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Jill
271 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1979
32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 15, 2021
Reading Jill begs the question. Who was Thomas St. Martin?
I can find no information about him. There's no additional books on Goodreads by him. This seems to be the only book he's ever written. I always wonder about these books and authors. I'm assuming this was a pseudonym for someone else...but who?
Jill is an interesting little pulp paperback from 1979. The strangest aspect of this book is that it's plot line, storytelling and penultimate twist are nearly a decade too early. Why? Jill reminded me a lot of the late 80s/90s thrillers. Something like Silence of the Lambs or the Hand That Rocks The Cradle. It's definitely more of a thriller than a horror novel and that is ok.
Jill has a fairly interesting plot. A serial killer is going around killing men in the city of San Francisco mirroring the dates of the original Jack the Ripper killer. This time however, it's men being prayed upon and the killer is a woman who leaves her calling card carved in the body of her victims. Her name "Jill". Kelly, a local psychologist who has treated several female patients is also receiving mysterious packages from Jill threatening his life. He begins to work with the police department who start investigating his former patients. Is one of the Jill or is it someone closer to him?
There are lots of twists and turns for a less than 300 page novel. Most of the characters are incredibly flushed out and we do get a bit of time jumping to revisit some of the story of Kelly's former patients. The book does drag a little bit in the middle with no new victims but overall it's a solid little thriller with a decent twist at the end. I enjoyed the play on the Jack the Ripper trope with Jill and the action is pretty solid. This would make a solid little film.
I can find no information about him. There's no additional books on Goodreads by him. This seems to be the only book he's ever written. I always wonder about these books and authors. I'm assuming this was a pseudonym for someone else...but who?
Jill is an interesting little pulp paperback from 1979. The strangest aspect of this book is that it's plot line, storytelling and penultimate twist are nearly a decade too early. Why? Jill reminded me a lot of the late 80s/90s thrillers. Something like Silence of the Lambs or the Hand That Rocks The Cradle. It's definitely more of a thriller than a horror novel and that is ok.
Jill has a fairly interesting plot. A serial killer is going around killing men in the city of San Francisco mirroring the dates of the original Jack the Ripper killer. This time however, it's men being prayed upon and the killer is a woman who leaves her calling card carved in the body of her victims. Her name "Jill". Kelly, a local psychologist who has treated several female patients is also receiving mysterious packages from Jill threatening his life. He begins to work with the police department who start investigating his former patients. Is one of the Jill or is it someone closer to him?
There are lots of twists and turns for a less than 300 page novel. Most of the characters are incredibly flushed out and we do get a bit of time jumping to revisit some of the story of Kelly's former patients. The book does drag a little bit in the middle with no new victims but overall it's a solid little thriller with a decent twist at the end. I enjoyed the play on the Jack the Ripper trope with Jill and the action is pretty solid. This would make a solid little film.
December 2, 2023
I’m a mark when it comes to Jack the Ripper novels. This one has the intriguing premise of a female Jack (called Jill) killing off men she picks up on the same dates as Jack’s horrific crimes. Instead of butchering her victims with a knife she prefers a bullet to the back of the head followed by decapitation.
The book is more of suspense/mystery instead of horror. Jill is targeting a psychiatrist named Kelly Cohen. She mails him the victims shrunken heads (done in a microwave we are told) with notes taunting him that he will be the last victim. The book gives us a ton suspects and red herrings. Is it Kelly’s wife who has a secret past? His oversexed secretary who is constantly trying to gain his attention? The wife’s best friend who seems to be jealous of the Cohen’s relationship? The mysterious patient from Dr. Cohen’s past who had violent tendencies, but is now supposedly cured?
There is one plot twist that is pretty easy to figure out, but the book does a decent job keeping the reader guessing on who Jill is. Also there is a pretty clever/amusing use of The Rolling Stones Honky Tonk Woman. Overall not bad and worth picking up. It’s kind of hard to find, but pops up on eBay from time to time. If you’re a fan of Jack the Ripper fiction then I would recommend it.
The book is more of suspense/mystery instead of horror. Jill is targeting a psychiatrist named Kelly Cohen. She mails him the victims shrunken heads (done in a microwave we are told) with notes taunting him that he will be the last victim. The book gives us a ton suspects and red herrings. Is it Kelly’s wife who has a secret past? His oversexed secretary who is constantly trying to gain his attention? The wife’s best friend who seems to be jealous of the Cohen’s relationship? The mysterious patient from Dr. Cohen’s past who had violent tendencies, but is now supposedly cured?
There is one plot twist that is pretty easy to figure out, but the book does a decent job keeping the reader guessing on who Jill is. Also there is a pretty clever/amusing use of The Rolling Stones Honky Tonk Woman. Overall not bad and worth picking up. It’s kind of hard to find, but pops up on eBay from time to time. If you’re a fan of Jack the Ripper fiction then I would recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews