Psycho Analysis

by V.R. Stone

A serial killer who wants to quit. A detective struggling to keep his personal life out of a murder hunt. And a celebrity psychiatrist facing an incredible challenge. Three damaged individuals, linked by their traumatic histories. They’ve chosen very different paths. Now those paths are about to cross.

Sarah Silver is a hedge fund manager – from Monday to Friday she makes a killing in the markets. At weekends, though, she hunts men, not profits. Martin White used to be a brilliant detective. But his family, judgement and self-control are deserting him. And Karl Gross has sold millions of books on serial killers. However he’s a controversial figure in the medical community.

Can Martin keep it together and catch a killer who commits almost perfect crimes? Is Karl capable of unravelling Sarah’s psyche and putting an end to the killing? Or will she disappear when she realises that the hunter has become the hunted?

PsychoAnalysis is a psychological crime thriller that explores the grey area between good and evil. Why would a woman kill for fun? Can she be understood? Can she be stopped?

“The mind is like an iceberg. Most of it lies beneath the surface, a subconscious universe of thoughts we can’t observe. It contains memories too painful to remember, elicits emotions we don’t want to feel, and makes us do things we don’t understand.”

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Adult, Psychology, Serial Killer, Crime

269 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 5, 2016

About the author

V.R Stone is the author of psychological crime thriller PsychoAnalysis. The book is set in London, where he lives and works. He also holds a degree in Psychology.

V.R. has always buried himself in stories – films, books, TV – so it seemed natural to make up some of his own. The real world is boring, he'd rather live in the more exciting one that exists on screen or on the page!

Reviews

[Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know it's a cliche when you say 'I just couldn't put it down' but really I just couldn't put this down, and when life did unfortunately get in the way I couldn't stop thinking about it!
I was truly drawn into "PsychoAnalysis" straight away and thoroughly enjoyed this dark, disturbing and entertaining thriller!

'A serial killer who wants to quit. A detective struggling to keep his personal life out of a murder hunt. And a celebrity psychiatrist facing an incredible challenge. Three damaged individuals, linked by their traumatic histories. They’ve chosen very different paths. Now those paths are about to cross.'

I actually liked Sarah and had a lot of empathy for her. I was hoping that she would come good in the end and be understood and I seriously would love to see a second book published to read more about her and the tormented detective Martin. It didn't bother me that I knew who the killer was from the start, I mean let's be honest, how many 'whodunnits' do we actually solve anyway?

The author V.R. Stone has produced a cracking debut novel here with just the right amount of characters to get your head around and a writing style that is easy to follow, understand and enjoy. There are a couple of gruesome scenes in the book, but nothing offended me, it is a crime novel after all but if animal cruelty and sexual/violence do offend then this may not be for you.

"PyschoAnalysis" is an edgy, absorbing and utterly thrilling book that I highly recommend to all crime/psychological readers, you won't be disappointed, and I do so hope to read more by this author again - he's a very impressive writer that deserves to be recognised as a thoroughly fabulous crime writer!!

5 HUGE stars!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

PSYCHOANALYSIS is a debut novel by V.R. Stone, a psychological crime thriller, written by someone with a degree in psychology. The novel deals with good versus evil. A woman serial killer on the loose! I can’t believe this is a debut novel. I loved it!

A serial killer who wants to quit. A detective struggling to keep his personal life out of a murder hunt. And a celebrity psychiatrist facing an incredible challenge. Three damaged individuals, linked by their traumatic histories. They’ve chosen very different paths. Now those paths are about to cross.

Sarah Silver is a hedge fund manager – from Monday to Friday she makes a killing in the markets. At weekends, though, she hunts men, not profits. Martin White used to be a brilliant detective. But his family, judgement and self-control are deserting him. And Karl Gross has sold millions of books on serial killers. However he’s a controversial figure in the medical community.

Can Martin keep it together and catch a killer who commits almost perfect crimes? Is Karl capable of unravelling Sarah’s psyche and putting an end to the killing? Or will she disappear when she realises that the hunter has become the hunted?

In this novel, right from the beginning we know who the killer is. In some cases, this is not always acceptable by the reader, but in this case the author makes it work. Right from the beginning, we see Sarah on one of her “hunts”, picking up a good looking man in a nightclub, seducing him, taking him back to her mansion in the Cotswolds, and eventually viciously murdering him with her bare hands.

Missing persons…No corpses!

She is a psychopath and needs to hunt and kill and it is something she cannot control…but soon she starts to make some mistakes!

“Sarah isn’t a wacko or a pervert. She doesn’t mutilate the bodies or keep souvenirs. It’s a chase, a sport. She burns the bodies of her victims, and eradicates all traces of her victims.”

Detective Martin White and his colleague are called in to help with the case of disappearing men. Martin is struggling with his own troubled past, having recently lost his mother and in the process of going through a divorce. Martin deals with this by being permanently stoned. Martin and Phil seek the professional advice of Dr. Karl Gross, TV psychiatrist who specialises in serial killers. Dr. Karl offers only a very basic profile. What do the victims have in common?

Sarah goes to see Dr. Karl Gross and admits she is an addict.

“I find pretty young men, hunt them down, and kill them with my bare hands.”

