Weekly Reader: Conceptus by Brian Herskowitz; Suspenseful Plot and Traumatized Dedicated Lead Make Psychological Thriller Memorable

 

Weekly Reader: Conceptus by Brian Herskowitz; Suspenseful Plot and Traumatized Dedicated Lead Make Psychological Thriller Memorable

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews 

Spoilers: Brian Herskowitz's psychological thriller, Conceptus, is the kind of thriller that I love. A suspenseful plot with genuine surprises and twists. A terrifying villain who uses their brilliance to lure unsuspecting victims to their prey and play with the authorities as they try to catch them. A tortured protagonist with problems of their own that are connected to the case forcing them to confront their own past.

Laura Drummond has a nightmare of a memory. While in high school, she was raped, attacked at knifepoint, and left for dead. She eventually recovered but the emotional scars still remain as well as some physical scars to remind her of that dreadful time.

In adulthood, Laura is a detective in the police force moving up from violence and sex crimes to investigating homicides. Right now, she investigates the assault and murder of Cindy Musgrave. Laura realizes that there is something painfully familiar about this case. In fact the method that Cindy's attacker used and the wounds on her body are very similar to what was done to Laura. Laura's attacker was never caught or identified. Could he still be around and active, waiting decades to find his next victim?

There are so many great things about this book. First, is Laura herself. She is someone who has turned her personal pain into a calling to help others so they don't suffer the way that she did.

Despite this painful memory of the rape and near death hanging over her head, Laura rebuilt her life as an adult. Besides solving crimes, she has an active but detached personal life. A lesbian, she has  had many affairs but she is considering finding someone with whom to settle down, particularly the attractive and understanding Sharon. Many times, Sharon becomes close to Laura and the detective tells her various things about her past that she hasn't told anyone like about her rape, estrangement from her parents, and the grisly aftermath of the assault. It left a lot of damage to her psyche and one can imagine how difficult it is for her to open up to someone. It's a genuinely loving moment when she does as the weight of many years is lifted from her.

Part of the way Laura covers her past is to become desensitized to the violence around her. She dryly considers her work, "Another day. Another senseless murder." This jaded desensitization is a mask that comes crashing down when Laura investigates Cindy's rape and murder. This familiar crime echoes into her past. She realizes that she can't ignore or detach what's in front of her. She has to confront what happened to her during the rape and everything afterwards.

The plot is filled with very suspenseful chilling moments particularly when the point of view enters the rapist/murderer's mind. He trails his intended target like a hunter catching his prey. He is methodical and ice cold in his pursuits seeing them not as women but small animals to be hunted and destroyed. He studies their every move, where they live, work, study, and the best times when they are alone. It's enough to make a Reader paranoid, especially if they are a single woman. 

There is some Freudian explanation in the murderer that thankfully doesn't absolve him. It just explains where he came from and why he did what he did. 

Conceptus also has some juicy twists and reveals that I dare not share. They are genuine surprises and perfectly cap off this genuine thriller of a book.