Killing Faith (a Gabriel de Sade Thriller, Book 1) by Meyer, Eric (2012) Paperback

Gabriel de Sade #1

by Eric Meyer

When dismembered bodies start to appear in New York City, the search for a serial killer begins. Leading the hunt is Gabriel de Sade, a tough Manhattan detective. What should be a straightforward murder investigation escalates when yet more dismembered bodies are found. A very sick, psychotic murderer is loose on the streets of the city. Yet the case is to become more complicated than he could imagine. The nightmare is just beginning for de Sade, a Delta Force veteran of Afghanistan.The FBI are also hunting for the serial killer and their evidence points to a Russian Mafiya baron, Grigory Gordieva. The pursuit leads Gabriel to Moscow with an FBI partner, Special Agent Faith Ward. They find themselves pitted against political interference from both American and Russian governments. Yet when they ask for help from the Moscow Militia de Sade finds them both corrupt and on the Mafiya payroll.Their only assistance comes from an unexpected quarter, a Russian Orthodox Bishop. With his help, de Sade reaches the heart of the Gordieva’s Mafiya operations. The Russian retaliates by kidnapping Faith Ward. With only a discredited Militia detective to help him, he takes on the Moscow Mafiya. De Sade adapts his Delta Force tactics to wage a secret war on the Moscow streets. The action builds to a climax that is shattering and extraordinary.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Ebooks, Crime

Paperback

First published September 20, 2011

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was very unrealistic and choppy; the author's descriptions of police work, serving in the army, the Russian mafia, etc. seemed like the way a high-school kid thinks the world works. Random NYPD detectives don't wind up getting flown all over the place and meeting with the President, the First Lady, and the Director of the CIA over a murder investigation. The descriptions of various minorities were ignorant and at times offensive, and the supporting characters were very flat and one-dimensional. The main character was better developed, but even then a lot of things about him came off forced, rather than like a genuine 'real' person. His Army flashbacks were often placed awkwardly in the story, with a sudden abrupt start and an end that flowed into real time so that occasionally you weren't sure what was actually happening currently in the story, plus they were much too frequent. It felt like half of the book was cliche, sometimes derogatory, descriptions of missions in Afghanistan. If it was written a little better, this might have made for some good insight into the main character, but as it was, it just fell flat.

[Li · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book started off fine but became disjointed and just "off" as the pages went.

[Millie · Rating 1 out of 5]

barely started it. bad grammar, sexist hero. no thanks.

[Sumryna]

Just started reading and already it's OD-ing on sexism, racism, stereotyping, crude political dissent (read rant). This probably will end up in DNF.

[Stephen Clynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have a killer and as this story unfolds, a serial killer. Meet Gabriel de Sade, our tough New York cop and veteran of the illegal American invasion of Afghanistan. He is the tough no-nonsense cop on the trail of this serial killer who has murdered 2 victims before this novel begins.

Gabriel just starts his investigation when he is joined by FBI Special Agent Faith Ward. From this point onwards this story leaves reality. The start of this book was so good but then the action is so far fetched, it is comical. There is love and plenty of gun-ho action as our hero searches to bring the serial killer to justice. There are many flash backs as Gabriel relates his current investigation to his experiences in Afghanistan.

Killing Faith gives the reader a good insight into the Russian mafia and their use of extreme violence to intimidate their helpers. The ending of this book comes as no surprise because you knew that Gabriel would get the killer in the end. It filled my daily read requirement but only just.

[Charise Stewart]

Good read

it is a very good story the characters go well together, I like this author and will definitely read more

[Tony Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manhattan, NY. Greg was going to buy Jennifer Collins (housing charity clerk 2nd St.) a drink.
She opened her eyes & was lying in the bathtub, blood everywhere.
Greg let himself out of the apartment & walked down the street.

Washington Square Park. Detective Gabriel Gabe “Marquis” de Sade (Russian, 9th Precinct NYPD Homicide, retired US Army Delta Force Airborne; Afghanistan) & Samuel Aaronssen (Jewish, elderly) were enjoying their game of chess.
It was horrible. Jennifer Collins’ throat had been slashed & she was dismembered.
Her 4 limbs lay on the bedcover, arranged as a Russian Cross.

FBI SA Brent Davies (NY) & FBI SA Faith Ward (NY, partner, BAU) had arrived also.
Grigory Gordieva (38, Russian mafia, Spetsnaz, pedophile, murderer, drug dealer, human trafficker, ruthless/sadistic, priest trainee, former KGB) was at the top of the list for serial killers.
FBI SA Davies was staking out Grigory’s place.
FBI SA Ward & Detective de Sade arrived
Oleg (butler) greeted & let the 3 of them in.
Maria Lopez (Hector’s wife, Grigory’s lawyer) introduced herself.
She read through the search warrant.
Grigory was out of the country on business.
Captain James Kruger (9th Precinct NYPD Homicide) gave Detective Lopez & Detective de Sade their next assignment.
Soho, NYC, NY (Watts St.). Apartment # 502. Lieutenant Baines had snipers on the adjacent apartment rooftops.

