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BiteMarks
A spate of vicious attacks on working girls - A crazed monster who rips his victims’ flesh - A cop with dark secrets for whom blood is more than in his veins.
Young cop Shane Marks is good at his job. He is also a damaged human being.
When a series of attacks of escalating violence start up right on his doorstep and the investigative spotlight threatens to shine into the murky corners of his world, he is faced with a choice – stop this man by any means necessary, or let his carefully constructed façade unravel and see the ghosts of his dark past dragged out for all to see.
But Shane is a dangerous man himself, with a greater understanding of the nature of the one that they all seek, and no intention of seeing his personal demons exposed.
Blood, lust and bloodlust collide as he desperately tries to stay one step ahead of his colleagues and get one step closer to his quarry, right up until the shocking finale ...
THE SEQUEL TO 'BITEMARKS' - 'TRACKMARKS' - IS NOW AVAILABLE.
Young cop Shane Marks is good at his job. He is also a damaged human being.
When a series of attacks of escalating violence start up right on his doorstep and the investigative spotlight threatens to shine into the murky corners of his world, he is faced with a choice – stop this man by any means necessary, or let his carefully constructed façade unravel and see the ghosts of his dark past dragged out for all to see.
But Shane is a dangerous man himself, with a greater understanding of the nature of the one that they all seek, and no intention of seeing his personal demons exposed.
Blood, lust and bloodlust collide as he desperately tries to stay one step ahead of his colleagues and get one step closer to his quarry, right up until the shocking finale ...
THE SEQUEL TO 'BITEMARKS' - 'TRACKMARKS' - IS NOW AVAILABLE.
237 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 12, 2011
4 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Drew Cross
9 books6 followersDrew Cross is a thirty-something disabled dad of three from Nottingham (England). Previously, he’s worked as a model, plumber, police constable, and financial advisor. When he’s not reading, writing, or fighting off the psychopathic family cat, he enjoys martial arts and loud rock music. He dreams of one day moving to Edinburgh and writing full time for a living.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 23, 2018
Not Another Vampire Story! (reviewed November 2013)
Despite the title and cover, this is not another one of those Twilight-bandwagon vampire books which seem to make up half of all book releases over the last few years. This is a gritty police thriller with a novel twist, based around a subculture of vampire fetishists interspersed with the sleazy, violent vice-based Nottingham underworld.
It's a book which requires your concentration as there are flashbacks aplenty, which can be a little disorientating, and the text could do with a re-edit to rid it of the occasional grammatical / English errors, but it is actually a really good and novel story.
Enter suitably damaged police officer Shane Marks, who realises the latest sicko terrorising the working girls of Nottingham's fair streets may be one of the people who shares his own unorthodox hobby. This, of course, makes it personal, and Shane determines to catch him before it cracks his private world open. Battling his personal demons and some very real present ones, it's a gripping race to solve the case before his world caves in.
A crime thriller with a well thought out plot and plenty of well-placed detail, this is well worth your time. If I have a criticism, the ending seems to fizzle out a bit and leave loose ends. Sequel material? I'd probably buy it.
Despite the title and cover, this is not another one of those Twilight-bandwagon vampire books which seem to make up half of all book releases over the last few years. This is a gritty police thriller with a novel twist, based around a subculture of vampire fetishists interspersed with the sleazy, violent vice-based Nottingham underworld.
It's a book which requires your concentration as there are flashbacks aplenty, which can be a little disorientating, and the text could do with a re-edit to rid it of the occasional grammatical / English errors, but it is actually a really good and novel story.
Enter suitably damaged police officer Shane Marks, who realises the latest sicko terrorising the working girls of Nottingham's fair streets may be one of the people who shares his own unorthodox hobby. This, of course, makes it personal, and Shane determines to catch him before it cracks his private world open. Battling his personal demons and some very real present ones, it's a gripping race to solve the case before his world caves in.
A crime thriller with a well thought out plot and plenty of well-placed detail, this is well worth your time. If I have a criticism, the ending seems to fizzle out a bit and leave loose ends. Sequel material? I'd probably buy it.
January 15, 2019
I really enjoyed this book as I immediately liked the main character Shane Marks as he listens to the same kind of music I do [NIN, A Perfect Circle, AFI and Tool].
Shane is a cop in Nottingham where a vampire-like man is biting and killing people, usually prostitutes. Shane gets involved as he likes blood and participates in parties where people willingly give their blood. And Shane is a cop....
Shane is a cop in Nottingham where a vampire-like man is biting and killing people, usually prostitutes. Shane gets involved as he likes blood and participates in parties where people willingly give their blood. And Shane is a cop....
March 17, 2022
Very disappointing. It's badly written and badly proof read too! Lots of mistakes in spelling and punctuation.
More seriously though the story is pretty incoherent, the characters are very one dimensional and the goth elements are cringe-worthy!
More seriously though the story is pretty incoherent, the characters are very one dimensional and the goth elements are cringe-worthy!
November 8, 2023
Not a fan
May 6, 2011
I first became aware of Drew Cross via an interaction on the site Getfanged.com *shameless plug* and, through a conversation, we agreed to "swap" books and I would read/review his book while he did the same for mine.
Drew's book, Bitemarks, is the story about police officer Shane Marks who has a lifestyle that is a little "different" from most and one that a person wouldn't normally come out and say upon introductions. I won't ruin it but through the course of the book Shane is on the trail of a killer who is essentially the same as him only with a slight penchant for murder, hence the "killer" that I mentioned a few words above.
