Review of All The King's Horses

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Nonso Samuelson
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Review of All The King's Horses

Post by Nonso Samuelson »

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "All The King's Horses" by Simon Douglas.]
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3 out of 4 stars
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Broke, desperate, and still reeling from the loss of his mother, Simon Douglas was in his last chance saloon. At this point, it was just about survival. He was out of a job and had no foreseeable source of income when he came across an innocuous newspaper advert for a biographer that seemed. The employer was Dr. Nicholas Abernaum. What Simon does not realize is that answering this advert will change his life forever. Who really is Dr. Abernaum, and what plans does he really have for Simon? Find out in this masterpiece that threatens to bend the borders of reality and mess with the mind.

All The King's Horses by Simon Douglas—a pseudonym used by the author—was a riveting read. It is written in the first-person narrative and tells the story of Simon Douglas, a journalist and biographer, as he embarks on writing Dr. Nicholas Abernaum's biography. Dr. Abernaum is a renowned psychiatrist and the architect of "The Method"—a novel way of perceiving and changing one's reality. Simon sets to his task with strength and vigor, but little does he know that Dr. Abernaum has other plans for him. As I follow Simon through this journey, the story seems to be divided into three parts. The first part details the events that lead to Simon ending up in the employ of Dr. Abernaum. The second part narrates his experiences as he tries to chronicle the doctor's life. The last part handles what happens after Simon finds out what the biography is really about. With promises of a better life for himself and his only sister, Jennifer, Simon begins the work. The result, however, may be entirely different from what he had bargained for.

I enjoyed the relationship Simon had with his sister. After their mum's death, they had no one else but each other. The love and bond between them were evident and touching. With no one else but each other, the siblings had to band together and help each other weather the storms of life. This strength in the face of adversity and their love and devotion to each other was so heartwarming.

There is always a risk and propensity for professionals in certain fields to abuse their knowledge and skill. This became a sad reality in the relationship between Dr. Abernaum and Simon. It was as if every new information Simon learned about the doctor increased the sense of foreboding he had. As he discovered more of the doctor's past and the kinds of studies he was involved in, Simon's situation quickly moved from hope to despair. While this was a grim element of the plot, the tension their relationship provided kept the story intriguing.

Overall, the plot of this story was well developed, and the characters were well accounted for. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, even though it wasn't professionally edited—my only dislike about this book. I rate it 3 out of 4 stars and recommend it to all lovers of mystery and psychological thrillers.

******
All The King's Horses
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Umesh Bhatt
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Post by Umesh Bhatt »

Readers having interest in mystery and psychological thrillers would definitely like to go through this book. Thanks for the the precise and clear review.
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Aisha Yakub
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Post by Aisha Yakub »

I like the mystery embedded in this read. Thank you for the review.
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Mbenma Esther 080
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Post by Mbenma Esther 080 »

I enjoyed reading every bit of this review. This is a work well done by the author. Thanks for the review.
Chelia27
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Post by Chelia27 »

I love the review it gives us an insight of the thriller and the longing to read more. I'd love if one day I'll be able to see a movie based on the book because I think the mystery would have been better depicted.
Gavin Groeneveldt
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Post by Gavin Groeneveldt »

Your review has an enticing and mysterious tone to it. Just reading the review gives me chills down my spine and a sense of the story.
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NetMassimo
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Post by NetMassimo »

This seems like an intriguing psychological thriller full of secrets that are revealed throughout the novel, so I hope the author does another rount of proofreading to make it excellent. Thank you for your great review!
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Ceeco2002
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Post by Ceeco2002 »

I wonder if Simon's life changed for the better or for worse after he answered the advert. Great review!
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Post by GNerd »

I would've loved if the author gave Simon more credibility. I hope things turn out for him though. Great review
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