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The Hypnotist (The Reincarnationist #3)

by M.J. Rose (Goodreads Author)

3.59 of 5 stars 3.59 · rating details · 557 ratings · 133 reviews

An FBI agent, tormented by a death he wasn't able to prevent, a crime he's never been able to solve and a love he's never forgotten, discovers that his true conflict resides not in his past, but in a..."Past Life."Haunted by a twenty-year old murder of a beautiful young painter, Lucian Glass keeps his demons at bay through his fascinating work as a Special Agent with the F...more

Hardcover, 416 pages

Published May 1st 2010 by Mira (first published 2010)

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May 01, 2010 C.W. rated it 5 of 5 stars

A priceless sculpture that hides an ancient secret; an FBI investigator haunted by the past; and a terrorist plot involving the theft of magnificent works of art all combine to create THE HYPNOTIST, the unputdownable thriller and third entry in M.J.Rose's superb Reincarnationist series (The Reincarnationist and The Memorist).

No author currently writing in the suspense/thriller category does quite what M.J. Rose does; underpinning her novels is the haunting premise that all of us have past lives...more A priceless sculpture that hides an ancient secret; an FBI investigator haunted by the past; and a terrorist plot involving the theft of magnificent works of art all combine to create THE HYPNOTIST, the unputdownable thriller and third entry in M.J.Rose's superb Reincarnationist series (The Reincarnationist and The Memorist).

No author currently writing in the suspense/thriller category does quite what M.J. Rose does; underpinning her novels is the haunting premise that all of us have past lives that connect us to the present, and within this framework she's conjured a high-stakes world of treacherous business dealings, international intrigue, and the often lethal search for the elusive Memory Tools - objects that can assist people to access their pasts and which, if found and harnessed, could provide their owner with unimaginable power. At the center of this web is Dr Malachi Samuels of the Phoenix Foundation, a gifted yet amoral reincarnation expert who allegedly will stop at nothing to possess the Memory Tools.

These entwined themes are spun throughout the series; however, each novel can be enjoyed on its own merits and The Hypnotist is no exception. When Lucian Glass, FBI criminal art investigator, is called in by the Metropolitan Museum in New York City to investigate the horrific mutilation of a stolen painting, he is plunged into a search for the man who, years ago, destroyed his youth and aspiring career as an artist. His investigation leads him back into the elegant, dangerous milieu of the Phoenix Foundation, where a young girl is being treated for nightmarish visions, and the presence of a mysterious woman who might hold the key to his quest. As Lucian begins to uncover a plot centered around a millennial-old sculpture that has surfaced after years of neglect, he finds himself caught up in an intricately linked conspiracy of art smuggling, terrorism, and the race to claim a coveted Memory Tool.

The Hypnotist stands out from the other entries in the series for its lyricism and the timely question: Who truly owns art? In this novel, which is replete with Ms Rose's trademark moments of breathtaking suspense and secrets-within-secrets, Rose has gone deeper into her mythology, detailing the subtle ways in which senseless tragedy shifts and defines us, and the hallowed effect that art exerts on our beings. While her previous novels have all featured lost souls seeking redemption, in The Hypnotist something of Rose's own complex soul comes into display, and it is a fascinating glimpse into a writer who, with this novel, has both matured and exceeded the very high expectations she has set for herself and her readers.(less)

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Jul 21, 2010 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, thriller, paranormal

From My Blog...[return][return]The Hypnotist is the third book in M.J. Rose’s Reincarnationist series and the first one I have read. The previous two novels are The Reincarnationist and The Memorist, which inspired the television series, Past Life, which I have never seen, and a rather round about way of me stating that while the genre was not for me, the writing is absolutely brilliant. The Hypnotist opens with the death of Lucian Glass, which occurred twenty years ago, but now Lucian is an F.B...more

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Jul 02, 2010 Darcia Helle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ebooks, fiction, paranormal-fiction, first-reads-giveaways, suspense-thriller-mystery

This is the third book in M.J. Rose's Reincarnationist series. I have not read the first two, but received a review copy of this one from the publisher through NetGalley.com. A reader can easily jump into the middle of this series, though, after having read The Hypnotist, I will definitely go back and read the first two!

