Overall, this was an interesting and somewhat entertaining read but I found it to be a bit boring during several parts. None of the characters were likable (and I know, it's a book about a serial killer, not. much to like!), with Amanda being the most likable and it just seemed like there was a lot of information in the book that didn't make a difference to the story. He really was insane though so that was good writing I suppose.

Another thing to mention is that because I was so far behind in reading this, I had gotten the audiobook and I think had I read it instead of listened, it might have been better. Balint sounded more like a bad guy in a black and white movie talking about the "coppers". It was hugely distracting and did absolutely no good thing for the story itself.

Unfortunately I didn't get chance to read this book as there was an issue with the system that wouldn't allow me to download this. However, I've heard great things and will be buying the book soon!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book from the very beginning. Dr. Balint is a Cardiologist with a wife and two daughters. Upon learning that his wife is having an affair with a colleague he despises, Dr. Balint decides the only way he can save his marriage is to have her lover killed so he decides to kill other people first so by the time he kills his colleague it will look like the work of a serial killer. This was a very easy book to get into, I especially liked the ending. Highly recommend!

Jeremy Blaint is a well-known, well-liked Cardiologist - the youngest division chief at the hospital. His parents love him. He adores his beautiful wife and two young daughters. Dr, Jeremy Blaint is a sociopath.

He's a happy man until he discovers his wife is having an affair with another doctor. And that's where the trouble starts.

Jeremy has dark thoughts .. of killing the man who is sleeping with his wife. But he has to be smart about it. He can't possibly get caught and ruin his reputation and his daughters' lives.

He has a plan ... and he's willing to do whatever it takes to keep his family.

This is a dark, disturbing story of a sociopath who thinks he is normal. He kills without regret, without empathy, and goes on about his life. It's a compelling read.

The only thing I did not like .. the ending is abrupt and doesn't tell the reader anything. It made no sense to me. I've looked high and low and find no continuing story. It's like the author wasn't sure where to go and just stopped.

Many thanks to the author / The Permanent Press / Netgalley for the digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

I have been kind of reading this for half a year - and I have still not finished it. It just is not the book for me. I got excited by reactions of people I am friends with on Goodreads who gave this glowing reviews and did not stop to think about whether this is a book for me. Turns out it isn't. I don't really read much of crime fiction or thrillers; I also prefer books where I can at least sympathize with the protagonist. This obviously was not the case here - it might have changed if I had read on but in the 50ish% of the book I read, the main character got on my nerves. I have to be honest with myself here - I will not finish this book, or if I do and will write a less than favourable review for a book that just is not my cup of tea. So I stopped reading it.

There's a theory out there, that psycho/socio-paths actually occur more commonly than we know, and typically inhabit worlds where that lack of empathy puts them at an advantage. Doctors, upper-level management/financial dealings, that kind of role where distance and calm in what would be an emotional situation for others sees them succeed.

It's this type of person Jacob M. Appel has created here. Dr Balint has discovered his wife is having an affair and decides to deal with it in the only logical way: murder a string of strangers ritualistically and include his wife's lover in the mix. Who among us wouldn't do the same?

It's an intriguing read. As the novel unfolds, what initially seemed to be the plan of a man driven to a desperate response is slowly unfurled into something much more sinister. Far from a reaction to a terrible event, this is just a part in a larger pattern, one we can't see the scope of until its unveiling.

It was a really enjoyable read, and with room for a follow-up, I'll be interested to see what comes next.

I was provided with a free copy in return for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity.

Rating: 5 OUT OF 5 STARS 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 

MY REVIEW:

Jacob Appel has a true gift. His vivid descriptions of place are minimal in length but are still somehow able to paint an exact picture in the reader’s mind. His genius shines through mostly with his uncanny ability to get inside the heads of his characters and to take his readers with him. His writing makes each character seem less fictional and more real.

Jacob's vast educational and life experience and his background in the medical field make this book even nore scary. I can't help but wonder if this book is based on a past patient or maybe even one of Jacob Appel's  colleagues. I really hope not.

In this book the protagonist is a respected physician. A married father of two adorable girls, Jeremy Balint seems to lead the perfect life.

However, when he discovers that his wife is cheating on him with a colleague, one he had considered to be a friend, Jeremy does not react out of anger. Instead, he calmly decides that his marriage must be saved at all costs. Instead of confronting his wife, he hatches a diabolical plan. That plan, and his execution of it will both shock readers and have them glued to the book's pages.

Psychopaths and sociopaths have historically been portrayed as loners. They seemed easy to identify since they were seen to be "creepy" and no one was all that surprised when they found out that he (and it was ALWAYS a he) murdered someone. This gave people a sense of relief. If they stayed away from creepy men, they were safe. The reality is much more terrifying. As author Jacob Appel is aware, true sociopaths do not fit that description at all.

