Impulse - Softcover

Weaver, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0751507474 ISBN 13: 9780751507478

Publisher: Warner Books, 1994

Synopsis

Left for dead by the psychopath who raped and murdered his wife, Paul Garret survives and decides to track down the killer himself. The killer, however, now looks upon Garret as a father-confessor, and so Garret has to relive his experiences again and again, until the two meet once more.

About this title

From Kirkus Reviews:

Rape, incest, serial murder, mutilation, and patricide disrupt the pleasant life of a popular Manhattan columnist and his wife--in a first novel from N.Y.C. writer Weaver. Relaxing graciously in the backyard of their upstate New York vacation home, Paul and Emily Garret generously invite a handsome young hiker to stop for refreshments and an architectural analysis of their antique hideaway. While very charming and thoroughly qualified to date the building, the straight-toothed, sun- worshiping, outdoorsy William Meade is also, alas, a skilled serial murderer with a sideline in brutal rape. It is Emily's last weekend getaway in this life, but Paul, shot twice in the head by the detail-minded Meade, survives this rudest of guests and dedicates himself to Meade's identification and appropriate punishment. Teaming with a Poughkeepsie cop, Garret identifies Meade from mug- shots and begins to use his Times column as a weapon to flush Meade out. Intrigued by the chase, Meade stays in touch with Garret, calling him from pay phones, sending him the odd package, always letting Garret know that he's nearby and that Garret hasn't seen the last of him. Meanwhile, Meade carries on the business of serial murder and violent rape. Garret chats up Meade's Attica cellmate and learns that Meade has been a lunatic since he was a child. He also chats up Garret's sexy parole officer and begins an affair. Meade, to no one's surprise, turns his creepy sights on the parole officer, with whom he thought he had an understanding. His awfully protective mum contemplates action of her own.... Gory, manipulative, perfectly paced vacation reading. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

From Library Journal:

It is truly difficult to find a serial - killer novel with a different twist, but Weaver has managed to write it. Newspaper columnist Paul Garret is shot twice in the head while trying to save his wife from rape and murder. When he survives, the killer, William Meade, feels an affinity with Garret, sharing the news about his latest killings. Meanwhile Lieutenant Canderro of the Poughkeepsie police allows Garret access to official information in the hope that one of them will see something that will lead to Meade's arrest. The story is broken into three narratives--by the killer, the victim as detective, and the policeman who becomes a one-man vigilante committee. The writing is not overly graphic in the torture, rape, and murder scenes, and Weaver uses a few overworked themes. Overall, however, there is enough suspense and good characterization to make this a first-rate first novel. Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club alternates.
- Jo Ann Vicarel, Cleveland Heights-University Heights P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Warner Books
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0751507474
• ISBN 13: 9780751507478
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 480