High Risk: A Novel
I became a Rick R. Reed fan after reading “IM” so I was thrilled to read “High Risk” and find that this novel’s thrills surpass any of Reed’s previous work.
The novel begins when Beth, a demure housewife in the eyes of everyone around her, goes out on the prowl for a no-strings-attached sexual encounter with a stranger. Unknown to her loving attorney husband, Mark, she has been sleeping with countless men behind his back for a long time. But today, all that is going to change. Beth sees incredibly gorgeous Abbott Lowery in Nordstrom’s, and immediately, she wants him. The feeling is not mutual.
Abbott Lowery is used to being wanted. Both men and women stare at him on the street. He is not surprised when Beth hits on him in the department store, but Abbott has his own issues, and he is not interested in sex. When Beth pursues him through the store, refusing to take “No” for an answer, Abbott finally agrees to follow her home.
Beth has no idea what a mistake she has just made. Abbott is not interested in having sex with her. Once they are at Beth’s house, he informs her she should be ashamed of herself, that she is a whore, an adulterer, and worst of all, that he is not going to leave until her husband gets home so Mark can find out the truth about Beth.
What happens when Mark gets home? You’ll have to read the book, and you won’t be disappointed. I was on the edge of my seat, unable to put the book down until I finished it. Rick R. Reed has created some extraordinarily complicated characters in Abbott and Beth, while at the same time exploring the psychological side of his characters, so the reader understand their motivations and actions. Parts of the book were extremely grizzly, and honestly, if the book were turned into a film, I don’t think I could handle watching it, but the tension created by the author made me unable to stop reading.
Rick R. Reed has been compared to Stephen King, but frankly the comparison does not do him full credit. In my opinion, he is a far more polished writer than Stephen King. He does not bore the reader with pages of detail or scenes that fail to advance the plot. Reed creates tightly controlled prose, realistic dialogue, and intense situations, and I can only think his future novels will continue to show advancement in his writing talents. “High Risk” is the most suspenseful thriller I have read in years. Highly recommended!
High Risk
Amber Quill Press, LLC (2008)
ISBN 9781602729537
Reviewed by for Reader Views (5/08)
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