But can the doctor’s Psychoanalysis therapy CURE Sarah? Or will she be caught first?

This book is told from three points of view, Sarah, Martin and Dr. Karl. Sarah is my favorite character. She is cold and manipulative… a real thrill seeker. She works as an investment banker during the week and “hunts” on the weekend. She enjoys the best things in life, even some of the best cocaine, so long as it doesn’t interfere with her “killing” spree.

I wanted to shake Martin the detective, and force him to be more assertive in both his personal and work lives. His life is spiralling downhill and he is relying more on substance abuse to cope.

The is a dark fast paced novel with engaging characters and the writer builds up the tension slowly, keeping you on the edge of your seat until you reach the end, with a few surprises to keep you interested.

I would like to thank V.R Stone, Silverwhite Press and NetGalley for providing me with this debut ARC book to review. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Namita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Psychoanalysis is a debut novel by V. R. Stone with very dark undertones which makes for a interesting read
At the start of the book we know who the killer is but that does not spoil the book in anyway .
Sarah Silver is a hedge fund manager by day but likes to hunt and kill men when she gets the urge . She crosses path with a psychiatrist Dr. Karl Gross and a cop Martin White both who are fighting demons of their own . Martin is going through a rough divorce and the past still haunts him so he seeks solace in drink and drugs .Dr Gross a famous psychologist and writer dealing with a crippled wife is hiding horrible secrets of his own .There are other characters in play too especially Martin’s new partner Phil who is a professional poker player and does not agree with Martin’s way of working .
Will Sarah continue killing or will Martin and Dr Gross put their demons to rest and come together to catch a killer committing perfect crimes ?
This is the author’s debut novel and is written beautifully . It's a great psychological read with lots of twists and turns . The ending did not work for me as I felt it was rushed but I would still highly recommend it for anybody who is into this genre .
Many thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars for intense thrilling action with tons of surprises from a debut author

I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with this debut ARC book to review

I loved the way this British psychological crime thriller was delineated by days, instead of chapters; creating the effect that the reader is present right alongside the characters as they move through each day, from their mornings throughout their evenings. The majority of this fast paced chilling ride takes place over the course of a twenty day period of time, as a small group of officers race to stop a serial killer as her victims continue to mount.

The story follows three main characters, all of whom face their own inner demons. There is no secret to the reader who the killer is, Sarah appears to have it all: her work in the stock market has made her immensely wealthy, allowing her to afford a dream lifestyle including grand estates, and large off-shore bank accounts. Yet she is struggling with an internal powerful urge that she seems to be loosing control over: her “need to hunt” and inflict pain on men. As her need escalates she realizes that she is becoming careless, leading to the fear that she will finally be caught. Therefore she seeks help to stop; yet anyone unlucky enough to try to help her is coming face-to-face with a dangerous power possibly beyond anyone’s control.

Detective Martin White is, to me, the central character of the book. He has a dark secret that he has kept from his childhood, carrying it all these years, truly refusing to confront it. He has told no one except for his analyst, Dr. Gross, not even his wife. While this secret has led to his ambition to lock away the guilty, earning him recognition in the media and the force; it has also contributed to his need to seek solace from his memories through the use of substances. His wife has grown tired of this behavior, and decided to leave him, taking their daughter Molly, whom he loves, with her. As his life is falling apart at home, his work is suffering as well. No longer the powerful force against crime, rarely mentioned in the press, he has settled down to working on some cold cases.

Dr. Karl Gross is a well-known psychologist, claiming a celebrity clientele. He practices a Freudian psychoanalytical approach with his clients, also writing books about his experiences in helping serial killers and sex addicts reform. He has lost credibility in the media, where he is referred to by such names as “Dr. Death” and “The Dirty Doc”. He prefers to think of the disapproval of the medical community as “envy”, as his practice never suffers, and his books sell well. While dealing lovingly at home with a wife crippled forever by an infatuated patient, behind the closed walls of his beautiful clinic, Karl is revealed to be hiding some shocking demons of his own that if brought to light could lead to the loss of his medical license.

There is a perfect balance between the narratives of these three characters, as they come together and as the story unfolds with tense, spine-tingling suspense every day of the journey .


The book starts with a bang, as we witness Sarah during one of her typical “hunts”; which includes a disguise, revealing outfit, and a bar, where she leaves with an attractive younger man. She has her technique down to a science; giving the man a running start. The chilling chase is on, and once caught, the murder is brutal and hands on, she prefers to use her incredible strength as the only weapon in order to feel the life drain from her “prey”. As the story continues we see this need for control infall aspects of her life—except her own uncontrollable urge to exert that power again…and again.

Two supporting characters also contributed greatly to the story. Detective Chief Superintendent Terrence Cook has a rather big part to play; he has noticed a string of missing men from all across surrounding towns, usually seen last leaving a bar with a woman. Most of these encounters have been recorded by low quality surveillance cameras, and similarities are evident. He has decided to call Detective White, meeting in an unmarked police building, and bringing in another detective, Phil Burton, to work alongside them in seeking the possible serial killer. Chief Cook has decided the three of them should work this case in a secretive way—using an old computer to keep their notes on—one that is “off the record”, and under the radar of the rest of the police force. He has reasons for these actions….perhaps he want’s to solve the case with little help and become a star in the force….but there’s another deeper, more personal one—one that’s shockingly revealed during the books heart-racing conclusion.

