Rated 5.0
Reviewed 2/11/98 by Sharon T.

Suspense Thriller

Do you believe in ESP? Paranormal research? Empathic ability? "Dream Man" might be too a disturbingly graphic accounting of a serial murderer for some tastes. I found the book to be intriguing and one I couldn't put it down.

Marlie Keen is trying to lead a "normal" life after a soul shattering experience six years ago. An experience that almost cost her her sanity. She has rebuilt her life, has a normal job as an accountant in a bank, has a normal life, can even see a movie without major trauma. This calm, peaceful, soothing lifestyle has been a long time in coming and is more than welcome. All of a sudden her peace is shattered with another vision. She hasn't had a vision in six years - why now! Is it a flashback or a full-fledged vision? When a vision overtakes her while she is driving home from a movie, she knows she must pull over to the curb before it pulls her under - into a trance-like state until the vision passes. This vision is frightening to the extreme - she sees the knife dripping blood being raised again and again. Hears it ripping into the body of the victim. Feels the hatred of the killer for his victim. It is overpowering. She can barely function, but must in order to make it to the safety of her home, her sanctuary.

Dane Hollister, a police detective, has built a highly successful career following his "blue sense", although he would never admit to having any smidgeon of psychic ability. He's on his way to being the next police commissioner. He grew up with an aunt who used him to assist her in bilking her "marks" for all she could get by convincing them of her psychic abilities - which were non-existent. With this kind of background, he doesn't trust anyone who professes to have psychic ability. When Marlie comes forward with her accounting of the murder, he is immediately attracted to her but refuses to believe a word she says. He rationalizes that the only way she could know the details of the murder is that she must have been there - maybe not with the knife in her hand, but as a witness or accomplice. He is irate when his boss orders him to work with Marlie in an effort to solve the murders (after all, this is not California) - yes, there is more than one murder and every time this killer attacks, Marlie "sees" it, experiences it as if she is there, as if she sees it through the eyes of the murderer.

Dane remains skeptical, even after seeing Marlie have a vision and experiencing what she endures once the vision is over. Dane decides that the best way to keep an eye on her is to move in with her. (What better way to have first hand knowledge of a murder!- not that he really believes that she is psychic!) Marlie reluctantly agrees especially after Dane gives her a line about his house being remodeled. She realizes that she is strongly attracted to Dane, but believes that she can never have a normal relationship with a man because of her psychic ability. When she merely touches someone, she is overwhelmed by the emotions of the other person. Dane considers it a personal challenge to help Marlie overcome this phobia, since he doesn't believe that she has psychic ability. And of course, he really wants to expand their relationship.

The relationship between Dane and Marlie grows, becomes intense and Marlie is overjoyed that she becomes able to touch Dane without fear of being overwhelmed by his feelings and emotions. But she cannot give herself to someone who doesn't believe her, doesn't accept her for what she truly is, doesn't trust her. She is crushed when Dane uses her as bait to lure the killer to come after her without consulting her first. Of course, he wants Marlie to go to a "safe" house while a policewoman masquerades as Marlie. When Marlie refuses to follow his demands, he threatens to arrest her and put her in protective custody to keep her safe. (He truly does love her.)

Linda Howard does a great job of getting into the killer's mind - how he selects his victims reasoning that they are being punished and should receive no mercy. It's a frightening description of a serial killer's motivation and reasoning, his logical thought processes and knowledge of police procedure.

I could really get carried away with telling of this story. It is intense and full of suspense - a real page turner and one I didn't want to put down. Are there people out there with true psychic ability? I'm not sure, but there is enough evidence to suggest that there are people with a heightened sense of perception or intuition (perhaps that "blue sense" that is referred to in the book).

I enjoy Linda Howard's books very much. Her style of writing is descriptive and gives a lot attention to detail. You can "see" the murders as well as Marlie does. If graphic violence upsets you (the murders are very graphic), this book may not be for you. But if you enjoy a good suspense, I think you would enjoy this book.

Rated 5.0
Copyright 1994
Reviewed 6/14/97 by Isolde Wehr

This was my first book by Linda Howard. I loved it and I hope she has written more like this.

Marlie Keen is a psychic. She can feel the emotions of people around her. Marlie lost her psychic ability six years earlier after an awful experience. Now she lives a normal life like every other person in Orlando, Florida. However, her quiet life is once again over. Marlie has a vision of a brutal murder, viewed through the eyes of the murderer.

Dane Hollister, detective at the police department in Orlando, is investigating the stabbing death of a local woman. Marlie goes to the police and tells them her story. At first Dane believes she is a crazy person, but after hearing her tale of the murder he is not sure what to think. He finds Marlie very attractive but why does she know what happen in that awful night?

He makes some inquiries and finds out that Marlie really is a psychic and that she has helped the police over the years to find missing children.

During a second murder Marlie has another vision. She calls Dane before it begins and Dane then sees how terrible it is for her to feel the thoughts of the murderer and to feel how he feels when he kills a woman.

Marlie is an exceptional heroine. She has a fascinating character. Dane is virile and sometimes tender --> a real Dream Man. They fall in love. Dane because he can't be without Marlie and she because it is the first time for her beginning an affair with her own feelings.

Over the years she has felt the emotions of people all around her. Now she can control her ability.

The suspense in the book with a madman who is frightfully cunning is very high.

It was very hard for me to put the book down because this is a page-turner that never lets up.

Enjoy reading this one because Linda Howard did a great job.

Linda Howard is an author who write with a strong sense of reality. She interweaves romance into a burst of reality, leaving you gasping for breath. I read this book from start to finish in just a few hours. I was a little nervous in the beginning, was this something I really wanted to read? But, it wasn't long and I was determined to finish before shutting my eyes for the night.

Victoria Waverly was a noble daughter until the war destroyed everything everyone had. She agreed to marry a man when he agreed to take care of her family. The man, Major McLain is an evil, vile man who murdered a family many years earlier to steal their property and home. After discovering what he is truly like, Victoria fears for her safety as well as the safety of her sister Celia and cousin Emma. Not only does she have to worry about McLain, but nearly every man on the ranch is giving the woman eerie looks and lears.

Jake Roper has his own vendetta against McLain. The women just happen to be in need of his protection as well. He sees the way the ranch hands look at them. For some reason his is unable to fathom, he takes on the responsibility of being their protector. It doesn't have anything to do with his attraction for Victoria, another mans wife.

There are some graphic scenes of violence in this story, but the intense descriptions of their love making is done with a heated passion you are willing to overlook the violence just to read more. Victoria burns for Jake and the reader will feel the burning as well.