She Treads Softly: Hysteria

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Hysteria

Hysteria Book Cover

Hysteria by LJ Ross
6/2/26; 320 pages (re-release)
Poisoned Pen Press
Alexander Gregory Thriller #2

Hysteria by LJ Ross is a highly recommended investigative/psychological thriller and the second book in the series, following Impostor, featuring psychologist and profiler Dr. Alexander Gregory.

It is Paris Fashion Week and one of the models in the city for the shows has been attacked at the Hôtel Violette. Camille Duquette has had her face slashed and she was also stabbed. Forensic psychologist and criminal profiler Dr. Alexander Gregory is in Paris when he receives a call from the French Police and Justice Department requesting his assistance in the case. Camille is recovering in the hospital, but now is selectively mute. She has been too traumatized to speak. Dr. Gregory ends up working with Camille as her psychologist. Then another model, Juliette Deschamps, who was there and found Camille, is found murdered in her home. Can Camille regain her voice and are the two events connected?

This is another well-written, excellent addition to the series and I'm looking forward to future books. The plot itself is interesting and delves into mental health issues while providing readers with an interesting investigation along with suspense and intrigue. The development of Dr. Gregory's character and his personal mental health continues to be explored while he is working on these current cases. He still suffers from nightmares and guards himself by keeping emotionally distant. The psychological insight he provides, his observational skills, and the insight he has into the behavior of people in general, all work together during the investigation.

I loved the first book in this series, Impostor, and although this is a strong addition to the series, it wasn't quite as compelling. The setting in Paris and some of the the dialogue in French wasn't quite as appealing to me. Hysteria was originally published on 12/10/2019. There are seven books in the Alexander Gregory series which is being re-released by Poisoned Pen Press. This is a series that may be best to read in the order in which they are written as the first novel sets up what Dr. Gregory is struggling with personally and is an excellent introduction to his character in an exceptional novel.

Hysteria is a wonderful choice for readers who have read Impostor and those who enjoy psychological thrillers. I'm looking forward to the next, third book in the series, Bedlam. Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.