Now You See Him-Eli Gottlieb

Now You See Him
Eli Gottlieb
Morrow, Feb 2008, $23.95
ISBN 9780061284649

In Manhattan, writer Rob Castor could have starred in one of his tales when he kills his girlfriend and himself in a murder suicide. The media goes manic with the deaths of two writers especially since Rob is a cult favorite for his dark tales and “experts” search for clues to this tragedy. His childhood best friend Nick Framingham is stunned when he hears the news and needs to know why over the objection of his wife.

Nick visits Rob’s sister Belinda to offer his condolences and to also learn more about Rob’s final days especially his relationship with the woman he murdered. Seeing Belinda reminds Rob how much he desired her even as his own marriage is apparently tanking. Still he looks back at their childhood for clues and tries to track Rob’s final days to seek an explanation as he like Belinda need closure; instead he finds each step he takes seems to bring him deeper into an abyss.

This is an exciting thriller as Nick struggles to learn why, but also begins to realize the roots of the tragedy lies in their childhoods. Readers will empathize with Nick and his need for closure his way. However the key to this superb suspense story is the slow revelations that ultimately tie together in an incredible ending.

Harriet Klausner