Imatge de l'autor

Mary Ann D'Alto

Autor/a de He Counts Their Tears

1 obres 8 Membres 4 Ressenyes

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Crèdit de la imatge: Mary Ann D'Alto

Obres de Mary Ann D'Alto

He Counts Their Tears (2015) 8 exemplars

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“Bill Walker, [is] a figment of Lucy’s imagination, conjured up by Aaron, who could create monsters masquerading as princes simply by spinning a woman’s hopes and dreams into a twisted semblance of reality, an illusion of her very own soul mate, and placing it before her to be admired and desired but always just out of reach.”

The story showcases a parade of women who fall under Aaron’s spell... Lucy, Celeste, Ruth,.. there are too many to mention. Aaron charms women for the mere pleasure of destroying them, he is a crusher of dreams, a serial killer of souls. I, the reader, am even a victim too because no matter how obvious it was and how many times I read the same thing happening in yet another woman’s life, I kept on hoping against my better judgement that Aaron would show a sign of remorse, that he would have a revelation and would change his ways, that something would happen to stop it happening over and over again. But no such luck. Aaron is a true and unadulterated evil person, there’s not a morsel of good in his whole body.

I believe this book will receive a diversity of opinions, there will be readers who will love this and other who will hate it. Me, I'm still stuck somewhere in the middle because I felt it had ups and downs. I found the final part of the book really a lot better than the first because the beginning are just short accounts of what he does to the women in his life he sets his sights on. Not only does Aaron repeat himself a lot, the women fall into his trap time and time again. After the first few, I really got the picture and wanted the story to move along to something else. It’s all presented a little over-easy, they see him and all fall head over heels in love with him (he also uses a bit of covert-hypnosis and, how convenient, every woman is susceptible to this). Aaron is a narcissist in the true meaning of the word, he has practically no emotions other than thoughts about being caught and even then he is so confident that I really hated him. He’s not a likeable character and was obviously not meant to be one but I still missed some diversity, some humanity. If he really is like this, he could just as well also be a coldhearted and calculated killer. Then again, maybe he is or will be in the second novel. That is something to look forward to. Towards the ending though, he is presented with a challenge that was a welcome change from his usual game and it even got a surge of suspense. I really liked that surprise which kept me turning the pages to know how he could get out of this situation that fell upon him and I wanted to hear what really happened. I felt a little disappointed though that not all questions were answered by the end, several remain to be unveiled in the next volume.
… (més)
 
Marcat
Ingstje | Hi ha 3 ressenyes més | Mar 22, 2016 |
In this gripping psychological thriller, author Mary Ann D’Alto tells the story of a man who looks perfect on the outside but is pure evil on the inside. Aaron Stein is an incredibly successful fertility specialist, and using his unique skill set of medical knowledge and his easy access to insecure and frightened women, he is able to serially psychologically manipulate and physically harm. But his sin doesn’t come without a price: we first meet Stein while he literally stands on the edge of suicide, prompted by his guilt and shame. When Aaron’s latest victimization takes an unexpected turn, will his sweet cousin Constance be able to get him through? Or will his crimes catch up to him?

Personally, I had a very hard time putting this down. I started out thinking I’d just a read a little before bed, and before I knew it, it was four a.m. and I was finished. The only thing I wasn’t crazy about was the lack of complexity in Aaron’s Stein’s character: the clean-cut, successful psychopath is such a trope at this point that Aaron’s movements at times were a little predictable. Things that were maybe supposed to shock, like his callous responses to the pleading of his victims, his incredible success as a doctor and external perfection, and his internal turmoil over whether or not he’s actually evil, have all been done in Patrick Bateman, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, and tons of other “perfect psychopath” roles. But while this irked me a little, it may be an attractive quality for other people. After all, tropes are tropes because they resonate with readers on some level.

What redeemed this book from a potentially predictable route was the quality of the writing and the uniqueness of Mary Ann D’Alto’s voice. Typically, literature that features the “perfect psychopath”—The Silence of the Lambs, American Psycho, etc.—tends to have the same very succinct, bare, and matter-of-fact tone that reflects how an actual sociopath thinks. Writing in those types of books tends to stay away from too much internal doubt, expanded description, or floweriness. He Counts Their Tears is a rare exception, with D’Alto sparing no ornate description: “the dark brown coffee made a huge puddle on the pale grey rug. Aaron stared at it, and in his mind it was the [spoiler!]’s blood, and he was sixteen again. Instinctively, he wiped his hands on the tablecloth, and in doing so caused the cloth to move. As it moved, one of the glass candlesticks fell onto the table, its flame creating a small bonfire in the pinecone centerpiece” (Page 51).

D’Alto is also extremely skilled at creating genuine connections between her characters, and, unlike many other psychological thriller authors, keeps her list of connections short and meaningful. Without going into too much detail, the relationship between Stein and his cousin Constance is masterfully drawn out from childhood until the end, and we are provided just enough detail to fill in the meaningful gaps ourselves.