The plot is intricate, full of twists and complications that require the reader to be paying attention. While reincarnation is the central theme, we're taken through an ancient w...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

M. J. Rose's Reincarnationist series is popular, but I've remained skeptical. I find reincarnation kind of goofy. Objectively, reincarnation is far less goofy than vampires or fairies, which I like. I prefer to treat it like magic instead of something serious, however, because if I take it seriously I find it kind of horrifying. But I did enjoy Kirsten Miller's THE ETERNAL ONES, so I decided to give Rose's THE HYPNOTIST a chance.

I have not read the first two books in the series, but I caught up...more M. J. Rose's Reincarnationist series is popular, but I've remained skeptical. I find reincarnation kind of goofy. Objectively, reincarnation is far less goofy than vampires or fairies, which I like. I prefer to treat it like magic instead of something serious, however, because if I take it seriously I find it kind of horrifying. But I did enjoy Kirsten Miller's THE ETERNAL ONES, so I decided to give Rose's THE HYPNOTIST a chance.

I have not read the first two books in the series, but I caught up pretty quickly. Lucian Glass is an FBI agent specializing in Art Crime, who is obsessed with proving that Malachai Samuels is a criminal. Samuels is a member of the Phoenix Foundation and dedicated to proving that reincarnation exists. In order to do so, he is trying to find Memory Tools, mystical objects created long ago to help people remember past lives. I found most of Rose's approach to reincarnation palatable, but I'm still giggling over the Memory Tools (which include a "fragrant pot of wax").

At the same time, there are a variety of odd things happening at the Met. There's a legal battle over the ownership of a dilapidated statue of Hypnos. Paintings that had been bequeathed to the museum, then stolen, are now being returned - in pieces. The construction crew on the new Islam wing keeps losing workers. And all of these things are possibly related.

The subtitle proclaims THE HYPNOTIST to be a novel of suspense. Rose takes an approach I'm not overly fond of - you know whodunit from the beginning, but you don't know why. (Well, there are a ton of crimes in THE HYPNOTIST. You know who done most.) At the same time, discovering why is most of the fun. Rose keeps the pages turning, which is the most important thing for me in the suspense genre. As I said, there are a lot of crimes to explore. Rose thankfully doesn't linger over the terrible things that happen to her characters. The violence is never described in loving detail. At the same time, much of THE HYPNOTIST is in villain point-of-views. It sometimes feels icky.

Most of the crimes in THE HYPNOTIST revolve around art and antiquities theft, which I find very interesting. Cultural heritage is an ephemeral but powerful thing. I might've enjoyed the book more without the reincarnation aspect, but I still found THE HYPNOTIST to be a good read. The plot is tight and driving and the good guy characters are likeable enough. (less)

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Jan 01, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

You start out feeling very sorry for Lucian Glass. He’s late picking up his girlfriend; she ends up dead. He meets with an important witness; he gets bashed over the head and the witness ends up dead. He has nightmares, compulsions, crippling headaches. But what if it is all his fault? What if this is all related to his past…his past lives.

In The Hypnotist, Lucian Glass is a member of the FBI’s Art Crime Team. He is caught up in the case of Malachi Samuels, a renowned reincarnationist who is sea...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Alexis Villery rated it 4 of 5 stars

My Review:

The Hypnotist is book 3 in M.J. Rose's reincarnation series. I had not read the first two books before reading this one, but had no problem at all understanding and enjoying this sensational thriller. Two murders that span decades and continents come together in one surprising plot that keeps the reader guessing from start to finish. Not only is Lucian Gray struggling to find an explanation to dreams that drive him to draw images of women he has never met, Lucian must face an old trage...more

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Aug 02, 2011 Sandy added it

I will start by saying that I'm not sure if this book is tied to the other two books, The Reincarnationist and The Memorist, but The Hypnotist was difficult to get into at first. I had read the first five or six chapters until I finally found the movement in the book. Then I was hooked.

This book involves a man named Lucian Glass that has had a violent, near-death past. He is involved in investigating art crimes as a member of the ACT division of the FBI. The story line centers around the idea of...more

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Jul 05, 2011 drey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, fiction-contemporary

M.J. Rose's The Hypnotist is an engrossing read revolving around an ancient statue, crime in the art world, and reincarnation. There's an FBI agent who's having previous-life flashbacks, Iranian diplomats intent on retrieving the statue by hook or by crook, and a young woman who may have be the reincarnated soul of a murder victim. An offbeat mix to be sure, but it works.

