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Victim Mentality
A criminal genius. A comedian on the edge. A secret that should have stayed buried…
Nick’s life is about to change, and not for the better.
After his comedy and acting agent lands him a film role, Nick meets with a prisoner to help get into character.
Enter Gideon Matthias, who explodes into Nick's life like a nuclear bomb.
Gideon is a criminal genius with an almost superhuman gift of perception. A man who beats other inmates to death while describing the emotions they're feeling.
The first meeting changes everything for the two men – for very different reasons - and Nick finds himself drawn into Gideon's chaotic world.
As Nick battles his inner demons and tries to get his life on track, Gideon contends against his own enemies inside the prison – one of which he’s crossed too many times.
He may be a criminal genius, but even a genius can bleed. And so can his new friend.
The lives of Nick and Gideon are on a collision course, and there’s only one way out for them both...
“Touches on philosophy, psychology and mental health, as well as being an excellent crime thriller .” – Amazon reviewer “Nick is the most sarcastic character since Myron Bolitar from Harlan Coben's books!” – Goodreads reviewer “Would definitely recommend this one … a nice change from the usual 'cat and mouse' type crime fiction.” – Amazon reviewer Author Q and A
Where did the idea come from?
This idea for this psychological thriller actually came out of something that happened while I was – appropriately enough - studying psychology.
During a cognitive psychology lecture, the tutor was describing optical illusions and explained that even though we know how the illusions work, we will always fall victim of them. It doesn't matter how much knowledge we have or how many times we see the same picture, we will always be fooled.
So that’s the central premise of the novel - that we're all victims of our own minds. (With a bit of murder and intrigue thrown in, obviously...)
Who would like this book?
I’m tempted to just say ‘everybody who loves bestselling, compelling, incredibly well-written, and amazingly good books!’ but that may be going a bit far…
So I’ll just say anybody who likes suspense and mysteries, and who also enjoys the psychological aspects of crime and what makes criminals tick. The main character has been likened by a reviewer to Myron Bolitar (from the books of Harlan Coben), and the main criminal was likened to Hannibal Lecter crossed with Charles Bronson – so I guess if you’re fans of them, you’ll probably like this too.
Nick’s life is about to change, and not for the better.
After his comedy and acting agent lands him a film role, Nick meets with a prisoner to help get into character.
Enter Gideon Matthias, who explodes into Nick's life like a nuclear bomb.
Gideon is a criminal genius with an almost superhuman gift of perception. A man who beats other inmates to death while describing the emotions they're feeling.
The first meeting changes everything for the two men – for very different reasons - and Nick finds himself drawn into Gideon's chaotic world.
As Nick battles his inner demons and tries to get his life on track, Gideon contends against his own enemies inside the prison – one of which he’s crossed too many times.
He may be a criminal genius, but even a genius can bleed. And so can his new friend.
The lives of Nick and Gideon are on a collision course, and there’s only one way out for them both...
“Touches on philosophy, psychology and mental health, as well as being an excellent crime thriller .” – Amazon reviewer “Nick is the most sarcastic character since Myron Bolitar from Harlan Coben's books!” – Goodreads reviewer “Would definitely recommend this one … a nice change from the usual 'cat and mouse' type crime fiction.” – Amazon reviewer Author Q and A
Where did the idea come from?
This idea for this psychological thriller actually came out of something that happened while I was – appropriately enough - studying psychology.
During a cognitive psychology lecture, the tutor was describing optical illusions and explained that even though we know how the illusions work, we will always fall victim of them. It doesn't matter how much knowledge we have or how many times we see the same picture, we will always be fooled.
So that’s the central premise of the novel - that we're all victims of our own minds. (With a bit of murder and intrigue thrown in, obviously...)
Who would like this book?
I’m tempted to just say ‘everybody who loves bestselling, compelling, incredibly well-written, and amazingly good books!’ but that may be going a bit far…
So I’ll just say anybody who likes suspense and mysteries, and who also enjoys the psychological aspects of crime and what makes criminals tick. The main character has been likened by a reviewer to Myron Bolitar (from the books of Harlan Coben), and the main criminal was likened to Hannibal Lecter crossed with Charles Bronson – so I guess if you’re fans of them, you’ll probably like this too.
345 pages, Paperback
First published May 12, 2017
3 people are currently reading
458 people want to read
About the author
Angelo Marcos
9 books58 followersAngelo Marcos is a writer, actor and stand-up comedian, who for some reason refers to himself in the third person.
He writes psychological thrillers and crime fiction, often with a dash of humour thrown in for good measure.
Drawing on his background in law and psychology, he crafts memorable characters and suspenseful mysteries which shine a light on human behaviour and why people do what they do.
See? I told you he refers to himself in the third person...
Website - http://www.angelomarcos.com
Twitter - @theangelomarcos
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theangelomarcos
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyDHu...
He writes psychological thrillers and crime fiction, often with a dash of humour thrown in for good measure.
Drawing on his background in law and psychology, he crafts memorable characters and suspenseful mysteries which shine a light on human behaviour and why people do what they do.
See? I told you he refers to himself in the third person...
Website - http://www.angelomarcos.com
Twitter - @theangelomarcos
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/theangelomarcos
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyDHu...
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 6, 2025
Angelo Marcos is one of a very select group of authors of whom I cannot get enough.
Victim Mentality is a very clever and immensely enjoyable psychological thriller like nothing else I have read.
Nick is OCD and has reached a critical point in his life -no one likes him, not his girlfriend, his support group, his agent.
