The Treatment (Jack Caffery) (Jack Caffery Trillers (Audio))

by Mo Hayder

[pamela]

I was excited to read this because of how brilliant Birdman was, but while Mo Hayder still proves herself a wonderful writer, The Treatment was nowhere near as polished as her debut.

Hayder writes about gruelling and voyeuristic subjects. I felt she managed to remain respectful in Birdman, but in The Treatment her protagonists simply didn't show enough care or empathy for the victims. I recognise that she is deemed a realistic writer, however as the act of writing a novel is to provide entertainment, treating her victims so dismissively seemed somehow wrong.

Caffery himself in this novel is nowhere near as likeable or human. In fact, I'd go so far as to say he comes across as downright stupid. He gets so caught up in his own issues that he risks the lives and sanity of those around him, and the victims in his care. In fact, the decisions he makes create tragedy not only for those around him but for himself. In Birdman he was equal parts brilliant and troubled. In The Treatment he's just troubled.

The plot wasn't quite as fleshed out as I would have liked. The red herring to put the reader off the culprit was clunky, and as such the plot development felt poor. The motivations weren't properly defined and as such I found it difficult to see this book as more than voyeurism.

I read the book quickly, because it was fast - paced and the action was exciting, and from a writing standpoint it was certainly accomplished. I will try another Mo Hayder book, but The Treatment came as a disappointment after Birdman.