Before Nelson jumped out the window he gave up where the boy was.
After Detective Lopez, Detective de Sade, & FBI SA Ward searched Chris was still alive.
Why did President Nathan T. Crockett call Detective de Sade?
Lieutenant Morris had some very bad news for Detective de Sade.
Detective Lopez had been shot/killed.
Detective Martin Belton (9th Precinct NYPD Homicide) was Detective de Sade new partner.

Moscow, Russia. Hilton Moscow (Leningradskaya, Kalanchevskaya Ulitsa Rd). Detective de Sade, & FBI SA Ward 1st met with Bishop Josef Malanovsky (Cathedral of St. John the Baptist).
Nest the 2 of them met with Graham Bright (Cultural Attaché).
The next morning Detective de Sade was notified FBI SA Ward was last seen with a Russian man.

How will the sting operation go down?

Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.

A very awesome book cover, & proper great font & writing style. A very well written international crime thriller book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a huge set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great international crime thriller movie, or better yet a mini TV series. A very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free Swordworks Books; ProlificWorks; Smashwords; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons (Washburn; MSW)

[Janejellyroll · Rating 1 out of 5]

Gabriel de Sade is a violent bigot and everyone around him in the NYPD thinks its just a character quirk. The author cared so little about setting up his character's violent nature that he just gave him the name of a famous sadist and let it carry over. There's books where the main character is a bigot and it's clear that the author likely doesn't share their sensibilities. The fact that so much of this bigotry takes place in the mind of the omniscient narrator doesn't make me confident that Meyer is that different that de Sade.

While de Sade is torturing and killing his way through New York's lower level criminals with the tacit approval of his superiors, the CIA and FBI hear about his skills and decide he's the perfect person to send to Russia to "apprehend" a Russian national suspected of a string of murders in New York. They send him to Russia with a single FBI agent who happens to be the stepdaughter of the director of the CIA (that nobody in the federal government, or the agent herself, thought this may present a potential security issue gives you an idea of the kind of book we're reading here). Even within the appeal to fascistic values this book represents, the approach to international relations and crime solving seems simplistic and silly.

[Julian White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the somewhat distasteful subject matter (Russian mafiya boss flees New York after becoming the suspect in a serial murder investigation) and is pursued to Moscow by NYPD detective de Sade and FBI Agent Faith Ward (who happens to be the daughter of the CIA's Director); lots of flashbacks to de Sade's time as a soldier in Afghanistan and several unlikely (imo) sequences - do foreigners really have such an easy time in Moscow? Even for a fluent Russian speaker de Sade seems to have the very luck of the devil - with off-stage rôles for the Russian President and the Russian Orthodox Supreme Patriarch as well as on-page appearances by US President and First Lady... Despite all that this is a engaging and fast read!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook: I thought there was a lot in this story which was unbelievable. I couldn't wrap my head around the idea that a detective from the NYPD and an agent of the FBI can just fly to Russia and have the kind of autonomy that these characters exhibited. I appreciated that as a cop Gabriel de Sade needed to be aggressive; however, there were times where he stepped over the line. I had a hard time with the indifferent violence against women. I thought Rich Callahan's narration was one of the best things about this audiobook, as his performance was great. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.

[Sorel Reisman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unreal But Fun

A quick fun read with lots of impossible to believe subplots. An FBI agent partnering with a NYPD detective to go to Russia to find a crook? I don't think so. The FBI agent is the daughter of the FBI director. C'mon! But still the action moves quickly and it's a good read.

[Vanessa Knowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story

Yet another brilliant book by Eric Meyer. I highly recommend this author to anyone who loves really gripping books with great stories. I can't wait to read the next one in the series!

[Carol Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story

Wow what a great thriller with excellent characters first Gabe De Sade then his partner Hector. Then Faith Ward what a great combination with De Sade and Faith. This author is terrific will continue reading his many books.

[Lorraine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very often I give up on a book but I just couldn't get into this at all

[Gene Archdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goog book

This is a very good book. Gabriel is after a serial killer and goes all the way to Russia to find him.He books up with the FBI and CIA to get this done.

[Tiggyleee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just ok. Didn't meet my expectations but I'll read on the next in the series.

