The Boy Who Could See Demons

A Novel

De: Carolyn Jess-Cooke

Narrado por: Bruce Mann, Carolyn Jess-Cooke

Bestselling author Carolyn Jess-Cooke has written a brilliant novel of suspense that delves into the recesses of the human mind and soul—perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn and Lisa Unger. The Boy Who Could See Demons follows a child psychologist who comes up against a career-defining case—one that threatens to unravel her own painful past and jeopardizes the life of a boy who can see the impossible.

Dr. Anya Molokova, a child psychiatrist, is called in to work at MacNeice House, an adolescent mental health treatment center. There she is told to observe and assess Alex Connolly, a keenly intelligent, sensitive ten-year-old coping with his mother’s latest suicide attempt. Alex is in need of serious counseling: He has been harming himself and others, often during blackouts. At the root of his destructive behavior, Alex claims, is his imaginary “friend” Ruen, a cunning demon who urges Alex to bend to his often violent will.

But Anya has seen this kind of behavior before—with her own daughter, Poppy, who suffered from early-onset schizophrenia. Determined to help Alex out of his darkness, Anya begins to treat the child. But soon strange and alarming coincidences compel Anya to wonder: Is Alex’s condition a cruel trick of the mind? Or is Ruen not so make-believe after all? The reality, it turns out, is more terrifying than anything she has ever encountered.

A rich and deeply moving page-turner, The Boy Who Could See Demons sets out to challenge the imagination and capture the way life takes unexpected turns. In the best storytelling tradition, it leaves the reader changed.

Praise for The Boy Who Could See Demons

“A well written, engaging read filled with compassion for those suffering the whims of an untamed mental illness . . . A poignant read, The Boy Who Could See Demons is a suspenseful novel that probes the issues surrounding the devastating effects of mental illness. The author delves into the psychological issues of schizophrenia and mental disorders with such dexterity it leaves the reader stirred and affected, questioning throughout the story what is real and what is not. . . . As the conclusion draws near, the story takes unexpected turns, making it even more dramatic and compelling.”—New York Journal of Books

“Impressive . . . Jess-Cooke is every bit as skillful in her vivid portrayals of unworldly beings . . . as in illustrating the dreadful toll taken by mental illness.”—Booklist

“A searing novel of suspense.”—Publishers Weekly

“A psychologically complex thriller, told with compassion in a marvelously suspenseful narrative that keeps you engaged from the first page to the last . . . This book has it all: a dark and dangerous setting, characters full of depth, rich emotions, and a clever plot. You’ll fall in love with Alex—and his demons.”—Chevy Stevens, author of Still Missing

“Top-notch psychological suspense . . . Beware what you think you know. It might be only the demons talking.”—Lisa Gardner, author of Touch & Go

“Brilliant! Rich with fully formed characters, this heart-gripping novel will keep you riveted from first page to last.”—Jeffery Deaver, author of XO

“Utterly captivating, this is a book I adored and savored from the first to the very last magical page.”—Tess Gerritsen, author of Ice Cold

Great except for the ending

She had me right up till the conclusion. Red Herring Alert. Talk about an unreliable POV

The story draws you in, surprises in the end

Where does The Boy Who Could See Demons rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

in the top 40%

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved Alex. I really enjoyed the accents of the narrators, such pleasing voices to listen to. As a mother my heart went out to the boy, I felt an instinctual need to protect him.

Which character – as performed by Bruce Mann and Carolyn Jess-Cooke – was your favorite?

I also really enjoyed the dialog that came from Rowen. The perfectly-formed grammatically complicated sentences that no young boy could ever utter by himself were performed very well by the narrators and of course, written very well by the author.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I don't sit still for very long, I'm a mover!

Any additional comments?

While the overall premise/subject was quite sad, I have to say I LOVED the ending. Can't say anything else without spoiling so that is all I'll say!

Interesting but a bit slow...

I thought this story was well-written and I enjoyed parts of it very much. I found it moved a bit slower than I typically like and that the ending, though a nice twist, was actually not as surprising or revealing as I had hoped. The narration is good and the setting of Belfast and its commentary on its war-torn youth was both interesting and tragically sad. The story was compelling but simple dragged in certain parts that made it difficult to follow at times, I found myself easily distracted from the story which doesn't typically happen. Still, the writing is really quite good and if you are not looking for a blockbusting thriller, this may be for you.

Everything

Absolutely loved this book my be my favorite I’ve read, I enjoyed every bit of it , so good

The ending caught me so off guard. It's amazing

Narration was top notch. They both had me hanging on every word. I highly recommend this book