Mindgame (novel)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
The plot summary in this article or section is too long or detailed compared to the rest of the article. Please edit the article to focus on discussing the work rather than merely reiterating the plot. |
Mindgame is a thriller novel written by Anthony Horowitz. It was written in 2001, and was adapted for the stage in the West End.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
Mark Styler, a writer of "true crime" stories arrives at the Fairfields experimental hospital for the criminally insane, with the hope of interviewing serial killer Eastman for a new book. He meets Dr. Farquhar, the hospital director, however things don't seem quite right. The doctor is reluctant to let Styler see Eastman, and encourages Styler to leave. Styler, however refuses with the excuse of a long car journey. In the end, he stays and Farquhar offers him dinner. His assistant Nurse Plimpton seems frightened of something, and is anxious. She tries to give a note to Styler, but Farquhar burns it in the bin. She reluctantly makes a pot of tea and liver sandwiches for Styler. After she leaves, the two discuss the book further, but Styler's real feelings about Eastman are revealed. He is desperate to see Eastman, and suggests that he wore a strait-jacket to keep him from damaging anything. Farquhar, seemingly annoyed at this, retrieves a strait jacket from a closet and offers to put it on Styler to show what it is like, and he reluctantly agrees. Once Styler is strapped in, Farquhar taunts him about being mad, and threatens him with a scalpel, then Nurse Plimpton returns, and she knocks Farquhar unconscious with a wine bottle. She explains that Farquhar is in fact Eastman, who killed most of the staff during a "psychiatric drama" session. Nurse Plimpton is in fact Doctor Carol Ennis. She cannot undo the strait jacket straps, and as she bends down to get the scalpel from Eastman, he awakens and grabs her, then stabs her behind a curtain. When Eastman and Styler begin to talk, it turns out the two men used to be neighbours, and Styler admired Eastman, perhaps even loved him. It appears Styler's motives for visiting are not as they appeared to be. Doctor Ennis suddenly awakens, and cries out for help; Eastman straps her to a chair and after removing the jacket, asks Styler to kill her. Styler is tricked into thinking he is Eastman, and they think up various methods, but in the end Styler suffocates her with a carrier bag. Once it is done, he feels guilt but Ennis awakes and now assumes the role of Doctor Farquhar. She and Eastman, who is now Carol completely change, and Styler is told he is Eastman and Styler was just his assumed name. He tries to prove them wrong, however his BMW is gone, and the letter he sent to Farquhar is blank. In the end, Styler is forced to believe he is Eastman, however it is never explicitly revealed to the audience who is actually who.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Seen
- Mark Styler, a writer of true crime stories, who also wrote in memory of his mother. He comes to Fairfields hoping to interview a serial killer for a new book.
- Doctor Farquar, the director of the hospital. He is relatively new to the hospital, and is trying to turn it around.
- Nurse Plimpton, Farquhar's nurse.
[edit] Unseen
- Borson, a security guard.
- Victoria Barlow, Styler's mother.
- Easterman,a notorious serial killer who Styler wants to investigate.
