Projection : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: A worthy sequel to a debut novel
Review: Ablow knows addiction and psychiatry like the back of his hand, making me wonder what personal demons he may harbor in his closet.

He writes like an addict on crystal meth; he is an intense and very graphic writer with bundles of talent. He narrates a fascinating story about a hostage situation at a mental hospital and doesn't slow down.

Ablow keeps the story going at a break-neck speed and writes an interesting cast of characters, smooth storytelling, and the surprises are shocking and astounding. He has a talent for keeping the readers in suspense and twisting the knife a little deeper.

A great read!!

Rating:
Summary: Ablow's most flawed novel...
Review: After reading all four in the Clevanger series, "Projection" is the weakest of them, but still is a good book. It follows up the events of "Denial", and it feels like Ablow is trying to neatly wrap up the mess at the end of "Denial". Basically, Dr. Lucas, the slimebucket plastic surgeon from the first book, is in prison, and goes over the edge. Dr. Clevanger knows that Dr. Lucas didn't do the crimes that he was put in prison for(*you have to read Denial to know how he knows this*), and so there is some tension when he is called to help negoiate a hostage sitution where Lucas and a band of psycho patients take over the prison hospital. The violence is overdone(which I felt was the weakest point), but Clevanger's investigation of Lucas's past is well done, and we first meet North Anderson, who is important to later books. The ending was a bit of a letdown, but it does neatly tie all the loose ends up, and leaves a blank slate so to speak for "Compulsion"

Rating:
Summary: Ablow's most flawed novel...
Review: After reading all four in the Clevanger series, "Projection" is the weakest of them, but still is a good book. It follows up the events of "Denial", and it feels like Ablow is trying to neatly wrap up the mess at the end of "Denial". Basically, Dr. Lucas, the slimebucket plastic surgeon from the first book, is in prison, and goes over the edge. Dr. Clevanger knows that Dr. Lucas didn't do the crimes that he was put in prison for(*you have to read Denial to know how he knows this*), and so there is some tension when he is called to help negoiate a hostage sitution where Lucas and a band of psycho patients take over the prison hospital. The violence is overdone(which I felt was the weakest point), but Clevanger's investigation of Lucas's past is well done, and we first meet North Anderson, who is important to later books. The ending was a bit of a letdown, but it does neatly tie all the loose ends up, and leaves a blank slate so to speak for "Compulsion"

Rating:
Summary: I Don't Get It
Review: As most sequels go, I was not expecting much from Keith Ablow's "Projection". The first novel "Denial" was poorly written and I found very little of any value. "Projection" however is much better in every way shape and form. Ablow has a sharp nightmarish voice in this novel. He is slowly becoming like Thomas Harris with his ability to keep people up late into the night reading to find out what will happen next.

"Projection" picks up right where "Denial" left off.

This novel is much more well rounded and the last half of the novel will fly by. Clevender is still a main character that is very hard to like, due to his past and present demons tormenting him. Some of the chapters contain graphic acts of violence not suitable for every reader. Ablow has shown that he has grown a little as an author and should find some great new success in future novels.

Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT SEQUEL TO ABLOW'S FIRST BOOK "DENIAL"
Review: Keith Ablow picks up right where he left off in his first book Denial. Psychopathic plastic surgeon, Trevor Lucas, is now on trial for the brutal murders of 4 people in and around Lynn, Massachusetts. Unfortunately, Frank Clevenger, forensic psychiatrist, knows he's not guilty but can't bring himself to give this information to the police for fear of what it will do to the real killer. This fact torments Clevenger throughout the entire book and just adds to his already existing demons.

Trevor Lucas is as psychotic a character as I've ever met in books of this type. He takes over a locked unit for the criminally insane taking hostages at the same time. He asks for one person, and one person only to negotiate with and that person is Frank Clevenger. What Clevenger sees upon entering this hospital makes for some gruesome and rather scary reading.