Overall, I can’t recommend this one enough. Whether you’re a regular reader of psychological thrillers, fascinated with psychopaths, or just looking for an addictive read, this is definitely the novel for you.

Review at The Hungry Monster Book Review
… (més)
 
Marcat
HungryMonster | Hi ha 3 ressenyes més | Mar 10, 2016 |
In this gripping psychological thriller, author Mary Ann D’Alto tells the story of a man who looks perfect on the outside but is pure evil on the inside. Aaron Stein is an incredibly successful fertility specialist, and using his unique skill set of medical knowledge and his easy access to insecure and frightened women, he is able to serially psychologically manipulate and physically harm. But his sin doesn’t come without a price: we first meet Stein while he literally stands on the edge of suicide, prompted by his guilt and shame. When Aaron’s latest victimization takes an unexpected turn, will his sweet cousin Constance be able to get him through? Or will his crimes catch up to him?

Personally, I had a very hard time putting this down. I started out thinking I’d just a read a little before bed, and before I knew it, it was four a.m. and I was finished. The only thing I wasn’t crazy about was the lack of complexity in Aaron’s Stein’s character: the clean-cut, successful psychopath is such a trope at this point that Aaron’s movements at times were a little predictable. Things that were maybe supposed to shock, like his callous responses to the pleading of his victims, his incredible success as a doctor and external perfection, and his internal turmoil over whether or not he’s actually evil, have all been done in Patrick Bateman, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, and tons of other “perfect psychopath” roles. But while this irked me a little, it may be an attractive quality for other people. After all, tropes are tropes because they resonate with readers on some level.

What redeemed this book from a potentially predictable route was the quality of the writing and the uniqueness of Mary Ann D’Alto’s voice. Typically, literature that features the “perfect psychopath”—The Silence of the Lambs, American Psycho, etc.—tends to have the same very succinct, bare, and matter-of-fact tone that reflects how an actual sociopath thinks. Writing in those types of books tends to stay away from too much internal doubt, expanded description, or floweriness. He Counts Their Tears is a rare exception, with D’Alto sparing no ornate description: “the dark brown coffee made a huge puddle on the pale grey rug. Aaron stared at it, and in his mind it was the [spoiler!]’s blood, and he was sixteen again. Instinctively, he wiped his hands on the tablecloth, and in doing so caused the cloth to move. As it moved, one of the glass candlesticks fell onto the table, its flame creating a small bonfire in the pinecone centerpiece” (Page 51).

D’Alto is also extremely skilled at creating genuine connections between her characters, and, unlike many other psychological thriller authors, keeps her list of connections short and meaningful. Without going into too much detail, the relationship between Stein and his cousin Constance is masterfully drawn out from childhood until the end, and we are provided just enough detail to fill in the meaningful gaps ourselves.

Overall, I can’t recommend this one enough. Whether you’re a regular reader of psychological thrillers, fascinated with psychopaths, or just looking for an addictive read, this is definitely the novel for you.

Review at The Hungry Monster Book Review
… (més)
 
Marcat
HungryMonster | Hi ha 3 ressenyes més | Mar 10, 2016 |
Aquesta ressenya l'ha escrita l'autor.
I n this superb psychological thriller, author Mary Ann D'Alto takes the reader inside the twisted and utterly sick mind of a physician whose sole aim is to control and bring harm to others. Through this taut, extremely well-written and well-edited story, you'll feel the pain and suffering of his victims first-hand -- almost as though you were there yourself.
Dr. Aaron Stein is a top fertility specialist at Harbor Hospital, and, as such, he always has a ready supply of women whom he can manipulate and control in every aspect. For Aaron is predatory in his practice of seeking new partners to experience The Method -- Aaron's unique way of subjugating each victim to his will.
And yet, Aaron finds himself in trouble early in this tale of torture and cruelty. When we first meet him, he is standing with the soles of his shoes half over the edge of the hospital's roof, contemplating the unthinkable act of suicide. His split personality carries on a bizarre debate, one side of his mind urging him to jump, in penance for his misdeeds. But the other aspect of his persona -- the very private one -- coos words of reassurance, coaxing him back from the ledge.
His latest victim, a fellow doctor at the hospital named Luisa, lies locked in a coma, the direct result of his negligence the night before.
He can't risk exposure as police search for the reason Luisa was at the office building where she was found, bleeding and in shock. Aaron will go to jail -- again -- if the authorities trace the trail to him. A brief stint in juvenile hall many years before will indict him out of hand, threatening his freedom, his exalted position at the healthcare facility, and his marriage.
It's an almost-unheard-of situation in which Aaron finds himself. Usually, he prides himself on being the one in control of others and, ultimately, his own destiny. Indeed, up until now, his series of carefully choreographed liaisons has only served to stoke his voluminous ego, and left him free to dominate his victims -- physically and mentally.
"Over time, Aaron would break his victim's will. It was much like severing a person bit by bit; first the digits of the fingers, then the limbs, and eventually the person would be nothing more than a heap of disconnected parts, even though she still appeared whole and much the same to the world."
Sophia, Lily, Marie, Diane, Jasmine, Marcia, Meg, Janine, Celeste, Ruth -- and now Luisa. His list of conquests is long and his ability to escape consequences has made him feel invulnerable. And then, there's his cousin Constance, who's always been devoted to him. Could their relationship be something other than what it appears?
This extraordinary novel examines minutely the background of each well-drawn character and how they interrelate to each other -- and to Aaron. He's a monster, all right. But what does the future have in store for him?
Publishers Daily

