colleague. But at the very end, a stunning reveal left me reeling.
His personal life, however, is at an all-time low. His wife Caitlyn has left him, and she is doing sneaky things with regard to his visitation with their daughter Hannah. Eric realizes that she has a new boyfriend, and this probably explains a lot about her new attitude.
Then Eric is abruptly brought into the case of a seventeen-year-old boy named Max, who is suffering from depression and possibly other issues due to his grandmother's impending death.
In treating Max, Eric soon learns of the boy's obsessions, part of his OCD, which center on a young girl named Renee.
Suddenly everything is seemingly out of control for Eric, as Max goes missing after his grandmother's death, and the young woman Renee has been found murdered. And at the hospital, a young medical student named Kristine has filed sexual harassment charges against him, which stuns Eric, since she has been coming on to himand he has shut her down. Are these events random, or is someone pulling the strings? What is the end game?
Every Fifteen Minutes was a fast-paced suspense story narrated in Eric's first person voice, and alternately narrated by an unidentified sociopath. The sociopath also uses the first person voice, and calls himself/herself a "sociopath" and outlines a vague plan to take Eric down. Who is this unidentified sociopath and why is he or she fixated on Eric?
I could not read this book fast enough, eager to find out who had done what. I had suspicions that the "puppeteer" had to be a colleague. But at the very end, a stunning reveal left me reeling.
March 26, 2025
Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline is an older novel by this author and different from others of hers she has written. Mystery crime novel. It was a 5✨ all the way to the end. To be blunt the ending was just dumb. The person who is the perpetrator just made no sense.
February 7, 2017
I was really looking forward to this book! I have read quite a few of Lisa Scottoline's books and am usually quite entertained and usually I'm almost instantly engrossed. I found it harder to get into this one for some reason. I think it may have been a bit too wordy at the beginning? There was a lot of back story, staff meeting info, medical info and more. However, it did pick up speed quickly about a third of the way in.
I liked the characters but I really felt that Dr. Parrish was almost a bit too naive for a Psychiatrist who's the head of the psychiatric department at a major hospital. While I understand the whole patient/doctor confidentiality, so much was happening to this character that I almost found it hard to believe that he wasn't even slightly tempted to give anything up. Especially as he was also dealing with fighting for custody of his daughter. I felt like I knew almost too much about some characters and not enough about others.
I really liked Eric's lawyer Paul. He was very entertaining. I would love to see him in future books!
All of that said I still did enjoy the book and there were some surprises that caught me off guard.
I look forward to reading many more of Lisa Scottoline's books.
May 25, 2016
Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline is a 2015 St. Martin's Press publication.
While I have read enough of this author’s work to know better, I trusted her and fell right into every trap, followed every red herring and wound up totally gobsmacked!!
When the puzzle pieces began to click into place, the hair stood up on the back of my neck and I literally felt a chill run down my back. I know that sounds cliché’ but seriously, my body and mind went into shock.
What makes this story so unsettling, is the real possibility I could know a sociopath, even feel close to someone with a sociopathic personality. They are so smart, calculating, and cunning, with an impeccable ability to mimic concern and fake emotions. It's a possibility that might give me a few restless nights.
This is an impressive thriller, with lots of twists, and non-stop motion and suspense. This is recommended to those who enjoy Psychological thrillers and Mystery/Suspense.
This review is the copyrighted property of Night Owl Reviews. To read the full review, click on this link: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
While I have read enough of this author’s work to know better, I trusted her and fell right into every trap, followed every red herring and wound up totally gobsmacked!!
When the puzzle pieces began to click into place, the hair stood up on the back of my neck and I literally felt a chill run down my back. I know that sounds cliché’ but seriously, my body and mind went into shock.
What makes this story so unsettling, is the real possibility I could know a sociopath, even feel close to someone with a sociopathic personality. They are so smart, calculating, and cunning, with an impeccable ability to mimic concern and fake emotions. It's a possibility that might give me a few restless nights.
This is an impressive thriller, with lots of twists, and non-stop motion and suspense. This is recommended to those who enjoy Psychological thrillers and Mystery/Suspense.