[dennis williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Killing Faith

Quick moving goodies and baddies, quickly changes locations and keeps you guessing where the plot will go next. Faith and De Sade are a good mix of people for a team

[Engrossed Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brash, wide boy style. Inoffensive easy read. Tad much flashback

[Govno Nichevo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this was a surprisingly good read. The story setup did stretch the bounds of credibility, but once past that the story was an entertaining action tale.

[Kevin Cannon (Monty's Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A case involving dismembered bodies that are appearing around the city.

Great characters and a thrilling fast-paced plot made this good fun to listen to, aided by some top class narration.

[Alan Blood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is very gripping, fast moving crime thriller which encompasses espionage - linking both FBI and CIA activity in bringing to justice a perverted, sadistic Russian mafia boss who operates as much in the USA as he does in his native country - where he hides beneath a mass of corrupt officaldom.

The novel bounces back and forth between New York and Moscow is also a burgeoning love affair between the main protagonist 'De Sade' and a stunningly beautiful FBI Agent called 'Faith' whose father just happens to be a top CIA man.

My only criticism is that the main flow of the story is frequently interrupted when 'De Sade' (an NYPD Cop- who is ex 'special forces) keeps reminiscing about his military exploits in Afghanistan.

Ultimately, after Faith has been abducted by the Russian Mob, their boss is finally dealt with. It would be difficult to explain more without having to untangle the complex web of a number of sub-plots in this highly convoluted novel that grips fron beginning to end - still leaving a number of explanations as to its title !

[Hannahcox · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this as a train-busting book. Something easy to read to keep me occupied. I think I need to give up my need to finish a book once I start it. This was awful. Sloppily written and full of arrogant, misogynistic themes that are thrown in your face at every page turn.

The premise is a serial killer who turns out to be a russian mafia gangster. The cop, Gabriel, involved in hunting him served time in Afghanistan, and there's flashbacks to his time hunting the Taliban. This could throw up questions of the moral dilemma between kill and be killed, but unfortunately Meyer seems to see this as very black and white. There is little remorse by Gabriel for his numerous kills, and he is painted completely as the 'good' guy vs. the 'bad' guys. His new FBI partner, Faith, is basically a fit bird. Though completely capable, she is painted as a pretty woman, who needs protecting.

Although easily read in a few hours, I wouldn't bother. You can never get them back.

[Charlene Torres · Rating 1 out of 5]

Where to begin? Wow this book was just not for me,it had numerous grammatical errors that just drove me up a wall.
The book was completely unrealistic. I really tried to give this book a chance,in fact I enjoyed the first few pages but boy oh boy as the book progressed it got worse an worse.
I couldn't stand Faith and the sudden die hard love between her and Gabriel ay please give me a break.
Safe to say I will not be reading the rest of this series. The saving grace for this book was the fact that it was free and it only took me a day to finish.

[B.L. Hewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meyer has created a really awesome villain here. He draws you into the killers’ mind in the very first chapter and doles out more at a rapid pace. A fast moving thriller with a likable protagonist. De Sade, you have to love it! The only thing that tripped up his NYPD cop persona is that in the US we don’t measure body weight in stones. But never mind, this moves so fast you hardly notice. It twists and turns with evil intent. Delicious and slick.
A great thrill ride from a really good writer.

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well done techno-thriller with gadgets that could put this in the Sci-Fi genre

The main character Gabriel De Sade is an NYPD detective and former black ops team leader. Faith is an FBI special agent who is assigned to work with De Sade and his partner to apprehend a serial killer who has been dismembering women in NYC as well as other cities in the U.S. Their mission takes them to Russia and back with twists and turns in the plot, sub-plots involving the Russian mafia, that make you want to keep reading late into the night.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book does not seem to have been proof read or been reviewed by an editor. There are many grammatical errors which distract from the book itself. Additionally, the story elements are too over the top to be believable. There's too much in the book that make it hard for the reader to really buy into.

[J. Ewbank · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book by Meyer. I really liked the main character. He was sketched out so you thought you knew him and his actions followed his character. The plot was well thought out and enjoyable as well as threatening. I enjoyed it.

J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" and "To Whom It May Concern"

[Jack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Macho action adventure with lots of killing. The hero doesn't seem to be able to do anything without reminiscing about one of the many violent incidents he was involved in whilst soldiering in Afghanistan.

[P.A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mystery that turns into a hunt and hands out justice the way it should be handed out. I like that Eric Meyer didn't end the story when the bad guy gets his just desert. He makes sure that true justice is handed out to all who deserve it.

[tom tate]

Good action packed story

I felt that this story had a plot that was believable and I was impressed with the continual action. Characters were very interesting and they were developed nicely.