if you liked Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon, you're going to really love BAD KARMA by Andrew Harper. This book kept me up reading until it was nearly morning and this is tough to do since I have no problem putting most books down. The author Andrew Harper wastes no words or time getting the action going and upping the suspense at every turn. BAD KARMA is one of the freshest and truly terrifying thrillers I've read in years and Agnes Hatcher is one of the best murderesses I've ever found in literature.

See what you think. I really enjoyed this book.

Ellie Lassiter

Bad Karma, by Andrew Harper, is a chilling tale of obsession and revenge. Trey Campbell, a psychiatrist at the Darden State Hospital for the Criminally Insane, is enjoying a long overdue vacation with his family on Catalina Island, off the California coast. Meanwhile, the most dangerous inmate at Darden State, Agnes Hatcher, escapes. Nicknamed "the Surgeon" and "the Gorgon," Agnes can sense what motivates people, and she enjoys performing "surgery" on her victims. In her twisted sense of reality, Agnes feels that Trey has deserted her, and now that she's free, she'll stop at nothing to teach Trey a lesson.

Bad Karma is a fast-paced psychological thriller reminiscent of James Patterson's novels. The tiny chapters and nailbiting suspense keep the reader turning the pages. Andrew Harper is the pseudonym of horror writer Douglas Clegg, and he doesn't miss a beat in changing genres to straight thrillers. This book is quite graphic and definitely not for the squeamish, but if you're in the mood for nonstop suspense and psychological terror, give Bad Karma a try.

I'm not telling tales out of school by saying that Harper is Clegg...it's on the copyright page. That said, let's start. BAD KARMA is Doug Clegg Lite. It's primarily character-driven and paces like a shark cruising the bay for a human snack. It's a tale of Trey Campbell, a psychiatrist for the criminally insane. It also "stars" Agnes Hatcher, the female Hanibal Lecter of the hospital. Trey is on vacation when, during a very spooky and effective scene, Agnes escapes...and goes looking for Trey to right a wrong that Agnes believes was done to her over 100 years ago. Follow me so far? Trey is on a California island called Catalina with his family and Agnes comes out to spoil it...forever! Anything else about the plot is pure spoiler. I liked this novel quite a bit...but if you LOVE Clegg, take this one with a grain of salt. When I think of Clegg's novels like GOAT DANCE, NEVERLAND, THE CHILDREN'S HOUR and DARK OF THE EYE, I think about well-written deep characterizations, subplots above subplots and scenes of terror and, occasionally, eye grabbing gore. Harper is into fast moving scenes, a character introduction that's brief enough so you can follow along and heart-stopping action. It may not be the most original novel ever written, but it's well written and fun. It's a slim novel that will be able to be read in one or two sittings and well worth the time...until the new Clegg novel, THE HALLOWEEN MAN, hits stores in late '98. Recommended for Clegg fans and fans of high-paced non-thinking action.