Note: This book review/feedback was originally written way back october 2, 2021 via my old wordpress site. Click for reference.
Christopher Pike is well-known for his YA novels that mostly fall under the themes of horror, thriller, mystery, suspense, sci-fi, and spiritual. For me, is the more adult version of R.L. Stine (an author from the same genres that I also love).
I got my copy of the hardbound version of The Wicked Heart from OLX, around 2016-2017. Someone made a post, selling Christopher Pike books, and since I’ve been an avid fan of his works by 2012 (and copies of his books are really hard to find here in the Philippines), I immediately met up with the seller in person and bought the books. The books included “The Wicked Heart”.
Christopher Pike’s “The Wicked Heart” was published in 1993. Although it wasn’t well received by readers on Goodreads, this novel still goes (as of the moment) on my top favorite works from Pike. Keep reading to know the two main reasons why.
Be warned. If you haven’t read this novel yet, spoilers ahead!
The Wicked Heart
“The Wicked Heart” is categorized as horror with a plot that revolves around a search for a serial killer who targets innocent teenage girls, keeps the crime scene clean (to confuse authorities and mislead them into thinking that the victims just simply ran away or left the house), and leaves a card with the logo of a swastika card. The story took place in Los Angeles, USA.
Turns out that the murders were done by teenage boy, Dusty Shame, a classmate and lab partner of the female lead, Sheila Hardholt, who just broke up with her boyfriend, Matthew “Matt” Jaye. Sheila involves herself with solving the mystery behind the killings when her friend, Nancy, becomes Dusty’s victim.
The Reading Experience
I read the novel part by part. Reading it in one sitting was not possible for me at the time, given that I have a lot of other things that keep me busy.
I like how the plot of the story was made simple, all focused on finding out who does all the killing compared to other novels from Pike that sort of dissect every possible side story that can be dug from the main plot. This is one of his fast paced novels, good kind of fast paced.
Although the swastika card thing was part of the killer’s signature, I still didn’t expect the involvement of a sort-of alternative historical story that involve the Nazis and how the World War 2 propelled the origin of the cause of the killings in present time (1993) Los Angeles.
There are more plot twists in the story that I never saw coming.
I rarely encounter a novel that reveals early on who is the killer, that stuff usually unfolds in the end. In this one, we wait in anticipation for the protagonists to figure out who kills, and also wonder how they will find that out . . . under what circumstances.
The way the events and characters seemed tangled but actually connected made this story flawlessly weaved together into a single plot.
But the main reason why this book blew my mind is how the situations in here paralleled our present (year 2021). Please, take note that every point-of-view you read here are based from how I understood and interpreted the novel.
Social Media Hazards
Compared to 1993 and the years that followed, the hazards of social media use was only given much emphasis and caution of these days.
Compared to 1993 and the years that followed, the hazards of social media use was only given much emphasis and caution of these days.
In “The Wicked Heart”, Dusty managed to get his hands on his victims by using a pseudonym, William Wand, while interacting with them via Einstein (90's version of social media, like Facebook, Twitter etc.)
In the 90's, only the capable few are able to get computers and telephone wire-based connections that can be used to access social sites and emails. Just like some of the internet users today, in the story, the teenage girls felt safe sharing their hobbies and personal information about themselves through an exchange of emails with Dusty.
This is also happening to us today, where social media has already become a part of our daily lives. We tend to think that we are safe behind our smartphone screens or computer monitors so it’s okay to tell a little bit more about ourselves– what matters to us, our daily routines, and hang-out spots.
This bit in the story made it ahead of its time. This is like a warning from Pike, decades ahead of time, that if we overshare to strangers online, we risk our safety.
But, the topic that is mainly touched by the novel is mental health.
Mental Health Awareness
When it comes to mental health awareness, we have come a long, long way.
Nowadays, we have psychological experts, advanced studies, emergency numbers, and organizations to go to. We also have social media where relevant personalities and reliable sources kept reminding us to take care of our mental health (and be considerate of others’ mental health too).
We are lucky because back in the day, that’s just not the case.
In “The Wicked Heart”, the generation that came before Dusty was observed.
First, the sadistic Madame Scheimer who, in my assessment, suffers from psychotic disorder.
“I put it poorly,” Gossick said. “But Levitz did not know how else to explain it. He said his pain was stimulating Himmler and Scheimer in some primeval fashion, not just emotionally or psychologically. He said his pain was recharging their batteries so to speak.”
– The Wicked Heart by Christopher Pike
Then, his mother, Tania, who experienced child abuse from her own mother, Scheimer; and suffered from Alzheimer’s until her last breath.
“She had got up so quickly, she had simply flung off her child. The little girl lay sprawled on the floor, weeping.”
– The Wicked Heart by Christopher Pike
“As Scheimer’s fingers went through the girl’s hair, I couldn’t be free of the impression that they were actually razor-sharp talons shearing away the scalp of a screaming infant.”
