Mind Games

Sam Becket #1

by Hilary Norman

On the face of it, the double homicide of Arnold and Marie Robbins looks like just another brutal Miami Beach murder - except that teenage Cathy Robbins is lying between the bodies, traumatised but unharmed. Is she a silent witness to murder, or is she a killer?

Genres: Thriller, German Literature, Fiction

436 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Born and raised in London, loved reading but deeply lazy about writing at school, preferring drama. A brief acting career, then moved into the production side at the BBC's radio drama department - later at London's Capital Radio, by which time the writing "switch" had been flicked on. Spent as much time as possible travelling in the US, working and writing. First novel, IN LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP published in 1986 after five years of writing. Wrote sagas with big dramatic finishes in the early days, and then, as the body count rose, made the move into psychological suspense and thrillers. Last book LAST RUN soon out in trade paperback, and the latest (and 20th) -RALPH'S CHILDREN - out soon in hardcover.
Living in London with husband Jonathan, and dog Poppy.

Reviews

[Thessia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dies war mal wieder ein sehr guter Thriller.

Mein erstes Buch der Autorin. Ich bin ohne Erwartungen an das Buch gegangen, da ich so gut wie nichts zu den Büchern von ihr gehört habe. Es gab zwar die ein oder andere Länge oder stelle die man hätte kürzen können, aber ansonsten fand ich es einfach nur super! Es hat mich aufjedenfall aus meiner leseflaute geholt und ich freue mich auf weitere Bücher der Autorin!

[Rina.P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Das Buch lässt sich sehr fliessend lesen und hat auch einiges an Spannungsmomenten….Es ist eines der Bücher, die ich auf jedenfall empfehlen würde….Es gibt paar Defizite in der Handlung….bei manchen Passagen stolpert man etwas über die Erklärungen oder fehlenden Erklärungen und offenen Enden, die manchmal stehen bleiben….aber im Grossen und Ganzen ist es ein kurzweiliges Buch, dass einem einige Stunden spannendes Lesevergnügen bereitet.

[Tanja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting case, but the writing style is very clumsy. The characters remain elusive somehow and didn’t feel connected to any of them. The psychological case itself is actually quite thrilling, but I’ve read better novels that had a similar theme.

[Ola Mosurek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bardzo wciągająca historia, ciekawy pomysł na fabułę, jednak wątek miłosny kompletnie mi się nie podobał i uważam ze był zbędny. Rozwiązanie sytuacji również mi się nie podobało..

[Sondra Casser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilary Norman is a writer that can grab your attention and capture your curiosity. For an author that is in touch with the invention of her characters, she can draw you into her storytelling. Twisted Minds grabbed me. It amazed me that a human being can conger up characters that are so twisted and so evil it’s a feeling of excitement to read the words as fast as you can to find how, who, where, when and why things are occurring. If you want to be entertained, read the book.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really good. I was bored sometimes, but I honestly don't know why. It was fast-paced and a whole lot happened. Sometimes it just felt like the worry and stuff was a bit repetitive, though understandable. I really, really enjoyed it and I was very in the story. I kept switching about who I thought was the killer, in the end I had all the information I needed to know who the killer was, I just didn't put it together 'in time'. I thought I was pretty original with my conclusions and suspicions, but eventually I found out that that was exactly the writers idea. She had me where she wanted me. It was really good. It's my mom's book but I also recommended it to her!!!

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Verschlungen und für spannend befunden!
Man fragt sich die ganze Zeit (finde ich), ob nicht doch das Mädchen der Mörder ist, obwohl die Psychologin sie für unschuldig hält. Ob sie's ist verrate ich natürlich nicht, aber mir war diese Cathy das ganze Buch über unheimlich!
Ein Buch, das viel mit Psychologie zu tun hat.

[Geraldine Presley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilary Norman is a new author for me. I enjoyed this book and after reading it I read another one.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das Buch hat mir gut gefallen. Die Idee der Story war gut und auch gut umgesetzt. Der Schreibstil hat mir auch gefallen, nichts ausgefallenes, schlicht und klar, ein Thriller der nicht versucht hat mehr zu sein und gerade deswegen sehr gefallen hat.
Das Buch lässt sich sehr leicht und schnell lesen und auch wenn der Plot größtenteils vorhersehbar ist, fesselt das Buch bis zum Schluss.
Eine nette Lektüre.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant. I borrowed the book from the library initially, but I loved it so much that I went out and bought it so I could read it again and again. It had me on the edge of my sofa, I couldn't put it down it was so gripping.

[Sharon Layburn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A psychological thriller that could have used a good edit. While the core of the book is good, and the characters are likeable, I found that the story dragged through the middle of the book. Bottom line: not really worth the effort

[Tayla van den Heever · Rating 3 out of 5]

It started off brilliantly, and I do believe it's worth reading however I feel that it became quite far fetched and due to its ending most of the story line was irrelevant. It was disappointing however I did enjoy parts of it.

[Chris]

Ned. Titel: onder invloed

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love hilary norman. it's fromm the beginning to the end unputdownable!

[Ksenija · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ich mag Krimi nicht. Überhaupt nicht. Ich versuchte es zu lesen, aber ich kann in die Geschichte einfach nicht ´´reinkommen´´... Ich musste aufgeben.

[Byron Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Came across this new author and was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed this murder/mystery. I highly recommend her works to anyone that loves this genre.