The Anvil Chorus

by Shane Stevens

Book Overview

This brilliant novel of obsession and revenge from the author of the bestselling By Reason of Insanity is one of the most darkly compelling stories of evil ever written. "I recommend it unreservedly . . . but only (to) readers with strong stomachs and even stronger nerves".--Stephen King.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385293844
• ISBN13: 9780385293846
• Release Date: January 1985
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 370 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Layers of intrigue

Having read Dead City and By Reason Of Insanity, I was looking forward to this one as well.An excellent,complex tale involving an angst ridden French detective named Cesar Dreyfus who is assigned the case of a former Nazi who is found hanging in his apartment in an apparent suicide.However nothing is as it seems and Inspector Dreyfus finds himself unraveling a complex conspiracy involving numerous players and countries.This story reminds me of a large box that when opened reveals another box and another within that box and so on.The masterful characterizations are so real they come to life off of the page.I would liken this to the very best works of Frederick Forsyth, one of my favorite writers.The knowledge of French and German locales was impressive and especially the description of East Berlin.Stevens wrote with a passion all his own and it is sad that there are not more offerings from him.

complex but rewarding tale

Having just read and enjoyed BY REASON OF INSANITY, I decided to tackle this one as well. If the first book was a ride through the House of Horrors, this one is a trip through the House of Mirrors-- you are instantly plunged into a tale with so much evidence and so many twists and turns, trying to figure out where it is going is like trying to solve a Rubik's Cube. Stick with it, though, as it all begins to sort itself out after 250 pages or so, and leads to a very satisfying conclusion. I do have some minor complaints-- the detective seems almost psychic at times in the way he is able to put clues together or anticipate events, and how a person can shoot a gun (accurately) after having been shot in the arm himself seems a bit of a stretch--, but all in all this was a very satisfying thriller. Recommended for those who like GORKY PARK-type novels.

Intriguing Plot

Very good book. If you read "By Reason of Insanity" by Stevens, don't expect this book to be anything like it. It is, however, worth the time to read. It gets a little slow in the middle, but not enough to put down.

Excellent. Very well crafted!

I had never before read a Shane Stevens novel and only happened to come across it thanks to advertising conducted by Stephen King in the back of his novel "The Dark Half". Mr. Stevens- at least as far as the reviews here go- is only noted for his success in "By Reason of Insanity" which is a book I intend reading in the near future. All the reviews about it make of it an excellent novel. This one too should have deserved attention from others other than me, to write a review about it. It is an excellent well crafted and ingenious thriller, and Mr. Stevens deserves to be commended for his work!