I just finished reading Comfort Zone: A Tale of Suspense by Stephen Bentley, former undercover British detective, now crime author. The book is different than Bentley's previous novels. Comfort Zone is a thriller and a crime story, but not as fast-paced as his other books. Comfort Zone is more complex.
Phil Mercer is one of the most intriguing characters I've read about in a long time. Mercer is a British veteran who returns home from the war in Afghanistan and studies law, then becomes an attorney in London. He defends the poor and underprivileged citizens. Phil Mercer is not a one-dimensional character. The author writes about the humanity of a person who has taken the lives of other people. Like when watching a tragic play, I felt sympathy for Mercer at various times and then cringed at some of the darker scenes. The novel is also a mystery because the parts of the story come together in the end, similar to how the different parts of Mercer meld into one. I think he comes to accept his fragments and acknowledges them.
The title comes from the name of a parlor game at a dinner party that Mercer gives for his friends and colleagues in the legal profession. He's invited them because he wants to show off his cooking skills and to play the game he's invented. Every detail of the menu, the wines, the guests and the game is planned with precision.
Phil Mercer suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) from his war experiences. His role as an attorney is stressful, but he's able to do a good job. The author uses Mercer's military background to explore issues that many veterans experience such as long-lasting, even permanent, mental, and physical illnesses. Many serious traumas may cause PTSD, but since Mercer is a combat veteran, his wartime experiences continue to influence his life. War always has an enemy no matter whose side you're on, and Mercer's nemesis haunts him when he attempts to live a normal life. The opposing roles of Phil Mercer, a man given in to the temptation to kill, and an attorney, driven by order, logic, and law, make for a unique protagonist. Bentley does a great service in the way he writes about Mercer's interior dialogue, hallucinations, depression, and memory problems. He does not make Phil Mercer a stereotype of a mentally ill person. Mercer is a sympathetic character; one who is approachable for the reader. I liked Phil Mercer so much that I can visualize his character in further novels by the author.
Told through flashbacks, dream sequences, and various points of view, Comfort Zone is a first-rate story. Crime novel fans will be entertained by Comfort Zone. I highly recommend reading this book.
Philip Mercer is a London barrister that suffers from PTSD. He invited a game to get rid of the people whom he feels have wronged him in one way or another. He gets someone to help him but all goes wrong. The twists and turns will keep you on your toes. This book will pull you in from the beginning. This is a must read for anyone that loves a good thriller.
This is quite an unusual book, very cleverly written and very believable. It deals with the sensitive subject of mental illness in an unusual but very effective way.
The book starts with a rather graphic murder, but we don't learn who the killer was until later in the book, just one of the twists and turns which are at the heart of this book.
Some of the book is written in the third person, and some in the first person, the first person passages are from the viewpoint of Phil Mercer, an intelligent man who works as a barrister, but who is suffering from a reversal of his fortunes and not getting enough work to cover his expenses.
It gradually becomes clear that he is suffering from a mental illness as he hears voices telling him that the people he blames for his failure must be made to suffer.
Further into the book the difference between reality and Phil's delusions becomes more blurred and we learn that he definitely has a very dark side, but what caused the dark side is truly shocking when it is revealed
With lots of plots twists and realistic characters the book is certainly brilliantly written, however, for many the descriptions of what Phil went through and also the descriptions of the various murders will take many readers out of their 'comfort zone'.
I received an advance copy of the book, but have voluntarily written this honest review.
The main character and narrator of this enthralling thriller is a complex individual who had various mental health issues. Even though we are now living in the 21st century and despite the fact that mental health issues don't carry as much stigma as they did in the past. There are still people that scoff at and ridicule others whose brains refuse to work properly. Intrusive thoughts are one of the terrifying aspects of mental health, add onto that the shocking treatment that Phil Mercer had apparently experienced in the past then you have a ticking time bomb that is bound to explode at some point. There have been a number of cases where people who have mental health issues have gone into a dissociative fugue and murdered their loved ones. Is this what happened to Phil and if it was then it's very unfair if we readers judge him as unlikable when he had no control over his behaviour and actions. Were we being cleverly manipulated by the author and Phil into feeling sympathy for someone who was really insane or a cold blooded killer and was hiding behind a mask. What really happened in Afghanistan in 2002? We all know that terrible atrocities are carried out in war torn countries and sometimes the truth is locked away by the powers that be and never divulged to the public.
This is a well written, thought provoking story that keeps the reader guessing and causes you to experience a wide range of emotions. The plot definitely took the reader out of your comfort zone at times especially during some of theocrats that were set in Afghanistan. This is the first of this author's books that I have read and I would happily read more of his books in the future.
Comfort Zone opens with what appears to be stalking, which turns into a kidnapping, that turns into a horrific murder.
And that was just the prologue!
Phil Mercer, an English barrister, has lost much… his brother, mother, and beloved wife, Liz, all in two short years.
Phil also appears to be losing his mind.
A “voice” who introduces himself as Vincent is encouraging Phil to kill… to take revenge on those people he believed to be friends, but they instead hindered or stifled his legal career and financial situation.
While he agrees with Vincent, Phil Mercer isn’t a killer. Or is he?
The back and forth with Phil/Vincent reminded me of Smeagol/Gollum and I wondered who would win in the end.
Phil decides retribution is his to take, but as he moves closer to his parlor game, a summons from court convinces him he’s going to prison for perjury and he sinks into depression. However, spurred on by Vincent, he sets his plan in motion.
Stephen Bentley’s plot twists kept me on edge. Learning Phil’s military backstory brings clarity… and pity for the barrister, but things are still not as they seem and I don’t know who’s more confused, Phil or me. HA!
I’m not saying anyone deserves to die because that would be… wrong, of course, but Phil Mercer is surrounded by some pretty awful people who evoke little sympathy in every stage of his life, and even after, however, in the end, I still can’t decide if Phil is crazy, or crazy like a fox.
This quick read is great suspense with psychological and noir elements you won’t see coming. It looks like an easy, open and shut case on the surface, but trust me, there’s nothing easy about Phil Mercer or the Comfort Zone.
Enjoy!
