Blood Trance

Alex & Maddy Phillips #2

by R.D. Zimmerman

Once again, Maddy Phillips, the world's foremost forensic hypnotherapist, must bring her unique mental powers to bear on another grisly murder. Sightless since youth, paraplegic since a recent accident, Maddy relies on hypnosis to slip her brother, Alex, into a trance, where he retells in detail what he witnessed, and thus enables Maddy to hunt out the clues and visualize the horrible truth. Blood Trance is a rousing reintroduction to this critically acclaimed team as they struggle to solve the mystery of the murder of Helen Long, the enigmatic evil step-mother. Although daughter Loretta appears quickly at the scene of the crime, a bloody knife in her hand and a ready confession on her lips, Maddy isn't convinced. Pushing deeper, Alex relates his violent encounter with Loretta's sister, who has dark secrets to protect. And then there is the alcoholic brother, who disappears once Helen is found dead. The closer Maddy and Alex get to the truth, the more sinister the twists and turns become. Finally with both their lives in increasing danger, Maddy must gather all the suspects to her remote Lake Michigan island home, where the events draw to an inexorable, horrifying conclusion.

Genres: Mystery

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

A pseudonym used by Robert Alexander

Award-winning author R.D. Zimmerman has been nominated for two Edgars, two Lambda Literary Awards, and an Anthony. He has written ten previous novels, including Tribe and Closet (1996 Lambda Literary Award winner) in the Todd Mills series, six children's books, and created six bestselling mystery jigsaw puzzles. Raised in Chicago, he now lives in Minneapolis.

Reviews

[Maedyne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did finish book, but thought so often of not finishing. Just did not like the hypnotic “stuff”. Hard for me to imagine.

[Rosemary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Didn't get past the third chapter. Poorly written

[Larry Koester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a mystery fan, but I enjoyed this book.