Phil and Martin work this case side by side, two very different personalities. Phil, who’s made a lot of money as a professional poker player by learning how to spot “bluffs”, has decided he can apply those skills for spotting criminals. Martin is not a competitive man, it’s his past experience that haunts him, pushing him to crack the tough cases. He has no need for glory or recognition. Only the need to put the bad guys away.

As the chase gets underway, Martin begins losing more and more control over his life. His family is gone, all because the dark secret was tearing him apart inside. The person who he had both loved and feared as a child is suddenly gone too, bringing tough memories to the surface. His use of substances skyrockets, yet his detective instinct is still partially intact. If he comes face to face with the killer, will he be able to recognize her? He’s been making some extremely poor decisions that could cost his life, and blow the investigation….and let the killer go free.


One word of caution: this is about a serial killer after all: certain parts can get a little bloody, so if you're squeamish you have fair warning.....

[CL · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serial killer who seems to be targeting young men with no connections between them. A detective who smokes pot and listens to jazz links these murders to other countries but his personal life is in shambles and he does not want to live his life in the main stream or do as job as other detectives do theirs. He prefers the cold cases. Now he has been assigned a new partner who is an ace poker player but a by the books kind of a detective. They are polar opposites in work strategy but come together as a team. Now they are on the trail of the serial killer and it appears she may be a woman. Can they stop her. PsychoAnalysis is that age old dilemma of good versus evil and what does good do when confronted by evil. I would like to thanks the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A female serial killer decides to undergo psychoanalysis to see if she can be 'cured' from hunting young men? How could I not read that?
Sarah's public persona is the professional, confident, intelligent woman who has made a fortune as a hedge fund manager. To some, she may appear a bit aloof. She doesn't see much of her mother, but Sarah ensures her mother is not left wanting financially.
Privately, Sarah has urges that can only be calmed by the excitement of a hunt. Quite literally. Young, but otherwise pretty forgettable men are her preferred prey.
In an attempt to see if she can overcome her weakness, Sarah starts to see Dr. Karl Gross for psychoanalysis. Karl has become quite famous by publishing books about some of his celebrity clients' addictions and therapy. He also has a few skeletons in the cupboard/closet.
So does Martin White. His marriage is falling apart and in his job as a detective he has been working on cold cases. But then DCS Terrence Cook brings him in on a secretive operation investigating the disappearance of young men. Martin is partnered with detective Phil Burton, who has a real knack for playing poker and believes being able to spot bluffs will make him good at detective work.

Split into days, the story is told over a period of six weeks switching between the perspectives of Sarah, Karl, and Martin. All three are deeply flawed characters, but all of them show traits that make them highly interesting and intriguing characters. So this isn't a whodunit but a why and how and will-she-get-away-with-it story.
It is the author's debut novel and I was thoroughly impressed how well the plot was put together and how well it was written. V.R. Stone managed to pull me into the story from page one and I just wanted to keep reading. Set enough time aside before you start this one! I loved the psychology angle, loved the way the author build up the tension and dropped all the little surprises along the way. This is obviously dark with some violence, but not overly gory, although I could have done without the dog scene. The real focus and the strength of this novel are the utterly fascinating characters. Great psychological thriller.
BTW, I loved the title, the cover, and the choice of names. Wicked sense of humor, Mr. Stone.
I'm excited to see what V.R. Stone has in store for us next. I received an ARC via NetGalley.

[Sean Peters (A Good Thriller) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Psycho Analysis by V. R Stone

Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and the author for an advanced copy.

Although away on holiday, just finished on Saturday on the day the book was released, so just a few days late for my review, apologies.

A serial killer who wants to quit. A detective struggling to keep his personal life out of a murder hunt. And a celebrity psychiatrist facing an incredible challenge. Three damaged individuals, linked by their traumatic histories. They’ve chosen very different paths. Now those paths are about to cross.

The storyline revolves around one Sarah Silver, who by day works as a hedge fund manager in the big city... In the evenings however, her job is hunting men. And I don't mean as a promiscuous woman, I mean hunting them, as a lion would stalk their prey.
Sarah Silver is a hedge fund manager – from Monday to Friday she makes a killing in the markets. At weekends, though, she hunts men, not profits. Martin White used to be a brilliant detective. But his family, judgement and self-control are deserting him. And Karl Gross has sold millions of books on serial killers. However he’s a controversial figure in the medical community.

Can Martin keep it together and catch a killer who commits almost perfect crimes? Is Karl capable of unravelling Sarah’s psyche and putting an end to the killing? Or will she disappear when she realises that the hunter has become the hunted?

PsychoAnalysis is a psychological crime thriller that explores the grey area between good and evil. Why would a woman kill for fun? Can she be understood? Can she be stopped?

“The mind is like an iceberg. Most of it lies beneath the surface, a subconscious universe of thoughts we can’t observe. It contains memories too painful to remember, elicits emotions we don’t want to feel, and makes us do things we don’t understand.”

