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EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)
Eye of the Beholder
David Ellis. Putnam, $24.95 (400p) ISBN 978-0-399-15433-1
Nothing is as it seems in this stunning tale of illicit sex, murder and betrayal from Edgar-winner Ellis (Line of Vision). The brutal murders of six young women by Terry Burgos, a Mansbury College janitor, in June 1989 seems self-evident. After all, Burgos confessed, and then-assistant county attorney Paul Riley found enough evidence, including the song lyrics that inspired the murders, to get Burgos the death penalty. In June 2005, Riley's in private practice working for the father of one of the six victims, Cassie Bentley, when someone begins duplicating those murders. Odd notes come to Riley in the mail from a disturbed man who may be a copycat killer. To complicate matters, Riley had, under pressure from Cassie's prominent family, not charged Burgos with her murder in 1989. This fact comes back to haunt him when detectives find links between Cassie and the current murders. Juggling multiple viewpoints, Ellis keeps perfect control of his labyrinthine plot as it builds to a satisfying twist ending. Author tour. (July)
BOOKLIST
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
By David Ellis
The author’s fifth novel (his previous titles include the popular In the Company of Liars, 2005,and the Edgar-winning Line of Vision, 2001) cements his reputation as a top-notch thriller writer. Fifteen years ago, prosecutor Paul Riley made his mark by putting away Terry Burgos, who was inspired by song lyrics to kill six young women in the most gruesome of fashions. Now, a new series of killings bears a frightening similarity to the Burgos murders, and as the victim list keeps growing, Riley realizes the killer seems to be sending a personal message to him. In order to solve the new crimes, Riley, realizing that the connection to the Burgos case is very real, must confront his own past and the terrifying possibility that, 15 years ago, he might have made a terrible mistake. The novel is tightly plotted and sparklingly written, a surefire winner and a fine read-alike for legal thrillers by Philip Margolin and Perri O’Shaughnessy. —David Pitt
KIRKUS REVIEWS
May 1, 2007
EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
By David Ellis
From a shark prosecutor's easy win, incalculable losses derive.
A slam dunk if ever there was one—that's how the case looks to newly
appointed First Assistant County Attorney Paul Riley. The case: six
young women brutally murdered on premises belonging to a certain
Terry Burgos. Forensic evidence: overwhelming. Alibi: nonexistent.
When, in addition, Burgos more or less confesses, the defense is down
to the frail hope of an insanity plea. Without working up much of a
sweat, Riley disposes of that, and in the process, earns the
gratitude of tycoon Harland Bentley, whose personal wealth is
estimated at a billion and a half, and whose beloved daughter was one
of the six victims. Convicted, Burgos is sentenced to die in the gas
chamber and does, and Riley is a witness. There is, to be sure, a
moment of unforeseen drama. Before dying, Burgos mouths to Riley:
"I'm not the only one." Unsettling, yes, but not for long. The
question of legality aside, Burgos was, after all, manifestly crazy.
Flash forward 16 years. Riley is now in private practice, head of a
substantial firm bulwarked by Harland Bentley's multinational legal
business. He is, in short, a player. Suddenly, a new murderous cycle
has the city's media buzzing. And there are the notes that begin
arriving at Riley's office—creepy, cryptic. Despite himself, Riley
investigates—and learns how chimerical truth can be. And how
disastrous.
Another top-flight legal thriller from Edgar-winner Ellis (In the
Company of Liars, 2004, etc.), brimming with quality prose and
layered characterizations. And if the plot twists gratuitously a time
or two, well, settle.
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