Lucian Glass is a member of the FBI's Art Crime Team investigating Dr. Malachai Samuels, whom Lucian suspects has stooped to m...more

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Jul 02, 2011 Ryan G rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: no-longer-own

I'm going to admit right now that I loved the beginning of this book. It starts with such a violent act that I was a little stunned by the suddenness of it. As I was reading it, I was struck by the randomness of the act. It's only later that I found out the killing wasn't so random.

Despite how cool the beginning was, I almost gave up on this one within the first few chapters. Lots of characters don't normally get annoying as quickly as they did this time out. There were so many thrown at me so...more I'm going to admit right now that I loved the beginning of this book. It starts with such a violent act that I was a little stunned by the suddenness of it. As I was reading it, I was struck by the randomness of the act. It's only later that I found out the killing wasn't so random.

Despite how cool the beginning was, I almost gave up on this one within the first few chapters. Lots of characters don't normally get annoying as quickly as they did this time out. There were so many thrown at me so quickly, that I got annoyed rather suddenly. I stuck with it though and by the end, while I can't say I was in love, I really enjoyed this one. One thought I had about this was that it reminded me of watching a movie, one that quickly cuts back and forth between scenes in order to familiarize the audience with the players. It's a technique I never think about when watching a movie, but tends to come across as too heavy in a book.

I loved the mix of art, history, mysticism, and mystery. Outside of the occasional Dan Brown or Katherine Neville book, I'm not normally reading too much that combines them all. I enjoy learning while I'm reading and this book allowed me to do that. Art history is not something I have studied in the past or am likely to study anytime soon. So I have to get the gleams of knowledge out of books like this. The parts of this book that dealt with art and it's creation were my favorites. Once the book got into the realms of hypnotism and reincarnation, subjects I'm unsure of myself, I stayed interested but never fully engaged.

There were some beautifully rendered scenes, when under hypnosis, Lucien is taken back to some of his past lives, lives that played a key role in his current case. I found it to be a little too coincidental, but from what I understand of reincarnation, it makes sense. Lucien, if the past lives are to be believed, is caught in a cycle that is forcing him to right the wrongs of his past and protect those who came back with him, something he failed to do earlier. It's a fascinating subject that one of these days I'll study more and figure out my own beliefs on it.

As average as my feelings are for this book, I liked it but it didn't blow me away, I'm intrigued enough to think about reading the previous two books in the series. It won't be something I run out and do, but if the opportunity presents itself, I will take it.(less)

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Jun 28, 2011 Marie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In The Hypnotist, Lucian Glass, working with the Art Crime Team (ACT), goes undercover to investigate the destruction of some very old and valuable paintings. While he's undercover he submits to being hypnotized. It's during these sessions that he travels back in time and learns of his past lives. As he does so, he learns new information that just might help him solve the mystery in his current life.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It grabbed me on the very first page, which doesn't usually...more

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Jun 20, 2011 Stephanie D. rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose is a different kind of mystery/thriller than I usually read in that it has an intriguing mix of mystical lore, ancient mythology, psychology, and action. I haven’t read any of the previous novels in the Reincarnationist series, and while that did not deter from my enjoyment of The Hypnotist, references to the overarching story thread running through the series provoked my interest in picking up The Reincarnationist and The Memoirist.

As I understand it, the pursuit of...more
The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose is a different kind of mystery/thriller than I usually read in that it has an intriguing mix of mystical lore, ancient mythology, psychology, and action. I haven’t read any of the previous novels in the Reincarnationist series, and while that did not deter from my enjoyment of The Hypnotist, references to the overarching story thread running through the series provoked my interest in picking up The Reincarnationist and The Memoirist.

As I understand it, the pursuit of Memory Tools and how to utilize them to access past life memories are the main themes of the series. In The Hypnotist, an enormous piece of ancient sculpture called Hypnos has been found and various shadowy organizations are doing everything they can to get it, such as mutilating priceless pieces of art. And some even commit murder. Why do they want it? It seems that Hypnos has an intrinsic worth beyond the artistic.

"It is believed that four to six thousand years ago, in the Indus Valley, mystics created meditation aids to help people go into deep states of relaxation during which they would have access to past-life memories. There are twelve tools-twelve being the a mystical number that w see repeated all through various religions and in nature...The first was a cache of precious stones, and the second was an ancient flute made of human bone."