– The Wicked Heart by Christopher Pike
Although it is lengthy and it felt like a long, long litany from Captain Gossick (a World War 2 veteran that helped Sheila solve the case), the backstory he narrated is very important. Because it puts emphasis at the fact that all the murders from Scheimer’s generation to Dusty’s were rooted from having a mental issue that is misunderstood, (like Dusty’s), used for bad intentions (like Madame Scheimer’s) ignored (like Tania’s) and more so, villified by other people (people like Gossick).
In the story, it is evident that being inconsiderate with people who suffers from mental health conditions only worsens it for them. It doesn’t help and doesn’t stop their suffering. Especially when some mental conditions are non-treatable but can be managed in order to have a normal life.
“It goes on in the world. I cannot stop it, I don’t want to stop it. You cannot stop it, either. You can bury it and it will take life again. It is a part of life.”
– Madame Scheimer, The Wicked Heart by Christopher Pike
In the eyes of Gossick, Madame Scheimer is connected with a paranormal phenomena, with the evil forces, which in the old, old days is the usual misconception people fall into when they deal with people who suffer from mental health problems. Gossick viewed his encounters with Scheimer as some kind of magic, a fantasy, the paranormal, the work of the devil.
“You see, I believe that in my battle against this dark force, I was aided by forces of light.”
– Captain Gary Gossick, The Wicked Heart by Christopher Pike
But the only person who figured out what is really going on from Scheimer to Tania up to Dusty’s generation is none other than the female lead, Sheila– at least, by the very end of the story.
Dusty: “I wish there had been one person to talk to.”
Sheila: “I wish I could have been that person.”
The Wicked Heart by Christopher Pike
Sheila managed to connect the dots which helped solve the crime. From how most of the victims are using a social site up to the crippling emptiness passed down in Dusty’s generation. She understood that people who suffers from being misunderstood for their mental issues needed help, needed someone to lean on– a friend.
“I can believe you. You are my friend. I wasn’t sure of that until now. Thank you, Sheila.”
– Dusty Shame, The Wicked Heart by Christopher Pike
And how did she manage to completely connect everything?
It happened when she doing Gossick’s routine (that he learned from a Jew back in World War 2) during her visit: “sitting quietly with my eyes closed, making myself available to the universal power, desiring for nothing except good things everywhere.” Which, in my understanding, is called meditation.
Meditation is one of the most recommended activities for mental clarity and mindfulness. To this date, there are many meditation techniques available which focuses on the needs a person seeks for.
Sheila’s meditation scene in the story symbolizes that the only person who can help someone who has mental issues is someone who has compassion, has inner peace, has mindfulness- or to make it simple, has a healthy mental-state. Someone who can delve deeply through their observations of a person to be able to understand them.
This is the main reason why Dusty softened up in his last minutes with Sheila. She helped him understand what’s really going on (something that a person with mental issues cannot figure out on their own);
“We talked about this already. Scheimer used your mother’s voice to make you do these bad things. You were forced to do them.”
– Sheila Hardholt, The Wicked Heart by Christopher Pike
showed compassion (by calling him her friend);
“Because you’re my friend.” She smiled. “Don’t you remember this afternoon, I asked you out?”
– Sheila Hardholt, The Wicked Heart by Christopher Pike
and making him feel understood.
Dusty: “You don’t understand.”
Sheila: “I do understand.”
The Wicked Heart by Christopher Pike
The Unanswered Questions
In spite of the tragic events, it ends well when it comes to Sheila and Matt’s relationship. Now, this couple left me with a question that bothers me: why did Matt really break up with Sheila?
His main reason can’t be found anywhere in the book. Neither Sheila was told or aware of the real reason why Matt became distant before he finally broke up with her.
If I were asked, I think the story and its theme (based on how I interpreted both) implies that Matt is probably going through some mental-related issues as well. I could say Depression or Anxiety, but that’s only my assumption about it.
She wondered if the intimacy scared him, or worse, that she was lousy in bed. But wjen she asked, he always laughed and told her she was the best he had ever had. Then he would lapse again into the distance.
The Wicked Heart by Christopher Pike
“All I can tell you is that I feel that I need more time alone.”
– Matthew Jaye, The Wicked Heart by Christopher Pike
In the end of the story, Matt seemed to learn from Dusty’s situation.
Dusty had six innocent people who could have been there for him to help him out, if were only given a chance to establish a healthy friendly (or romantic) relationship with him. For me, the events helped Matt see that he is never alone in his battles. That if we ever feel down to the core, we should go to the person who loves us and understands us instead of pushing them away.
That realization is the only reason I can think of as to why Matt decided to get back together with Sheila. He saw her show compassion and understanding towards Dusty. And Matt still cares for her as well. Those factors are enough for him to believe in their second chance.
The relevance of Dusty’s story with Matt and Sheila’s relationship is that it helped both of them see and realize that they can lean on someone when they are going through something that scares them. That someone should care for them and be also the same person that they care for.
Because whatever you are going through, you will always find someone who will understand. Someone you can talk to.
You are never alone.
And the last unanswered question is… who really has The Wicked Heart?
•••
Disclaimer/Note: Even though I interpreted this novel to have themes about mental health awareness, I do not recommend this book to be read by people who has issues that triggers suicide. Recommendable for people who wants to help out a friend that is struggling. This novel can be also read for leisure, especially if you are a Christopher Pike fan.
