On reading the 4th cover of "Beyond evil" Shane Stevens, see the mere sight of the title is understood that it is not the presence of an nth serial killer story and ... a date and holds the attention of the attentive reader: 1979, date of the first publication of the novel ... which makes him, in a way, a precursor of the genre before "Silence of the Lambs" course, before "Red Dragon, "even before the vogue for this type of works ... A good reason to take a curious aeil on aeuvre in question. The author has therefore we bloody wanderings Thomas Bishop, psychopathic killer escaped from the asylum where he was imprisoned for murdering his mother at the age of 10 years. One of the primary strengths of the book is also good in the richness of the serial killer character, central protagonist of the aeuvre, including the entire first part attempts to describe the traumatic childhood and meanders of his corrupt brain . The author puts us literally in his head (anti) hero in his most morbid fantasies as in his most evil plans ... The reader is caught in the normal sense of revulsion to such a monster, a some compassion for the child martyr he was, see "admiration" for its ability to design the means to pursue its destructive aeuvre while escaping his pursuers. Without a doubt, Thomas Bishop, is a character in the most searched criminals it was to meet me in the genre of literature. The secondary characters are not left between an ambiguous journalist desperate to get his way, an ambitious and cynical politician, doctors on their scientific fact Cops overwhelmed by the ingenuity of the killer but persistent and conscientious .... A rich gallery of portraits and serving well the plot ... And then there are the women ... and a little special treatment that the author holds. There of course, first, THE woman, the mother of Bishop, a rape victim in the first pages ... before becoming very quickly, liar, manipulative and ultimately child executioner perhaps from the rape. The description of the thoughts and actions of this woman almost prohibit any form of compassion ... and this from rape where there is almost we suggested it might have to take a certain pleasure ... The rest is even worse when will satisfy its so-called revenge by torturing his son until it kills ... Making it, the very source of evil ... Besides, each of the crimes committed by Bishop, the shadow his mother remain present as if it was the instigator of the horrors perpetrated by his son ... Beyond the character of the mother, there is that of other women, victims of the killer, where those who cross the road different male characters ... For this is the other aspect of the novel, apart Bishop Thomas's mother, other female protagonists seem there to satisfy the pleasures of men, to those perverse and deadly killer. Even the victims seem to have their share of responsibility for their own deaths since all follow their executioner voluntarily. Some of us are even presented as huntress looking for a man to fill their loneliness or their desires ... predatory prey become their own attitude seems to stick to distorted images of women that haunt the mind tortured Bishop perceiving them as aeuvrant demons of the loss of rights. This treatment of female characters the author has really stopped and I could not tell if he makes a skilful stylistic building to lead the reader in the deepest thoughts of the killer, presenting women such that seems to represent them; or if the female representations in question reflect the real opinions of Stevens on people femina ... Actually this question was almost a source of great discomfort to me that the mere clinical description of some of the abuse by the killer to his victims. This aside, the plot remains well constructed and highly integrated in the context of the time ... With a backdrop debate on the death penalty and Watergate (published in 1979 the novel is set in 1973 ) both having vital importance in the unfolding of history. Writing, simple, almost journalistic may suggest that we are reading a feature article on crimes and tracking down a murderer real property. All reinforcing the next shock of the novel. To conclude, "Beyond evil" is a gripping aeuvre, well built and well written. A founder of a kind aeuvre threadbare since. The aeuvre a mysterious author who suddenly disappeared from the literary scene and which we can not know how much shade itself invests in the novel. It's probably also what makes the strength of the aeuvre while leaving open to criticism.
