The Yeare's Midnight: A Psychological Thriller

by Ed O'Connor

Book Overview

An international sports star is found murdered--her face mutilated in a bizarre, ritualistic manner. What is the significance of the poetic text the killer has left at the crime scene? Why did he surgically remove the victim's left eye? And can a Cambridge lecturer help the police reconstruct the killer's fantasy in time to save her own life? As Inspector John Underwood and his team work frantically to piece together the last hours of Olympic athlete...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786710284
• ISBN13: 9780786710287
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Carroll & Graf Publishers
• Length: 292 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.6" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

A 'Must Read'!

I really enjoyed this book, the first detective novel I've felt like that about in a while. A really well thought out story, with a killer who we are aware of from the first page. Crowan Frayne is not just a killer, he's an intellectual killer with a warped mind. He has an obsession with the poetry of John Donne (around in the 15 and 1600's). He seems to want to be found as he calls upon an expert, Dr Stussman, in Donne's poetry who works at the university to explain 'things' to the police...(and for those out there who aren't 'into poetry' believe it or not it's fascinating how the poetry reads and is explained by Dr Stussman) HOWEVER there is more to his game than that! This is Ed O'Conner's first novel (I shall be looking up further ones) and he's succesfully managed to make the characters seem very human, even the killer! The main story of the hideous murders he carries out (and eyes he removes) runs simultanously with the Chief Decective on the case's marriage crumbling...and him tipping nearer and nearer the edge. A captivating read.

A 'Must Read'!

I really enjoyed this book, the first detective novel I've felt like that about in a while. A really well thought out story, with a killer who we are aware of from the first page. Crowan Frayne is not just a killer, he's an intellectual killer with a warped mind. He has an obsession with the poetry of John Donne (around in the 15 and 1600's). He seems to want to be found as he calls upon an expert, Dr Stussman, in Donne's poetry who works at the university to explain 'things' to the police...(and for those out there who aren't 'into poetry' believe it or not it's fascinating how the poetry reads and is explained by Dr Stussman) HOWEVER there is more to his game than that! This is Ed O'Conner's first novel (I shall be looking up further ones) and he's succesfully managed to make the characters seem very human, even the killer! The main story of the hideous murders he carries out (and eyes he removes) runs simultanously with the Chief Decective on the case's marriage crumbling...and him tipping nearer and nearer the edge. A captivating read.

An intellectual serial killer novel- a superb debut

Several quite fascinating plots make up this remarkable debut by British author, Ed O'Connor. The first concerns a serial killer who has an obsession with the poet John Donne. He uses his poetry as the basis for murder. For some reason, he removes the left eye of his victims and keeps it while leaving a quote from Donne's poetry in blood on the wall. It is up to the local police including Inspector John Underwood to solve the crime before the killer strikes again. Aiding in their investigation is Donne scholar, Heather Stussman who is contacted, not only by the police, but, the killer as well. Inspector Underwood, however, must deal with his own private hell. His wife of eighteen years is having an affair and it appears his marriage is near the end. His personal life is interfering with his professional life to the extent that he is placing his wife's lover on his list of possible suspects as the killer. Ed O'Connor displays a remarkable ability, in his first novel, of balancing strong sympathetic characters with a plot that truly makes the reader want to turn the next page. It is not only a gruesome serial killer novel but an intellectual one, as well. Consider it a combination of Thomas Harris (who writes the quintessential serial killer novel with the Hannibal Lecter books) , Ian Rankin (with his depth of characters and balancing several plots) and Reginald Hill (with the academic logic in the killings). There are few weaknesses in this work. Perhaps, it is a bit too gruesome. Perhaps it is a bit too long. However, the whole justifies the means. This is a strong recommendation. Warning: not for the faint of heart.

Creepy and Beautiful

Not my usual genre (serial murders are too creepy for me), but I had heard promising things of this new author and thought I'd give it a chance. It was absolutely worth the read. I found O'Connor's writing style to be very original, and quite poetic itself with some really beautiful (and eery) imagery in places.

Poetic Justice

In his debut novel, Ed O'Connor has managed to deliver a psychological thriller that stands out from similar books of it's genre. It's uniqueness comes from the poetry of sixteenth century poet John Donne.Cowan Frayne is a killer with an unhealthy obsession with the works of John Donne. He murders and sets up his murder scenes based on the poet's works and on the poet's life. The poetry holds the key as to his motive as well as giving clues to the next target. Also hidden in his complex messages to the police are clues as to his final goal. But figuring out which poem to look at and the meaning behind it is not nearly as easy as it sounds.Heading the investigation is Inspector John Underwood who appears to be very intuitive and a capable leader. However, as seems to be the case with many protagonists, his marriage is crumbling and he is distracted as a result. This distraction soon turns into obsession, leaving his sergeant, Alison Dexter to take charge. Dexter, while a good detective, is mostly concerned with furthering her own career and makes many of her decisions on this basis, also hampering the investigation somewhat.This book appears to be the first of a series and I'm sure we'll be in for further character development further down the track.With the killer working at breakneck speed (pardon the pun), and the local police department in somewhat of an uproar, there's rarely a dull moment for the reader. The poetry aspect was a fascinating inclusion that was (fortunately) translated for those less literary readers (me). It's the first of what I hope will be many books from Ed O'Connor. Highly recommended.