Too Close for Comfort

by Ellen Feldman

Smart, sophisticated Isobel Behringer was a third-generation New York woman. With her grandmother's wit and determination, and her mother's sense of style, she knew how to take care of herself. At least she thought she did. When she finally decided to marry her lover, psychiatrist Peter Arlen, she knew she would have to give up some of her cherished independence. She also realized that she would have to learn a few well-established rules about life in Pete's sprawling East Side apartment. The first commandment was "Thou shalt not trespass during office hours." Isobel tried to obey, but it was not easy for someone with her feisty spirit. Still, it all went smoothly enough for a while. But soon odd things began to happen. First, there was the strange disappearance of a pair of Isobel's pumps, then the disturbing defacement of her hand-painted umbrella. More alarming were the anonymous phone calls and menacing letters; even her cat, Welch, was being threatened. As the hate mail escalated. Isobel became increasingly suspicious of everyone around her. The mounting tensions take a toll on Isobel's marriage and ultimately lead to a violent encounter with a deranged stalker who is obviously obsessed with the idea of eliminating her from Pete's life. Too Close for Comfort is both a riveting story of psychological suspense and a novel of genuine emotional depth.

Genres: Horror

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Ellen Feldman is an American writer. She grew up in New Jersey and attended Bryn Mawr College, and graduated with B.A. and an M.A. in modern history. She also worked for a publishing firm in New York City and continued with graduate studies at Columbia University.
Feldman currently lives in New York City and East Hampton, New York.

Reviews

[bob walenski · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published in the mid 1990's, this novel doesn't age well. It's a sort of "Fatal Attraction" clone, and without adding any spoilers, the crazed patient of a NYC shrink brings some problems to the good doc and his new wife. I bought this at a library sale and it's been on my shelf for several years.....i finally got to it. It was an easy, quick read, but left no marks on me in memory.

The book was suspenseful enough that i DID in fact want to keep reading to find out what happens. The actual perpetrator is well hidden for the first 2/3 of the book, and once i invested in the story that was enough to keep me engaged. But I almost gave up early on, as the novel and characters were very slow to develop. I still don't see how the first 75 pages or so added much to a simplified plot, except for very broad character background. So it became a mystery, but the ending was contrived and disappointing.

Not the kind of book around any more except for library sales. It's not a total loss, but you could probably find a more compelling choice.

[Lori Schiele · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written and exciting "Single White Female"-type plot about a psychiatric patient in love with her doctor who is willing to do, and become, anything in order to get his wife out of the way to *become* the new wife. Threats, scares, injuries... even murder?? \

Exciting enough that I read it in only 2 days, and with a surprise ending I definitely didn't see coming!

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 1 out of 5]

OK; woman stalked by psychiatrist/husband's patient

[Melanie Gretzon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice easy - reading summer book.