This review is the copyrighted property of Night Owl Reviews. To read the full review, click on this link: https://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Re...
July 18, 2015
It is easy to see why this book has been on the bestseller list so long. Scottoline has written a dynamite mystery with a sympathetic protagonist, lots of believably suspicious characters, and ongoing suspense over the identity of the sociopath.
Every Fifteen Minutes is so engrossing readers will be flipping the (literal or e-book) pages past midnight in their race to the end.
Every Fifteen Minutes is so engrossing readers will be flipping the (literal or e-book) pages past midnight in their race to the end.
Read
January 14, 20230.0/10
The new rating for this year includes an 0.0 -- and even negative stars if they are merited. The review has to answer the question, is there anything that you liked about it? Is there anything that was redeemable?
Is it harsh? Not in my books. Pun not intended. If you're going to present yourself as someone who has something to offer, in the literary world, you'd better have something worth reading. You'd at least better have something to say, that isn't drivel.
It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to.
This was an Anger Read.
I was assured, by readerly friends, that this was an exceptional analysis of a sociopath. They forgot to add that it was exceptionally bad. But then, I didn't ask for them to qualify, so I should, I suppose, assume some of the blame.
About 20 pages into it, I knew this was headed to hell, ridden by all the witches in that kingdom.
Hallmark-Sociopath-Barbie meets Gregory House, M.D. ? Really??
I read in anger, past the cackling elderly ladies and the clucking professional women. I thought I'd picked up a book on Poultry Husbandry, so rife was this with terms of avian condescension. I cringe that I continued to read.
I read past the tortured metaphors and ladies getting their knickers in a snit.
Oh, oh, so much condescension from that authorial voice.
I read, because at every page I wanted the authority to say, "Are you kidding me?"
Mind you, I did a lot of skimming, taking as much scum off the chicken soup as I could, as it simmered on the stove, to be able to find it palatable.
You object to these mediocre metaphors?
Try reading the book, then get back to me.
The author telegraphed very early on who the sociopath was not going to be -- which is irrelevant. I love books that give the who at the beginning and then proceed to unfurl the why. But she didn't deliver on that score, either.
Every fifteen minutes, I too tap-tap-tapped my head -- to prove that I was still sentient, and would get through this.
Despite the many professionals who purportedly contributed to the shaping of this novel, I found nothing that resembled the condition(s) herein described, except in a form of cartoonish sketch.
I had my little diatribe ready at midnight, all set to spew my outrage, but I find it has dissipated in the morning light to ... "garbage ... who cares ...move on ..."
Except to say, mental illness is not a laughing matter. And equally, its explication is not something that can or should be handled by amateurs -- because they will fall far short.
If you're writing a lightweight book for entertainment, -- that's one thing. If you're pretending to address mental health from "an informed position", it is best to be informed about that position.
Scottoline's idea came to her, apparently, because she suspected one of her previous husbands was a sociopath. I'm not certain that a diagnosis was ever delivered, as such, but there you have it.
The thing is, we see "sociopaths" hiding behind every tree ever since Gregory House made it "cool" to be such. True ASPD (anti-social-personality-disorder) isn't all that common, but suddenly we hand out "sociopath" epithets to every nasty, mean, creepy, morally-repugnant little jerk that we come across, as if we were handing out Halloween candy; as if we suddenly had the handle on the true nature of a mental illness of which none of us knows almost nothing. We render our amateur diagnoses and we think we've got it all figured out with no insight whatsoever into the nature of the disease.
This is why this book is annoying to the nth degree: Ken and Barbie are cheesy choices to explain the destructiveness of sociopathy. These cast of characters are best left to hallmark channels and lifetime movies choices -- a nice little opiate for the afternoon-TV-viewing audiences.
The new rating for this year includes an 0.0 -- and even negative stars if they are merited. The review has to answer the question, is there anything that you liked about it? Is there anything that was redeemable?