I was able to run through this book in about 3 hours as it is a remarkably good book and a page turner to say the least. While in the middle of reading it I kept thinking to myself on how "fun" this book was which isn't something that I often say when reading a book, especially one that deals with murder and suspense. The interaction between Shane Marks and his partner Marcus are great and are one of the many highlights of the book.
Another thing that I enjoyed was the detail that Drew uses when writing; he writes in a style that I could only call artistry, the words seeming to flow effortlessly with amazing clarity.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to future works from Mr. Cross. Go get this book!
Drew's book, Bitemarks, is the story about police officer Shane Marks who has a lifestyle that is a little "different" from most and one that a person wouldn't normally come out and say upon introductions. I won't ruin it but through the course of the book Shane is on the trail of a killer who is essentially the same as him only with a slight penchant for murder, hence the "killer" that I mentioned a few words above.
I was able to run through this book in about 3 hours as it is a remarkably good book and a page turner to say the least. While in the middle of reading it I kept thinking to myself on how "fun" this book was which isn't something that I often say when reading a book, especially one that deals with murder and suspense. The interaction between Shane Marks and his partner Marcus are great and are one of the many highlights of the book.
Another thing that I enjoyed was the detail that Drew uses when writing; he writes in a style that I could only call artistry, the words seeming to flow effortlessly with amazing clarity.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to future works from Mr. Cross. Go get this book!
May 10, 2011
This is how Bitemarks begins: ‘I am haunted by the ghosts of childhood memories, by the cruel promise of eternal sunshine and an innocence which should have endured, that died in increments and took my two friends with it.’
Now I ask you, reader, are you not immediately intrigued? I was, and delved in!
This is a crime thriller...with a twist. A cop with a vampire fetish, his partner a gay black man, his smart dog Ghost, a vampire on the loose tearing prostitutes apart...and stir into the mix a sexual relationship and flashbacks to a strange past- you have a darn good read here.
The juxtaposition of daily grind, the reality of the meanness of the streets, set against the surreal landscapes of a lonely soul, the latter described in pure literary fashion, and one wonders who the real Drew Cross is. A crime writer? Or a poet? I am amazed by his style and intrigued by his ability to structure tension and the great guessing game inherent in every crime thriller.
I found Bitemarks initially confusing (as we head-hopped and needed to discover Mr Cross’ style), but only initially! Once you ‘feel’ the tale, you are transported. A definite recommend! Enjoy!
December 30, 2011
I had a very difficult time getting into this book. I have no idea why, I just really had a hard time caring about the characters. After I was 3/4 of the way through though, I couldn't put it down. I was let down, along with Shane with the reveal of the murderer, but I loved how Drew compounded the frustration Shane felt about his personal issues away from that.
I was hoping for a more blood related fiasco with his childhood friends. The fiasco that happened though, was disturbing in it's own right.
I loved the twist on the traditional vampire culture. I was expecting something completely different, and what I got was a twisted, frustrated main character that like all of us, has multiple facets of his personality. Some that are hidden from the rest of the world.
Drew does an amazing job delving into some questionable subcultures and fetishes!
If you read this book, make sure you finish- totally worth the read.
I was hoping for a more blood related fiasco with his childhood friends. The fiasco that happened though, was disturbing in it's own right.
I loved the twist on the traditional vampire culture. I was expecting something completely different, and what I got was a twisted, frustrated main character that like all of us, has multiple facets of his personality. Some that are hidden from the rest of the world.
Drew does an amazing job delving into some questionable subcultures and fetishes!
If you read this book, make sure you finish- totally worth the read.
April 28, 2011
This lyrical, gritty, hypnotic crime mystery is so much more--it's really the journey of a dark knight in search of his soul in the context of solving a crime within the Goth subculture. Detective Shane Marks is tortured by his past and compelled by obsessions that dangerously intersect with a heinous killer- and in his quest he ultimately takes steps toward redemption. So much more than just a crime novel about the vampire subculture, BiteMarks is a read you won't be able to put down. Walking the streets in black, his 'familiar' Weimaraner at his side, Shane almost assumes a Batman-like mythology that reaches out into the collective subconscious to protect and defend the tortured and helpless in all of us.
This is a protagonist we need to see more of. Write on, Mr. Cross!
This is a protagonist we need to see more of. Write on, Mr. Cross!
August 7, 2011
Drew has created a character, Shane Marks that I actually root for.
I am not a big vampire fan, but Drew pulled me into the story with his cleverly crafted characters.
A very good read that I highly recommend.
I am not a big vampire fan, but Drew pulled me into the story with his cleverly crafted characters.
A very good read that I highly recommend.
November 10, 2012
I found this book a little too introspective for my liking and was not sure at times who was having the flashback. I liked Shane and Marcus´ character but parts of the story line seemed illogical.
Kim
Kim
May 3, 2013
One word - confusing.
Want to read
February 21, 2014Free on Amazon today, 02-20-14.
(Urban Fantasy: A detective, who is a vampire, investigates murders likely committed by a vampire.)
(Urban Fantasy: A detective, who is a vampire, investigates murders likely committed by a vampire.)
September 29, 2014
Very good.
A very thought provoking book. I enjoyed it tremendously and look forward to reading more books by Mr. Cross in the future.
A very thought provoking book. I enjoyed it tremendously and look forward to reading more books by Mr. Cross in the future.
January 23, 2012
Now half way through and thoroughly enjoying all the unique twists and turns.
December 29, 2013
I loved this book. As a big crime thriller reader I would highly recommend it.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews