‘The Suicide Merchant’ Review on Onlineboookclub.org
A man named Benjamin Weaver has a unique gift that allows him to see visions of people who are on the verge of committing suicide. He's able to relate to them on a deeper level as well as take away whatever feelings caused them to think of suicide. In place of those negative feelings, he leaves them with happy memories as well as a glimpse of their wonderful future. We are led through the lives of different people on the verge of committing suicide and possibly committing mass murder in the process. Will Ben be able to save everyone? More importantly, can Ben save himself?
The Suicide Merchant by Cheyne Peck is an emotional yet intriguing thriller. We see how people undergo different experiences that can prove overwhelming to the point that life becomes a burden and suicide is the only option. We see how the hope for a future is usually enough to take the pain away and make living worth it. We see positive themes of friendship, such as those between Ben and Jeremy. Also, there are themes of love, hope, and so on. We also experience some negative themes, such as betrayal, bullying, rape, and so on.
I loved a lot of things in this book. From how we are drawn to the details of the lives of each character, making them more than just another suicidal victim, to how we are able to empathize with their pain and see how little experiences can add up to make someone depressed and ultimately suicidal, this book was a phenomenal ride. I also enjoyed the early beginnings of Danica's love story. It gave the book an unexpected twist. Although I found errors in the book, I would say it was professionally edited because these didn't affect my reading experience.
However, I found some of the scenes unnecessary, like the airport scene where Ben gave unnecessary details about the features of the female airport workers. Also, I found some loose ends a little concerning. For example, the fate of the boy Ben saved, who seemed to be connected to Ben in some way, was never clarified. Finally, I found the ending of the book quite confusing because it seemed like there were no longer any defined boundaries to Ben's abilities, and this caused a bit of confusion.
I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. If the loose ends had been tied up properly and a little more clarification had been given at certain scenes, I might have given it a perfect rating. If you're looking for a suspenseful book that will trigger your empathy and leave you with short bursts of delight, then this book is for you.
Review written by Ngozi Amarchi