Books matching: character development and psychological tension
33 result(s)
Readers also searched for:
- #1
Save:'No Exit' by Jean-Paul Sartre is a one-act play that delves into existentialist themes, portraying three strangers who find themselves in hell, which turns out to be a small room where they are each other's torturers. The play explores the characters' sins and crimes, highlighting the essence of Sartre's existential philosophy that life is purposeless and lacks meaning in a universe without any transcendent being.
The dialogues in the play are described as chaotic yet beautiful, capturing a sense of tension and implicit actions that run through the narrative. The characters, despite insisting that they are torturing each other, come to realize that they are actually tormenting themselves by seeing their reflections in each other's eyes, leading to a deeper exploration of gender roles and personal insecurities.
GARCIN: And what use do you suppose I have for one? Do you know who I was? ... Oh, well, it's no great matter. And, to tell the truth, I had quite a habit of living among furniture that I didn't relis... - #2
Save:'The Secret Place' by Tana French revolves around a cold murder case at a private girl's school, St. Kilda's. Detective Stephen Moran gets a chance to join Dublin's Murder Squad when Holly Mackey provides a clue related to the case. The story unfolds as Moran teams up with Detective Antoinette Conway to investigate the tangled relationships and secrets among the schoolgirls, all set against the backdrop of a mysterious 'secret place' at the school. The narrative alternates between the present investigation and the past events at the school, showcasing French's skill in character development and atmospheric storytelling.
She came looking for me. Most people stay arm’s length away. A patchy murmur on the tip line, Back in ’95 I saw, no name, click if you ask. A letter printed out and posted from the wrong town, paper a...
(Also, see 100 recommendations for the series Dublin Murder Squad ) - #3
Save:"The Bomb Maker" follows a story where a bomber targets the LA police's bomb disposal squad, leading to a security consultant being brought in to assist the investigation. The novel is described as a contemporary thriller with a focus on plausible detail throughout, although some readers find the ending lacking. The plot involves a cat and mouse game between the bomber and the disposal crew, creating tension and suspense as they try to outwit each other.
The writing style of the book is praised for its meticulous attention to detail, especially in describing the bomb-making process. The characters are highlighted as being well-developed and engaging, with a mix of new characters and familiar techniques from the author. The story unfolds with rapid-fire action, an intricate and unpredictable plot, and a focus on the intense competition between the antagonist and protagonist, making it a compelling read for fans of thrillers.
- #4
Save:'The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories' by P.D. James is a collection of four short stories, with a Christmas or winter theme. The stories feature intriguing mysteries, clever plot twists, and engaging characters, including the well-known sleuth Adam Dalgleish. The writing style is described as tightly written, intricately detailed, and reminiscent of the classic British detective mysteries, particularly in the style of Agatha Christie.
In her introduction to an anthology of short crime stories published in 1934, Dorothy L. Sayers wrote: ‘Death seems to provide the minds of the Anglo-Saxon race with a greater fund of innocent amuseme... - #5
Save:'A House by the Sea' in the 'Winthrop House' series by Ambrose Ibsen follows the story of Jack Ripley and his family, who move into a large house by the sea that they acquired at a bargain price. However, rumors of supernatural occurrences and a dark history surrounding the house begin to unravel as strange events unfold, including sightings of a mysterious man with smoke for a face and unexplained disappearances of previous occupants. The atmosphere in the story builds steadily, creating a sense of claustrophobia and unease as the family grapples with the sinister forces at play within their new home. The narrative unfolds with a smooth and easy-to-follow writing style, blending scene changes seamlessly and keeping the reader engaged until the chilling climax.
- #6
Save:Famous actress Leigh Manning is trying to follow her husband's directions to the cabin he has found for them when she is in a horrendous accident. Waking in the hospital she expects Logan to have been notified and be at her side, then discovers he was found in the cabin shot dead. Sam Littleton, a gal fresh on the detective squad tries to fend off her attraction to her boss McCord while they and two other cops all interesting characters investigate the range of suspects Leigh's understudy in the play she and Logan's psychiatrist, her gay producer pal, and Michael Valente, a successful businessman she didn't know she knew, though, even before she married Logan when she lived in lower Manhattan and frequented his aunt's deli. Unknown to the reader, he is smitten for all the years he was incriminated because of a vendetta by the police superintendent. But Leigh didn't know because when she knew Michael Valente he was known as Falco. Anyway, he rises to the surface by sending her flowers in the hosp, signed Falco, and because of his reputation becomes a suspect. Sam and Mack admit their mutual attraction. Finding out that Logan had affairs with her friends, their psychiatrist, and her understudy, Leigh is overwhelmed by Michael and returns his love. The understudy's mind cracks, she chops off her hair in Leigh's bedroom while telling Leigh she will shoot her after having killed Logan, the psychiatrist, wounding Leigh's cook and chauffeur. Then here come Mac and Sam and Michael just in time to save Leigh. Best line by Shrader, Sam's fellow cop, when he sees how upset she is over having killed someone: "Don't worry, she wouldn't have wanted to go on living with her hair looking like that." This is a fun book.