In fact, since sociopaths are masters of both manipulation and of adaptation, it is quite likely that all of us know or live close to at least one of them. This book brings that fact home unlike any other.

If you are a fan of psychological fiction you will LOVE this book. It is a MUST READ and I rate it enthusiastically as 5 out of 5 Stars. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

An amazingly dark and sinister tale. What a twisted fellow the good doctor is! An illustration of just how warped a persons mind can be and the terrifying acts that are carried out by such people who think they are justified in their actions. A fantastic read that was greedily devoured within a day.

I was very pleased to receive a hard copy of this book (thank you, thank you!) for my enjoyment. Having read several of Appel’s books, I was anxious to start this newest one, and disappointed I definitely was not. This very fast-paced medical thriller was exactly what I love, as a retired nurse practitioner. Dr. Jeremy Balint seemed on the outside like a very dedicated physician, well-liked by his colleagues and friends. The story starts with the background of Jeremy’s current situation in his marriage and career, but soon takes a huge turn when he discovers his wife in the arms of a fellow-physician. His mind then goes in an ugly direction, working endlessly to end this peer’s life. It is all very easy for him, practicing as he moves towards his goal, on other lives. The book has an ending that leaves room for wonder, so I would love to see a follow-up in the future. Thanks, Dr. Appel - another book well-done.

What a totally fun read. It is written from the perspective of a guy who has everything, Professionally successful, married to a beautiful woman with two precocious children. An accident sets off an devastating chain of events. When he feels his life has turned, he sets out to get revenge on his rival. His singleminded pursuit of his plan, and how it evolves is truly creepy, I am glad I don't live in that city.

I did see the ending, but it was gratifying nonetheless. I would love to read the sequel and see who knows and how he reacts. Does that person toy with him, extort him or something else.

Quick and pretty fun read, if a little scary how well some people can mask their true selves, or maybe not as well as they think they can.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book!

I confess I have read about three other books by this author and he is a favorite of mine. But this book…WOW….blew it out of the water! The book drew me in quick and didn’t let go, this book’s character is amazingly interesting and completely callous in the way he doesn’t care for his neighbors, coworkers and strangers….at all…..I was completely enthralled on this ride and was wondering how the ending was going to play out. My thoughts during the book were “You’re going to get caught” to “Wonder what secrets the people in my life have?”
Again a great read by Mr. Appel I would recommend this book and his other works!

Where oh where is the oomph? It’s the perfect setup for oomph--a guy who’s a doctor AND a serial killer, a guy who saves lives but prefers to take lives. This was a decent read, better than a flat 3 stars for sure. My pogo stick didn’t take me to 4-star land even though I was trying to guide it in that direction. Other reviewers say they felt the tension, but for me it was pretty much stoic city.

I’m one of those weirdos who love books about psychopaths. (I’m only a psychopath groupie as far as books go; I would never ever want to meet one!) But I’m picky. I like my psychopaths to be funny, brilliant, and complex, like the el creepo star of The Dinner. The psycho here is pretty one-dimensional. He acts exactly like you would expect a serial killer to act. He’s creepy but not creepy enough and that might just be because he is sort of an automaton; he doesn’t have much personality. He does his doctor work and he does his killer work, all a little ho hum. No doubt this is the point the author is trying to make—that serial killers are single-minded and have no guilt about killing. “Here is my plan to kill and here is how I will execute it and yes everyone thinks I’m an ethical man but look at what I am doing ha ha.”

I’m all twisted up about this book because I wanted to love this book like I loved Appel’s quirky short-story collection, Einstein’s Beach House. I wanted to be able to say only gushy things. Part of the problem in trying to compare the two books is that this novel is a thriller whereas Einstein’s Beach House is quirky. If quirk works, it’s unadulterated fun and I’m firm about my rating. Apparently I’m more critical with thrillers, and this one is just not meaty enough. I think Appel does better with quirk than with thrills.

Damn, there I go again, sounding like it’s not a good book when it is a perfectly fine read. First, what a great book title! It fits perfectly—he looks sane but oh if they only knew! And the story is well written. It’s told from the point of view of the killer, which is fun. No jazz, but that’s okay. It has straightforward language, and there are no fillers, no lulls, no fluff, no detours. It was a fast and enjoyable read. The killer’s signature is really clever and for that the author gets big creativity points. Oh, and Appel came up with an incredibly imaginative idea—dementia cookies! It’s just a teensy aside, but I can’t stop laughing about it. You’ll have to read the book to find out what’s in them.

One really funny thing is that I found myself rooting for the killer! I looked forward to his next kill. He had a goal and I couldn’t wait for him to get there. What’s THAT about?? I became as casual about his killing as he was. Very strange! Maybe that was one of Appel’s intents. Or maybe it’s because the killings were random and I didn’t get to know or care about any of the victims. Or maybe even it’s because I was a little bored and wanted the book to be over with.