When he lands a role as a career criminal he wants to meet one so that he can get into the role. Enter Gideon Mathias, master criminal and manipulator extraordinaire.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to author Angelo Marcos for providing a digital copy of Victim Mentality for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Victim Mentality is a very clever and immensely enjoyable psychological thriller like nothing else I have read.
Nick is OCD and has reached a critical point in his life -no one likes him, not his girlfriend, his support group, his agent.
When he lands a role as a career criminal he wants to meet one so that he can get into the role. Enter Gideon Mathias, master criminal and manipulator extraordinaire.
Highly recommended.
Thank you to author Angelo Marcos for providing a digital copy of Victim Mentality for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
May 31, 2017
Nick is a stand-up comedian/actor whose life is a self-imposed hell. Nick suffers from severe obsessive-compulsive disorder, which affects every aspect of his being. In preparing for a movie role, Nick is scheduled to meet inmate Gideon Matthias, a criminal who has spent most of his life behind bars. Gideon is infinitely confident, unlike Nick, who is anxious and uncertain. Gideon claims to know himself and believes that each person is a victim of their own psychological makeup. Both men have been through traumatic childhood incidents, and each has dealt with the consequences in different ways. Nick is fascinated by Gideon, whose quick mood swings, sudden acts of violence and uncanny cognizance of human nature make him an indelible figure. Nick's obsessive-compulsive nature makes the narrative painful at times, and he often feels as if he is falling into a void. However, Gideon's theory of the permanence of our victim mentality causes him to think in a different way. Are we really the product of our own minds, or can we change ourselves? In the words of Gideon, "we don't know who we are until we have to find out." This is Nick's story.
I was provided a free e-copy of this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks.
I was provided a free e-copy of this novel by the author in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks.
February 26, 2018
Great dialogue! Well researched. The plot did drag a little bit up to the climax. Probably could use a more dynamic subplot. But great read.
November 14, 2019
I don't usually read crime thrillers, but I'm so glad I gave this one a go!
I loved the psychological elements, the philosophical conversations between Nick and Gideon, and the powerful descriptions of what it's like to live with a mental health condition. It's brilliantly funny too. I was completely immersed from start to finish, and didn't want to put it down. Highly recommended, even if the genre isn't normally your thing!
I loved the psychological elements, the philosophical conversations between Nick and Gideon, and the powerful descriptions of what it's like to live with a mental health condition. It's brilliantly funny too. I was completely immersed from start to finish, and didn't want to put it down. Highly recommended, even if the genre isn't normally your thing!
July 13, 2018
I loved how this book was written! You really get into the head of the main character!
The main character is a man named Nick who is a comedian trying to be an actor too. He gets a part in a film and his agent (who is not very good and keeps forgetting when his gigs are!!) tells him to meet with a prisoner named Gideon so he can get into character. Gideon is kind of a cross between Hannibal Lecter and Charles Bronson!! Nick has got Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Gideon notices this almost immediately!! Nick is a bit scared of him but they become more friendly later.
I don't want to give anything away cos there are a lot of twists and turns so I don't want to spoil them. Gideon has got a big enemy in prison so that is a big part of the story too but the main part is between Nick and Gideon and how things that happened years before have given them a few things in common. I'm not going to say more than that cos it might give it away!
The book is also very funny at times too especially one scene when Nick gets into an argument at a bar! Nick is probably the most sarcastic character since Myron Bolitar (from Harlan Coben's books!)
People I think would like the book -
Anyone who likes crimes/mysteries, people who like comedy because you really get into Nick's mind, anybody interested in OCD because its very descriptive and you see the condition from Nick's point of view which is really sad at at times.
The main character is a man named Nick who is a comedian trying to be an actor too. He gets a part in a film and his agent (who is not very good and keeps forgetting when his gigs are!!) tells him to meet with a prisoner named Gideon so he can get into character. Gideon is kind of a cross between Hannibal Lecter and Charles Bronson!! Nick has got Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Gideon notices this almost immediately!! Nick is a bit scared of him but they become more friendly later.
I don't want to give anything away cos there are a lot of twists and turns so I don't want to spoil them. Gideon has got a big enemy in prison so that is a big part of the story too but the main part is between Nick and Gideon and how things that happened years before have given them a few things in common. I'm not going to say more than that cos it might give it away!
The book is also very funny at times too especially one scene when Nick gets into an argument at a bar! Nick is probably the most sarcastic character since Myron Bolitar (from Harlan Coben's books!)
People I think would like the book -
Anyone who likes crimes/mysteries, people who like comedy because you really get into Nick's mind, anybody interested in OCD because its very descriptive and you see the condition from Nick's point of view which is really sad at at times.
June 17, 2017
This is a crime thriller with a difference.
The structure is essentially first person for the chapters with the main character (Nick) and third person for the rest of it. Similar to Gone Girl in that respect, although that's where the similarities generally end.
Nick has got OCD and is a standup comedian who becomes involved with a criminal named Gideon Matthias. There are a few twists and turns along the way, and a pretty big one at the end too.
It's a very entertaining and interesting read, and is something different in the crime/psychological thriller genre which is always good!
The structure is essentially first person for the chapters with the main character (Nick) and third person for the rest of it. Similar to Gone Girl in that respect, although that's where the similarities generally end.
Nick has got OCD and is a standup comedian who becomes involved with a criminal named Gideon Matthias. There are a few twists and turns along the way, and a pretty big one at the end too.
It's a very entertaining and interesting read, and is something different in the crime/psychological thriller genre which is always good!
July 2, 2017
This is a psychological thriller that is clever and enjoyable.
March 30, 2020
This book whilst it was okay, it just was not the type of crime novel I enjoy. Glad I read it but not a huge fan. I struggle with the whole "victim mentality"
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews