Nothing to See Here
Non-Series
David L. Post
Beckham Publications (Trade Paperback)
ISBN-10: 0-931761-29-8 (0931761298)
ISBN-13: 978-0-931761-29-4 (9780931761294)
Publication Date: August 2007
List Price: $14.95
Synopsis (from
the publisher): Nothing To See Here
spans one summer in the life of psychiatrist Alan Sarnower, an ordinary
citizen who finds himself in extraordinary circumstances when his wife
suddenly leaves him and their young son in the middle of a psychotic
episode. When she returns unexpectedly with a new lover and announces
her intention to get a divorce, his own life and sanity begin to
unravel.
As the divorce process grinds on, he forgets appointments and lets
responsibilities slide. An affair with his seductive secretary provides
only temporary relief from a frightening descent into mental illness.
Now, finally sicker than his own patients, as people and events are
misinterpreted and doors begin to close, his comfortable suburban life
recedes and murder becomes the only option left.
Review: David L. Post's debut novel, Nothing to See Here, is a well-written though formulaic psychological thriller that promises far more than it delivers.
Nothing to See Here opens with Cassie, the wife of Boston
psychiatrist Alan Sarnower, systematically destroying their bedroom as
she prepares to leave. To where and for how long he doesn't know. Nor
does he seem to care. He has a thriving practice, a large home in the
suburbs, a young son he adores, and a close friend he can confide
in and count on. Maybe life without her would be better. But when she
suddenly returns and files for divorce, he starts to see his world
being taken away from him. His anxiety about potentially losing his son
and his home and the staggering fees he's paying his lawyer to
represent him begin to affect his reasoning, so much so that he'll do
anything to ensure that his wife doesn't take everything he values away
from him.
Nothing to See Here
fails to generate any real suspense primarily because it is told from
the point of view of Alan Sarnower. Every action he takes is
telegraphed well in advance, and therefore nothing he does surprises
the reader. He loses control of his marriage, his relationship with his
son, and his professional practice, but there is never any sense that
he is out of control, and certainly nothing to suggest that he is
mentally unbalanced. Of course that's the crux of the problem: since
the story is told from his perspective, he's not going to think
anything is wrong with him. He's the only sane person in a world gone
mad. It isn't until the last few pages that he's threatened in any way,
uncertainty clouding his future. This provides a welcome
element of surprise for the reader, but with only a few paragraphs
until the end, it's too little, far too late.
Post is a talented writer but the lack of originality in his plot and the manner in which he chose to relate it make Nothing to See Here rather prosaic and dull.
Special thanks to Maryglenn McCombs Book Publicity for providing a copy of Nothing to See Here for this review.
Review Copyright © 2007 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved.
Omnimystery keywords for Nothing to See Here ...
Location(s) referenced: Boston.
