Eye of the Beholder justly deserves its accolades of being "the detective story to end all detective stories". Its strange, sad story is very intriguing if somewhat contrived. Unfortunately Marc Behm's prose, and to a lesser extent his characterizations, is a bit thin. Also the dialogue is, at times, almost laugh-at-loud silly. Fortunately it's the story itself which keeps the reader's eyes glued the page.

As for the story, we have a private detective who becomes utterly obsessed with a homicidial young woman. He follows her from one murder to the next (..this sort book contains literally hundreds of killings), and by stealth helps cover up her crimes. They both eventually find themselves travelling across the USA multiple times over some 30 years. But his love is unspoken, and their relationship is certainly spooky. And Marc Behm concludes the book, and the relationship, in a most satisfactory way.

Bottom line: a very strange story of obsession, murder, and lonely people. Recommended.

Strange and sad, this epic multi-year tale of loss and obsession is one book you will not easily forget. Behm creates a cold and abusive world where his characters drift aimlessly across a dangerous and uncaring American landscape. Crossword puzzles, murder, sex, travel, and desperation all populate this story that will get under your skin. Much more interesting and believable than the movie.

This novel is a hynotic journey that questions the definitions of love and compassion and presents a wasteland America seen through the eyes of one man who has stumbled on a woman who quickly becomes the center of his universe. All other questions become secondary when she walks into the lense of his camera. A tragic love story or a disturbing novel of obsession? The line between the two is cleverly blurred in this breathtaking novel.

Here is a collection of three of Marc Behm's work and it isworth purchasing just for the excellent 'Eye of the Beholder'. Aninsane, funny and touching novel about a Private Detective (referred to as the 'Eye') obsession with a female serial killer. For over a decade, the Eye protects the woman, who is unaware that she has a guardian angel. Following the protaganists for over a decade, Behm's narrative holds your attention as he describes the Eye's fragmenting mental state when confronted with infatuation and desire. Ignore the recent Ewan McGregor/Ashley Judd film and read the book.

I wish I could say the same for Queen of the Night but I found it quite distasteful. It is the story of a woman who gets mixed up with the Nazi party during WW II. Maybe it does say something about the psychology of the German psyche but I found it bordering on cheap porn. Maybe for those who like watching dubious films like Helga: She Wolf of the SS.

The Ice Maiden is a story about a Vampire who works as a Croupier. Originally published in French, this was its first English language release.