Is it harsh? Not in my books. Pun not intended. If you're going to present yourself as someone who has something to offer, in the literary world, you'd better have something worth reading. You'd at least better have something to say, that isn't drivel.
It's my party, and I'll cry if I want to.
This was an Anger Read.
I was assured, by readerly friends, that this was an exceptional analysis of a sociopath. They forgot to add that it was exceptionally bad. But then, I didn't ask for them to qualify, so I should, I suppose, assume some of the blame.
About 20 pages into it, I knew this was headed to hell, ridden by all the witches in that kingdom.
Hallmark-Sociopath-Barbie meets Gregory House, M.D. ? Really??
I read in anger, past the cackling elderly ladies and the clucking professional women. I thought I'd picked up a book on Poultry Husbandry, so rife was this with terms of avian condescension. I cringe that I continued to read.
I read past the tortured metaphors and ladies getting their knickers in a snit.
Oh, oh, so much condescension from that authorial voice.
I read, because at every page I wanted the authority to say, "Are you kidding me?"
Mind you, I did a lot of skimming, taking as much scum off the chicken soup as I could, as it simmered on the stove, to be able to find it palatable.
You object to these mediocre metaphors?
Try reading the book, then get back to me.
The author telegraphed very early on who the sociopath was not going to be -- which is irrelevant. I love books that give the who at the beginning and then proceed to unfurl the why. But she didn't deliver on that score, either.
Every fifteen minutes, I too tap-tap-tapped my head -- to prove that I was still sentient, and would get through this.
Despite the many professionals who purportedly contributed to the shaping of this novel, I found nothing that resembled the condition(s) herein described, except in a form of cartoonish sketch.
I had my little diatribe ready at midnight, all set to spew my outrage, but I find it has dissipated in the morning light to ... "garbage ... who cares ...move on ..."
Except to say, mental illness is not a laughing matter. And equally, its explication is not something that can or should be handled by amateurs -- because they will fall far short.
If you're writing a lightweight book for entertainment, -- that's one thing. If you're pretending to address mental health from "an informed position", it is best to be informed about that position.
Scottoline's idea came to her, apparently, because she suspected one of her previous husbands was a sociopath. I'm not certain that a diagnosis was ever delivered, as such, but there you have it.
The thing is, we see "sociopaths" hiding behind every tree ever since Gregory House made it "cool" to be such. True ASPD (anti-social-personality-disorder) isn't all that common, but suddenly we hand out "sociopath" epithets to every nasty, mean, creepy, morally-repugnant little jerk that we come across, as if we were handing out Halloween candy; as if we suddenly had the handle on the true nature of a mental illness of which none of us knows almost nothing. We render our amateur diagnoses and we think we've got it all figured out with no insight whatsoever into the nature of the disease.
This is why this book is annoying to the nth degree: Ken and Barbie are cheesy choices to explain the destructiveness of sociopathy. These cast of characters are best left to hallmark channels and lifetime movies choices -- a nice little opiate for the afternoon-TV-viewing audiences.
February 6, 2017
Coming soon.
3.5 stars
I had not read a Scottoline in some time, and this was a pretty good, fast paced, edge of your seat page turner. I found myself "guessing" who was the bad guy, but Scottoline's ability to throw the reader a bone, then muddle it up with some more bones was well done. I kept changing my mind. At one point I even questioned the "heroes" sanity....wondering if he was the bad guy.
This is what a psychological thriller is all about. Takes place in a short amount of time, the hero putting together puzzle pieces...though maybe not fast enough. And the reader getting several "AHA" moments....only to find that they were being led down a path that turned to a dead end.
There were some unbelievable parts to this....and some of the characters could have been developed a bit more. But was it an entertaining read? Yes. Enjoyable.
3.5 stars
I had not read a Scottoline in some time, and this was a pretty good, fast paced, edge of your seat page turner. I found myself "guessing" who was the bad guy, but Scottoline's ability to throw the reader a bone, then muddle it up with some more bones was well done. I kept changing my mind. At one point I even questioned the "heroes" sanity....wondering if he was the bad guy.