I’m torn about the ending. On one hand, it was incredibly clever. On the other hand, I wanted it to be more conclusive. Maybe Appel is writing a sequel. If he is, I want to read it. I’m in awe of this writer because he has a medical license as well as a law degree. The fact that he finds time to also be a brilliant writer just blows my mind.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Thanks you for approving my request to review this title. Unfortunately this read just didn't grab me and so I won't be reviewing it on my blog. I've read many reviews for this book and I note that numerous people have loved it but I didn't find myself wanting to carry on with it. I look forward to reading and reviewing other titles that you publish. Many thanks. Kim aka The Buzzing Bookmark

My goodness, this book made me feel as if I was on the edge of sanity! A very unsetting, yet powerful trip. Jacob M. Appel's The Mask of Sanity hits all the nerves so be prepared for a ride unlike any other. This is how I like my suspense novels. I still can't get it out of my mind.

Dr. Jeremy Balint a model son and affluent surgeon is hiding something - he's a psychopath and kills people when they betray him. This story is told in his narrative and starts out with him running over a puppy and going to his coworkers house for assistance and finding his wife there in compromising position. Instead of confronting them he plots revenge and starts by leaving the deceased dog in his coworkers bushes. He kills innocent people as part of his plan and leaves a green ribbon at the scene. I liked this book up until the ending which I thought left me feeling unfulfilled.

I imagine that most of us have an idea in our heads of what defines a sociopath, but living inside the head of one for the time it takes to read this book will prove to be very disturbing indeed. I must admit that I started this book expecting a twisty, turning plot like many of the psychological thrillers in the wake of "Gone Girl, and was a bit disappointed by the methodical mind of Dr Balent. Then I realized that this was a character study rather than a wild ride. This man/monster has a plan from the very first pages and seeing how ruthlessly he pursues it is gripping. He is a dutiful son, loving father, admirable colleague, but also a sociopath. A very calculating sociopath.

Ha! What a sneaky... lying... slithering... protagonist!

When a driving mishap turns into a shocking discovery, Dr. Jeremy Balint, the 34 year old Chief of Cardiology and devoted family man becomes an aspiring killer with one particular extermination in mind.....BUT.....in order to accomplish his goal, his sick sociopath mind leads him down a deadly path with no conscience, remorse or heart.

THE MASK OF SANITY has an ambiguous ending, but OMGOSH I loved it....hehehe.

(Must read more of Jacob Appel!)

Many thanks to NetGalley and The Permanent Press for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

The Mask of Sanity by Jacob M. Appel

I am a fan of Jacob M. Appel's writing and when I saw that he was coming out with a new book, I couldn't wait to read it. I knew Mr. Appel was a doctor, lawyer, ethicist, but had not known he was a psychiatrist. His psychiatry experience certainly gives him an understanding of Sociopath's. I am surprised that he uses the word Sociopath instead of Psychopath for his main character. I had just read in another book that psychopath's are more highly organized and Brilliant than sociopath's. So that being said, the two diagnoses now leave me a little confused after reading this book. The distinction between the two has only recently been made by psychiatrists.

The Mask of Sanity is the perfect title for the main character Jerry Balint. Jerry Balint is a 46 year old cardiac surgeon who has been married to Amanda for nine years. They have two beautiful daughters together. When Jerry catches Amanda cheating with a colleague he has known for years, he decides that he has to murder his colleague to keep everything he has safe. It is chilling to read the thoughts and rationalities that Jerry Balint thinks about going about his day to day living.

Jerry thinks ahead, plans ahead that if there is a serial killer leaving his calling card a green ribbon, that when he kills the colleague it will get linked to a serial killer, leaving no chance of the real target getting tied to him.

Jacob M. Appel writes a chilling inside view of the mind of a sociopath. As readers we witness all of the sick thinking as Jerry goes about his business from day to day. A character that has no conscious and actually feels a sense of calm and satisfaction after committing a double murder. Yet on the outside to everybody around him he has everything one could ever want.

Jacob M Appel does an excellent job writing this novel and giving us readers an armchair view into the sociopathic mind. His character's are well developed. The writing flows seamlessly and keeps the pages turning. He is talented to be able to switch genres from his short stories to so convincingly paint a picture of a tremendously dark character. I did like the ending very much.

Thank you to Net Galley, Jacob M. Appel and the Publisher for providing me with my digital copy for a fair and honest review.

What a nail biter! I was absolutely chilled to the bone by this sociopathic, husband turned serial killer. His methodical approach was the perfect combination of madness and brilliance- almost foolproof as the twist on the last page proves! What a ride!

This chilling tale kept me interested throughout the book. It tells of a successful doctor who finds out that his wife is having an affair. He decides that the best way to hold on to all that’s dear to him is to kill the man his wife is having the affair with. The author really gives a glimpse of the mind of a sociopath when we see the doctor plan to become a serial killer in order to cover up his first murder. I would recommend this book to any thriller lover.