Book Review: Don't Close Your Eyes

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Don't Close Your Eyes     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Carlene Thompson
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Romantic Suspense   Supernatural
St. Martin’s, Nov 2000, $6.99, 384 pp.

Embarrassed Columbus veterinarian Natalie flees her practice and her boy-friend-business-partner Kenny Davis after seeing him share their bed with another woman. Natalie returns to her family home in nearby Port Ariel, Ohio to rest from their non-stop practice and to decide what to do about Kenny professionally and personally.

Natalie’s best friend Lily tells her that she worries about her twin Tamara whose spouse she feels is too dominating and cold. However, neither one expected to find Tamara dead, a victim of a slasher. Soon other homicides follow and for some unknown reason, the culprit sets it up so Natalie always finds the corpse. Police chief Nick Meredith pledges to keep Natalie safe not just because of his job, but because he is falling in love with her, a feeling she reciprocates.

DON’T CLOSE YOUR EYES is an exciting romantic suspense novel that will thrill readers with the subplots of a who-done-it and a legendary resident ghost seen only by children. These themes cleverly tie back to the main story line centering on the relationships between Natalie and Nick, and Natalie and the killer. Carlene Thompson fools the audience into thinking they know the murderer early on in the book. This reviewer suggests finishing this terrific tale in one sitting to ascertain how accurate are the reader’s deductive skills in pinpointing the true villain.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner