This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Jean Hall for Readers' Favorite
A tropical paradise becomes a fatal nightmare in The Collector by Eva Devane. The year is 2023 and psychological self-absorption and state-sanctioned drug use are commonplace. There is a new Ecstasy drug Super X which heightens personal experience. The government has made the air cleaner with specialized filters so there are some wholesome improvements. Dr. Veronica, a psychologist and FBI profiler, is the heroine. The anti-hero is clearly the super-wealthy Lionel Bridgeport who channels his bored and sadistic tendencies. He begins collecting people rather than objects on his remote and technology-proofed tropical island. He kidnaps and holds captive his human specimens from the world of entertainment, the military, medicine, and sports. Dr. Veronica becomes one of his unlucky captives but she engineers an "Escape Crew," drawing on her expertise in human motivation and criminality. Some captives are killed but many find their way to freedom.
The excellent accomplishments of the captives are balanced by the diabolical perversion of their jailer. Lionel has found the worst way to use his wealth and power by torturing and using people for his sick pleasure. There are many examples of unhealthy sexual relationships between some of the main characters. Eva Devane in The Collector uses the full range of human experience to tell her story; from individual sexual needs, to the more general needs of society. The book's dedication, table of contents and epilogue are helpful to frame the story. The rough transitions between the story of individual characters is confusing at times but it does not detract from a fascinating book.