Since Ablow himself is a forensic psychiatrist, everything in this book is incredibly believable. It makes the reader wonder if Ablow has been through similar scenarios in his business. I can't recommend this book enough but do yourself a favor, read Denial first to learn exactly what makes Frank Clevenger tick.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT BOOK, BUT LACKS THE IMPACT OF "DENIAL"
Review: Often when there is a sequel, it never quite holds the reader's attention on the same level as the first book, and this was no exception. All the characters, including the serial killer, Trevor Lucas, and forensic psychologist, Frank Cleavenger, were strong, true-to-life characters; however, the plot seemed to lack much of the excitement and suspense found in "Denial." Perhaps, having studied psychology, I see the book in a different light than someone who has not, and maybe for that reason nothing that happened in the book truly surprised me or captured my undivided attention. I often measure the success of a book by the emotional attachment of the conclusion...did it leave me wanting to read more? The end of "Projection" was just a formality, not a disappointment. All said and done, Keith Ablow is still a truly gifted writer, and, I am sure, a genius in forensic psychology. While the story does not quite live up to the "edge-of-your-seat-thriller" found in "Denial," it is still well worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Powerful sequel to Denial
Review: Projection is the second volume in Keith Ablow's series about Bostonian forensic psychiatrist Frank Clevenger,and I do NOT recommend it to those who have not read the opening book "Denial" as its plot depends very heavily on events described in the earlier book.Come to Projection first and you will be playing catch up and the reading experience will seem frustrating.
Projection opens with the trial of brilliant but warped plastic surgeon Trevor Lucas on a charge of multiple murder,events set out in Denial.He is innocent of the charge,as Clevenger knows full well,having secreted the real culprit in an institution for the insane.Lucas-unable to cope with the trauma of incarceration,takes hostages in the prison and his collaborators include a number of seriously deranged psychotic criminals .Clevenger enters the prison and is able to persuade Lucas to give him 24 hours to delve into the secret of Lucas'traumas and the conviction that he is an agent of Satan.The trip takes him-in the company of a personable hooker-to Baltimore and a confrontation with Lucas disfigured younger brother prior to a powerful climax back in the prison.
The book does not unfortunately avoid the trap of "grand guignol"and the scenes in the prison are misjudged ,becoming not merely gloatingly violent but even faintly absurd.The constant religious imagery and comparison between psychiatry and religion are,at least to a psychiatric sceptic like me (I regard it as an ersatz ,pseudo-science)tiresome
Clevenger has some of his demons under control this time around and comes over as a tad more believable for it.
Powerful and propulsive writing compensate for a slightly hysterical tone but overall,while interesting ,there is an air of sophomoric straining in the book
Violent actions and strong language will not endear the book to many people,but to my mind stem naturally from character and situation

Rating:
Summary: inmates running the asylum
Review: This is a poor excuse for a thriller. It lacked suspense, was too unbelievable, and wallowed in gut-churning violence. The psychiatrist, Dr. Frank Clevenger, is given too much time and power by the police to help solve the hostage crisis, especially considering that psychopath Trevor Lucas has already mutilated one person and is likely to endanger the lives of the other people he has hostage (including a pregnant woman). Clevenger is a hard person to sympathize with, what with his drug addiction and penchant for call girls (I also found it unbelievable that he could function very well while on heroin, and that no one-- not even police officers-- could recognize his condition). Not only that, Clevenger's success in tracking down Lucas' brother relied too much on luck and coincidence, and the ending was too neat and tidy, especially given the intelligence and volatile nature of Lucas, and the depth and complexity of his problems. Very unsatisfying thriller.

Rating:
Summary: Possibly one of the worst books I've ever read
Review: This is the second book by Keith Ablow and is the sequel to Denial. It's an honest to goodness sequel too, with the story from Denial recalled many times along with events and characters, who come back to play significant roles. The bottom line is: you'd better read Denial before reading Projection.

Like in Denial, Projection is another gritty suspense thriller, packed with more than its fair share of grisly scenes that will be sure to turn the stomach of the squeamish reader - just a fair warning.

The story begins with the trial of a doctor suspected of committing a series of murders, but who is pleading insanity. When the doctor is taken back to the asylum for the criminally insane, where he is to be held overnight, he somehow gets free and takes over the asylum, holding the doctors, nurses and fellow inmates hostage. The doctor is convinced that Satan has taken over the bodies of just about everyone around him and his solution is to perform "operations" on whomever he can get his hands on to rid them of Satan's presence. Disturbingly, he believes his own body is controlled by Satan too and, well, you'd better read for yourself how he solves that little problem.

Frank Clevenger, still feeling guilty over past events and still battling his own demons, is forced to become involved in the situation, witnesses some of the depraved actions of the lunatic who has taken over the asylum, but is powerless to stop him. As a psychologist, it's up to Clevenger to work out a way to get inside the doctor's mind to coax him out of the asylum without harming the hostages.

It's another strong entry in a series that doesn't hold back when it comes to describing what would be considered the more distasteful side of the human psyche. It's shocking, but it definitely draws you in, as a good thriller just about always does.

Rating:
Summary: Denial Part 2
Review: Well done for a sequel. It was not what I expected from a newly found author. The scences are well depicted & you can feel the madness of Lucas & the guilt of Clevenger. I look forward to his next book.