"We're talking about more than just a piece of sculpture...It appears that Hypnos could be a map of sorts that holds the secret to how man can access his inner realms and higher consciousness, making visions, clairvoyance, precognition and out-of-body experiences all possible. If tapped, this power would allow man to use his imagination to affect reality. You'd just imagine murdering someone and your imagination would make it happen...Is there anything more valuable than potential...Than possibility?"

The motivations of the bad guys are varied and surprising, but Hypnos’s personal connection to the protagonist, Lucian Glass, was the most exciting part to read. Lucian’s tries to figure out why he keeps drawing agonized faces of people he’s never met. Coincidentally, or not, once he undergoes hypnosis, he finds out that his past lives have intersected meaningfully with the statue. Perhaps in the present, he can put to rights the tragedies in his past lives.

Lucian is a different sort of action hero in that he’s also an artist and a sensitive soul. I loved reading all the rich descriptions of art and scenes of creative expression.

There is a motif repeated in the book which struck a chord in me, that there is no such thing as coincidence. Seen from the perspective of reincarnation, what is perceived as coincidence is actually a significant pattern running through one’s lives, past and present, that has to do with one’s purpose. I’m not sure if I wholeheartedly believe in reincarnation – I’m leaning towards belief – but The Hypnotist was an entertaining, fast-moving adventure that provoked much thought.
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Jun 15, 2011 Kristen rated it 4 of 5 stars

TLC Book Tours asked us to review this book and I was so pleased I accepted it! The Hypnotist is the third book in the Reincarnationist series, and although I haven't read the first two books (yet!) I really enjoyed it! It was full of mystery, intrigue, and that fun back story stuff that I really dig. I haven't ever thought about reincarnation in this way - and it was really incredible stuff!

I keep reading how it's very similar to the Dan Brown's DaVinci Code, but I think The Hypnotist really st...more

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May 18, 2011 Nancy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Lucian Glass has had a hard life. A talented artist, he is rocked by the death of his lover, Solange Jacobs in her father’s gallery. Mr. Jacob restored art and, after closing one evening; someone breaks in and steals a priceless Matisse, killing the girl in the process. Nearly killing Glass as well which might have been a blessing since he obsesses with Solange and cannot find a way to let her go.
He is with the FBI Art Crimes Team and researches art theft, fraud, etc. Someone wants a statue tha...more

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May 11, 2011 Patty rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Hypnotist
By
M.J.Rose

Book Summary…
Haunted by the 20 year old murder of a beautiful young painter, Lucien Glass keeps the demons at bay through his fascinating work as a special agent with the FBI’s Art Crime team. Currently investigating a crazed art collector who has begun destroying prized masterworks, Glass is thrust into a bizarre hostage negotiation that takes him undercover at the Phoenix Foundation-dedicated to the science of past life discovery-where, in order to maintain his cover, he...more The Hypnotist
By
M.J.Rose

Book Summary…
Haunted by the 20 year old murder of a beautiful young painter, Lucien Glass keeps the demons at bay through his fascinating work as a special agent with the FBI’s Art Crime team. Currently investigating a crazed art collector who has begun destroying prized masterworks, Glass is thrust into a bizarre hostage negotiation that takes him undercover at the Phoenix Foundation-dedicated to the science of past life discovery-where, in order to maintain his cover, he agrees to submit to the treatment of a hypnotist.
Under hypnosis, Glass travels from ancient Greece to 19th century Persia, while the case takes him from New York to Paris to the movie capitol of the world. These journeys will change his very understanding of reality, lead him to question his own sanity, and land him at the center of perhaps the most audacious art heist in history---the theft of a 1500 year old sculpture from the Metropolitan Museum Of Art.

