Today June 10th, 2000 I received a copy of the play Sea Marks and feel it is appropriate to review it this evening, being it is the eve of the author Gardner McKay's birthday. He has a very unique gift with the spoken and written word, a rare talent that must be expressed. I have never seen the play, but could picture every scene as the drama unfolded. The play is very deep, as deep as the sea, as it must be reread more than one time to capture the real meaning of the emotions he is expressing with pen in hand as a playwright. I feel that everyone can identify with the thoughts expressed by the main character Colm Primrose, especially people that like to write to get their ideas across...people that are too shy to speak but express their feeling better on paper...the feeling of panic he had when he finally was to make his mark on the world as a writer. Timothea Stiles, girlfriend of Colm, brings her influence to his writings of the sea and her admiration of him is clearly felt. I could feel her thoughts in the quote "I think I'm lonelier in the morning and feel lost again....I think the morning is the smartest time not to be alone." Anyone that has been single for after being married can identify with this...Timothea presented Colm, the Irish fisherman, a gift, that overwhelmed him, with a published book he had written of his sea sonnets..a way to make him immortal. This story will set its mark as a classic, like the book, "The Old Man and the Sea."

The anatomical mistakes in this book really drive me bonkers. Come on, if you're going to cite a muscle by its proper name, at least get it right! The author seriously needed a reality check by a real doctor and a real cop on many aspects of the plot. I was also irritated by the otherwise brilliant doctor who followed terrible home defense advice given to her by a (dead) man, and then suddenly mimicked the other female characters by making utterly atrocious decisions. That said, I must admit I was hooked by the prose. It wasn't gramatically correct: Instead, it was a convincing, emotional stream of thought. Toyer is well worth reading if you can get past the glaring mistakes. I rated it as a 3 because I am notoriously geeky in that regard. Not-so-picky readers will like it more.

This story draws you in but not by identifying with the characters. It's through the vivid description the author gives to the characters and the dialogue that make it interesting. It's as if you're right there watching the story unfold. The book is chilling and unique because Toyer is a character that at first seems highly unlikely but is made believable. I also found some unexpected humor in this book. In one of the most suspenseful parts, I found a smile on my face from the conversation of the characters Toyer and Maude. I really loved the part where Billy, the uncastable actor who parks cars, takes the car of a famous actor and finds out "you're definitely what you drive". It's a long book and I didn't read it all at once but I couldn't wait to pick it up again. A very nice change from run of the mill mysteries.

Never have I had to close a book to check my surroundings and get out of bed to arm my security alarm !! I've read all of Sanford, King, Rice, and Cornwell and never had felt the fear that I did with this book. I just can't wait for his next ! He makes Hannibul read like Mother Goose !!! It's a keeper !

The premise behind this book is mind-boggling - a psychopath who doesn't kill, but rather leaves his victims in a state of physical perfection, while totally destroying their minds. This book had all the promise of a really compelling story. Unfortunately, many of the characters were at best irritating. Maud Garance, the psychiatrist who tries to help Toyer's victims, and one of the books main characters, was especially unpleasant. Actually, the one character who was fairly likeable was Toyer himself. The book was written in an almost subdued, languid style, which contrasted nicely with the gruesome subject matter. However, this languid style begins to drag towards the end of the book, and I found myself impatient for things to happen. All criticism aside, it was entertaining and unusual. Perhaps not one of the best I've read, but well worth the time spent reading.

I don't spend much time with thrillers, but reading Gardner McKay's Toyer was time well spent. Some readers will object to his obvious blending of conventional narrative and playwriting techniques, but it worked for me. In fact, more novelists should study dramatic writing with an eye to getting rid of tedious description which serves no end. His playwriting backround is particularly noticeable in the handling of dialogue. Note, for example, the very sparing use of 'he said', 'she said'. It's not necessary.

The story is consuming. Once I picked it up I was hooked. Nothing else was read until I finished. As for believability... believable enough. That's what good fiction writing is after all -- the suspension of disbelief.

It's rare to find a thriller that isn't badly written, despite a strong story, or pretentious and badly written. Toyer is that rare find.

Don't plan on getting anything else done until you've finished this book! I picked it up on Saturday afternoon and read the last page on Sunday night! Here it is 2 days later and I'm still thinking about it...loved the ending...did she or didn't she? I truly enjoyed McKay's "screenwriting" style because it's short and to the point without a lot of descriptive prose. This book is for the intelligent reader who loves crisp dialogue, a believable plot and villan and lots of surprises along the way. I loved the cat - he added great visuals to the Maude scenes. This book is sexy and horrifying at the same time. Bravo, Garner!