Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Right in the midst of things, it starts. In media res, it’s called, as Dr. Anna Fox, a psychologist, is peering through her camera at the neighbors in 212, stuck in her agoraphobic world in her $3,000,000 house. We know that she talks to her almost-ex-husband, Ed, and young daughter, Olivia, on the phone pretty frequently, and she shares her voyeuristic adventures. She also plays chess online and is part of a forum to help other agoraphobics. She goes by the name thedoctorisin. Anna is in her 40s, starting to look pretty ragged, and drinks way too much—not good with the meds she is on. Once a week, a psychiatrist, Dr. Fielding, visits and assesses her, and her physical therapist and friend visits at regular intervals. She drinks her red wine and watches old black and white thrillers from her collection. All her stimulation is from within the walls of her home. This contemporary and Hitchcockian suspense thriller has all the moxie of old black and white film noirs while still retaining the modern world of social media and technology, but Finn does a superb job of shaping the language, tone, and rhythm as if it were a classy classic. Woven through the story are bits from the old movies that serve as threads to thought, action, and atmosphere. And it has plenty of moody atmosphere, yet is plucky, too. I wouldn’t think to add any plot points; just go in cold like I did. If you love suspense, full-bodied character, psychological mystery, and old movies, (even if you are not a film buff, you’ll engage, as Finn brings it all home), then be careful, you may have as much fun as I did on this roller coaster, nail-biting ride. I wouldn’t call it literature, more like lighterature, but it is articulate and intelligent escapism. I have no complaints, although, like the old movies it plays homage to, perhaps the journey is even better than the destination. There almost has to be a slight cheese factor to the denouement, but Finn keeps it legitimate with a palpable paranoia and a carnal undertone to the whole package. I hear every actress in Hollywood is clamoring to play the role of Dr. Anna Fox. A bona fide winning character you won’t soon forget.