"In book after book, Jacob M. Appel keeps us on the edges of our moral, intellectual, and spiritual seats. What makes this book so chilling, so funny--so chillingly funny?--is how clearly it shows us that the Mask of Sanity could be worn by your doctor, your husband, by your very own American neighbor. We may have always suspected it, but Jacob M. Appel knows the truth. Mask of Sanity is a powerful, discomfiting, timely book.” — Murray Farish, author of Inappropriate Behavior

“Jacob Appel’s brilliant “Mask of Sanity” is as disturbingly clear a window into the sociopathic mind as Jim Thompson’s “The Killer Inside Me” and Bret Easton Ellis’s “American Psycho.” Its closest literary companion, however, is probably Scott Turow’s “Presumed Innocent” for its methodical and compelling portrayal of a man who isn’t who he appears to be, and for the hypnotic, almost metronomic pulse of its writing. I love and am unsettled by this book, which contains impenetrable darkness and the terrible possibility that moving among us—and perhaps, at times, within us—is a kind of banal evil that has nothing to do with Hannah Arendt and everything to do with forces that are wholly, inexplicably human. Appel has fashioned a novel that is haunting and perplexing and fascinating, and I can’t recommend it highly enough.” —Josh Emmons, author of A Moral Tale and Other Moral Tales

"Putting his psychiatry expertise to good use, Jacob M. Appel has created a deliciously twisted tale of violence and revenge. This daring new novel takes us inside the mind of a killer, letting us marvel at the contradictions. How can such a passionate man muster up enough sangfroid for his morbid mission? As the stakes get higher and higher, Appel ratchets up the suspense in the grand tradition of Edgar Allan Poe (and Dexter for that matter). He gives us one of the most memorable characters we're likely to encounter this year. Mask of Sanity is a thrilling look at a wry, smart, and—most frightening of all—believable killer." —Erica Wright, author of The Granite Moth

"Be forewarned: Once Mask of Sanity sucks you into its dark tale of sociopathy and revenge, you may find yourself ignoring friends and loved ones until you've reached the final shocking page."—Matt Dojny, author of The Festival of Earthly Delights.