PSYCHOANALYSIS is a debut novel by V.R. Stone, a psychological crime thriller, written by someone with a degree in psychology, and a very unusual thriller. Three powerful main characters.

Detective Martin White is the central character of the book, he has a dark and chilling secret that he has kept from his childhood, carrying it all these years, truly refusing to confront it. He has told no one except for his analyst, Dr. Gross, not even his wife. He is not your usual police detective!

Dr. Karl Gross is a well-known psychologist, claiming a celebrity clientele. He practices a Freudian psychoanalytical approach with his clients, also writing books about his experiences in helping serial killers and sex addicts reform.

The storyline revolves around one Sarah Silver, the most powerful character in the book, who by day works as a hedge fund manager in the big city... In the evenings however, her job is hunting men, I mean hunting them, enjoying the chase, the catch.

A great debut thriller, gripping, tense, powerful, chilling and violent at times, but three great characters and full of shocks, all the way.

A four star from me.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Silver is a hedge fund manager .. a very successful and wealthy hedge fund manager. For fun she likes to pick up pretty young men from bars and take them home with her. They are never seen again.

DI Martin White has been a detective for 15 years, but he's burning out. His wife is leaving him, he won't be able to see his young daughter. He drinks .. a lot ... to fight off the pain in his knees. Mentally, he's a wreck; there are secrets in his past. His self-control has deserted him.

Karl Gross is a psychiatrist who once treated Martin for his depression. He has made an exceptional living out of writing books about serial killers. Most of the medical community thinks he's a fraud.

What do these 3 people have in common, you might ask. Their lives are about to converge with dire consequences that no one could have foreseen.

This is a well structured novel featuring three very unique characters. Female serial killers are rare, but the author has breathed life into this one.

There is a vast amount of violence. If you are sensitive to animal abuse, there is one instance in the book that is hard to read. It is a short-lived part of the story ... 2, maybe 3.... kindle pages.

Several twists to the story, as well as the fast action, keeps the reader glued to the pages to see what happens next. The ending was a big surprise!

I would like to than the author and Netgalley for the digital copy of this most interesting novel. The opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Monnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three emotionally damaged characters: A female serial killer, a psychiatrist, and a detective, all driven to some extent by past personal trauma. The latter two want to catch the former; the psychiatrist in the hope of getting a new book out of it, and the other because he's convinced that she's having way too much fun to stop on her own.

But first, they have to find her. From the start, readers know that Sarah Silver is on the surface a highly successful U.K. hedge fund manager in who plies a very different trade in her spare time: hunting men and killing them. But she's no fool; she's changed her identity, her looks and her license plates so often that no one has a clue who she really is and certainly not what she does in her time off.

The psychiatrist, Karl Gross, has written best-selling books on serial killers. Whether it stems from jealousy or a perceived lack of professional ethics, though, he's far from the most popular brick in the medical chimney. The detective, Martin White, is watching his career and personal life go down the tubes (easing it along by guzzling alcohol and smoking pot), largely because he can't come to grips with things that happened to him in the past.

Somehow they all come together, crossing paths in ways that force them to deal with emotions they'd rather not acknowledge. They don't start out happy, nor do they end that way. But the in-between twists and turns of their "relationships" make for one heck of a good story.

Frequent scene shifts keep readers aware of what's happening from each of the character's perspectives - sometimes an effective technique but, at least in the early chapters of this book, seemed a little disjointed to me. I'm also not fond of fiction written in the present tense, but that's just a personal preference.

The ending probably won't satisfy everyone (and some of the gory details aren't for the really squeamish). No problem on my end on either score, though - I found this to be a very engrossing debut novel. I thank the author and publisher, via NetGalley, for giving me the opportunity to read it in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review on www.novelgossip.com

Oh man you guys this was quite the creepy and disturbing read, absolutely perfect to read during the month of Halloween, great for a Halloween Readathon as well. I’ve always had an interest in female serial killers as they’re such a rarity so I was totally intrigued by Sarah and she did not disappoint in the scary, cold, and absolutely depraved serial killer department.

There are three point of views here, Sarah who hunts pretty boys and kills them for fun, Martin, a DI whose personal life is in shambles and his professional life isn’t fairing much better, and finally Karl a psychiatrist who has made a living by selling sensationalized books about serial killers. All three are utterly absorbing and I found myself completely caught up in their various stories. Sarah obviously has a huge secret that she’s managed to keep quiet for years, but both Martin and Karl have skeletons in their closets as well.

Though this isn’t a traditional mystery where the reader is trying to figure out who the murderer is, there is still a strong level of tension as you’re left wondering if Sarah will be caught. Will she be able to control her sadistic urges long enough to get help and quit playing her deadly games once and for all? I really enjoyed the way Stone was able to build up suspense and his writing style was polished and effortless, he maintained a nice pace and flow throughout the book. For a debut novelist he really knows how to hook the reader and keep their attention.

I was reminded of two of my favorite characters while reading this; Archie Sheridan and Gretchen Lowell from Chelsea Cain’s popular series featuring the two. Stone created a depraved and detached killer in Sarah and there are definitely some violent and graphic scenes, not for the faint of heart. Her level of intelligence and cunning is far superior to most and though she’s a sick and twisted individual, I was beyond curious about exploring her psyche.

