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Rapture
When Maren, a lonely young woman, meets her soulmate in Ted, the only man who has ever understood her, they embark on a bloody spree of torture and murder targeting the people who have wronged them in the past. Original.
342 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
16 people are currently reading
849 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Tessier
184Ìýbooks99ÌýfollowersThomas Tessier grew up in Connecticut and attended University College, Dublin. He is the author of several acclaimed novels of terror and suspense, plays, poems, and short stories. His novel Fog Heart received the International Horror Guild's Award for Best Novel, was a Bram Stoker Award finalist, and was cited by Publishers Weekly as one of the Best Books of the Year. He lives in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
November 2, 2024
Remember that dude who was your best friend in high school but he kind of maybe always wanted to ask you out and never did? Now it's almost 20 years later and he's a serial killer. Surprise!
May 4, 2014
I was 9 years old when I read this book. I was staying at my Grandma's house for a week in the summer and found it under the bed in the guest room. I read the whole thing in one day. It turned me gay.
February 26, 2024
Not sure if I should call this a horror novel, but the main character Jeff is super creepy! Jeff starts the novel heading back to Connecticut from California for his father's funeral. Jeff left for college (UCLA) and never turned back, graduating and then starting a computer business that is now thriving (this was first published in 1987). Where did the last 20 years go? Work. After arriving in his home town, he starts thinking about Georgianne, a friend from high school who he had 'a thing' for but never had the nerve to follow through.
While kicking around town with his surviving relatives and old high school buds, he starts asking about Georgianne and eventually finds out she is married and living fairly close by; after engineering a meeting, he takes her to lunch and then dinner with her husband. He decides her husband is a loser and she cannot possibly be happy with him; he sees her as a 'potted plant' now whereas she should be at his side celebrating life. Well, he has money to burn and a crafty mind, so he decides to make her his...
What is really creepy about Rapture involves how Tessier put the reader into the mind of Jeff and his obsessions. Basically a workaholic, Jeff's loneliness, and his age (approaching 40) compel him to make some changes in his life, and the change he wants most is to have Georgianne! How far will he go? Read this to find out! I have some quibbles with this one, but it left me wanting a shower bad and Jeff really is a great asshole. 3 stalking stars!
While kicking around town with his surviving relatives and old high school buds, he starts asking about Georgianne and eventually finds out she is married and living fairly close by; after engineering a meeting, he takes her to lunch and then dinner with her husband. He decides her husband is a loser and she cannot possibly be happy with him; he sees her as a 'potted plant' now whereas she should be at his side celebrating life. Well, he has money to burn and a crafty mind, so he decides to make her his...
What is really creepy about Rapture involves how Tessier put the reader into the mind of Jeff and his obsessions. Basically a workaholic, Jeff's loneliness, and his age (approaching 40) compel him to make some changes in his life, and the change he wants most is to have Georgianne! How far will he go? Read this to find out! I have some quibbles with this one, but it left me wanting a shower bad and Jeff really is a great asshole. 3 stalking stars!
March 20, 2024
This was one of the 20 or so books I choose at the beginning of the year and said I 'must read' and I only wish I got to it sooner.
Jeff is a successful businessman, single and a workaholic. When he returns to his hometown where he hasnt been for 20 years he runs into Georgianne a high school friend. This encounter ignites his passion he once had for her. The problem is she is married and has a child. Jeff cant get her out of his mind and he will stop at nothing for make Georgianne his.
This book isnt very violent or gory but gosh it packs a PUNCH! The way Tessier shows us the warped mind of a stalker and how they integrate themselves into their victims life and manipulate them is truly haunting. The inner dialogue of Jeff as he plans out his actions to win over Georgianne is very realistic as being someone who has spoken to stalkers as part of his job. The anger over why they cant be with this person and taking everything they say or do and analysing it over and over is something these creeps do.
Its paced very well and written very simply in its style but it grabs you from the first few chapters. When it all starts to unravel near the end my heart was racing.