My thoughts…
Intrigue
Deceit
Murder
Mayhem
Mystery
And I almost forgot the inevitable romance…definitely romance.
All of the above plus more were included in this book by M. J. Rose who also wrote The Reincarnationist and The Memorist.
Personally, this is not my kind of book. Upon stating that…I can appreciate the amazing suspenseful tale that this author wove within this story. It is pretty much the story of Lucien Glass. He was in love with a woman named Solange 20 years prior to the real beginning of this story. Something horrible happens on a night they are to meet and, of course, this is where the story begins. It seemed to me that everyone in the world was after something in this story. There were lots of past lives being explored through hypnotism and untangling these lives was an integral part of the story. The FBI was involved and the Middle East was involved and museums and major pieces of artwork were involved. It was an international mystery.
Personally this is a difficult book for me to review. I am afraid that in telling you anything major about this book…I will spoil the story. It is a fierce heart stopping novel. It is a nail biter. You really do not know who is the true good guy and when you think you do…it sort of changes.
If you enjoy intrigue and tons of major art references, a fast pace, non stop action and tons of surprises…M.J. Rose is pretty unbeatable.

I reviewed this book for Pump Up Your Book!!!
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Nov 22, 2011 Meg - A Bookish Affair rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, fiction

Lucian Glass, FBI agent, is haunted by a crime he couldn't prevent. He throws himself into a new case as a part of the FBI Art Crime Team that will take him beyond where he ever thought he'd be able to go. (Side note: Who knew that the FBI Art Crime Team existed? How awesome would it be to work on that team? Sign me up now, please!).

Reincarnation is a very interesting concept to me. It's not something that I have really given much thought to before. Rose does a really good job of making this phe...more

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May 20, 2011 Heavensent1 rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Hypnotist is book three in The Reincarnationist's series. It is a mystery suspense thriller with mild to moderate expletives and violence.

Lucian Glass works for the FBI as part of their Art Crimes Team who has a past surrounded by murder and mystery. At nineteen, he returns from his artist studio, to find his girlfriend murdered and hanging amongst the picture frames of her father's framing business. However, before Lucian can react, he too is attacked and left for dead, now twenty years lat...more The Hypnotist is book three in The Reincarnationist's series. It is a mystery suspense thriller with mild to moderate expletives and violence.

Lucian Glass works for the FBI as part of their Art Crimes Team who has a past surrounded by murder and mystery. At nineteen, he returns from his artist studio, to find his girlfriend murdered and hanging amongst the picture frames of her father's framing business. However, before Lucian can react, he too is attacked and left for dead, now twenty years later, that past is coming back to haunt him.

Dr. Malachai Samuels is a long-standing reincarnationist who is obsessed with proving that people's souls do, in fact, reincarnate into other bodies. His speciality is working with children, like little Veronica who begins her tale in ancient Persia, he hypnotizes the children and does past regression therapy upon them. However, Veronica's tales are tying into the memory stones that he desperately seeks, and he will stop at nothing to obtain them.

Emeline Jacobs is a cousin of Solange's who has been adopted by Solange's parents, shortly after her murder. In a desperate need to feel wanted, her family was killed in an accident, Emeline begins to take on the persona of Solange. Causing her aunt and uncle to whisk her from doctor to doctor trying to uncover the secret of Emeline's uncanny mannerisms of her late cousin.

Samimi is an Iranian who is working to return a statue of the God, Hypnos, back to his country. He and his people know the secrets of the statue and will cheat, lie, steal and murder to regain control of the piece, which now sits in the restoration department of the New York Metropolitan Museum. Samimi works for a boorish, murderous oaf and wishes to displace him, fearing he will be called home to Iran or worse, murdered, he works to bring salvation to his people while keeping his own self alive and intact.

Each person moves separately towards their destinations not realizing they are all being directed to the same point in time. As each of the characters come to realize they are but a small piece in a bigger game, they must come to terms with their past, in order to preserve their futures.

I absolutely enjoyed the book and loved all the historical references to the art pieces mentioned throughout the story. My favourite painter is Monet and reading about his work was very interesting, as were the informative pieces about Matisse, Van Gogh and the mythology behind the statue of Hypnos was equally enthralling to read. I wish there had been more of it dispersed throughout the book. I loved the blending of the past with the present with the past life transgression therapy and appreciated the tales being told through both Veronica and Lucian. The tie-ins of all the participants was well-written and convincing.

The story is both slow and fast paced and it works to build momentum within the story, making you turn the pages in order to finish the tale that M.J. Rose has choose to tell. I wasn't much impressed with Emeline and wished she had been kept as an associate instead of a love interest. I don't think good stories need such and I'm often left wondering why, in times of horror, do authors have a need to throw a love story into the fray, it just doesn't make sense to me and often takes away from a story, The Hypnotist falls into such a category, unfortunately. In my honest opinion, its the books only real downfall to the plot. A small hindrance however, to a great story.(less)

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May 10, 2011 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ever since I was a little girl, I have found the concept of past lives fascinating. As someone who is spiritual but not religious, I might even believe in them. I've always loved the romance of it. So imagine my delight finding a thriller that centered on that very subject. My expectations were high and I wasn't disappointed.

