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Mortal Fear (Mississippi Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Greg Iles (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.2 5,406 ratings

Book 1 of 5: Mississippi

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A man with a secret life risks everything to clear his name in this “ingenious suspense thriller”(The New York Times Book Review) from the bestselling author of the Penn Cage series.

By day, Harper Cole trades commodities from his isolated home in the Mississippi Delta. By night he leads quite a different life, serving as a systems operator for an exclusive, annonymous erotic online service that caters to the rich and famous. But now a stranger has penetrated the network's state-of-the-art security, brutally murdering six celebrated female clients.

Falsely accused of these horrible crimes, Harper realizes there's only one way to lure the elusive madman offline and into the open. But as he enacts his daring plan, Harper will put everything and everyone he holds dear directly in the path of a brilliant, unstoppable killer...

Editorial Reviews

Review

“An exuberant, relentlessly readable thriller with a high degree of stay-up-all night suspense.”—Kirkus Reviews

“The talented Iles uses rich first-person narration and clever plotting to tell a sizzler of a thriller.”—Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Greg Iles is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Penn Cage series. His novels have been made into films, translated into more than twenty languages, and published in more than thirty-five countries worldwide.

From Publishers Weekly

Yet another serial killer stalks the Internet, this one courtesy of the talented Iles (Black Cross; Spandau Phoenix). When futures trader Harper Cole, who moonlights as the systems operator of an erotic online services called EROS, contacts the New Orleans police with information about the murder of celebrated author-and EROS subscriber-Karin Wheat, he immediately becomes the prime suspect in six other murders of EROS subscribers across the country. Also on the FBI's short list is Cole's eccentric friend and EROS colleague Miles Turner, who has dubbed the killer "Brahma." When Cole learns that the man he thought was Brahma was killed a year ago and that his online identity was stolen, a tense cat-and-mouse game commences. Professional hunters, like FBI psychiatric profiler Arthur Lenz, have the online tables turned on them time and again by an insanely brilliant murderer, and it's up to Cole to render justice. His digging leads to an exciting payoff when he goes online and poses as a potential victim, using as bait a secret that endangers the mother of his child, as well as his wife. While Cole's obsession over this guilty secret makes him less than likable at times, a nailbiting climax erases any doubts about his character-and any lingering questioning about the storytelling abilities of Iles, who here uses rich first-person narration and clever plotting to tell a sizzler of a thriller. Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club selection; simultaneous Penguin Audio Book.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Amazon.com Review

Raymond Chandler once proclaimed that the first-person narrator should never turn out to be the villain in a good mystery or thriller. Luckily, the excellent writer Greg Iles has seemingly ignored Chandler's advice. Iles has created a character--Harper Cole, a futures trader and online pornographer--who could very well be the person killing off subscribers to his Internet sex service. Or is it Miles Turner, Cole's very odd colleague? If you thought that stalking a killer on the Internet had been done to death in books and bad movies, this one will have you pushing the reload button on your browser. Other Iles books in paperback include Black Cross and Spandau Phoenix. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From Kirkus Reviews

