Review: The Human Obsession (Manufactured Identity, #3) by Heath Sommer

Title: The Human Obsession

Author: Heath Sommer

Series: 3rd in Manufactured Identity

Pages: 316

Published: Available now from Tate Publishing

ISBN: 9781616637606

Source: Author sent for honest review

Description: A year before retirement, Chief of Police Frank Murphy wants nothing more than to spend his golden years on HGTV marathons and endless tee-off times. What he gets is a string of abductions that makes Ted Bundy look like an amateur. The Human Obsession is the sequel to Heath Sommer's 2009 breakout psychological thriller The Manufactured Identity, where Murphy and hapless lovers Addy and John Joe scramble against inhuman odds and unpredictable twists to solve the riddles of murder, obsession, and human weakness. Focusing on the trial of Cameron Bo, alleged murderer and loony from Sommer's The Grand Delusion, The Human Obsession takes readers even deeper into the minds of Sommers' beloved and twisted characters. In the end, no one could have seen why those meant to protect and serve may be in the greatest danger of all.

I Give This ...

 

What really amazed me about this series after reading this one is the fact the books are entirely different from each other.  The contain a few of the same characters, but each one has a different feel.  They also have each provoked different emotions.   

I wasn't expecting The Human Obsession to be so dark and gritty.  But, the author decided to take us farther into the mind of someone willing to commit acts that most humans can't even begin to imagine.  It was actually really hard for me to read at times because it effected me personally.  I have 2 little girls ages 5 and 3, which also fit the profiles of some of the victims in the story.  It's one of those things that we don't want to ever think about, but happens way more than we care to admit.

I felt sorry for Murphy.  He's gone through so much.  Not only does he finally have to go through the trial of Cameron Bo, but also deals with a dieing son.  On top of that, the murders begin and an outrages community wants a suspect.  It's amazing he doesn't completely crack.  I did find his changing views on what makes a person "crazy", to be really interesting.

Once again, I find that heavy psychology in this story to be fascinating.  I liked the trial portions that dealt with Cameron Bo and whether he really knew what he was doing or not.  I also liked being in the mind of the killer, no matter how hard it was for me to read.

I'm kind of hoping there might be a 4th book.  While I feel the story is done, I was left wondering about a couple of things.  First the boy found in the forest doesn't get the ending I though he deserved.  I wanted to know what happened after that, not to mention John Joe's involvement.  I also wanted to know more about the killer.  We've learned so much about all the other characters, I felt a little cheated when it came to him.  

The Grand Delusion by Heath Sommer

Title: The Grand Delusion

Author: Heath Sommer

Series: reoccurring characters

Pages: 408

Published: October 2010 by Tate Publishing

ISBN: 9781616635596

Source: sent for review

Description: Loner Addy Siwel only wanted answers when she signed up for a freshman course in theology—what she got was the attention of a murderer. In The Grand Delusion, Dr. Heath Sommer brings to life the precursor stories of characters John Joe, Addy Siwel, and Merci Bowku, who were introduced to the world in the 2009 contemporary mystery The Manufactured Identity. Terror-struck, the three protagonists vie against a backdrop of ironic evil as they are stalked by an unidentified villain who breaks all the rules and sends Chief of police and reluctant clairvoyant Frank Murphy scrambling against the clock in a murder mystery showdown that leaves all questioning what is real and what is beyond this world.

I Give This ...

 

 I was looking forward to what Sommer produced next.  His first novel was very different from what I had read before.  I really enjoy how complex it was and the psychology aspects in contained.   I wasn't disappointed with this one.

I have to be honest and say I don't remember much about the characters from The Manufactured Identity.  There was so much going on in that book.  I was afraid that fact would hinder my enjoyment of this one.  It didn't.  The book draws you in from the prologue.  At first, the constant switch in narrative is distracting.  But, I knew from experience that everything would be tied together.  Gradually the story flow into one stream and you get to know the characters.  All of them are suffering from sort of psychological problem in varying degrees.  I liked watching them all sort through their problems.  And once again, the author shows his knowledge in the area.  It's not written from the perspective of someone who has done a lot of research.  It feels genuine and real.

I liked the intensity of the novel.  We know something big is going to happen, but we don't know to whom or who will be the culprit.  I wasn't even sure if it was a character in the novel or some outside force.  The true psychosis of the villain was awesome.  I love how the author is able to make a villain seem like any person you might know.  The "craziness" is buried deep within.  And with the problems the characters are hiding from each other, it really good have been anybody.

I liked the theoretical questions this novel asks.  God plays a big part of it and I enjoyed it for the most part.  But, in the end it kind of turned me off.  I could have done without the whole classroom scene.  It's just got a little preachy there and felt a little out of place with the rest of the story.   The pacing was a little off for me as well.  It seems a short amount of time goes by in a few chapters and then all of a sudden months of past.  The only real indication of this is wording in the story.  It's almost like the chapters need a timeline.  

But, overall I still really enjoyed this story.  Dr. Sommer has proved he has something to offer the mystery/thriller genre.  I will be looking forward to what he writes next!

The Manufactured Identity by Heath Sommer

Title: The Manufactured Identity
Author: Heath Sommer
Publication: June 2009 by Tate Pub & Enterprise Llc
Pages: 308
ISBN: 9781606965504

Description:  Months after his mysterious disappearance from a routine fishing trip, no one really expects over-the-hill Texas housewife Lory Latchley to find her missing husband—especially her husband. The Manufactured Identity is clinical psychologist Heath Sommer's ever-escalating immersion into the world of unlikely friends who each awaken to find their faithful companions missing without warning or reason. Desperate to find meaning in their pain, they are thrust by the auspices of fate into a common thread of mystery and human frailty. In the end, the fate of all may reside in the unstable hands of rookie pastor John Joe, but ultimately Lory and her newfound partners will uncover a truth so unnerving it makes even infidelity look palatable.

I Give This Book 4 Stars!

I was intrigued from the first couple pages of The Manufactured Identity.  I love psychological mystery/thrillers, and have to say that this is one of the best.  I've found most doctors turned writers try not to show too much of their psychology backgrounds in a story they've written.  But, I found this book was the opposite and I loved every minute of it.  But, then I have a B.S. in psychology so I sort of revel in this kind of stuff.  I wasn't sure were the story was going for a while and there are a lot of characters to keep track of.  But, as I soon found out, this was all part of the point.  It was fascinating to watch the story unfold and I was completely shocked at what the whole truth entailed.  I thought the person revealed in the end was different, so I liked being surprised.  In the end was very glad to have read this book!

* A special thanks to the Author, Dr. Heath Sommer, for the chance to review this book!