- Paperback: 432 pages
- Publisher: Bantam Press (1 Oct 2002)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0593050347
- ISBN-13: 978-0593050347
- Product Dimensions: 22.8 x 15.2 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,237,789 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
Dr Frederick Starks is celebrating his 53rd birthday when a most unwelcome letter arrives at his consulting room. It begins "Welcome to the first day of your death". The letter goes on to tell him that he has 15 days to discover who the writer is and that he must advertise it in the New York Times. If he does not, one of his 52 relatives will be killed, unless he kills himself immediately. The letter also suggests methods of committing suicide. Then a young woman arrives, naked under her raincoat. What happens in this incredible game of vengeance is extremely exciting and truly remarkable. A marvellous new thriller from America which vies in suspense with Pat Highsmith at her best.
Library Journal
'This masterfully told thriller is impossible to put down and equally impossible to forget'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Analyst is totally different than just about every other book I have read. Yes, I’ve read plenty of thrillers before – some good, some bad – but The Analyst is an absolutely one-off.
Usually I don’t mention the specifics of the plot in the review, normally the synopsis Amazon provides is good enough, but in this case it takes some explaining. Dr. Frederick Sparks is a psychoanalyst, a man who examines the problems of others and offers them treatment. One day before his August holiday he receives a strange letter signed by Rumplestiltskin, and boy, then his troubles really begin. The first half of the book is a twisting path of lies, deception and strange happenings as Dr. Sparks struggles to find out who is his tormentor while his life gradually falls apart in spectacular and terrifying fashion. This part of the book whizzes by and is amazingly tense and suspenseful. I loved this part as it made my stomach turn to knots and my muscles tighten up – a sure sign that the thriller is doing its job! I won’t give anything away, but the second half of the book is more slowly paced as something happens to change Dr. Sparks fortunes, but it is still fantastic and intriguing. I was with Dr. Sparks the whole way, urging him on and willing him to succeed.
Overall The Analyst is an unusual and beautiful thriller which deals with an unlikely sounding plot and makes it seem chillingly real. Dr. Sparks is immensely likeable and well developed and we come to sympathise as well as respect him. Finally, I must mention the excellent writing style, which is very descriptive and original, adding menace to the plot. I read the book as quickly as I could, devouring the pages. I think you will too.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Quite simply, this is the best thriller I've read so far this year, and actually, very possibly last year too. This is an honest to goodness thought provoking situation that has been presented in a riveting way and totally captured my imagination. It was the perfect case of posing the question, "What would you do if this happened to you?"
When Dr Frederick (Ricky) Starks receives a letter on his 53rd birthday, he has no idea of the implications the message contained inside will have on his life. The anonymous writer, who signed the letter Rumplestiltskin, proposes that Ricky must play a game. In this game Ricky must either commit suicide or work out who Rumplestiltskin is. He has 15 days to achieve either of these objectives and if he fails, a family member will be chosen at random and destroyed. It's a fascinating scenario to open what turns out to be a very nicely constructed book.
To make things even more interesting, Ricky is helped out with clues as to who it was that he wronged in the past that caused this act of revenge. He is also allowed to ask three questions over the 15 days. To make things difficult, however, he keeps getting object lessons in how serious Rumplestiltskin is with his game. What Ricky finds becoming increasingly clear is that nothing can be taken at face value and his life, as he always accepted it, would very likely be changed for good by this experience.
I found this to be one of those page-turners that you just fly through, yet on the other hand keep trying to slow yourself down to try to savour every word. Although it's the first book of John Katzenbach's that I have read, it definitely won't be the last.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
At last, an intelligent thriller with some depth to the characters. Plenty of atmosphere and pace...oh, and well-written too - dare I say literate? I don't normally do mass market paperbacks - too much like junk food - quickly consumed and strangely unsatisfying.....so this one surprised me! 5 star recommendation.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Ingenious Entertaining Construction That's Dark at Heart
"The Analyst," by John Katzenbach, is a thriller that presents us with an intelligent, ingenious construction of a plot. Katzenbach, the son of Nicholas DeB. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stephanie DePue
Great read
Bought this book ages ago and finally got round to reading it. I won't say much about the plot as I don't wish to spoil it for anyone. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mr Ian J Whalen
Gripping!
This was my first Katzenbach novel, recommended by a friend or I would not have chosen it. As I usually hate thrillers I bought a second hand copy, the cheapest on Amazon. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Margaret
WOW
I just loved this book. To read how a rigid personality type, has to become so flexible and turn his life upside down and cast aside all his beliefs and morals to date, was... Read more
Published on 14 Sep 2009 by Rosie
A thriller like nothing I've ever seen before or after
The thing is, you should start reading this novel without knowing anything about it, and you should hold through till the end no matter how you'll feel about it in the first half. Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2009 by Printul Noptilor
The Analyst by John Katzenbach
This was a fantastic book, though not of a genre I would normally choose to read. I felt you had to suspend disbelief at the beginning because any normal person would call the... Read more
Published on 16 Feb 2009 by Inglish Teecher
Definitely something different
The first few chapters of this book were like treading through syrup for me, and i put it down as a non starter twice. Read more
Published on 19 July 2008 by MellowDee3
Rubbish
This is first novel I`ve read by this author and it will probably be the last. Its not very well written to be honest. The middle section is way too slow and its very predictable. Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2007 by Mr. D. I. Bennett
A masterpiece
This one of the best criminal mystery novels I have read being set through a relation beween criminal and victim Monte Cristo style with No police, No big shots, No machos, and... Read more
Published on 15 July 2007 by Diaa M. Fakhr
A book like Saw
I'd never heard of John Katzenbach before, browsing in the library book sell off the cover looked appealing and I found the blurb rather saw-ish. Read more
Published on 26 April 2007 by Socrates Sister
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