Review Rating:
5 Stars *****
Reviewed By Mamta Madhavan for Readers’ Favorite

He Counts Their Tears by Mary Ann D'Alto is a riveting story that revolves around Aaron Stein who is the epitome of perfection to the outside world; but actually he is not. Behind the facade he projects there is a monster who craves to control and destroy the people who fall for his charm. Most of the women he meets get carried away by his appeal. His cousin Constance always protects him from everything that happens in his life. But a lot of things happen unexpectedly and things change. Will it finally expose the real Aaron Stein? And what is Constance's actual role in his life?

The story has an aura of mystery and suspense that will keep readers glued till the very end. The many dimensions in the plot are engaging and the author cleverly brings out the various faces of Aaron with her expert storytelling. What is going to happen in the story is unpredictable, which makes readers guess and wait with bated breath as they turn the pages. I like the way Aaron has been portrayed in the story - he has everything in him that attracts women to him and they fall for his lies.

The book exposes the minds of people who can conceal their intentions by being charmers, putting on good behavior, and the psychological games they play to manipulate others. Constance is another interesting character in the story whose relationship with Aaron has many layers and will make readers think. A compelling story that will keep readers riveted to the very end.

Review Rating:
5 Stars *****
Reviewed By Maria Beltran for Readers’ Favorite

In Mary Ann D’Alto’s He Counts Their Tears, Aaron Stein, a successful fertility doctor at Harbor Hospital, hides behind his handsome looks and charming demeanor. The son of rich and famous artists, he has had a troubled past, going to jail as a juvenile for the death of a truck driver that he claims was killed by his friend. He grows up with Constance, a cousin who was orphaned at a young age, who always protects him when he gets in trouble. Now married to the docile Ruth, with two children from his previous marriage, Aaron develops what he calls The Method. It is a process whereby he ensnares beautiful women, makes them believe they are each other's soul mate, controls them and suddenly drops them out of his life. He collects them like toys and drops them as fast as he finds his next prey.

He Counts Their Tears by Mary Ann D’Alto is the chilling story of a man who finds great satisfaction in psychologically destroying women. Obviously a psychopath, Aaron Stein’s satisfaction in life is to wield power and control over them. Like a hungry predator perpetually looking for prey, he goes from one relationship to the next, breaking hearts and lives along the way. There is absolutely no compassion in his heart. His behavior, even towards people close to him, is simply inhuman. In spite of this, the author developed his character in a way that the story is believable. The stories of the women he has had relationships with are varied but they have something in common - they are all highly vulnerable to his charms and maneuvers. How many Aarons are there in our midst?

Review Rating:
4 Stars ****
Reviewed By Janelle Fila for Readers’ Favorite

He Counts Their Tears by Mary Ann D'Alto is a terrifying psychological thriller that looks at the causes of evil and asks the question: does it matter to a killer's victims how or why he became the monster that he is? Aaron Stein is a successful fertility doctor with a dark secret. A secret so huge it is about to be found out. His life will be ruined, but the lives of his many countless victims will be saved forever from future torture and abuse. Constance, Aaron's devoted cousin (and perhaps lover in a long ago lifetime), tries her best to protect Aaron's secret as always. But it is hard to know Constance's motivations. Does she protect Aaron because she is in love with him, or because she has created him? Is Aaron Constance's monster, pieced together the same way Frankenstein created his monster? And what happens when the monster is set free?

This is an edgy, disturbing story that may not suit all readers. It is about love and power, especially the power a man has over a woman (or vice versa). It is about how a person can love and hate someone at the same time, or forgive and forget heartbreak and torture for a simple smile or a sly "I love you." It is about a man who can lull someone into believing that they are loved so much, but not remember their name when he is trying to kill them, and how that same person can forgive him for his attempt and say she loves him back. Very dark, very disturbing, but also asks interesting questions that demand scary answers.
… (més)
Aquesta ressenya té una marca de diversos autors com a abús dels termes del servei i per això ja no es mostra (mostra-la).
 
Marcat
DAlto | Hi ha 3 ressenyes més | Jan 24, 2016 |

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Obres
1
Membres
8
Popularitat
#1,038,911
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½ 4.3
Ressenyes
4
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2