I was throughly impressed by this book and I will definitely be following Stone’s writing career closely. The characters are well rounded with complex personalities and issues, the writing itself is excellent, and the story Stone told was engrossing. He was able to weave together the lives of the characters seamlessly while providing a tight narrative with plenty of well executed and surprising plot twists. Highly recommended for crime fiction fans.

[Erin Dunn · Rating 1 out of 5]

http://angelerin.blogspot.com/2017/01...

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free ebook copy of Psycho Analysis By: V.R. Stone in exchange for an honest review.

I was really looking forward to reading Psycho Analysis. The blurb sounds 100% right up my alley, but sadly it just wasn't for me like I thought it would be. As far as the writing goes it was good, but I just could NOT get into the story. There wasn't anything going on that really grabbed me and I got very bored. A part of me wanted to give it longer (I DNF'd at 15%), but I couldn't do it.
#DullPlot

Overall I didn't care for Psycho Analysis and I think this is a case of it's just not my cup of tea. It sounded like it would be, but it just didn't intrigue me. Granted I didn't get too far so take my review with a grain of salt if the summary sounds interesting to you.
#FirstDNFOf2017

I can't personally recommend this one, but if it sounds good to you then give it a shot.
#NotForMe

[Dani N · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, let's just take a minute to admire this cover! Exceptional. As chilling as it is befitting. I admit that it succeeded in grabbing my fullest attention. Pair that with the promise of an exciting female serial killer and picking this up is an effortless process.

The story unfolds through the eyes of three individuals.

We meet Sarah who not only kills it in the market, but also on the weekends, literally. She is young, wealthy and beautiful. She is everything a man could desire in a woman, aside from one teeny-weeny bad habit. She hunts and kills men. However, Sarah has decided she wants to stop. But can a serial killer be rehabilitated?

Detective Martin White's home life is falling apart. His wife is leaving and he is struggling to maintain his grasp. Tasked with tracking down an elusive killer, he is no longer sure of his own capabilities. Can he keep his personal life and work separated long enough to finish the job?

Dr. Karl Gross makes his living treating sex addicts and extreme clients and then selling their stories. His methods have managed to create a less than positive stir in his field. So what happens when he takes on a new client that may be too difficult even for him?

I wanted to love this book, and yet I found myself unable to fully do so. A female serial killer, broken detective and questionable psychiatrist seem like a sure recipe for a fantastic thriller. But it failed to fully come together and fall into that perfect harmony. The pieces just didn't fit well. For that reason, this will be a briefer summary of my time with the book.

The characters felt flat. I am not even going to soften this because it was my biggest challenge with Psycho Analysis. For as flawed and unique as they were, there was little to nothing extraordinary occurring with each of them. Sarah was mildly interesting, but just not likable in that disturbing sort of way. I wanted to secretly admire some small aspect of her. If you have watched Dexter, then you know what I mean. It is possible to love a serial killer. But not this one. In fact, later events completely turned me off of her.

Detective White and Dr Gross both offered little in terms of engagement of engaging the reader. There is one interesting side of Gross that is presented and then completely dropped?! I felt it could have been a huge addition to the story. Ultimately, I felt as though there was a lot of untapped potential within each of them. This was a dysfunctional trio, so there should have been much more happening beneath the initial surface. I wanted there to be so much more.

The setting and world building were solid though. The author easily transports us back and forth through time as memories are called to the surface and effortlessly paints an immersive image of each encounter. The writing is seamless, allowing the multiple PoVs to go off without a hitch. But it was not without some predictability. A few twists were foreseen and revealed far too early for my personal taste. While the ending did not disappoint, it failed to sincerely surprise me.

The end result was a fun but not so memorable experience. I don't regret my time with Psycho Analysis, but I am not jumping to fully recommend it either. If you are in search of a more simplistic thriller or a somewhat mindless read, this might be the one. So if curiosity has you, pick it up and formulate an opinion.

You can also find my review on the blog here.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as I read the blurb for this book and saw the bloody, Rorschach inspired cover art I knew I would love it!



The killer is revealed within the first few pages so no spoilers when I say it’s about a female serial killer; not a common subject matter. Sarah Silver is a high flying hedge fund manager by day and ruthless man hunter (literally!) by night. I know I shouldn’t have liked her but I did and part of me was rooting for her to get away with her heinous deeds. You can sense her unravelling as the story progresses and her acts become increasingly depraved. She thinks she wants to be cured but can she ever be trusted?



Martin White is a likeable, run-down detective. Although damaged in his own way, he is determined to crack this case.



Dr Karl Gross is a psychologist specialising in celebrities and serial killers. Could he be the one to cure Sarah? With his own “personal” interests he often made me feel uncomfortable.



A cracking story which has everything I love in a psychological thriller, this is the debut novel from VR Stone and I can’t wait to read more. I will be recommending this book for a long time and have already assigned it the hashtag #alltheawesome

[Tracy Fenton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Psychoanalysis is a rather dark and disturbing thriller featuring a fascinating feisty female serial killer who wants to quit, a damaged cop with a past who is trying to catch her and the Dr who is trying to help her quit. A gripping tale of cat and mouse with some rather gruesome and revolting murders along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed it

[Siobhan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won V. R. Stone’s Psycho Analysis through a Goodreads giveaway, and was super excited to read it. It sounded so unique, so much fun… Yet I believe my expectations were a little bit too high with this one.