M. J. Rose is a masterful storyteller. Though her story is told from multiple points of view, it is Lucian Glass with whom the reader spends most of his/her time. Whether yo...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Ranting Dragon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: caleigh

http://www.rantingdragon.com/the-hypn...

The Hyponist is a genre-bending thriller by established author M. J. Rose. Although it’s third in The Reincarnationist series, The Hypnotist works perfectly as a standalone despite some recurring characters. FBI special agent Lucian Glass is still in pursuit of Malachai Samuels, a man criminally committed to acquiring a list of ancient Memory Tools that reputedly give a person the power to learn of his or her past lives. A list of those tools could be hidd...more

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Apr 13, 2012 Star (The Bibliophilic Book Blog) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

FBI Agent Lucian Glass lost his other half years ago and was unable to save her, but perhaps he will be given a second chance…as he races to stop a group who want nothing more than the highest influence.

The Hypnotist is the haunting story of love, secrets, and the quest for power. The third in a series, starting with The Reincarnationist, The Hypnotist stands well on its own, as do the first two books.

The search is still on for the Memory Tools, which are ancient objects which give people insigh...more

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Sep 28, 2011 Victoria Pond rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime, for-reviewing, mystery, modern-lit

The Hypnotist is a wonderful suspense novel, almost a police-procedural, that centers around the FBI's investigation of a to-be-stolen statue. What The Hypnotist isn't, however, is a romance novel, which comes as a surprise since it's published by
Harlequin.

In fact, even though I picked this book up to review on another website (that specializes in sf/f/paranormal erotica site), I can't review it there due to the lack of erotic content. Still, it seems worth warning a reader about.

On the other si...more The Hypnotist is a wonderful suspense novel, almost a police-procedural, that centers around the FBI's investigation of a to-be-stolen statue. What The Hypnotist isn't, however, is a romance novel, which comes as a surprise since it's published by
Harlequin.

In fact, even though I picked this book up to review on another website (that specializes in sf/f/paranormal erotica site), I can't review it there due to the lack of erotic content. Still, it seems worth warning a reader about.

On the other side, the book overflows with paranormal content. It follows numerous points of view, many of which are wrapped up in past life regressions. For instance, the main character, Art Crimes Inspector Lucian Glass, gets chapters devoted not only to his own viewpoint, but also to two of his past selves (a sculptor in Ancient Greece and a French excavator in 1800s Persia/Iran).

M. J. Rose plays the "is it paranormal or is it just a confidence game" so well that readers can't help but take closer looks at their own lives. No action necessarily goes beyond the rational, but so many consequences stack up that...well, Mark Twain would bet on paranormal activity.

Sf/f/paranormalcy discussed, this review has to turn back to the unsexiness of it all. As mentioned, this is a novel from Harlequin, in their MIRA line. A quick look at MIRA's website store shows that their other current novels adhere to Harlequin's most famous feature while offering equal time to a non-romance plot--art heists, gang violence, family drama. So, how did this novel end up with no romantic entanglements and only one sex scene? And, at that, a one page sex scene so couched in metaphor that readers might not know what was going on if they were, say, in middle school.

In Harlequin's defense, The Hypnotist is the third book in a series. It stands on its own, so you don't need to read the other books first; perhaps the first two were spicy, or maybe the author intends to add the sexy thrills in the next volume. Or, perhaps, since MIRA is technically Harlequin's "mainstream" line, no one feels the necessity for romance.

Whatever the plan, The Hypnotist is a wonderful book full of interesting characters, thought-provoking paranormalcy, and art. It is not, however, going to satisfy your erotic cravings.(less)

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Jul 23, 2012 Rebecca added it

I'd been very impressed with "The Book of Lost Fragrances" so I wanted to read something else by M.J. Rose. Unfortunately, she seems to be one of those authors who tells the same story over and over again.