Brilliant psychological horror/thriller that will appeal to fans of both genre's.
Jeff is a successful businessman, single and a workaholic. When he returns to his hometown where he hasnt been for 20 years he runs into Georgianne a high school friend. This encounter ignites his passion he once had for her. The problem is she is married and has a child. Jeff cant get her out of his mind and he will stop at nothing for make Georgianne his.
This book isnt very violent or gory but gosh it packs a PUNCH! The way Tessier shows us the warped mind of a stalker and how they integrate themselves into their victims life and manipulate them is truly haunting. The inner dialogue of Jeff as he plans out his actions to win over Georgianne is very realistic as being someone who has spoken to stalkers as part of his job. The anger over why they cant be with this person and taking everything they say or do and analysing it over and over is something these creeps do.
Its paced very well and written very simply in its style but it grabs you from the first few chapters. When it all starts to unravel near the end my heart was racing.
Brilliant psychological horror/thriller that will appeal to fans of both genre's.
September 25, 2023
Tessier probably didn't set out in 1987 to write The Incel's Guide to Manipulating Women into Wanting to Get with Them, but looking back from 2023, it's pretty clear that's what he did. Not that he's supporting that idea (it's pretty clear that Jeff Lister is NOT the protagonist of this book), but I can't help but think that a certain type of white male on the internet will read this book and think, "Now THIS guy totally gets it!" and start going at it with a highlighter. I've seen enough news stories by now to know that this is pretty close to how it goes down in the real world.
I really waffled over how to rate this book. On the one hand, it's really hard to read, but on the other hand, this is a horror novel. Good horror SHOULD make you feel uncomfortable, a little squicky, maybe even make you want to put the book down (even though there's going to be that little nagging voice that compels you back to the book just so you can see how the antagonist finally gets his in the end). But boy howdy, this is one that will put you through the wringer along the way.
I really waffled over how to rate this book. On the one hand, it's really hard to read, but on the other hand, this is a horror novel. Good horror SHOULD make you feel uncomfortable, a little squicky, maybe even make you want to put the book down (even though there's going to be that little nagging voice that compels you back to the book just so you can see how the antagonist finally gets his in the end). But boy howdy, this is one that will put you through the wringer along the way.
June 28, 2011
RAPTURE, by Thomas Tessier, is quite addictive, although not as inspired or suspenseful as his novel, FINISHING TOUCHES or the novella, FATHER PANIC'S OPERA MACABRE. I expected more out of this tale of an obsessed stalker who puts all his resources into winning over a woman he had a crush on ever since high school, twenty years earlier. As always, Tessier is a wonderful writer that cuts to the quick, never adding fat or fluff to get his point across. He always keeps you on edge and drops subtle hints of foreshadowing. My biggest problem, however, was the way the some of the characters (Georgianne and Bonnie) seemed to have an almost psychic ability - a hunch - to sense the lead character's crime of murder, without any reason or evidence to back it up. The ending seemed a little rushed, but once again, Tessier still manages to spin a tense thriller and I look forward to his new book, WICKED THINGS, his first published novel in ten years.
March 19, 2023
2.5/5
The first two thirds had me really hooked and intrigued, but the third act was such a let-down. What I love about this book is how is starts off all mundane and placid� only for a nefarious and sinister undertone to slowly creep in as we learn about the MC’s true motivations. Beyond his evil desires, I didn’t really find him to be all that interesting—his one-note characterisation fell completely flat. A lot of the characters here felt one dimensional, and I ultimately lost interest in them. The writing felt too passive and the third act just had so much dead air that kept putting a stop to the momentum (which actually started to feel sluggish at times). Not a fave.
