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The Unnatural
The first victim, brutally assaulted, literally dies of fright in the ER, and Dr. Julie Charmaine must find out why. A psychiatrist, advocate for battered women and noted sleep researcher, Dr. Charmaine has only two clues to the beautiful young woman's she reeks of the city sewers and her last word was the Spanish slang for monkey.
Meanwhile, Vicki Zambisi, tormented by twin memories of terror and lost love begins an odyssey of vengeance. But when she is attacked in the run-down hotel where she was betrayed, she is put under the care of Dr. Charmaine, and her dreams reveal that there's more to the man the LA police have dubbed the "Sewer Stalker" than Vicki is letting on while awake.
Eager investors have rewarded Dr. Wesley Kovacs lavishly for his groundbreaking cryonics research. Now, though he publicly supports a form of immortality, Kovacs will let nothing stand between him and the Nobel Prize.
For in an experiment gone horribly awry, Kovacs holds the key to the "Sewer Stalker," the bizarre hybrid creature who lusts insatiably for beautiful women . . . and now pursues both Julie and her patient.
Navigating the turbulent waters of immortality and bringing man's unquenchable desire to live forever to the streets and sewers of Los Angeles, Alan Nayes lives up to the reputation he established in the critically acclaimed Gargoyles by providing another edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep readers up all night.
Meanwhile, Vicki Zambisi, tormented by twin memories of terror and lost love begins an odyssey of vengeance. But when she is attacked in the run-down hotel where she was betrayed, she is put under the care of Dr. Charmaine, and her dreams reveal that there's more to the man the LA police have dubbed the "Sewer Stalker" than Vicki is letting on while awake.
Eager investors have rewarded Dr. Wesley Kovacs lavishly for his groundbreaking cryonics research. Now, though he publicly supports a form of immortality, Kovacs will let nothing stand between him and the Nobel Prize.
For in an experiment gone horribly awry, Kovacs holds the key to the "Sewer Stalker," the bizarre hybrid creature who lusts insatiably for beautiful women . . . and now pursues both Julie and her patient.
Navigating the turbulent waters of immortality and bringing man's unquenchable desire to live forever to the streets and sewers of Los Angeles, Alan Nayes lives up to the reputation he established in the critically acclaimed Gargoyles by providing another edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep readers up all night.
- GenresMystery
448 pages, Hardcover
First published August 2, 2011
37 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Alan Nayes
25 books379 followersAlan Nayes is the author of numerous novels and short stories. He resides in Southern California.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 4, 2018
Good book
It was an exciting book, lots of turns and twist with a surprise ending, Schocking. Very scarey, fast moving, I would recommend it.
It was an exciting book, lots of turns and twist with a surprise ending, Schocking. Very scarey, fast moving, I would recommend it.
November 18, 2012
Well written Robin Cook style medical thriller. Dr Julie Charmaine has a new patient who seems to be connected with a slew of murders commited by the Sewer Man. Can she and Det Matt Guardian figure out where the killer will strike next or will Julie be the next victim. An excellent way to spend a day in the sun!
October 22, 2015
Unnatural Indeed!
Had me from the start, which I love a book to do. I never saw it coming, . But Ben, you dirty dog you.!
Had me from the start, which I love a book to do. I never saw it coming, . But Ben, you dirty dog you.!
August 20, 2022
the wow factor in this book is a big one. i have to say the only reason i gave this a 5 star was the twist. this book starts off with DR. julie charmaine who is a sleep DR. julie has a sleep lad in the hospital where she studies peoples dreams and the meaning behind them. while working one night a woman is brought in that has been badly beaten and near death. julie is asked to help in the womans care and quickly get dragged in to a wild and deadly string of murders, a serial killer and a mad scientist. shortly after this a woman named vicky is brought into a hospital with a similar tale as the woman before. julie winds up striking a friendship with vicky and tries to help her all she can. this is where a detective matt comes in on the story whos is trying to catch the man who is behind all the attacks and murders. instantly matt has a connection with juile who is just as much interested in matt. from here matt and juile work together to try to catch the man who is killing all these people with vicky being the main source of information. Vicky seams to think that an old boss who happens to be a well-respected scientist is behind all this in some way and can help stop it. theirs just one small thing thats overlooked that makes all the difference.
May 9, 2018
What?