An exuberant if somewhat hokey computer age serial-killer- thriller combines voyeuristic sex, Internet technobabble, tedious brain research, and southern-fried soap opera with a high degree of stay-up-all-night suspense. Can you hate a novel that hacks off Anne Rice's head in the first chapter? Shaken by the news of the gory murder of New Orleans gothic horror novelist ``Karin Wheat,'' Harper Cole, a self-made commodities trader and secret systems operator of EROS, an upscale Internet sex-chat service, knows that when Wheat wasn't pounding out bestselling terror tales, she was sharing her deepest erotic fantasies with other pseudonymous EROS members, six of whom have been mysteriously murdered within the last year. Fearing that the killer has gained access to EROS's secret files, Cole, who labors in obscurity from a home office hidden among Mississippi cotton fields, calls the New Orleans police and thus brings calamity on himself, his hardworking ob/gyn wife, his sexpot sister-in-law Erin, fatherly FBI forensic psychiatrist Arthur Lenz, and Cole's best friend, eccentric computer genius Miles Turner, creator of the EROS network. To lure the serial killer into revealing himself, Cole goes online pretending to be Erin, a tactic whose gender- switching eroticism is never realized as Iles (Black Cross, 1995, etc.) dumps a fishmonger's cart of red herrings in Cole's path. The villain is a typically brilliant homicidal bermensch who confounds the best efforts of the FBI but is so obsessed with computers, neurology, and obscure Hindu mythology that he can't help but talk online about how brilliant he is, ad infinitum, ad nauseam. Iles counters this tedium with expertly detailed violence, computer lore, and predictable plotting that eventually brings the killer to Cole's doorstep, where he attempts to make Cole's wife his ultimate mate. An overlong but relentlessly readable, by-the-numbers thriller whose up-to-the-minute technology will delight net surfers and Anne Rice fans. (Literary Guild selection) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Review

'An ingenious suspense thriller ... fascinating' -- New York Times Book Review Terrifying -- The Mirror on Sleep No More 'A thriller that really thrills, a shocker that really shocks' -- Stephen King on SLEEP NO MORE 'Greg Iles is a phenomenal writer' -- The Independent on Sunday on Dead Sleep 'Another top notch tale of suspense from Iles' -- Kirkus Reviews on Dead Sleep --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From Library Journal

Successful commodities trader Harper Cole, who moonlights as a systems operator for computer sex-line EROS, works via computer from his home in Rain, Mississippi. When several EROS regulars suddenly disappear, Harper suspects foul play. His subsequent report to the police leads to a manhunt for a diabolical genius stalking his prey through the EROS network. When the FBI fails to capture the killer, Harper and friend Miles masquerade online as a potential victim, using the persona of Harper's sister-in-law as bait. Events escalate, and Harper and wife Dr. Drewe Cole become trapped in a personal struggle with the madman as his lethal attacks strike ever closer to home. Iles (Black Cross, LJ 11/15/94) scores high with this psychological thriller, easily accessible even to the computer-semiliterate. Though a bit too long, allowing for predictability at the end, it is still a chilling roller-coaster ride all the same. Recommended?Lori Dunn, Montgomery Cty. P.L., Troy, N.C.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From Booklist

Iles displays a flair for pushing topical hot buttons in his third thriller. The story kicks off with the gruesome murder of New Orleans horror novelist Karin Wheat. From there, we move into a plot involving telecommuting, hackers, cybersex, and the supposed regenerative properties of melatonin. Sensitive guy Harper Cole lives with his physician wife Drewe in his ancestral farmhouse in Mississippi, but he makes his living trading options on the Chicago exchanges and working as a sysop for a New York^-based online service called EROS (for Erotic Realtime Online Stimulation). When female EROS clients--including Karin Wheat--start disappearing from their online haunts, Harper suspects foul play and phones in a tip to the New Orleans police. His suspicions are confirmed when the bodies of the missing women start turning up around the country, but as the only known link between them, he's the prime suspect in the murders. In order to prove his innocence, he must smoke out the killer by creating an irresistible female online persona, putting himself and his family squarely in the line of fire. As in the author's first two novels, Spandau Phoenix (1993) and Black Cross (1994), there's a master-race theme at work here--the killer is a Nietzsche-quoting scientist looking for the secret of eternal youth (and a nice Aryan girl) in all the wrong places. This is a bit light for serious techno-thriller buffs, but it should be popular among the AOL chat-room crowd. June Vigor --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