The first two thirds had me really hooked and intrigued, but the third act was such a let-down. What I love about this book is how is starts off all mundane and placid� only for a nefarious and sinister undertone to slowly creep in as we learn about the MC’s true motivations. Beyond his evil desires, I didn’t really find him to be all that interesting—his one-note characterisation fell completely flat. A lot of the characters here felt one dimensional, and I ultimately lost interest in them. The writing felt too passive and the third act just had so much dead air that kept putting a stop to the momentum (which actually started to feel sluggish at times). Not a fave.
June 23, 2024
4.5/5, rounded down.
Tessier takes you on an absolutely unnerving journey inside the mind of a deeply disturbed individual. It reminded me a lot of Caroline Kepnes, "You", though far less humourous, and obviously this book predates that one by a significant margin. Tessier shows an uncanny ability to realistically portray the mentality of his twisted character, and there's nary a false note to be found. Top notch stuff.
Tessier takes you on an absolutely unnerving journey inside the mind of a deeply disturbed individual. It reminded me a lot of Caroline Kepnes, "You", though far less humourous, and obviously this book predates that one by a significant margin. Tessier shows an uncanny ability to realistically portray the mentality of his twisted character, and there's nary a false note to be found. Top notch stuff.
October 4, 2024
wasnt bad but it was a waste of my 3 days I’ll tell you that much
December 3, 2023
My first read from my new collection of Valancourt's Paperbacks from Hell collection. Picked almost entirely at random, I was really pleased with my choice.
This is compared often to American Psycho, which came a few years later, though the author wanted to write something more like Talented Mr. Ripley. I think it's a great spot in between those two, making space all its own, feeling both surprising and inevitable.
The idea of the truly terrible protagonist was not an entirely new one in the 80s, but it's still risky and Tessier executes it really well. Plenty of current novels trying to capture "toxic masculinity" don't get it as right as Tessier does even though the book is almost as old as I am.
The cover maybe overpromises, this is a slow burn, thinking Highsmith will get you a better expectation. But who can say no to a pulpy cover? Definitely has me curious to read more Tessier. (Lucky for me there is another of his novels in my new collection.)
This is compared often to American Psycho, which came a few years later, though the author wanted to write something more like Talented Mr. Ripley. I think it's a great spot in between those two, making space all its own, feeling both surprising and inevitable.
The idea of the truly terrible protagonist was not an entirely new one in the 80s, but it's still risky and Tessier executes it really well. Plenty of current novels trying to capture "toxic masculinity" don't get it as right as Tessier does even though the book is almost as old as I am.
The cover maybe overpromises, this is a slow burn, thinking Highsmith will get you a better expectation. But who can say no to a pulpy cover? Definitely has me curious to read more Tessier. (Lucky for me there is another of his novels in my new collection.)
February 27, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, the start of the book is very normal and while Jeff comes off as a bit creepy and potentially sleeping with a teenager, he doesn’t appear to be a murderer right away. This is actually a good thing, because it’s intriguing to see the buildup of this guy becoming worse and worse.
On the other hand, we are stuck in his head essentially the whole book, and while it has interesting moments it can be a bit boring as he slowly works his way towards his goals. There is the occasional glimpse into the minds of other characters, but unfortunately they are not all that interesting or well developed. To the point where Jeff’s obsession with Georgianne really does seem odd given that she doesn’t have much personality. Although maybe that’s the point and Jeff is able to paint his own idea of her because of that. Interesting ideas in theory that kind of drag the characters and narrative down though.
I could see some ways where this would have been better with some different ideas. In fact, there were moments that I was sure the story was leading to that ended up not happening, and not in a shocking way but in a boring, sort of, “Oh, that happened. Okay.� Sort of way.
The character study of Jeff is worth checking out and there are some genuinely surprising moments, but overall you’ll know what’s coming and spend a lot of time just waiting for those moments to happen.
On the other hand, we are stuck in his head essentially the whole book, and while it has interesting moments it can be a bit boring as he slowly works his way towards his goals. There is the occasional glimpse into the minds of other characters, but unfortunately they are not all that interesting or well developed. To the point where Jeff’s obsession with Georgianne really does seem odd given that she doesn’t have much personality. Although maybe that’s the point and Jeff is able to paint his own idea of her because of that. Interesting ideas in theory that kind of drag the characters and narrative down though.
