Martin Vail, the lawyer with incisive legal skills sharp enough to dissect a case down to its marrow is the most noticeable character in this novel. His courtroom skills are also perfect, reminiscent of Perry Mason’s. Venable, the State Prosecutor is his opponent who has to prove her worth atleast this time having lost to Vail on two previous occasions while fighting out legal battles in the courtroom. The two meet again to prove Aaron Stampler guilty or innocent. Embroiled in their face-off is Aaron Stampler’s alter ego, Roy, an aggressive boy who is a manifest of Stampler’s schizophrenic attacks. The trigger is sexual repression and sexual liberation at a very early age due to sexual exploitation in childhood by two priests and a teacher. (Nothing seems sacred to Diehl). Aaron’s guilt is proved, yet Vail proves that he is innocent of the crime since it is carried out by his alter ego.
The climax is tight and brisk – one moves back and forth between the two identities of Stampler with a sense of fear.
The primal fear is – Aaron is not Roy, Roy is Aaron.
Aren’t all human beings a wee bit schizophrenic? Martin Vail, Molly, Shoaty, Goodman? You? Me?
The climax is tight and brisk – one moves back and forth between the two identities of Stampler with a sense of fear.
The primal fear is – Aaron is not Roy, Roy is Aaron.
Aren’t all human beings a wee bit schizophrenic? Martin Vail, Molly, Shoaty, Goodman? You? Me?
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