Bath Haus: A Psychological Thriller Novel - Perfect for Mystery Lovers & Book Club Discussions

BATH HAUS [2021] By P.J. VERNONMy Review 5.0 Out Of 5.0 StarsI read this genuine “Thriller” from “new-to-me” author P.J. Vernon this week, and it was the most captivating and compelling psychological suspense novel I have read for quite some time. I bought the book some time ago, but my library “Hold” Lists appeared to be firing on all cylinders for the past month or so which forced me to wait to read Bath Haus.The premise of the plot is pretty basic on the surface of it. It is about a “marriage” in trouble. One partner feels desperately underappreciated while the other feels controlled and manipulated on a short taut leash. The author unfolds the plot using medical terminology to describe the stages of the death of the relationship. That could have potentially crossed me as gimmicky but instead it set a chilling, clinical underlying tone that escalated the tension.The author deploys the alternating First-Person POVs of two men in a long-term committed ostensibly monogamous relationship. This is not an uncommon writing technique, but the author’s deftness and narrative style effectively breathes life into both protagonists. He intermittently injects backstory historical information into the chapters dedicated to each of them. The prose flows smoothly and as a reader I felt that I gradually understood both of them as fully realized characters. It would be accurate to say that I could sympathize and advocate for both of their perspectives in this taut, complex plot of lies, betrayal, love, lust, and terror. This is a white-knuckle thriller of the first order.Nathan is an accomplished and successful trauma surgeon from a well-to-do and socially prominent family. His partner Oliver is still in his twenties and 10 years Nathan’s junior. The two are different in their educational levels, as well as economic and social standing. In fact, Nathan rescued young Oliver from a certain downward spiral into addiction and death. Oliver initially welcomed Nathan’s God-like stature as his savior and benefactor. He continued to be cognizant that without Nathan’s support to corral his addiction-prone personality he would be a dead man. Conversely, though, Oliver comes to resent the very structure and monitoring that Nathan had enacted to ensure his continued sobriety, health, and safety. It has reached the point where Oliver is sufficiently suffocated by the net Nathan constructed for his ensured compliance that he has been gradually but steadily undermining its integrity.Oliver’s defiance reaches critical mass while Nathan is away for a medical conference where he is a keynote speaker. Oliver finds himself entering a (bath house) for an anonymous sexual encounter. The young man feels the thrill of his act of infidelity and the temporary release it will provide, right up until Oliver realizes with horror that his sexy anonymous playmate with the arctic blue eyes is killing him.It is only by the most unlikely chain of events that Oliver manages to escape with his life, and with the homicidal stranger chasing out of the Bath Haus in hot pursuit. One might speculate that this sounds like a climactic moment in the plot. Hardly. In fact, it is pretty much the very beginning. Oliver’s throat is horribly bruised and with the handprint of his assailant imprinted on his flesh. He is seriously traumatized, makes stupid mistakes after getting home to the veritable mansion he shares with Nathan. The character of Detective Rachel Henning at the Police Station is superbly developed by the author. Character enrichment is as accomplished as the perfectly paced escalation of trepidation and sheer horror.It is not my intention to write a synopsis of the novel. Suffice it to say that the anxiety quickly yields to flat out terror as it becomes apparent that the sexual psychopath from the bath house is stalking Oliver with the intent to finish the job. While Oliver struggles to maintain his sanity and sobriety, he must also pull out all the stops to keep Nathan oblivious to the truth behind his serious neck injury. Oliver reports the attempted murder to Detective Henning, but then to deceive Nathan he must confabulate a false tale about being mugged and robbed of his wallet while jogging. This results in filing a false police report and if the situation was not so terrifying it would be a black comedy. Detective Henning is both calm and cunning in her handling of the case and the troubled couple.This novel really did grab ME by the throat and not get go. There is a pet in the household, in this instance a lovable dog. The stalker had already invaded the couple’s home, left a horrifying souvenir of sorts for Oliver, and clearly saw the dog in her crate when he was in their house. Later in the narrative, Nathan and Oliver endure a home invasion by the psychopath with only one thing missing after the police arrive to investigate…their little dog. She is missing…I almost had a coronary on the spot, and could definitely have benefited from Dr. Nathan Klein’s cardiac expertise.I would recommend this adrenaline-laced roller coaster ride from h-- to anyone who loves psychological thrillers with the gas pedal pushed all the way to the floorboard. There are devious twists and turns that are completely unexpected, and you feel like your head will explode and your heart break when the plot twists finally begin to unravel and unveil the unvarnished truths.Definite winner. I initially rated this novel four stars when I wrapped it up, only because I am trying to be conservative with rating books five stars when they are simply really, really good. I endeavor to allot five stars only rarely, and to books that kept me rapt and riveted. That fits this story like a glove, so it hit that high mark I set.