I could see some ways where this would have been better with some different ideas. In fact, there were moments that I was sure the story was leading to that ended up not happening, and not in a shocking way but in a boring, sort of, “Oh, that happened. Okay.� Sort of way.
The character study of Jeff is worth checking out and there are some genuinely surprising moments, but overall you’ll know what’s coming and spend a lot of time just waiting for those moments to happen.
February 23, 2025
A really gripping and insightful book that delves into the mind of a man who reconnects with a childhood crush. Obsession and delusion ensue, followed by murder. Ending wasn’t predictable but is slightly underwhelming for it, I think. Still highly enjoyed the journey.
February 24, 2025
"Ohmygod, I love this chick. Everything else in my life was dumb. *20 min later* whut? Lol. Jk."
That was the book. But go ahead and read it if you want. Lol.jk.
That was the book. But go ahead and read it if you want. Lol.jk.
December 4, 2017
Review: RAPTURE by Thomas Tessier
This is my third consecutive novel by this author, whom I read because he is a talent. I really enjoyed reading this novel, as I have his other work, due to this. As with SHOCKWAVES, I truly disliked the protagonist, Jeff Lisker, so I amazed myself at how well I enjoyed the novel. Mr. Tessier is superb at character definition, as well as at plots both amazingly twisted and twisting. His plotting is exceptionally imaginative, and his ability of characterization would make authors of literary fiction proud.
This is my third consecutive novel by this author, whom I read because he is a talent. I really enjoyed reading this novel, as I have his other work, due to this. As with SHOCKWAVES, I truly disliked the protagonist, Jeff Lisker, so I amazed myself at how well I enjoyed the novel. Mr. Tessier is superb at character definition, as well as at plots both amazingly twisted and twisting. His plotting is exceptionally imaginative, and his ability of characterization would make authors of literary fiction proud.
September 30, 2012
pretty straightforward thriller about a psychopathic stalker, but EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE and had a great ending. just a really haunting truly perfect ending. i was not surprised to find that tessier started out as a poet; he's all about the feel of things and never wastes a word.
August 16, 2024
I don't know where the synopsis that's written on here comes from because that's not it. This is essentially a darker version of something like You. A man approaching middle age runs into a woman he had a crush on during high school(the one that got away for him) and discovers she is married and has a kid now. Delusional and toxic thinking takes over and he starts planning on making her his, regardless of how far it goes. Extremely uncomfortable to read but I wouldn't have it any other way for something like this.
June 3, 2018
This is a different kind of love story and will take readers into strange horror. One to grab.
March 31, 2024
It reminds me of Fatal Attraction, Jagged Edge, American Psycho and a Hallmark movie. But better. To be in Jeff’s head is fascinating while you’re terrified and wondering how this will end.
June 8, 2024
“It was hard not to think of her as just a sexy little high school kid, but she was a brilliant student on her way to Harvard�
“It was a shame about Georgianne. A woman falling for the wrong guy was an old, old story, Jeff knew, but he still found it hard to fathom. First Mike Rollins, then Sean Corcoran. It was up to Jeff to turn her around, to save her, in a sense, from herself.�
—â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä�-
Jeff was an incel before it was cool; the sad event of his father’s death makes him think about Georgianne; the one that got away.
So, he manipulates a (not so) chance encounter with her and all hell breaks loose.
Jeff is the kind of guy that makes women choose the bear every.time. ; far worse: he’s not even aware of that fact himself.
Awfully rapey, and near-cartoonish in his singleminded 80s bad-guy persona (this is after all the kind of guy who buries his face in the sofa & bites through the cushion in frustration).