This is what a psychological thriller is all about. Takes place in a short amount of time, the hero putting together puzzle pieces...though maybe not fast enough. And the reader getting several "AHA" moments....only to find that they were being led down a path that turned to a dead end.
There were some unbelievable parts to this....and some of the characters could have been developed a bit more. But was it an entertaining read? Yes. Enjoyable.
July 29, 2015
I had high expectations for this book as it was well publicized, and I just love thrillers about psychologists/psychiatrists and the whole therapy or hospital setting, but "Every 15 Minutes" was truly disappointing.
For starters, it was simply too long (e.g. exhaustive discussion about medication) and repetitive (surely, everybody understands the confidentiality issue within the psychiatry setting after a couple of mentions). The audio book was over 13 hrs. and could have easily been cut down to about 9 hrs. without losing any of the plot. It doesn't happen very often, but I just kept checking how much more I had to listen to. This is in no way a criticism of the narrator by the way. Narration by George Newbern was absolutely fine, but the story just dragged on and on.
Then, there's the main character. Without doubt, he was the most naive psychiatrist ever! It was exasperating how he sticks to his guns when it comes to confidentiality, but oversteps other ethical boundaries all the time. It wasn't believable.
Next, the ex-wife was an absolute b..ch all the way through, and then at the end, there's this total u-turn. She became this kind and understanding ex-wife and mother. How did that happen?
Finally, there were two revelations regarding the so-called sociopath: the first made little sense to me and seemed totally implausible, the second was a good little surprise which redeemed the story a tiny bit, but by then I had listened for 13 hrs and was almost beyond care. Too little too late. I will try another book by Lisa Scottoline because she has some very good reviews for her other publications, but this one just didn't do it for me.
For starters, it was simply too long (e.g. exhaustive discussion about medication) and repetitive (surely, everybody understands the confidentiality issue within the psychiatry setting after a couple of mentions). The audio book was over 13 hrs. and could have easily been cut down to about 9 hrs. without losing any of the plot. It doesn't happen very often, but I just kept checking how much more I had to listen to. This is in no way a criticism of the narrator by the way. Narration by George Newbern was absolutely fine, but the story just dragged on and on.
Then, there's the main character. Without doubt, he was the most naive psychiatrist ever! It was exasperating how he sticks to his guns when it comes to confidentiality, but oversteps other ethical boundaries all the time. It wasn't believable.
Next, the ex-wife was an absolute b..ch all the way through, and then at the end, there's this total u-turn. She became this kind and understanding ex-wife and mother. How did that happen?
Finally, there were two revelations regarding the so-called sociopath: the first made little sense to me and seemed totally implausible, the second was a good little surprise which redeemed the story a tiny bit, but by then I had listened for 13 hrs and was almost beyond care. Too little too late. I will try another book by Lisa Scottoline because she has some very good reviews for her other publications, but this one just didn't do it for me.
March 18, 2015
This is a Goodreads First Read.
This book was amazing! It was easy to follow from the start and literally kept me guessing until almost the last chapter. The red herrings were rampant throughout the book and did their job well. Once the doubt was cast, it was hard not to skip ahead to the end!
This book was amazing! It was easy to follow from the start and literally kept me guessing until almost the last chapter. The red herrings were rampant throughout the book and did their job well. Once the doubt was cast, it was hard not to skip ahead to the end!
November 1, 2024
I enjoy Lisa Scottoline a lot so I had this one on my TBR without knowing anything about it. From the first paragraph I knew this book was for me, “I’m a sociopath. I look normal, but I’m not. I’m smarter, better, and freer, because I’m not bound by rules, law, emotion, or regard for you.” The book is mostly told from the perspective of Dr. Eric Parrish, but there are a few chapters strewn through told from the perspective of a self-diagnosed sociopath. Eric’s life is falling apart. He’s divorcing his wife who is making quick changes about their daughter without consulting him, he’s facing issues at work, and worst of all he’s even being considered a suspect of murder. This book was good and while there were a few bits that didn’t feel quite real to me, the hunt for the killer/sociopath was on target and good and I didn’t see the last twist coming.
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