Book info

• Title The Halo Effect
• Author M. J. Rose
• Year 2004
• Genre Thriller

Dr. Morgan Snow is a well-known sex therapist with a prestigious clinic devoted to the psychology of sex. One of her patients, Cleo, is a beautiful, cultured prostitute who runs her own call-girl business. Cleo has been coming to Dr. Snow because she's fallen in love, but is unable to have a healthy sexual relationship. One day, Cleo arrives with a manuscript for a tell-all book....and then disappears. A serial killer has been at work in the city, and Detective Noah Jordan turns to Morgan Snow to find out more about the psychology of a sexual murderer. Both Morgan and Noah suspect there is a link between the serial killer and Cleo's sudden disappearance, and work together to find her - before it is too late.

Thoughts

Following the investigation of a serial killer who is tracking down prostitutes and trying to save their souls, this story takes the slightly different tack of an outsiders point of view, rather than the detective. This time, we’re coming at it from a therapist’s angle and that gives it a slightly fresher take on the traditional crime thriller.

I thought it was a bit stilted in places, and some of the tension and conversations were a bit unbelievable, but it was mostly an interesting read with a couple of twists and turns to keep you guessing along the way.

The whodunit element was a little bit predictable, and began to be signposted slightly too early, but otherwise it was a serviceable crime novel with enough interesting about the characters to make it the start of a good series.

Rating: 3 / 5