Show of Evil

Rating:
Summary: Whether legal thriller or mystery, more show than substance
Review: "Show of Evil" is the sequel to the novel "Primal Fear". In that first book, the morally ambiguous defense attorney Mart Vail saves from an almost certain conviction a young man who murders Chicago's archbishop. In the face of an almost certain conviction, Vail managed to squeeze out an insanity plea based on the youthful defendant's split personality - normally he's the sweet and unassuming Aaron Stampler. When aroused or angered, he becomes the cruel and sadistic Roy, neither one able to recall what happens when the other takes over. At the end of "Primal" Vail is convinced that Aaron/Roy's disorder is invented - but by then, he's won and Aaron/Roy is institutionalized and immunized from prosecution. "Show picks up 10 years later. Vail is now Chicago's No. 2 prosecutor, the head of a gang of rapacious homicide ADA's who show no mercy. While his office juggles two high-profile homicides, Vail is forced to confront the impending release of Aaron. Hardly convinced as his doctors are that Aaron/Roy is cured (and has shed both previous egos for a new honest one named "Ray"), and learning of a string of copycat murders in which Aaron's former friends have become victims, Vail is determined to crack Aaron/Roy/Ray.

This was a pretty shallow story - with Aaron barely making a dent in a plot that spends much of its time concerned with the two other murders being prosecuted by Vail's office. The events of "Primal" mostly arise as a consequence of "Show"'s focusing on Vail's renewed romance with Jane Venable, the prosecutor in "Primal" and - to complete the reversal of roles here - the defense counsel in one of Vail's homicide cases. (When the hints prove insufficient, Diehl just drops Aaron's name in spots of narrative that have nothing to do with the case). Finding improbably close links between Aaron's handiwork and that of a serial killer who claims two of Aaron's former friends, Vail struggles to tie the murders to a man who's been institutionalized for a decade. Diehl, like Aaron, doesn't know when to leave well-enough alone and, once Aaron returns to the novel, he quickly and unceremoniously spills the beans. Suffice it to say that those looking for a real twist will go hungry (I thought Aaron, Venable and Vail would team up and implicate a high-level Chicago fixture much as they cooked the archbishop in "Primal", or otherwise link the copycat crimes to the other seemingly unrelated ones ala "Hollywood Confidential"). The mystery of Aaron's power to manipulate from beyond the walls of an insane asylum isn't even a mystery (although it might have been to some in 1993, only a couple of years before Netscape's legendary IPO). Instead, "Show" is incredibly fake - everything from the ambitious and merciless ADA's who run Vail's office (as if the Cook County DA's Office existed to prosecute only a few homicides) to the pseudo-hardboiled dialog of his cops ("look, we ain't lookin' to cause the lady no grief.") Even the setting seems unreal - Diehl's Chicago lacks the verisimilitude of the fictional Kindle County of the Turow novels. That "Show" is supposed to be a mystery is undermined by how little detail Diehl gives us to work with. (After the climax, Vail's team turns up details that explains everything - ala "Scooby Doo". What really kills me is that this is supposed to be a legal thriller and, despite pumping us up to the legal talent available, very little of "Show" takes place in a courtroom, and Diehl's ADA's talk about "maxing out" the people they prosecute without doing much to prove they could prosecute a shoplift. (The cops, on the other hand, are dismissed as inept apes, who parade the prisoners they collar like war-trophies, without much regard for their possible innocence.) Had he taken the defendant in one of "Show"'s subplots to trial, Diehl could have substantiated his opinions about his prosecutors and his cops in one swoop, but that's obviously more effort than its worth.

Rating:
Summary: blah de blah de blah
Review: Fast forward ten years from Diehl's excellent novel, Primal Fear. Main character Martin Vail previously a premier, unrelenting, sharkish Chicago defense attorney has undergone a metamorphosis. Disillusioned soon after his most famous and demanding litigation, the Aaron Stampler murder trial, Vail chucked it all. He signed on as chief prosecutor and assistant D.A, of Chicago. Vail recruited a carnivorous band of legal eagles he affectionately calls the Wild Bunch to handle the plethora of crimes passing through the D.A.'s office. They are presently up to their necks with investigations when a series of brutal crimes become uncovered that have similarities to the Stampler case.

Aaron Stampler, a country bumpkin from rural Kentucky with a genius IQ was serving as an altar boy to Chicago archbishop Rushman. The exalted cleric was actually a closet pedophile and Stampler brutally slashed him to death as well as two other altar boys. Vail defended him and using a strategy based on Stampler having a multiple personality disorder succeeded in saving his life. Stampler was remanded to a mental facility for the criminally insane where he has been incarcerated for 10 years. When several murders crop up with the same M.O. as the Rushman murder the fur really starts to fly in the D.A.'s office.

It seems as if Stampler is somehow involved in this latest rash of killings but how can he be if he is interred? Vail with the help of his Wild Bunch and Jane Venable, former asst. D.A. and prosecutor of the Stampler case and now corporate lawyer commence investigating these horrific crimes.

Diehl does a masterful job in expertly picking up his Primal Fear story 10 years down the road. Show of Evil is a fast moving, hard hitting and worthy sequel.

