The Architect: A Novel (Frank Clevenger) (ISBN 1593976941)

THIS STORY IS BUILT ON SHAKY GROUND:
This is my first book by this author, Keith Ablow, and it will most likely be my last. His protagonist, forensic psychiatrist Dr. Frank Clevenger, is without doubt the most dysfunctional character in a tale teeming with dysfunctional characters. Clevenger's personal life is a train wreck and he is hard pressed to make it through a day without a few belts of booze. He is unable to make any meaningful contribution to the lives of those he purportedly cares about and any of the folks that he "loves" would be well advised to RUN as quickly as possible in the opposite direction. As for Ablows' "Architect", he is a pale facsimile of a character created by Thomas Harris. Ablow's killer is a one dimensional psychopath who is not nearly as intriguing or terrifying as Harris's Hannibal Lector. The reader is never privy to the underlying reason for "The Architects" obsession with perfection or what drives him in his compulsive need to control every situation ADVICE TO PROSPECTIVE READERS: The entire storyline is unrealistic. If, however, you are willing to suspend disbelief, are into buckets of blood and gore with a bit of political rhetoric thrown in for good measure, you might find this offering to your liking. On the other hand, if you demand a well constructed, suspenseful and psychologically engaging thriller ......move on my friend. This book is definitely not for you.

A True Forensic Phsychological Thriller:
Frank Clevenger is a forensic psychologist and is on the trail of the killer who carefully dissects parts of his victims. As far as heroes go, Dr. Clevenger is deeply flawed and doesn't always make the right decisions in his personal life, which makes him seem more human. He struggles with alcoholism. He also has a deeply troubled adopted teenage son, Billy. Some have noted that the subplot with Billy took away from the book. This is a series, I do not recommend starting with this book. Personally, I haven't read the first two, and just read Compulsion, the installment that introduces us to Billy. I wish I had read it first. I plan to read the first two Frank Clevenger books as well. But, if this is your first, I would say at least go back and start with Compulsion to fully understand Billy. In my opinion, after reading the ones with Billy in order, in no way is he a distraction in The Architect. We even get left with a cliffhanger, so I hope there is more to come. The other characters in the book, North and Whitney are also from previous books and the relationships between them and Frank tend to build with each book.

Special:
I have read numerous books in the Genre of Suspense and they are usually rarid reads that are harmless in nature. The Architect is different from most of the books that I have read. A great deal of this difference comes through the skillful work done by the writer whose traning is in the Field of Forensic Psychiatry. He is able to develop a character in Frank Clevenger who has richness as well as depth and is not like the typical lifeless figures that tend to be the creation of writers who have developed charcters for use in an ongoing series. The story moves along rapidly, under the direction of the author and is a most enjoyable read. One is able to appreciate the moves made by West Crosse, one ofthe best heavies that this reader has come across in a long time. The characters are anything but crtoonish and make this a truly special book to have read and one that I would recommend highly to others.

Excellent author; bought and read all of his books.:
This is the same Keith Ablow that has the T.V. show, only he is a good guy, not like "Dr. Phil". His books are wonderful. After I read one, I bought them all and read them all. I only wish he was writing and publishing more. I would buy any book he writes. I tend to like the ones that are mystery, murder, forensic type and throw in a Psychiatrist or Psychologist and I'm hooked. He writes similar to Jonathan Kellerman, only I might even like Ablow better.

Engaging:
I read this book over the course of two days and found it engaging and interesting. Clevenger is as big a mess as some of the guys he chases. Moreover, his son Billy is so heinous and irredeemable a character that the reader doesn't care what happens to him. West Crosse is both fascinating and a bit too stereotypical of a serial killer just doing what he does out of religious fervor.