Review: The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose

I find it tough to review thrillers because, frankly, there often isn't much beyond an enticing, exciting plot to review. Thrillers tell fast-moving stories in which the hero/heroine is caught up in events that throw his or her life out of control. The trick for the thriller writer is to make the protagonist interesting and compelling enough to follow through the story--without hampering the action. Character development is often less crucial to the story than setting and plot development.  I should probably say what I'm about to say more than once so I'm not misunderstood: This isn't a criticism of thrillers. I enjoy thrillers just as I  enjoy traditional mysteries and the occasional sex-soaked erotic novel. A novel doesn't have to be a National Book Award winner to be a good read.

When I was offered the opportunity to review The Hypnotist, M.J. Rose's genre-blend of a thriller, I accepted it immediately. Rose honed her writing skills through a long line of popular erotic thrillers before publishing The Reincarnationist--a Dan Brown-style thriller with plenty of historical content--in 2007. I should note here that I only got ten pages into the DaVinci Code before throwing it against the wall. The plot, I hear, is brilliant, but I couldn't get past the amateurish prose. (Didn't see the film, either.)  There's nothing amateurish about Rose's prose, and one of its most compelling qualities is its thorough character development.


The Hypnotist opens with a flashback--always a risky proposition, but one that works here--of a young Lucian Glass discovering that his girlfriend, Solange Jacobs, has been brutally attacked in her father's art gallery during a robbery. Twenty years later, in the novel's present action, Glass is forced to relive the trauma of Solange's death when the Matisse painting that was stolen in the robbery shows up--in tatters--at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art. While Glass's emotional journey is at the heart of The Hypnotist, the plot is driven by the mystery surrounding an ancient Chrystelephantine sculpture of Hypnos, the Greek god of sleep. Hypnos is not only a valuable piece of art and culture, but may be one of the keys to a coveted set of Memory Tools--objects which ostensibly give a person access to their past lives. The custody battle between the museum, which claims ownership of the sculpture, and the Iranian government turns deadly when the Iranians decide that their best chance to acquire it is by terrorist means. Perhaps I've made the plot sound simple. It is not. Rose also covers an enormous amount of territory here--including the past-life regressions of both Lucian and a young girl named Veronica. Their stories are critical to the novel's violent, extensive denouement.

Rose is masterful at character creation, and the extensive cast of characters in The Hypnotist is one of the novel's greatest strengths. Unlike many lesser thriller authors, Rose creates characters whose personalities are able to drive a novel's action forward. In The Hypnotist, I was particularly drawn to Ali Samimi, an Iranian heavily involved in the not-so-legal plot to acquire Hypnos; he strains at and then slowly destroys the bonds securing him to his Iranian bosses. Samimi is one of those characters who looks much like an ancillary character, but creates decisive movement in the story. I wanted more of this man whose primary goal in life is "to find a way to stay in America." Samimi's every action is precisely aimed at that goal, resulting in some satisfyingly surprising plot developments. Somewhat less compelling is Emeline, who becomes Lucian Glass's love interest. Glass is intensely attracted to her, but he's not sure if it's because of who she is, or who she might be--the reincarnation of Solange. So many of Emeline's mannerisms and actions are like Solange's that her very existence plunges Glass into a constant state of emotional chaos. For reasons that become obvious near the end of the novel, Rose keeps much of Emeline's character hidden from the reader, but that didn't keep me from wanting to know more about her early in the novel.

From the ancient Middle East to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to Vienna and Los Angeles, Rose rarely lets the action rest. The story makes enormous jumps in the time it takes to turn a page. Distractible readers might find the many threads tough to follow, and with some four hundred pages to work with, Rose is able to take her time weaving those threads together. I confess that even I was initially a tad overwhelmed by The Hypnotist's sprawling plot. The story of how Hypnos arrived at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a complicated one, and the history of the search for the Memory Tools is similarly complex. But the histories--though fabricated--are thorough. Rose has done her homework. My guess is that most readers who pick up such a hefty book will be not only ready for The Hypnotist's complexity, but will be grateful for it. There are plenty of plot surprises here. Some are even flat-out jaw-dropping, and delightfully over-the-top.

