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ANALYST, THE by John Katzenbach Ballantine, January 2002 576 pages $25.00 ISBN: 0345426366

Dr. Frederick Starks, who prefers to be called Ricky, is a New York analyst, a widower in his private life, a man who enjoys routine. He likes his passive role in Freudian psychoanalysis, the behind-the-couch, long silences thing, and the same (necessarily wealthy) patients coming back four or five days a week, always at the same time, most often for years. He deeply appreciates this safety and stability. Although Ricky misses his wife, he still enjoys his life in New York City and wouldn't change a thing.

That is, until something totally unexpected occurs: Ricky¼s quiet life is interrupted by a force stronger even than Freud. His first reaction is disbelief, followed by the equally predictable „Why me?¾ Finally comes fear, trembling, and nausea caused by the serious threat to his life in a letter he has received. This letter "presents" (to use a shrink word) in the form of some pretty bad verse that provides clues to the playing of a truly diabolical game. Ricky has no choice but to play.

Bad verse is truly the only bad thing in this long and involving novel. THE ANALYST is so well constructed that telling one single element of the plot risks a spoiler. I can only provide a general framework: The person who threatens Ricky calls himself „Rumplestiltskin¾; the threatener¼s two helpers call him Mr. R. The game, as mentioned above, is a puzzle that Ricky

has fifteen days to solve. The consequence to the analyst if he fails to solve the puzzle -- that¼s the diabolical part.

In a surprise twist that I did sort of see coming, but still it was a surprise anyway, Ricky demonstrates that the mind is an intelligent man¼s strongest weapon. He learns how to fight on his challenger¼s turf; then Ricky turns the tables and lures Mr. R onto Ricky's own playing field with a new game.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about THE ANALYST is the way Katzenbach demonstrates his understanding of psychoanalytic practice and theory, how it¼s more an art than a science, the flaws as well as the virtues. The author makes his main character¼s actions fit his training and practice perfectly ... until the character, Ricky, sees how his training further endangers his

life. He sees too, that perhaps the long, expensive process of Freudian psychoanalysis may not be the most practical in today¼s world. My explanation here doesn¼t do justice to the Katzenbach¼s writing skill -- I¼d like very much to demonstrate, with a quote from the novel, exactly how Katzenbach does this. But again, any quote would reveal too much and would spoil the experience for a potential reader.

So I guess you¼ll just have to trust me when I say: The only reason I can think of why any serious reader might not like this book, would have to be a dislike of psychological thrillers in general. THE ANALYST is definitely psychological. It's also, without question, the best book I¼ve read yet this year.

Reviewed by Ava D. Day, March 2002

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)

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