"The Hypnotist" is also about reincarnation and people obsessed with it. Here our main character is Josh, a photographer badly injured a year ago when he caught a terrorist attack on camera. Since then he's been having psychotic episodes in which he remembers his past lives: Julius, a pagan pri...more

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Jun 13, 2011 Misha rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Rated 3.5

The compelling premise of The Hypnotist is what grabbed my attention; anything to do with reincarnation is right up my alley. I have not read the two previous books in the Reincarnationist series but I think The Hypnotist can even be read as a stand alone novel. This book is an action packed read that artfully combines the supernatural, suspense and even art history. I think The Hypnotist has something for everybody, even romance lovers. I am usually not fond of romance in suspense or t...more Rated 3.5

The compelling premise of The Hypnotist is what grabbed my attention; anything to do with reincarnation is right up my alley. I have not read the two previous books in the Reincarnationist series but I think The Hypnotist can even be read as a stand alone novel. This book is an action packed read that artfully combines the supernatural, suspense and even art history. I think The Hypnotist has something for everybody, even romance lovers. I am usually not fond of romance in suspense or thriller novels, but the way the author has executed the romance in The Hypnotist, makes it seem so beautiful and sad at the same time. The plot moves at a steady pace with more of the suspense unveiling with each chapter. As the story progresses, we get to know the characters more intimately which is especially important here because The Hypnotist has got a lot of characters.

My favorite part of the book is when Lucian recalls his past lives under hypnosis. It's so creepy, still so fascinating! I do not believe in reincarnation; however this concept has always intrigued me. If there is such a thing as reincarnation, who were we in our past lives? Are we all connected through our past lives? And when you meet someone and you instantly feel that you know that person even though you have never met him/her in your life - does the explanation lie in our "past lives", if there is such a thing? The author almost made me believe in reincarnation! I love how she was able to transport me to a different era through the mesmerizing descriptions of Lucian's past lives.

The Hypnotist is definitely a page-turning read, but I did face some problems with it. Firstly, it is a bit difficult to keep track of so many characters. I kept on forgetting names and had to refer back to previous pages. Further, there are many things happening at the same time. However, once I was halfway through the book, it was easy to keep track of the plot and the characters with a little extra concentration.

The Hypnotist is an enjoyable read which offers something for readers of varied genres. M.J. Rose is a talented storyteller; I will definitely be picking up the previous books in the series.

Overall:
An entertaining, fast-paced read that has elements of mystery, paranormal and much more.

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Jul 30, 2010 Serena rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose is the third book in the Reincarnationist series and FBI Lucian Glass remains on the trail of Dr. Malachai Samuels.

Reincarnation and the use of memory tools to reach deep into past lives reappears in this novel, alongside the use of hypnosis. Glass is recovering from injuries sustained in The Memorist, but he’s not eager to sit out the investigation on the sidelines. In Vienna, he’s accosted while looking at the only translation of a list of memory tools, which would s...more

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Jun 05, 2011 Kari rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, 2011

The Hypnotist is the third book in The Reincarnationist series by MJ Rose. This is the first of the series that I have read. I was told that each book can be read as a stand alone and I never had the feeling that I was missing information. I did enjoy this book, so I will be looking up the others in the series. The book was a bit slow in the beginning, but once Lucian Glass is introduced, the second time, the book really gets going. I'm glad I stuck with it. The plot is very well written with ma...more

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Jun 09, 2010 Joy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: published-2010, mystery-suspense-thriller, scifi-fantasy, reading-list-2010, art-related

After finishing The Hypnotist, I still don't really believe in reincarnation, but I certainly believe in M.J. Rose! The book is the third novel in Rose's "Reincarnationist" series, but it can very definitely be read as a stand-alone work. I haven't read either of the earlier novels, and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Rose does a good job of introducing the reader to the overall reincarnationist back story, without letting it dominate or slow the action of the current work. And even though the bo...more

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Nov 12, 2011 Andrea Guy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, historical-fiction, suspense, historicalfictionvirtualbooktours

I discovered this series when the Past Lives was on Fox and I loved the concept. The books are much better than the show, which is not the case with other books to tv shows...like Bones.

M.J. Rose delivers a story that makes you want to keep turning the pages. The characters really jump of the pages. You may not connect with them, but you understand them and their motivations. The Hypnotist is the third book in The Reincarnationist series, but it definitely can be read as a stand alone book.