One of the staples of a high-profile thriller like The Hypnotist is a guarantee of beautiful people in beautiful places. What could be more glamorous than precious art, or the mysterious reincarnation of a lovely young woman? Lucian Glass is handsome, the child, Veronica, is bright and charming, the old men are authentically craggy. Much of the action takes place in the august Metropolitan Museum of Art, in the plush confines of the Iranians' "opulent" New York mission, or in the elegant rooms of a gargoyle-trimmed mansion. Even the dusty cavern where Hypnos begins its centuries-long journey has an exotic patina.

The Hypnotist is the third novel in The Reincarnationist series. It's often difficult to immerse oneself in a new series novel when one hasn't read previous installments in the series, but The Hypnotist--after a few slender reminders that the major players are Dr. Malachai Samuels of the Phoenix Foundation, which attempts to explore past-life regression through its hypnosis work with children, F.B.I agent Lucian Glass of the Art Crime Team, and the list of ancient Memory Tools that everyone seems to want--functions well as a standalone thriller.

Not to be sexist, but I think it's fair to say that the internationally-themed thriller business is dominated by men. It's refreshing to see Rose's work get the publishing exposure it deserves. Above, I referred to The Hypnotist as a genre-blend thriller. But maybe that's not a fair description. Perhaps The Hypnotist shouldn't be described as any sort of thriller...perhaps it's just a good book.

You can visit M.J. Rose at her website, or check out The Hypnotist here.

Is This Cheating? The Flat Belly Diet Review

I'm back from Chicago and am stunned that I haven't posted in a week! I'll have final tour pics up in a day or two. Right now I'm playing catch-up, and revising plans for my next book.

So, forgive me if I'm a little lazy today and post the review of the Flat Belly Diet Book I did a few weeks back for the Grand Rapids Press. I went on the diet myself and the paper had me do a small feature piece with before and after pics. Do I recommend the diet? Yes, with reservations.



The Flat Belly Diet, by Liz Vaccariello, Editor-in-Chief of Prevention Magazine, with Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD
Rodale, $25.95, 340 pages



When I suggested that I would be willing to follow the Flat Belly Diet as part of my review of the book, I had no idea what I was getting into. I’ll say right off that my Body Mass Index was in the normal range when I began it, but I—like so many other people—seem to imagine life would surely be better if I could only lose five to ten pounds. In the end, I lost six pounds during the thirty-two days of the diet. Since then, I’ve gained back two for a net loss of four.

The Flat Belly Diet is based on the idea that monounsaturated fatty acids act as an “antidote to belly fat,” that “a growing body of research indicates they may actually help to unclog an protect the arteries from buildup.” The program includes a prescribed serving of these MUFAs in every meal to encourage weight loss and good heart health. Some examples of MUFAs: Macadamia nuts (2 Tbl), olive oil (1 Tbl), green or black olives (10 large), semi-sweet chocolate chips (1/4 cup), natural peanut butter (2 tsp).

The book is frontloaded with research on fat and the science behind MUFAs. There’s also plenty of Prevention Magazine-like advice on living a less stressful, more healthful life. The plan itself follows, with Success Story profiles scattered throughout. Most of the book is taken up with recipes (some were appetizing, but several ingredients were on the expensive side), a daily journal and workout programs, thus making it a whole-life diet. It’s a sensible if overwhelming approach.


The authors make the claim: “Not a Single Crunch Required.” Considering that the first four days of the diet have one eating only 1200 calories daily, and 1600 calories thereafter, it seems reasonable. One should ostensibly lose weight quickly at 1200 calories per day, less quickly at 1600 calories per day. At 46 years old, my metabolism is different from a 30 year-old’s. When I didn’t exercise during the 1600 calorie phase, my loss was very slow.

During my thirty-two days on the diet, I recorded my thoughts and weight changes at www.lauradoesadiet.blogspot.com. I kept myself within the calorie and MUFA boundaries, eating healthful, low-fat foods with a MUFA at almost every meal. I’m certain that the horribly bland Four Day Anti-Bloat Jumpstart at the beginning only exists to make the rest of the diet appear expansive and delicious in comparison. I’d compare it to hitting oneself in the head with a hammer because it feels so good when one stops. The book’s journal was useful for noting what I ate, but I found the accompanying journal exercises distracting and a tad annoying. The one pleasant surprise of this diet was that I rarely hungry because MUFAs are quite filling.