Yes, it was a fun read; however, it wasn’t the super original read I’d been expecting.

I’ll admit that there were some unique aspects to the story, but by the end of it the story felt like many other in the genre. There are plenty of clichés to be seen throughout the story, which ultimately leave the handful of unique aspects dimming in comparison. It had such potential, it had real possibility, but in the end it didn’t quite live up to what I had been hoping for. I think this is why the book ended up with three stars from me – I wanted more than I was given, thus leaving me feeling a little bit disappointed.

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t a bad story. There were many interesting aspects throughout, many points that leave you questioning details. The usual big questions you have in such story are answered from the start – you know who the killer is, you’re watching the killer throughout the story – but there are smaller questions that you’re waiting to see answered. Mostly, these pertain to characters. You’re left with questions regarding the characters – questions of their past, their choices, and other such notions. Whilst it’s always fun for characters to have an air of mystery, with this one too much focus was on making sure the characters had an air of mystique instead of leaving you pulled into the story. After all, you knew from quite early on how things were going to end.

I admit that certain aspects of the ending were unexpected. Some of the characters made choices you didn’t see coming, allowing for some very late revelations. However, the overall ending was expected. There was no real shocking twist. Some characters survived, others died – all without there being the major showdown I’d been anticipating. As much as I enjoyed watching everything come together, nothing was really as explosive as I’d expected it to be.

Yes, it held my attention; however, it didn’t leave me breathless in anticipation.

I also found some inconsistencies within the book. One character seemed to work through the ranks of DC, DS, and DI throughout the story – a simple mistake that could have easily been corrected. It seemed a simple overlooked error, as we knew which rank the officer was, yet this went unnoticed and it bugged me quite a bit.

Overall, it was an okay read but it failed to blow my mind in the way I had hoped.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The mind...contains memories too painful to remember, elicits emotions we don't want to feel, and makes us do things we don't understand."

Three characters on very different paths, but all have personal issues from the past that will collide in the present. One is a Freudian psychiatrist and author -- Dr. Karl Gross who specializes in serial killers and celebrity sex addicts. Another is DI Martin White whose work days are usually spent looking at cold cases -- until he is assigned a partner for this investigation. And lastly, Sarah Smith (AKA Sarah Silver) -- a rarity -- female serial killer who has traveled the world for her prey. Just who is the hunter?

Lots of action and great messed up characters that remind us all of how complex humans can be. The detectives want to find and stop the killer. The psychiatrist wants to get inside her head and save her (and maybe write a book about her). Sarah wants to ...quit? Maybe. Told in alternating points of view, this psychological crime thriller takes the reader on quite the ride and begs the question -- what shapes human behavior?

This was an excellent debut and I'm definitely going to be eagerly waiting for this author's next book. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the e-book ARC to review.

[Zuky the BookBum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also read my review here: http://bookbum.weebly.com/book-review...

NOW AVAILABLE IN THE UK!

"That old fable" Sarah says, "a scorpion asks a frog to carry him across the river. The frgon warns 'sting me and we both die.' But halfway across, the scorpion stings the frog anyway."

Karl nods. "The frog's dying word is 'why?' and the scorpion says 'it's in my nature'..."

Ugh, well I was really looking forward to giving this novel a read because it sounded different from the usual serial killer - detective novels out in the market, and for a while it did feel different and more interesting, but it still managed to disappoint me.

This started off pretty well, with a pretty intense and unusual female serial killer that likes to murder men to soothe her addiction to blood and control. With a pretty unorthodox, weed smoking policeman and sex and violence obsessed psychiatrist. All definitely interesting characters in their own right, but when brought together to form this story, they didn’t quite blend together nicely, instead ending up in a sort of lumpy mash instead.

The plot was pretty same-y to most of the other detective novels out there, a troubled cop with family issues trying to find a killer who seems all but impossible to catch. There was nothing exceptional about this particular story - it wasn’t really funny, the characters weren’t out of this world amazing, though the plot did take quite an unexpected shock twist at the end, possibly one of the best twists I’ve read about in a while, but unfortunately it felt so ridiculous and silly it kind of took away the amazing-ness of it. I get that it was meant to be a whoa-what-a-shocker ending but it felt so over the top!

I was all for giving this 4 stars until the ending. It didn’t go the way I wanted it to go, Sarah and Martin’s relationship irritated the fuck outta me and I hated the way he kind of just let her walk away rather than doing his duty as an officer of the law, and so that made me a bit grumbly and annoyed. I also realised an hour or so after reading this that we were left with a whole heap of loose ends and unanswered questions, and nothing annoys me more than loose ends and unanswered questions.

I read this in one 4 hour sitting on the plane journey home so it obviously had enough tension and excitement to keep me entertained, but in the end it turned out to be a pretty mediocre read for me, which is a shame because I was really happy and excited to have been accepted to read it.

P.S I love the cover!

Thanks to Netgalley and V.R. Stone for giving me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

[Fiona Knight · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided with a free ARC for review via NetGalley.