From AudioFile

When Harper Cole, a "Sys Op" for E.R.O.S., a sexual fantasy real-time chat room, learns about the murder of a member, he discovers that other female subscribers have also disappeared, and a cyber-thriller manhunt ensues. The faceless murderer, dubbed "Brahma," tells his part of the tale in a deep, melodic voice that entices the listener into a false sense of security, while Cole's passages are full of tension. Jay O. Sanders's emotional involvement keeps up the suspense in the hunt for the killer while juggling the implied eroticism of the characters' sexual exploits. Chat rooms, false identities, and technology form the basis for this thriller with a chilling twist. This is Greg Iles at his best. M.B.K. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000OIZV5M
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley (February 1, 1998)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 1, 1998
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 1077 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 564 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #108,078 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #1,073 in Psychological Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #1,469 in Amateur Sleuth Mysteries (Kindle Store)
- #1,919 in Serial Killer Thrillers

Customer Reviews:
4.2 5,406 ratings

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About the authors

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Greg Iles
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Greg Iles has spent most of his life in Natchez, Mississippi. His first novel, Spandau
Phoenix, was the first of seventeen New York Times bestsellers. His Natchez
Burning trilogy continued the story of Penn Cage, the protagonist of The Quiet Game,
Turning Angel, and #1 New York Times bestseller The Devil’s Punchbowl. Iles’s novels
have been made into films and published in more than thirty-five countries. He is a
member of the lit-rock group The Rock Bottom Remainders, lives in Natchez with his
wife, and has three children.
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Jay O. Sanders
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4.2 out of 5

5,406 global ratings

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Tammy N

Great read

Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2024

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This is first book I’ve read by Greg and it was really good. It’s not my typical genre, but I couldn’t put it down once I started. I’m really happy this the first of a series, and can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

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Amber Goleb

Bizarre, suspenseful, and unique

Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2020

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First off, let me say that if you don't have a strong stomach, this one probably isn't for you. This book is dark and graphic at times. It also will push through boundaries that some may not be able to handle.

I haven't come across a book like this yet. I'm still stuck in a fog over everything that happened in this book. Some parts had my jaw on the ground. I just didn't know what to think or how to feel. I'm sure that's what the author wanted from readers. There were many parts that left me a little stupefied. I felt like I was in a daze, in a good way.

I can't decide what to say and what not to say. This book has unusual sexual encounters, murder, bizarre characters and situations, some mystery, some over-the-top scenes, and a lot of suspense. I spent hours devouring the words on each page.

I will say there are a small handful of extra information that isn't needed for this story. Although I think that is true with many books, sometimes it can kill the mood in a book. That was the case for me. These few instances, these parts would have been better left out. They held no importance, just filler. Aside from that, I enjoyed this book. I plan to make my way through more of this author's books in the future.

33 people found this helpful

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vegasbill

Another winner for Iles

Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2020

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Greg Iles is one of my favorite authors so I thought I would search for one of his books I hadn't read. I discovered this whole series I hadn't read so I started with #1. Written in 1998 it contains computer speak of that era. I was impressed at how knowledgeable Iles was and his foresight into the world of as yet undiscovered social media and adult chat sites which have evolved into adult cam sites now.

The book involves Harper Cole, a successful commodities speculator who moonlights as a favor to a friend as a Systems Operator for an adult chat site. Harper's wife, Drewe, is a successful OBGYN. The story builds slowly as we learn about this couple, the intensity of their careers and their interactions with Drewe's family. By monitoring the chat site Harper realizes someone is murdering a number of female subscribers in brutal and grotesque ways. After being rebuffed by law enforcement, Harper feels a compulsion to try to track down and reveal who the murderer is. From here the plot builds in intensity and intrigue as the villain who is smoked out is truly brutal and quite insane. The plot grows complex as we are drawn into Harper and Drewe's personal lives which prove to be far from idyllic.

There's lots of suspense, kinky sex, murder, gore and bizarre behavior throughout the story. It races to a fast paced final one third of the book which will keep you glued to your favorite reading spot until you finish. I recommend this for anyone looking for a real thrill ride.