What...more

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Jun 13, 2011 Audra (Unabridged Chick) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: heroine-unusually-attractive, historicals, place-ancient-places, place-new-york-city, supernatural

This, to me, was a perfect summertime escapist read: exciting settings, a large cast of easy to remember characters, some improbable plot twists, and a bit of romance. Set (mostly) in New York City, the story follows a number of characters including Lucian, an agent with the FBI's Art Crime Team who witnessed his girlfriend's murder twenty years ago; Emeline, a young woman who may or may not be a reincarnation of that girlfriend; Samimi, an Iranian man tasked with recovering (or stealing) a scul...more

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Mar 24, 2011 Cynfully Sweet rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011, romantic-suspense

It's definitely nice to hear the lovely Phil Gigante narrarate :) Not really a romance, and there's something missing on the suspense/thriller angle since it's not really a romance, but still quite entertaining. However, I might have too high of expectations as far as suspense/thriller genres go, since the last book I read of this theme was the millenium series and well.. those books are sheer roller coaster rides. I believe this is 2nd or 3rd in the reincarnationist series, so there might be ba...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Hypnotist by M.J. Rose is a past-life themed suspense mystery. It is the third in her Reincarnationist series, although the first I've read. It's about an FBI agent, Lucian Glass, who works on the art crimes team and is investigating a case where a man is destroying priceless pieces of art in an attempt to force the Metropolitan Museum of Art to handover one of it's newest sculptures. As Lucian delves into the case he realizes that the sculpture in question has powerful ties to his past-live...more

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Nov 30, 2011 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kate by: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour

Shelves: received-for-review

The Hypnotist is a suspenseful thriller that has a wide array of exciting elements: stolen artwork held for ransom, an ancient statue with a shady past and intriguing mythology, covert operations by the FBI, Iranian spies and terrorists, murder, and underneath it all the supernatural possibility that some of the people involved are connected through their past lives. To me, The Hypnotist reminded me a lot of a Dan Brown-type of thriller, where historical artifacts are more than what they seem an...more The Hypnotist is a suspenseful thriller that has a wide array of exciting elements: stolen artwork held for ransom, an ancient statue with a shady past and intriguing mythology, covert operations by the FBI, Iranian spies and terrorists, murder, and underneath it all the supernatural possibility that some of the people involved are connected through their past lives. To me, The Hypnotist reminded me a lot of a Dan Brown-type of thriller, where historical artifacts are more than what they seem and people are so determined to acquire them that they will kill to get them if necessary. The difference, though, is that M.J. Rose's characters are deeper and more interesting--the reader gets to know their backgrounds and feelings better, and that makes a big difference in being able to connect with the characters. They are also complicated people, with conflicting motives and not always easy to predict.

I mentioned above that the book raises the possibility of reincarnation, and much of the action centers on the hunt for "Memory Tools" which would help people to reach the deep meditation needed to access past-life memories. At times the reincarnation thread of the story could be a bit heavy on the supernatural for my taste, but there are points where some of the characters in the story debate whether what they're experiencing is truly evidence of reincarnation or something else. One of the prominent characters in the book was Dr. Malachi Samuels, a therapist who works with children on past lives and is highly motivated to find the Memory Tools. He was an especially interesting character because I had a hard time pinning down whether he was on the good side or the bad side until the end of the novel.

Regardless of my own views on reincarnation (I don't believe in it), the suspense and intrigue kept me guessing and the characters were believably complex. For some reason I struggled a little in the beginning keeping the characters straight in my head, but the second half of the book really kept me turning the pages. I recommend this book to thriller fans who find the possibility of past lives to be an interesting topic.(less)

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About M.J. Rose

My most recent novel is Seduction - a novel of Suspense - May 7th.

"Threads of past lives and malevolent spirits... combined with Rose's vivid imagination and beautiful writing make this a book to savor." —RT Top Pick 4 ½ stars

"A luxurious, sensual experience for the reader. This atmospheric tale of suspense is fully engrossing." —Library Journal (starred review)

"A sophisticated book that plunges y...more

More about M.J. Rose...

Books by M.J. Rose

The Reincarnationist (Reincarnationist, #1)

The Book of Lost Fragrances (Reincarnationist, #4)

The Halo Effect (Butterfield Institute, #1)

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The Hypnotist (The Reincarnationist #3)

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