Wholly unbelievable characters and plot, but entertaining enough for those of us who grew up watching late night thrillers from the 80s. I’ve not been turned off Tessier and I’m looking forward to the other 2 books of his waiting in the TBR.
“It was a shame about Georgianne. A woman falling for the wrong guy was an old, old story, Jeff knew, but he still found it hard to fathom. First Mike Rollins, then Sean Corcoran. It was up to Jeff to turn her around, to save her, in a sense, from herself.�
—â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä”â¶Ä�-
Jeff was an incel before it was cool; the sad event of his father’s death makes him think about Georgianne; the one that got away.
So, he manipulates a (not so) chance encounter with her and all hell breaks loose.
Jeff is the kind of guy that makes women choose the bear every.time. ; far worse: he’s not even aware of that fact himself.
Awfully rapey, and near-cartoonish in his singleminded 80s bad-guy persona (this is after all the kind of guy who buries his face in the sofa & bites through the cushion in frustration).
Wholly unbelievable characters and plot, but entertaining enough for those of us who grew up watching late night thrillers from the 80s. I’ve not been turned off Tessier and I’m looking forward to the other 2 books of his waiting in the TBR.
December 7, 2022
Strange and interesting
This is my first book by tessier and I think he pulled a few tricks in this that set it apart from just another stalker slasher type novel. Most interestingly, tessier uses third person omniscient to illustrate the delusions held by the main character as he unfolds his "plan" but by keeping things detached directly from the character, tessier is free to effortlessly jump to the perspective of another character during times of duress. This is fascinating because it's only during those times that we actually catch a glimpse of how odd this man's behavior is. It's kind of a structural twist on an unreliable narrator because if we trust the main character completely, well sure there's nothing wrong with tracking down an old high school chum right? The reader is virtually complicit up until the moments of horror and it's quite jarring. Much better than I expected albeit a bit slower paced than I might have preferred. Worth a shot!
This is my first book by tessier and I think he pulled a few tricks in this that set it apart from just another stalker slasher type novel. Most interestingly, tessier uses third person omniscient to illustrate the delusions held by the main character as he unfolds his "plan" but by keeping things detached directly from the character, tessier is free to effortlessly jump to the perspective of another character during times of duress. This is fascinating because it's only during those times that we actually catch a glimpse of how odd this man's behavior is. It's kind of a structural twist on an unreliable narrator because if we trust the main character completely, well sure there's nothing wrong with tracking down an old high school chum right? The reader is virtually complicit up until the moments of horror and it's quite jarring. Much better than I expected albeit a bit slower paced than I might have preferred. Worth a shot!
November 8, 2020
I read a bunch of Tessier's books as they were published. Phantom is one of my favorite horror novels from its era. My horror-reading had diminished by the time this one came out but when I found a copy in a stack of books we are getting ready to donate or put in our LFL, I gave it a try. It's extremely readable but also flat, predictable, and annoying in places. The female characters are awful. Both of them hop into bed with a psychopath to "get closer to him and try to understand him." Dreadful even in the 80s. Such appeal as it has is its telling of a brutal, sad story in a consistently understated tone -- mostly the tone of the psychopath. If the narrative had stuck with that single voice and not put us occasionally, almost randomly, into the heads of the other characters, it would have been a better book.
November 14, 2022
Stalkers and obsessive psychos are nothing new in horror. Hell, I’d say at least 25-30% of this kind of story makes up novels, movies, and ideas. So the fact that Tessier somehow manages to make this stereotypical staple of the genre feel almost original and exciting comes as a welcome surprise.
Once the plot gets rolling and things start happening, this book is basically unputdownable. The tension is palpable and the pacing is break neck. The quick decent into the mind of a madman is exceptionally well done and even had me begin to question his reality. Was he the crazy one or were his thoughts, feelings, and subsequent actions justified?
Though the ending was satisfying with great closure, I felt it was a bit rushed. I wanted more.