I'm well into the serial killery/police hunt genre, and I love a book that stands out from the crowd - without having to resort to cheap stunts or hooks.

We begin our story splitting time equally between three main characters: Martin White, a police detective who has just lost his mother; Karl Gross, a celebrity analyst who has found plenty of fame and lost the respect of his peers in the process; and Sarah Silver, our Hannibal of the piece.

Martin could easily have slid into a very familiar mode of the troubled detective - he's clearly hitting bottles of multiple substances, and his wife has finally lost her patience with it. But there's more depth to him than that - a rocker father, and the disruption caused by his mother's death expose interesting nuances to his character. He's quickly pulled into an "off the books" investigation into a potential female serial killer, working with a younger detective, Phil.

Karl too, displays hidden depths, despite initially coming across as a slightly more thoughtful Dr Phil type. One of those depths being a tendancy to sedate and molest the more fragile and appealing of his female patients, providing an interesting counterpoint to Sarah's preferences He's pulled into the case initially by Martin, in a request for a consultation.

Sarah comes into the book with a bang - almost literally - as the reader is treated to a precise rundown of exactly what she does when the urge to hunt strikes. And she is very much a predator - in all aspects of her life, she displays a need for control and dominance, as well as an instinct for her prey which serves her well.

The pacing between all three storylines is handled nicely, and I never lost the thread of who we were following. Sarah establishes herself quickly as a capable and methodical killer - who nevertheless has started to feel the pull of the hunt a little too often for her own comfort.

The story itself was very absorbing, and the editing was absolutely top notch - nothing pushes me out of a story faster than typos or mistakes in continuity. Instead, I was absorbed as we made our way through a satisfyingly twisty mystery - which I won't get into detail about for fear of spoilers. But RIP Phil! I had become unreasonably attached to you :(

All in all a really fantastic read - even more impressive for what appears to be a debut novel. There was clearly room there for futher installations in a potential series, so I'll be watching this space!

[Alison Taylor-Muhl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Upon reading the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to read it – a female serial killer, a troubled celebrity psychologist and washed-up detective – what a combination!

I was very impressed by the knowledgeable way in which the author writes about mental health – I really felt I could have been observing the sessions between Sarah and Karl. These parts of the book grabbed me, and I would have been happy to read many more of these sections.

Throughout, the book is very detailed and the macabre sections describing the murders Sarah commits are no exception – you have been warned!

When thinking about the books I have read recently, my loyalties (almost) always sit with the Detective – that’s just how it is. However, I found I didn’t really bond with Detective White – part of me is sure that this is because of the personal issues he has, and a lot of the time I felt he was acting like an idiot. Another part of me knows that this is due to the fact I was intrigued by the character of Sarah so much (is that wrong of me?).

My only criticism of the book is that one short chapter features extreme violence towards a dog. Animal abuse in books (and, of course life) is a massive no-no for me – I was not impressed. I also feel that the chapter was written simply to shock/upset the reader, as it gives absolutely nothing to the story at all. In my opinion, it is totally unnecessary and should be removed. Without this chapter, I would have happily given the book 4 stars, as it is, I can only give it a solid 3 stars.

[Lynn Mccarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psycho Analysis is a psychological thriller.
There are some gruesome scenes but hey I don't mind that.
Sarah is an attractive strong girl with a great job but she has an insatiable need to hunt and kill innocent men.
Martin White is the detective on her trail he has his own demons alcohol and drugs.
Dr Karl Gross is an psychologist with a secret that could put an end to his career.
Somehow they all come together.
Can Martin crack the case and can Dr Gross cure Sarah?
This is a debut book and I can not wait to see what the Author offers next.
A recommended book.

Thanks to the Author Publisher and Netgalley for a chance to read this book

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a brilliant book, I thoroughly enjoyed it especially with a woman serial killer involved which was a little different for me. Well worth a read. I loved it.

[Frances Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was sucked into this story from the very beginning. The central character, Sarah, is cold yet strangely likeable - I definitely wanted her to make it through in one piece! I loved the way the book turned stereotypes around, with a serial killer who's female, and who wants to be 'cured'. The detective pursuing her is also easy to like, and I'd be happy to read about him more in future.

It's hard to believe this is a debut novel, the writing is great and the story is well-paced. I look forward to reading more from V. R. Stone in future.

[Faouzia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this copy.

4.5 Stars.

This was an interesting and intriguing psychological thriller. One serial killer, one detective, one celebrity psychiatrist.
This book was captivating from the beginning, one of the reasons was that it did not follow the usual plot, the identity of the serial killer was not a mystery and it was not the most important part, it was the hunt, the chasing between the different characters that made it interesting.

The story centers around these three different characters: Martin, the detective with a dark past, trying to catch this serial killer who leaves almost no trace behind; Sarah, the killer, who wants to stop and seeks help through therapy; and Dr Gross, the psychiatrist, with his own set of secrets.

I really enjoyed this story, enjoyed following all the characters and trying to see how it will end. There was a quote at the end of the book "Freud believed the mind is like an iceberg. Most of it lies beneath the surface, a subconscious universe of thoughts we can’t observe. It contains memories too painful to remember, elicits emotions we don’t want to feel, and makes us do things we don’t understand.", well, it certainly applies to all the characters of this book.
With every chapter there was a small secret revealed that changed the perception of all the events.

