Monster Man

by Glyn Parry

WHEN LIFE SEEMS LIKE A BAD VIDEO CLIP

Melanie Spence was just another sixteen-year-old until the sunny afternoon she was kidnapped. Suddenly her everyday problems - an oversexed boyfriend, an irritating mother, a dad who left home - paled in comparison to the sick fantasyland her kidnapper called reality.

Samuel Levine was about forty, trapped in his own demented netherworld of domineering monsters, dead sisters, and an obsessive desire for a family. Melanie and a little four-year-old girl were his prisoners on a terrifying odyssey of danger and destruction. There was no way he would let them go...not alive, anyway.

Though bound and gagged, Melanie refused to give up hope. She still had her brains, so why be a victim when she could be a survivor?...

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Glyn Parry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this book. (Smiles.)

lol

Glyn

[Joybell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can remember reading this as a teenager, and really identifying with Melanie. It took me years to hunt down a copy to own.

What I loved most about the book is that although Melanie is your typical teenage girl, she's not your typical damsel-in-distress. Her background and the events she has had to overcome really instilled a resilience inside her, preparing her for what was to come.

Being Australian, I loved the references to our culture and brands. The descriptive writing isn't overpowering, and the exciting storyline will appeal to teens and adults alike.

It's a quick read, however it's paced nicely and the ending doesn't let you down. We get to see the cogs ticking inside the antagonists head, and Melanie's internal dialogue keeps us on the edge of our seat.

I've always wondered why this book isn't as well-known as it ought to be. It's deeply disturbing, intense and a great example of a heroine who uses her brains to get herself through what is a thoroughly terrifying experience.

[Sarah Thornton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Instrinically Western Australian, while a lot of it was from the perspective of a mentally ill serial killer it was a compelling read, albeit perhaps a little too short.
The evolving relationship between the two kidnapped girls as Melanie finally gains the trust of the - up until the end unnamed - younger girl is well done.

The dog dies.

Subplot with the boyfriend and the ending was a little weak.

More from Melanie's mother's perspective could have been warranted, and Christine's mother's fate could have been divulged.

[Ashlee (Ajax) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Type: paperback
Why: Was a bunch of books given to me and my 15 month old son picked this one out


Thoughts: Short book well written
Very suspenseful.

However ending fell very short and left me very confused and disappointed

Was great reading about Locations I know though.

[Jacinta · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read this in high school, I remember thinking, is this an appropriate book to give teens? It's aimed at that age group but there's some pretty confronting themes for young adults. It was a good read though, if disturbing.

[Kezia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy.

[Deb Tregilgas]

Samuel Levine is a psychopath tortured by the others who live inside his head. We follow him on a journey, real and imagined in which he wants to right the wrongs of the past and create the perfect family along the way. The story, is in part, told by one of his victims, Melanie, a 16 year old he kidnaps because she could be a twin to his dead sister Claudia.
The story switches between points of view and explores the effect of multiple personality disorder not only on the victims but also the perpetrator. Written at a time when this kind of information wasn't general knowledge it is a well structured and told story.
Parry constructs a good, solid story meant for young adolescents. Easily read in class my students have found it a fascinating tale.