 Title: Hyde
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Hyde cleverly, and for some, even me, achingly puts off the appearance of its eponymous beast (the prologue does not count and for what little it contains of that which follows should have been dropped) until long into the second act. By then you have a real good feel for the characters. You have heard about Mitch’s transformation and why he has to be such a jerk to everyone around him (a real Jerkyll if you ask me) and seen Eden’s rather promiscuous transformation into unadulterated temptress and temptation.
Much of this book is dedicated to developing Mitch and Eden’s relationship. We are reminded again and again by these shady off-screen characters, bantering over cell-phones, even though they keep reminding each other they’re not supposed to, that Mitch and Eden must get together and have lots of sex. We are not given the purpose behind this objective. What do you expect from an organization that simply calls itself “The Clinic”?
Meanwhile, Detective Landon, played I am certain in an adaption of this book by Laurence Fishburne or Forrest Whittaker, is nose deep in Mitch’s dirty laundry. Turns out that Mitch’s sister was killed a couple of years ago. The case is in bad need of a killer. Jolie, Mitch’s ride or die gal, secretary by day, freaky under the covers partner by night, provides an alibi, operating like a much more sneaky and clever secretary than the one found in American Psycho (like this book but a lot more bloody). Landon’s efforts are rebuffed.
You know, however, because Landon is such a serious detective, indicated most elegantly by Forrest Whittaker’s lazy eye, that this smoke-screen will not curb him for long. No man escapes Landon. I may be here going off a little on Landon. His arc, however potent, is cut to the thinnest, although he is clearly one deserving of digression.
Eden’s problem waking up places without memories of how she got there, especially on Mitch’s doorstep or on Mitch’s car, showing Mitch things the real Eden would not dare to, falls under Landon’s purview when a new dead body turns up. These dramas aggravate Mitch’s condition. It’s a wonder he makes it as far as he does. Acutely aware of his condition, he has primed his house with a marvelous cage. How much does this smack of Christian Bale? This cage allows him to undergo his transformation without shredding everything in sight. This cage becomes a recurring figure as Eden and Mitch undergo transformation after transformation which they simply would not want others to be around, for their safety and others.
This cage, provided with its own room, acts as the preeminent filmic object. One could imagine very great scenes enacted in and around this cage. We do, indeed, get to see a lot of cage action. I didn’t think it was enough. The third act becomes an endless week of copulation. At that point, I was just ready for it to end, which it almost did, before it insured it would have a sequel. That was a little too much.
| Recommendation: | A well-characterized and, for the most part, well-paced read with a reference, however buried, to an older text |
About the Blogger
I review Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance books with a focus all things werewolf. Based out of Ottawa, Canada