9 people found this helpful

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Russell J. Sanders

Great tale, far too long

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2021

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From his writing, it is obvious Greg Iles is an extremely intelligent man. He fills his novel Mortal Fear with classical references and historical allusions. Furthermore, he weaves a tale that includes a wealth of knowledge of computers and how they operate, plus medical procedures as well. All that makes for a complex story, a story of a serial killer who is stalking women via an online service designed for sexual gratification. Iles’s narrative is interesting, and it kept me reading to the very end. That being said, I truly wished for about two-hundred-fifty pages less of it. Classic novels often have pages numbered well past a thousand, and I’ve read many of them. These novels often were written in a pre-movie, pre-TV, era when readers wanted their stories to draw out, filling their days. Even as late as the 1990s, it was not uncommon to find a novel that was six hundred pages or more. So, since Mortal Fear was published in the late 1990s, I should not be grousing about its length. But this is a mystery novel, not some literary treatise. Mysteries should flow quickly, astounding us with twists and turns. I got quite bogged down by Iles and his extreme descriptions using those classical and historical allusions, his paragraph-long character descriptions telling metaphorically of what someone was wearing or what someone’s complexion looked like, and I particularly didn’t care for the computer lingo—although I admit that when the novel was written, perhaps readers needed to know more than computer-savvy readers know today. The characters in Mortal Fear are rich, the story is exciting and inviting, but oh how I wish it had been a much shorter, faster moving book.

4 people found this helpful

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Allison

outstanding!

Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2023

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The best book that I have read from Iles. Very gripping and suspenseful at every turn. Can’t wait to see what’s next!!

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Rita DiPasquale

Great novel.

Reviewed in Canada on April 27, 2024

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Fascinating and suspenseful plot about a serial killer who believes in the ends justifying the means. Interesting characters and computer knowledge. Very well written.

liz

Great Book

Reviewed in Australia on January 22, 2021

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Love all books from Greg Iles. This is a must read for all crime/thriller lovers.

JudyB

Greg Isles at his best

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 28, 2014

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I am gobsmacked that this book was first published in 1997. I thought I had read all of Greg Isles' books and when I read this one I thought it was written recently. That just goes to show how masterfully Greig Isles can tell a story and how well he understands his subject. To think that something essentially about computers and technology written 17 years ago could still ring true today is amazing. That aside, this book is another very original story, wonderfully crafted and with great characters. I cannot say it better than some of the other reviewers, particularly Rachel Walker, so I won't even try. Suffice to say that if you like an intelligently written thriller with a complex and twisting plot which brings you to the edge of your seat - read this. Yes, it is pretty long and I can understand why someone who reads James Patterson might not like it. However, if you are someone who usually appreciates thought-provoking and intelligent thrillers you will love it as much as I did and you will certainly go on to read all this author's books and enjoy every one.

2 people found this helpful

M. R. De Boer

An absolute roller coast read!

Reviewed in Germany on March 17, 2009

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This books hooks you from the very beginning until the very last sentence. Whenever I did not have the time to read, I would be thinking about the next moment I could steal.
It reads like a thrilling roller coaster ride and a very scary one at that!

Docker

インターネット上での息詰まる対決

Reviewed in Japan on December 30, 2004

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インターネット上の一種のアダルトサイトEROSで、厳重に管理されているはずの個人情報が漏れ、会員の女性が次々に殺される。サイトの管理者のHarperは、自ら危険を冒し、犯人をおびき出そうとインターネット上で策をめぐらすがーーー。インターネット上での情報流出、それに基づく犯罪という、まさにホットなテーマを扱ったサスペンスであり、コンピュータに精通する主人公と犯人の知恵比べ、心理戦が、終始緊迫感を与えてくれる。また、主人公と、その妻や彼女の家族との人間関係も、ストーリーに緊張感を与えており、ハイテクを扱った一種の心理サスペンスといった趣が感じられる。英語は比較的容易。

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Mortal Fear (Mississippi Book 1) Kindle Edition

Editorial Reviews

Review

About the Author

From Publishers Weekly

Amazon.com Review

From Kirkus Reviews

Review

From Library Journal

From Booklist

From AudioFile

Product details

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About the authors

Greg Iles

Jay O. Sanders

Customer reviews

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