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Barely nineteen years of age, Amber Robertson leaves Maryland on her own to New York "in order to start a new and exciting chapter in her life." Little does Amber know just how exciting this new chapter will become, especially when she's taken hostage by Miguel, an older client, soon after starting her own "escort" service. While held in captivity, Amber learns that there is a serial killer on the loose. Fortunately, she is released. Yet moments after her release, Amber meets Jeffrey. Except for the secret journal that he keeps, Amber thinks that she may have found the perfect man in her life. Over time, Amber grows suspicious of Jeffrey's journal writing, wondering if there is any connection between the man she loves and the serial killer still at large.
Thomas Duffy takes readers on a journey into creepy territory in his fourth book. Replete with a handful of emotionally unstable characters, Duffy's third person narrative is primarily set within unnerving situations. Surrounding Amber, his main character, with a complex foiled cast, Duffy forces Amber not only to face her unresolved past, but also to figure out her future amid these strange and extremely uncomfortable circumstances. While focusing on the continual drama in Amber's life, Duffy weaves in various situations that run concurrently within his storyline. Another key literary style that drives Duffy's narrative is a mix of intense dialogue and unexpected scenarios. While maintaining this combination throughout, Duffy also keeps his plot moving by constantly alternating between character scenes and related situations. Following a flurry of un-clichéd scenes that creep to its apex, the closure to Duffy's story is equally unexpected, as he leaves it open-ended allowing readers to determine the story's conclusion. Definitely a gripping page-turner, Heart Breaker is certain to be a new favorite among psychological thriller aficionados.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review