The Sinner, a psychological thriller by German author Petra Hammesfahr, was a haunting page-turner that was difficult to put down. The mystery revolves around Cora Bender, a young mother who suddenly and inexplicably stabs a man during a family outing at the lake. Her sudden attack on this newlywed who was necking with his wife on a nearby blanket horrified the onlookers and puzzled the police detective-in-charge, Inspector Grovian. Based on the evidence - witnesses and Cora's own admission of guilt - it should be an open-and-shut case.
However, good mysteries don't work that way. Inspector Grovian, puzzled by Cora's apparent lack motive for the murder, was intrigued. Whatever Grovian's reasons - professional pride, guilt over his relationship with his own daughter (who, like Cora, was in her twenties), Cora's alternating fits of apathy, despair, terror and arrogance - the Inspector probed and pried to explain the crime.
Meanwhile, Cora descends into a deep, black hole of memories that almost surface but cannot emerge clearly enough to explain the murder.
Author Hammesfahr continually reels out clues. In the beginning, I savored the story and followed the leads to piece it together. After about 100 pages, though, I needed to know the answer and could not put the book down.
The Sinner - as one might suspect from the title - is loaded with sex overshadowed by religious fanaticism and psychological trauma. It flirts with incest and sadomasochism. It drew me into Cora's deep well of pain and, like the Inspector, I could not figure her out until the very last page.
I highly recommend it for curious adults who enjoy suspense and a well-written mystery. TCPL also owns a copy of The Sinner in German. - Reviewed by Joyce
However, good mysteries don't work that way. Inspector Grovian, puzzled by Cora's apparent lack motive for the murder, was intrigued. Whatever Grovian's reasons - professional pride, guilt over his relationship with his own daughter (who, like Cora, was in her twenties), Cora's alternating fits of apathy, despair, terror and arrogance - the Inspector probed and pried to explain the crime.
Meanwhile, Cora descends into a deep, black hole of memories that almost surface but cannot emerge clearly enough to explain the murder.
Author Hammesfahr continually reels out clues. In the beginning, I savored the story and followed the leads to piece it together. After about 100 pages, though, I needed to know the answer and could not put the book down.
The Sinner - as one might suspect from the title - is loaded with sex overshadowed by religious fanaticism and psychological trauma. It flirts with incest and sadomasochism. It drew me into Cora's deep well of pain and, like the Inspector, I could not figure her out until the very last page.
I highly recommend it for curious adults who enjoy suspense and a well-written mystery. TCPL also owns a copy of The Sinner in German. - Reviewed by Joyce
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