First of all, despite a two star rating, for the most part, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the hero and heroine, if you can call them that. I liked Vicki, Eisler and Kovacs. The coroner may have been my favorite character, but some of the stupid things these characters did just defied reality. "Wait here." Yeah, right. Don't go alone. Okay. Whatever. What really ruined this book for me were three things. Julie's dreams at the end, Julie's last known relationship with Matt and the what I thought was silly, final revelation. I just felt totally ripped off by that ending and explanation that was way off the credibility scale. A different ending might have elevated this book to four stars for me. Story had great potential but ultimately fizzled.
First of all, despite a two star rating, for the most part, I really enjoyed this book. I liked the hero and heroine, if you can call them that. I liked Vicki, Eisler and Kovacs. The coroner may have been my favorite character, but some of the stupid things these characters did just defied reality. "Wait here." Yeah, right. Don't go alone. Okay. Whatever. What really ruined this book for me were three things. Julie's dreams at the end, Julie's last known relationship with Matt and the what I thought was silly, final revelation. I just felt totally ripped off by that ending and explanation that was way off the credibility scale. A different ending might have elevated this book to four stars for me. Story had great potential but ultimately fizzled.
March 7, 2018
Wow, I didn't see that coming!! This was a good book. I'll be reading more of Mr. Nayes' books in the future.
March 10, 2018
Way to many words and not enough action. Also, vague on many situations.
June 13, 2010
Story: 2/10
What could have been an interesting scientific mystery became a trite and predictable piece of drivel after the first hundred or so pages.
The suspense was lacking: I figured out what Ben was, what had happened to him, and how the story was going to play out within the first quarter of the book.
Characters: 4/10
I didn't really care for the characters. Few of them felt genuine, and it seemed like their relationships and histories were thrown in for no reason other than "a book needs characters".
Writing: 5/10
Not impressive but not horrible either. At times, however, it felt like Nayes was offering us a science lessons that weren't pertinent to the story, as if to say, "Man, I'm a doctor. Look what I know."
Overall: 2.5/10
Not impressed with this book at all. I felt unclean after reading it.
Not recommended.
What could have been an interesting scientific mystery became a trite and predictable piece of drivel after the first hundred or so pages.
The suspense was lacking: I figured out what Ben was, what had happened to him, and how the story was going to play out within the first quarter of the book.
Characters: 4/10
I didn't really care for the characters. Few of them felt genuine, and it seemed like their relationships and histories were thrown in for no reason other than "a book needs characters".
Writing: 5/10
Not impressive but not horrible either. At times, however, it felt like Nayes was offering us a science lessons that weren't pertinent to the story, as if to say, "Man, I'm a doctor. Look what I know."
Overall: 2.5/10
Not impressed with this book at all. I felt unclean after reading it.
Not recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2011
If I could give half stars, this one would be a 3.5.
Mr. Nayes did a great job with his writing style on this book. The knowledge that he showed in his writing was excellent, but for me it was personally over my head. I found myself skipping through a lot of the technical and medical references.
I did enjoy the storyline - and thought it was very creative. The characters were good - and there was enough depth to give some good insight on them and make them appealing.
Someone who is very much into medical mystery's, enjoys and understands the medical references made in this book would probably find this a 5 star book.
I do enjoy Mr. Nayes stories and will continue to read them as they are released.
Mr. Nayes did a great job with his writing style on this book. The knowledge that he showed in his writing was excellent, but for me it was personally over my head. I found myself skipping through a lot of the technical and medical references.
I did enjoy the storyline - and thought it was very creative. The characters were good - and there was enough depth to give some good insight on them and make them appealing.
Someone who is very much into medical mystery's, enjoys and understands the medical references made in this book would probably find this a 5 star book.
I do enjoy Mr. Nayes stories and will continue to read them as they are released.
May 24, 2013
This book kept me on the edge of my seat. Dr. Julie Charmaine takes on a new patient, Vicki Zampisi, during a series of murders. Their meeting becomes part of the investigation of these murders. Through many surprises and twist in the story, an unexpected ending is presented. Alan Nayes has given me yet another reason to read books like this.
March 1, 2011
a decent enough medical thriller, unnatural takes us into the world of cryrogenics and of course mad scientists. add a handsome detective, a lovely doctor, and some really creepy murders, and there you are. like I said, decent enough, but it didn't keep me awake reading.
August 14, 2007
I got bogged down in all the scientific jargon & couldn't keep the victims straight. However, it had a pretty good storyline with an unexpected, perverted twist at the end. I've read better...
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November 4, 2020too much murder stalker for me, didn't read
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July 16, 2009Enjoyable read. Liked the pace of the book and the straightforward plot.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews