Regina's Song

Are you groaning at the prospect of yet more serial killer thrillers? Admittedly, the genre has become somewhat overcrowded of late, but this remarkable book by the Eddings demonstrates that there is plenty of life in the concept yet, particularly if the theme is handled with the imagination and panache displayed here. Renata Greenleaf is struggling to deal with the death of her sister Regina, victim of a serial killer in the city of Seattle. The only communication Renata offers the world now is in the curious language the sisters mutually created: it was one of the many symptoms of their almost totally symbiotic relationship (like many twins, they delighted in swapping identities in order to confuse people). College lecturer Mark is attempting to deal with Renata's trauma and bring her back to normality. She has agreed to attend his classes, and begins to show signs of return to a regular lifestyle, but the brutal killings in Seattle are still continuing. And then Mark discovers a dark secret that he may need to keep to himself in order to protect Renata's sanity - even if it leads to more bloodshed. David Eddings is one of the most accomplished writers in the fantasy genre, and his collaborations with his wife Leigh, while never quite in the class of his solo efforts, are still first-rate. This is a thriller rich in elements of the bizarre that will delight the duo's many fans. (Kirkus UK)