Jacob Jaffe. Hobgoblins  ISBN: 0-595-38421-8.

Review by Laurel Petrulionis

 A Series of Fortunate Coincidences

Hobgoblins, by Jacob Jaffe, is a story of intertwining webs set to a political thriller. The story centers on a young man, Marty Ritter, who is a psychology graduate student. As the plot opens, Marty works as an intern at a psychology clinic. Under the supervision of the dictatorial Bartlett, Marty is unfairly punished for having avoided Bartlett's seminar and for having a dissenting opinion concerning Psychoanalysis. If Marty doesn't pass this internship with Bartlett, he won't be able to get his degree. One of Marty's Patients, John Gerard, suffers from paranoia centered on nightmares involving hobgoblins. While in trances during his sessions, Gerard reveals his Hitler-esque plans for "evil" conquest. While Marty believes him to be a hazard, no one else takes these plans seriously. No one expects that Gerard has any chance to become America's leader, but they are sorely mistaken.

While Gerard, his mysterious friend Il Lupo, and their political organization, the American Freedom Party, take on the world, Marty has many problems of his own to face. Not only is he attempting an interfaith marriage, not quite acceptable to his future in laws, he is startled by the return of his abusive and alcoholic father. While combating terrifying dreams of hobgoblins, he also must work to avoid the same path as his father. Yet events turn and Marty finds himself helping a journalist expose the American Freedom Party for its deception while Marty runs for his life.

Hobgoblins is an intriguing look at how America could possibly fall into totalitarianism. Jaffe does use a lot of psychological jargon in his writing but readers who are interested in books of a political nature can still enjoy this plot. The beginning pace crawls, but quickens as the plot develops. By the end, the reader will be hooked. Also, the book teases a reader, supplying unsuspected twists. Just when the reader thinks she understands the deeper plot, an almost unending series of coincidences adds complexity. Hobgoblins does contain some material that is unsuitable younger readers, and is recommended for ages 15+. In his story, Jaffe not only weaves an exciting thriller, but issues a warning that anything is possible, even in the USA.