I did feel better overall while on the diet and believe it’s a healthful way to live. Will it work for you? Mine is no expert opinion, but I would say that it works as well as any other low-calorie, well-balanced diet when supplemented with exercise. It doesn’t hurt that semi-sweet chocolate is on the MUFA list, either.

Excerpts from my blog journal:

Day 2: Got on the Wii Fit which told me I was up two pounds! Not encouraging. Asked if I knew why I gained weight. I said "no." It proceeded to lecture me about not eating late at night--which I never do. I turned it off.

Day 13: My family is beginning to rebel against my uber-healthy MUFA dinners. Seems I forgot that they hadn't signed onto the diet, too, and they're missing things like our weekly homemade pizza night, pasta, low-fat burgers, and chili.

Day 23: Grisly stomach flu. Can't even remember what I ate, though I vaguely recall a one ounce bag of feel-better potato chips. A lost day. But I spent much of it writing in bed. I could definitely get used to that part.

Day 27: I don't know whether it's this diet or the suddenly cold weather that's making my hair look like straw. I pick the diet.



By the way--The Wii Fit and I are not currently speaking. If I want a lecture, I have plenty of other options!

Where I Am When I'm Away

Last night's reading at the Brentwood Borders in St. Louis was so much fun. It was lovely to be with old friends, new friends, and family. Mandy Besemer made me feel right at home at the store, too, and even provided me with some much-needed chocolate before the event! I need to be getting on the road to Cincinnati, but I confess I enjoyed sleeping well past get-up-for-school time and can hardly tear myself away from the 1980s Tales From the Darkside marathon on the Sci-Fi Channel.

One very nice thing about the Internet is that I can be many places at once, but I've been remiss about linking to the blogs I've been visiting while I'm on the road. Last Friday (an eon ago in web-time!) I was J.T. Ellison's guest at Murderati, blogging about religion and horror. (I find the crew at Murderati very sharp and very intimidating--I was nervous!) Saturday, Jenni Holbrook interviewed me at Murder, Mayhem, and More. And today, I'm thrilled to be hanging out with the terribly talented Jungle Red ladies at Writing Well Is the Best Revenge. I'll be checking in there when I get off the road today.

Oh, and here's a link (finally!) to my Flat Belly Diet review, with photos and everything. The Grand Rapids Press doesn't keep up their stories for long, so I hope you'll check it out. I'll post the review here in a couple of weeks when it reverts back to me. My journal for the diet is here.

Okay, I'm off to Cincinnati where I'll read Thursday night at Joseph-Beth Books!

(Here's a photo of me with my dear friend Leigh Mansfield. We took our very first writing class together at the University of Missouri-St. Louis way back--well, never mind when!)

Reviews That Delight Me

If a writer takes good reviews to heart, defining herself by what folks choose to opine about her work, then she must also take the bad. So I try hard not to let myself believe my own press one way or the other. It affects my enthusiasm and confidence when I sit down to write. I opined about the subject last month, here.

Then again, good news is awfully fun to share! I've been alerted to three quite recent reviews of ISABELLA MOON that said very nice things. And they're all from folks whom I respect a great deal, which makes it even better. (Though I'm terribly grateful to every reviewer who takes the time to read my work, no matter what he or she thinks of it. I know that reviewing can often be a thankless job.)

The first is from Art Taylor at Mystery Scene Magazine. The prolific reader and reviewer Oline Cogdill at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel ended her review with one of my favorite lines from the book. And I was surprised and pleased to be reviewed by Robert Hahn at Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine.

When P asked me for a Christmas list, I had a lot of trouble thinking of things to put on it. Sometimes the best presents are the ones we don't know to ask for!

Yes, I've Read the Reviews and Here's What I Have to Say

Despite the fact that I should be staying home and working on this next novel and nursing the never-ending cold, I'm guest-blogging again this weekend.

Fantasy Debut at blogspot did a quite thorough Spotlight Review of Isabella Moon a couple of weeks back, and Tia Nevitt had me do a kind of follow up for them. She wanted to know what it's like for me to have a book reviewed given that I've been reviewing other folks' books for many years. Seems I had a lot to say. Thanks, Tia!

Love from the Chicago Tribune

It's love like this from Paul Goat Allen at the Chicago Tribune that makes it easy for a girl to get up in the morning, put on cozy slippers, and sit in front of the computer making stuff up all day!