Rating:
Summary: A work of Masterpiece
Review: I encountered this book by simple and plain old luck. In my college reading class my Teacher Mrs. Hamilton was having a book sale of pre used books that where from her own collection. These book's where truly a good bargain so I didn't let the opportunity pass. So I looked over and glanced at some of the books on the rack for sale, at first it didn't seem there was anything of interest for me to purchase. To my surprise however I ran across book that seemed intriguing so I picked it up and read the back. To be truthfully honest at first I didn't realize what it was until I completed reading the back of the book. After realizing what it was I didn't hesitate for a second to purchase it. While reading Show of Evil I received a lot of joy and ended my curiosity of what happened after Primal Fear. The book was Excellent and well written and kept me suspense from beginning to end. Thus I recommend this novel for all to read

Rating:
Summary: A work of Masterpiece
Review: I encountered this book by simple and plain old luck. In my college reading class my Teacher Mrs. Hamilton was having a book sale of pre used books that where from her own collection. These book's where truly a good bargain so I didn't let the opportunity pass. So I looked over and glanced at some of the books on the rack for sale, at first it didn't seem there was anything of interest for me to purchase. To my surprise however I ran across book that seemed intriguing so I picked it up and read the back. To be truthfully honest at first I didn't realize what it was until I completed reading the back of the book. After realizing what it was I didn't hesitate for a second to purchase it. While reading Show of Evil I received a lot of joy and ended my curiosity of what happened after Primal Fear. The book was Excellent and well written and kept me suspense from beginning to end. Thus I recommend this novel for all to read

Rating:
Summary: Back to The Past
Review: I liked all the twist and turns in this book, but what bothered was always refering to Primal Fear and the whole retelling of that story, you read on hopeing that he will get on with telling this story and not the last one... I still think that this book had some wonderful ups and downs to make it a good book to read.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing Sequel
Review: Oh, I am so tired of authors throwing together a book in order to capitalize on the success of a previous effort and/or movie!
This is the sequel to "Primal Fear", which was a suspenseful and gripping read. This novel can't decide what it wants to be. Diehl throws in sub plots that distract from his main story.

In the main plot,Aaron Stampler, the multiple personality, or possible faker, from "Primal Fear" is supposedly cured and about to be released from the mental hospital in which he has been incarcerated. However, murders are being committed that bear Stampler's unmistakeable MO. The people being killed are all connected to Stampler and their deaths appear to be revenge murders. Has he a disciple? If so how is he making contact? He has had no visitors for ten years, no outside contact at all, in fact. Martin Vail, Stampler's former defense attorney, is now the DA. He enlists the aid of Jane Venable, who prosecuted Stampler in the first case, to help investigate the new murders.
Surprise, surprise! The two fall in love.

The sub plots involving bodies found in a landfill, a wife murdered by an abusive husband, and a disgruntled employee killing her boss, go pretty much nowhere and harbor no surprises for the reader.

The writing is careless--how can anyone see a shadow looming up BEHIND her? The editing is sloppy, and the changes in the characters from one book to the next not very believable. The ending is straight out of a B horror movie and leaves room for yet another sequel--please no, no! I was very disappointed.

Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: Show of Evil is a thrilling sequel to Primal Fear, and lives up to the demands of being a sequel to such an incredible book (few sequels achieve this)! I started reading it the day after I finished Primal Fear, so I was familiar with the characters and the story line. I was surprised by the changes in the story, i.e. the romance between Vail and Venable, but they were plausible based on the fact that it had been ten years since Vail defended Stampler. I have to agree with most of the others who have reviewed this book, however -- the story is somewhat cluttered by other plotlines that confuse the reader - the Darby case is never drawn to a satisfing close. Don't get me wrong - the story lines are interesting and the book is amazing! There are may chilling scenes, and the twists in the plot make it an engrossing read from start to finish. Highly recommended to anyone who wants a great read (and can handle some gory descriptions)!

Rating:
Summary: A Good Work of Fiction
Review: This was the first time I read Diehl,s work. I thought it was suspenseful and it kept my interest. The author left a lot of room for a sequel. It is worth the time.

Rating:
Summary: A Good Work of Fiction
Review: This was the first time I read Diehl,s work. I thought it was suspenseful and it kept my interest. The author left a lot of room for a sequel. It is worth the time.

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST SEQUEL!
Review: When a young mother is slaughtered in southern Illinois, Martin Vail's investigator recognizes the combination of letters on the back of her head. These same letters soon appear on the corpses of a delivery man and an altar boy--the mark of Aaron Stampler. But Stampler has been in an institution for the criminally insane for ten years. Are these copycat murders? Is Stampler loose? Vail and his team must stop the killings, and this time they mean to finish the job.

While Vail's team struggles with the problem, the reader is treated to plot twists and some piercing prose. Like: "Fog swirled around powerful spotlights in the darkest hours before dawn. Perched atop tall steel poles, they cast harsh beams out across a rancid, steaming wasteland, etching in shadow and light the buttes, knolls, and slopes of trash and refuse, of abandoned plastic bottles, Styrofoam dishes, cardboard fast-food wrappers, old newspapers, abandoned clothing, and maggot-ridden mounds of uneaten food. Like fetid foothills pointing toward the glittering skyscrapers miles away, the city's garbage formed a stunted mountain range of waste." And there's more. Believe me, a more vivid, more literary description of a garbage dump doesn't exist anywhere in the annals of literature. That's just a tiny sample of Diehl's wordsmith powers.

William Diehl honed his craft at the old Atlanta magazine as a writer and a photographer. On his 50th birthday he realized he wanted to write fiction so he turned his back on his old life and wrote a novel. It hit the bestseller list. So did his second. And his third. By the time he got around to writing his Martin Vail trilogy (of which SHOW OF EVIL is the second), he had hit his stride as a best selling, top-drawer author.

If you miss William Diehl's books, you've missed some of the most powerful writing around.