Moriarty is a compassionate writer and has a gift for creating sympathetic characters with warmth and humor. What elevates this book above average chick lit is it never feels contrived. We come to understand her obsession, and how normal can tip over into crazy. In doing so, Saskia, while her actions are repellant, becomes sympathetic. This is an interesting set-up, but the author, Liane Moriarty, makes it compelling by giving a first person voice to Saskia, the stalker, while Ellen's story is in third person. Unknown to her, the stalker is also a client. She posts Buddhist quotes on her refrigerator and helps clients deal with pain, infertility, and smoking habits. Ellen's calm and soothing demeanor, her positive focus, and her penchant for New Age thinking are the perfect antidote to Patrick's tense wariness. Ellen, whose career is built on helping people cope with debilitating problems, is intrigued by the idea of a stalker. Unable to elude her and never knowing where or when she may show up, Patrick is understandably angry and stressed. Saskia, the stalker, will not leave Patrick alone - constantly leaving him text messages, letters, flowers, and following him even on dates with Ellen. Ellen comes to find out there is a third wheel (or fourth if you count the dead wife) in the guise of an ex-girlfriend turned stalker. The Hypnotist's Love Story tells about the romance between Ellen, the hypnotist, or more accurately, hypnotherapist, and Patrick, a grounded surveyor who is a widower with an eight-year-old son. OK, I know this is more chick lit than great literature, and I hand out five stars like my favorite gourmet handmade chocolates, but for sheer entertainment value, I'm tempted to give this full accolades.
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