Either way, Rapture was a ton of fun and it’s a shame it’s become overlooked in favor of other far less original takes on the subject matter.
Once the plot gets rolling and things start happening, this book is basically unputdownable. The tension is palpable and the pacing is break neck. The quick decent into the mind of a madman is exceptionally well done and even had me begin to question his reality. Was he the crazy one or were his thoughts, feelings, and subsequent actions justified?
Though the ending was satisfying with great closure, I felt it was a bit rushed. I wanted more.
Either way, Rapture was a ton of fun and it’s a shame it’s become overlooked in favor of other far less original takes on the subject matter.
November 1, 2022
This was the third and final obscure, weird '80s horror novel I picked for October and it was another story (along with PIN by Andrew Neiderman) that I don't think really fits in the horror genre. It's obscure and from the 1980s but it's really more a suspense novel about an obsessed, narcissistic, deluded man who realizes his love for his best friend in high school 20 years later and systematically solves the "problems" in the way of being with her, discounting the idea she just may not be into him. I thought there would be more killing, more suspense, more weirdness....just more. An okay read but it just didn't fit the parameters I set for my Halloween reads.
June 18, 2012
Don't know why this was listed horror. It's more suspense than anything....a guy that goes mentally crazy for a woman that he known since high school. He's so obsessed with her that he'll do anything to be the one and only in her life. Great writing but not scary.
February 15, 2012
written very well
October 6, 2018
When I see "horror," I expect to be horrified. I was at least pleased that it was an easy, fairly brainless read.
July 6, 2024
Damn. This was absolutely mesmerizing and perfection from beginning to end. Seriously one of my favorite books of all time!
May 16, 2017
In 'Rapture', Jeff has it all - good looks, wealth and a successful company of his own but those aren't enough to make him happy. His father's funeral brings him back to a place which reminds him of a girl he had a crush on many years ago. Once he decides to look up Georgianne's address, he finds that he still hasn't gotten over her. Unfortunately for Georgianne, she doesn't know what's coming her way..
The storyline appealed to me as I've always liked such dark, twisted stories especially when they involve stalkers. The story moved a little too slowly for my liking though. There were plenty of dull moments that exacerbated the poor pacing and there was not enough convincing build-up to Jeff's growing obsession with Georgianne who's married and has a beautiful daughter Bonnie. Perhaps this book would have benefited from the usage of first-person narrative (Jeff) but I think it ultimately boiled down to the author's writing which could have been whole lot more engaging.
That aside, reading about how Jeff gradually unravelled and lost control of his emotions was an interesting character study. He was aptly despicable but not exactly scary because he was mostly just downright pathetic. He desperately wanted to be with Georgianne - a crush from a long time ago - who was clearly satisfied with her life and saw him only as a friend. Every decision he made revolved around her. He tried so hard to get her attention, to win her affection and impress her but all of those were transparent. Unlike some fictional stalkers, he lacked charisma.
The demises of some characters were predictable but the problem was, they lacked impact due to the author's flat writing style. There were plenty of things that didn't make sense such as how Jeff could have considering how his . Basically the crimes weren't handled realistically. Police were mentioned in passing instead of being present in Jeff's life. After all, his sudden reappearance in Georgianne's life followed by should have triggered some suspicions.
I was especially disappointed that . The aforementioned character had so much potential to be a force to be reckoned with. Anyhow, the sequence of events leading up to the ending seemed rushed. Again, there was no impact the moment where Georgianne was struck by the realization that . The ending could have been darker but I liked it except that the story concluded abruptly. I wanted more - an epilogue would have been welcomed.
Overall, 'Rapture' sounded more exciting and suspenseful than it turned out to be. Anyhow, it was certainly enjoyable and a little twisted.
The storyline appealed to me as I've always liked such dark, twisted stories especially when they involve stalkers. The story moved a little too slowly for my liking though. There were plenty of dull moments that exacerbated the poor pacing and there was not enough convincing build-up to Jeff's growing obsession with Georgianne who's married and has a beautiful daughter Bonnie. Perhaps this book would have benefited from the usage of first-person narrative (Jeff) but I think it ultimately boiled down to the author's writing which could have been whole lot more engaging.