He nodded and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “The state police will take care of that. In the meantime, you have some very big fans at Good Samaritan, including me, and we’re going to take excell... - #7
Save:'The Thing' by Alan Dean Foster is a novelization of the 1982 movie, capturing the suspense and horror of the original film. The story follows a group of men at an Antarctic research station who are faced with a shape-shifting alien that can imitate any living being it comes into contact with. delves into the psychological tension among the characters as they struggle to survive and determine who among them is still human and who has been taken over by the alien entity. Alan Dean Foster's writing style is described as gripping, atmospheric, and filled with vivid imagery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
The rumbling was subdued and steady, a sound not unlike the wind howling outside the station. But softer. It came from one of the many hallways that connected the multiple rooms and storage sections o... - #8
Save:In a not too distant future when climate change has made Earth almost uninhabitable, humans have figured out faster than light travel and they've found a distant planet that has good conditions for human habitation. Women's rights have eroded, and even though there are many women who are highly qualified to fly in space, a group of men is going to be the first to go to the new planet. However, a crew of women steal the spaceship and plan to go to the planet first. The mastermind behind this plot is a rich entrepreneur imagine a female Elon Musk. The book is narrated by her adopted daughter, Naomi, who has dreamed of space flight her whole life and has worked hard to achieve that goal. The book is the story of their spaceflight, interspersed with flashbacks to the deaths of Naomi's parents, being raised by her adoptive mother, and her difficult space career. Naturally the crew of the spaceship start to encounter difficulties they're in big trouble on Earth for stealing a spaceship, they discover that there's a cryogenically frozen crew of men on board, the ship's life support systems have problems and these create some moral dilemmas for the crew. This is an engaging thriller, with just enough foreshadowing to keep you guessing. The two main characters are very well developed. The other characters are a bit flat, but the book is really about the psychological tension between Naomi and Valerie.
Goldilocks is set in the future where women are being forced out of their jobs to stay home and take care of the one child they can have before paying a steep child tax on any additional children they may have. The climate is ravaging the earth and scientists best guess is that Earth may have another 30 years before it has been completely exhausted of resources and mankind most likely will not survive. Naomi is a botanical researcher who specializes in growing plants that can survive on other planets. She is working in Scotland when her estranged mother,Valerie Black, the owner of a prestigious science company that is making a ship to travel to Cavendish. A planet in what is knows as the Goldilocks zone. An area that isn't too hot or cold and has potential to be a new home for the human race. Valerie wants to steal the ship Atalanta with 4 other women scientists and travel to Cavendish. When things start going wrong once they are in space Naomi starts to question Valerie's motives on what she hoped to accomplish on this journey. Overall I really enjoyed this story. The characters were well developed and the world building was believable and quite scary. The way the world was being run by governments is eerily similar to what is going on in the world today. If you liked The Martian or dystopian books like The Handmaid's Tale will enjoy this cautionary tale about the delicate balance of our planet and the choices we have to make.
There would be picnic blankets laid out on the parched dirt, legs oily beneath smears of sunblock, faces shadowed by hats and hidden behind sunglasses. They’d lift their filter masks long enough to ni... - #9
Save:Hunter Shea's 'Creature' is a horror novel that delves into the personal struggles of a couple, Kate and Andrew Woodson, as they face Kate's debilitating autoimmune diseases. The story unfolds as Andrew takes Kate on a retreat to a cabin in Maine in hopes of providing her with some relief. However, the peaceful getaway turns into a nightmare as they realize they are being stalked by a mysterious creature lurking in the woods. Shea's writing style captures the emotional journey of the characters, blending elements of body horror and psychological tension to create a gripping narrative that explores themes of love, illness, and fear.
Her doctors hadn’t said as much the past few visits, but even she knew there was a limit to what a body could take. She had been in worse shape before. Much worse. Last rites and funeral arrangements ... - #10
Save:'Adam and Eve and Pinch Me' by Ruth Rendell is a psychological thriller revolving around a charming con man named Jerry who manipulates and deceives multiple women, leading to tragic consequences. The narrative explores the blurred lines between reality and fantasy, as one of his victims, Minty, who suffers from OCD, begins to see the ghost of her ex-boyfriend and descends into madness. The book delves into themes of human frailty, psychopathology, and the consequences of manipulative behavior, creating a compelling and suspenseful storyline that keeps readers engaged.
Ruth Rendell's writing style in 'Adam and Eve and Pinch Me' is characterized by well-developed characters with quirks and mental illnesses, dark humor that lightens the tone of the narrative, and a deep understanding of human psychology. The plot unfolds through intersecting lies and bad decisions made by the characters, leading to a tension-filled climax that is both deliciously unbearable and psychologically intriguing.
MINTY KNEW IT was a ghost sitting in the chair because she was frightened. If it were only something she’d imagined, she wouldn’t have been afraid. You couldn’t be when it was something that came out ...
