I read The Birdman last summer. I loved it. So much so that I actually ordered The Treatment from England as sson as it came out. And I just reread the American printing.

To sum this book up quickly would use the words dark, twisted, and wonderful. Not for the easily freaked out, but if you don't mind dark books you will love it.

Jack Caffery is back, and still haunted by his little brother's disapearance from years ago. A case he is working now stirs it up more than any other has. He doubts his objectivity, his relationship with his coworkers and his girl freind as a result.

Mo Hayder sets a pace with her reading that won't let you go. I honestly read this in one sitting. If you read Birdman and liked it, you will love this. If it helps, I find it kind of a cross between Ian Rankin's Rebus, and John Connoly's Charlie Parker books.

Jon

This is the second book by Mo Hayder about Detective Inspector Jack Caffery. I think an early warning is due that, if you have not read 'Birdman,' you need to do so before opening 'The Treatment.' The stories overlap themes and characters extensively. This isn't a bad thing, and if you don't like 'Birdman', you will definitely not like 'The Treatment' one bit. The reverse, of course, is equally true.

Caffery is in the midst of a troubled relationship with Rebecca Morant, the artist he rescued in 'Birdman' and still deeply haunted by the memory of his brother Ewan, who disappeared some 20 years before. Jack knows who kidnapped Ewan, but has never been able to find enough proof. To this day Caffery has no idea if Ewan is alive or dead.

The horror starts with the discovery of the Peach family, has been held captive in their house and their son molested. When the police arrive at the scene the pedophile has made his escape, with Rory Peach in hand. He seems to vanish in the night. The hopeless hunt for Rory brings up all of Caffery's feelings about Ewan. Driven by his own guilt he is always in danger of taking one step too far.

Caffery comes to believe that another family is being victimized even though the police believe they have a suspect. This puts him at odds with Rebecca and with Chief Inspector Daniella Souness. However, he is determined to follow every path, discovering not only a web of pedophiles but clues to Ewan's disappearance as well. This story does not let up to the very end, with every turn something new and grim turns up.

Hayder's characters are spectacular. She manages to let you into the heads of many without ever disturbing the narrative viewpoint enough to lose focus. Plot, action, setting and character, the vital ingredients are all there. Be warned that this is rough ride - take my advice and don't start it at night.

The Treatment is one of the best mystery novels I have ever read. After reading Ms. Hayders brilliant debut, Birdman, I was afraid that she would fall into the second book curse. Birdman was too good to surpass I thought. Hayder blows the doors off with The Treatment, which is actually superior to Birdman.

Jack Caffery, fresh off the victory of catching the notorious Birdman, is faced with a series of crimes that are just brutal. A whole family, tied up, brutalized, and a child missing. The age of the boy, and the circumstances around his disappearance, bring back haunted memories for Caffery. As a child, his brother Ewan was kidnapped, the case unsolved. Caffery always suspected his pedophile neighbor, but no evidence was ever found. The two engage in a twisted game of hide and go seek, as Jack remains obsessed with his missing brother.

Meanwhile, the sadistic crimes of the criminal continue, bringing Caffery into a twisted web of violent child pornography. This book is not for the feint of heart, and it makes you outraged that animals actually produce this kind of material. While investigating the current crimes, Jack finds clues, that could lead to his long lost brother.

The brilliant part of this book is the character of Caffery. Unlike Birdman, which centered around the unforgettable Birdman, The Treatment revolves around Jack. At first, you would think this a detraction, but it is just the opposite. Jack's complex life and his disturbed mental state makes for fascinating reading. His inability to relate to other people, and to give up on his brother is riveting stuff.

The last one hundred pages is some of the best suspence material you're ever going to read. It is horribly disturbing, powerful, powerful plot twists. The ending is unbearable, and you just hope Ms. Hayder brings Caffery back for a few more books.

Hayder is the best mystery writer going right now. Do not miss this one.

Fond on books about serialkillers, this one grabbed me by the troath from page one. Mo can put herself on the same level with Thomas Harris (Hannibal) and Kathy Reichs (deja dead) Her style is very good and it takes the reader just a couple of pages of this book and you can't get it out of your hands until its finished. Her descriptions of character, crimescene and victims are chilling real. To consider this is her writing debuut, promises a lot for the future. She shows she has insight in the mind of a serial killer and probably has done intensive study at some of them. I would say that Jeffrey Dahmer was her favorite and that shows in this book. Go on, mrs Hayder, give us mo'.!

As other reviewers have stated, if you are at all squeamish you would be wise to give this book a pass. The descriptions of murder and mutilation are graphic and disturbing to say the least. That said, this is a well written page turner that had me guessing all the way through. We meet Detective Jack Caffrey, young, handsome, clever and tormented. He appears to have met his match with a serial killer whose sheer brutality and perversion are almost unthinkable. I especially liked the side story pertaining to the disappearance of Jack's brother, and how it relates to his creepy neighbor. Jack's relationship with his girlfriend Veronica gives new meaning to the word dysfunctional! So if you think you've got the stomach for it, by all means go ahead with Birdman, you won't be disappointed.

If there is another writer capable of describing a character in such complete, aganizing detail as to make you feel as though that villain is sitting right beside you, I have yet to find them. Mo Hayder has a sense of description that is so detailed and complete that it has made her characters leap off the pages and act out the book right in front of you.

Mo has created a set of villains so vile and repugnant that at times I had a hard time reading the words, but the need to know what happened kept pulling me back in.

We do not want to believe that things as horendous as the one's in this book really happen, but they do. If they didn't, there would not be the need for the word necrophilia. This story takes you to the depths of the human animal. To depths I never dreamed existed.

If you want to take a wild, disturbing ride, jump on.

And If you make it through, definately dive into "The Treatment".

This book is amazing.