That aside, reading about how Jeff gradually unravelled and lost control of his emotions was an interesting character study. He was aptly despicable but not exactly scary because he was mostly just downright pathetic. He desperately wanted to be with Georgianne - a crush from a long time ago - who was clearly satisfied with her life and saw him only as a friend. Every decision he made revolved around her. He tried so hard to get her attention, to win her affection and impress her but all of those were transparent. Unlike some fictional stalkers, he lacked charisma.
The demises of some characters were predictable but the problem was, they lacked impact due to the author's flat writing style. There were plenty of things that didn't make sense such as how Jeff could have considering how his . Basically the crimes weren't handled realistically. Police were mentioned in passing instead of being present in Jeff's life. After all, his sudden reappearance in Georgianne's life followed by should have triggered some suspicions.
I was especially disappointed that . The aforementioned character had so much potential to be a force to be reckoned with. Anyhow, the sequence of events leading up to the ending seemed rushed. Again, there was no impact the moment where Georgianne was struck by the realization that . The ending could have been darker but I liked it except that the story concluded abruptly. I wanted more - an epilogue would have been welcomed.
Overall, 'Rapture' sounded more exciting and suspenseful than it turned out to be. Anyhow, it was certainly enjoyable and a little twisted.
July 25, 2021
Meet Jeff. Jeff is an ordinary man, a man who owns his own computer consulting business and is good at it. Visiting home after years of absence to bury his father, Jeff passes by the former home of a high school friend Georgianne, never his sweetheart, but somehow never far from his thoughts. From there, things escalate, with Jeff in full stalker mode by page 50.
There's obviously something wrong with Jeff, but told mostly from his perspective, the logic of his actions becomes creepily understandable. The object of Jeff's affections, Georgianne, is now married to Sean the runner with a grown child, Bonnie the student, but to Jeff they are mere problems to be solved. And one by one he begins removing these obstacles, until Georgianne will be his and his alone.
Looking into the mind of a psychopath is a common enough angle in horror fiction, but in Rapture Thomas Tessier makes it a lot of fun. Jeff's not an out-and-out evil guy, he's a man on a mission, and his mission is to win Georgianne's heart. In his view, he's a romantic suitor on the noblest of quests. Whenever he interacts with people and reality invades his sphere of thoughts, it also reminds the reader how twisted things have become. He's obsessed by his romantic fantasy, which mostly involves long Sunday drives visiting antique shops, not just the usual sleaziness. Tessier makes the reader root for the poor guy, at least until things turn irreversably nasty, but even then there's a note of humour between the lines, with Jeff's increasingly desperate attempts to impress poor Georgianne and to achieve his goal.
It also helps that Jeff doesn't start out as a stock model psychopath, rather he slowly slides down the slippery slope to become an interesting custom version of one. There are hints early on, when he playacts with a hooker, that things might have been simmering under the surface for a long time. There are also several mentions of him having worked very long hours, which might have been the trigger for the sudden shift from thoughts into action.
The apocalyptic ending with the wildfires creeping towards the now injured Jeff is poetic and even romantic, although not in the way Jeff imagined. In general the story is a simple one, but psychologically it's very perceptive, filled with a very dark sense of humour, and Tessier plays all the right notes to keep the reader entertained and curious about the turns the story will take.
There's obviously something wrong with Jeff, but told mostly from his perspective, the logic of his actions becomes creepily understandable. The object of Jeff's affections, Georgianne, is now married to Sean the runner with a grown child, Bonnie the student, but to Jeff they are mere problems to be solved. And one by one he begins removing these obstacles, until Georgianne will be his and his alone.