I would recommend it to my friends!

[Shaine CCH · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free digital copy of this book. Thank you NetGalley and SilverWhite Press.

'You never really get to know someone if you don’t speak their language'

I'm intrigued after reading the synopsis. I know this book was interesting because it is a psychological crime thriller and I was very excited to read it because it piqued my curiosity as a psychology major.

I like the idea of using dates to show what happened on that day in each character in which each of them has their issues and past that affects them in the present.

Sarah hunt men. Why? I'm curious. Who is Oliver Brown? Why Sarah used different names? These are my questions and thoughts while reading and afterwards I now understood why. I'm surprised that she's very much willing to undergo psychoanalysis and willingly see Dr. Gross to "cure" her addiction.

Detective Inspector Martin is a smoker who loves to listen to old songs, relies on "old-fashioned hunch" and has family issues. He's logical but trusted his instinct so much.

Doctor Karl Gross, a psychiatrist and an author for serial killing books. Haha. I like his last name. It surprised me that V.R. Stone used the idea transference to Dr. Gross and add his own "craziness" make this book more interesting.

A well-written novel. Every page excites me and I keep on looking forward on the page to see what happened. I commend V.R. Stone for this wonderful novel. I will surely recommend this to my fellow readers.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A female serial killer, gruesome murders, dysfunctional DI ... what's not to love?

Hard to believe this is a debut, V.R. Stone wrote the lead characters so well that he actually got me liking and somewhat rooting for both a serial killer and a drug infused DI. It's a well paced twisty and gripping psychological thriller and had me turning the pages and ignoring the family.

I'd love to see a series of books featuring DI White but whether he features in future books or not, I will definitely look out for more from this author.

4-4.5 stars

[Sarah Maleficent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an original plot line, a female serial killer. Not only that, but a serial killer who wants to change, who wants to stop her killing of fit young men.

We follow Sarahs journey along her path and are taken on a twisted adventure that is exciting (if i'm allowed to say that about such subject mater) gripping, and fast paced. With a main character that is unusual in so many ways, successful (surprisingly likeable) and a killer. What more could you want?

Well written and leaving me wanting more i shall look forward to future releases from this author.

[Michal · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it was an easy read and a page turner, parts of this book seemed hastily put together towards the end. The concept of a woman serial killer was novel and interesting but I would say the book was a bit unpolished and sophomoric. I was attracted by the title but it was far from what I expected. The "Psychoanalysis" part was more of a subplot and not really the main story.

[Bonnie Kernene]

The debut novel for V.R. Stone is a great one! It has well-defined and engaging characters, along with plot twists. I loved the book and would love to read another by this author.

[Rafael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a recommendation from Shaine of Wanderer in Neverland and probably my first attempt at reading a psychological, mystery, and thriller genre that has a connection with the medical field. This certain specific mixture of genres and preference are my own personal choices since I have this huge attraction on human behaviour, personality beyond the reputation, and of course, the darkness lies in each of us.

Psycho Analysis is a book that we could presume as dark, vivid, and imaginative. The pretense of the book displays so much connection to reality that inclined the readers more to read the novel. Personally, there are chapters that I find less engaging however there’s an impact on knowing the personality of the suspect more and more that makes me want to finish the book. It is interesting to know the actions, the thinking, the decisions, and the path that a suspect would choose once the trap has been set.

The book wasn’t impactful as I hope it was but it was delivered in such coordinate tone that I can see clearly the results of their actions. What made me continue reading this novel is because I wanted to know more about the past of criminal. Somehow, I’m trying to make myself believe that each person’s personality was affected or at least influenced by their environment, events in life – may it be hardships or achievements, and peers. And it was stated in the book that there are people who could find pleasure in things that may not seem normal to the society. It challenges the mind of the readers. I’m asking myself the what ifs, the could have been, that maybe those unacceptable actions could be acceptable actions if it weren’t dictated by the law nor by the society.

It definitely stimulates one’s mind and questions their stance on morality. The concept and premise of the book are outstanding, however, it lacks the impact and the story is too predictable. I like how the author crafted the personalities of the characters but the execution of the story gave away too much to made significance to the readers. I could appraise the fast-paced, well-written writing style since I devour the book with just two nights and I commend that by reading Psycho Analysis as my introduction to the genre ignited my curiosity towards the topic.

Psycho Analysis by V.R. Stone is a good story to read if you need some distraction or change in your genre preference. It will make your mind question a lot of things and a conflict in your conscience will fight for what you believe in. The question after reading this book is: How far can human understand a mind of a human? That would seem an irrelevant question but if you will look into it in a deeper level of understanding, fear could invoke because we don’t know what underlying capabilities could human do if we try to go deeper than what we already have.

MY RATINGS: 3.5 STARS.

[Krystin | TheF*ckingTwist · Rating 1 out of 5]

Book Blog | Bookstagram

DNF @ 23%

A woman rapist and serial killer should have worked for me, but this is just boring AF right from the first page. Once she brought the strap-on out, I was done.





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