Looking into the mind of a psychopath is a common enough angle in horror fiction, but in Rapture Thomas Tessier makes it a lot of fun. Jeff's not an out-and-out evil guy, he's a man on a mission, and his mission is to win Georgianne's heart. In his view, he's a romantic suitor on the noblest of quests. Whenever he interacts with people and reality invades his sphere of thoughts, it also reminds the reader how twisted things have become. He's obsessed by his romantic fantasy, which mostly involves long Sunday drives visiting antique shops, not just the usual sleaziness. Tessier makes the reader root for the poor guy, at least until things turn irreversably nasty, but even then there's a note of humour between the lines, with Jeff's increasingly desperate attempts to impress poor Georgianne and to achieve his goal.
It also helps that Jeff doesn't start out as a stock model psychopath, rather he slowly slides down the slippery slope to become an interesting custom version of one. There are hints early on, when he playacts with a hooker, that things might have been simmering under the surface for a long time. There are also several mentions of him having worked very long hours, which might have been the trigger for the sudden shift from thoughts into action.
The apocalyptic ending with the wildfires creeping towards the now injured Jeff is poetic and even romantic, although not in the way Jeff imagined. In general the story is a simple one, but psychologically it's very perceptive, filled with a very dark sense of humour, and Tessier plays all the right notes to keep the reader entertained and curious about the turns the story will take.
April 24, 2023
Just finished this one about an hour ago, and wow, this was a pretty thrilling and disturbing read. Though it’s sort of got me in a dark place now, which I guess is the sign of a truly compelling read. You really got into the mind of a manipulative, narcissistic sociopath. And as unlikeable as Jeff Lisker, our main character, is, I was almost rooting for him at times in a really screwed up way. A messed up part of me was almost hoping for him to succeed and eventually get the “love� of his life. Inevitably though, that wasn’t going to happen and especially with all that Jeff did to try and win the favor of the woman he so desperately seeks. Some had said this isn’t necessarily horror, but I disagree. It is really quite horrific to read the mind and thought process of how Jeff Lisker plans to manipulate, isolate, and get ahold of Georgianne, and all the while being so flippant about all the stuff he does in order to achieve that, small or major. And what makes it so horrifying is that there are actually people out there like Jeff; people who want what they want and don’t care what they have to do or who they have to hurt in order to get that. Jeff Lisker is no over-the-top, super villain. He’s seemingly just another day-to-day person, but with a dark underside and an obsession. And that’s terrifying, and very real to how some people can be in real life.
The writing was excellent, Tessier definitely has a literary edge to his writing, but in a good way. And not in the way that drags the story and pacing down. The pacing was also superb, not a dull moment or a section that didn’t feel needed. The characters I felt were also very well developed and realized. One of the only things I didn’t care for, and someone else pointed this out, is that the author did randomly switch over to another character’s point of view randomly in the same chapter, which did feel jarring when it happened. Since a majority of the time in this book we’re specifically following Jeff’s POV. I’ve seen other authors sometimes do that as well, and I never care for it.
That being said though, I am glad that I stumbled across this author and this book, and I do plan on checking out more from Thomas Tessier in the future. Also the fact that I read this in just a few days, which doesn’t usually happen with me! A solid 5 stars all around.
The writing was excellent, Tessier definitely has a literary edge to his writing, but in a good way. And not in the way that drags the story and pacing down. The pacing was also superb, not a dull moment or a section that didn’t feel needed. The characters I felt were also very well developed and realized. One of the only things I didn’t care for, and someone else pointed this out, is that the author did randomly switch over to another character’s point of view randomly in the same chapter, which did feel jarring when it happened. Since a majority of the time in this book we’re specifically following Jeff’s POV. I’ve seen other authors sometimes do that as well, and I never care for it.
That being said though, I am glad that I stumbled across this author and this book, and I do plan on checking out more from Thomas Tessier in the future. Also the fact that I read this in just a few days, which doesn’t usually happen with me! A solid 5 stars all around.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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