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Time Killer
Time Killer
Witness a gripping thriller that will surely hook you from start to finish in Time Killer…
Have you ever stood in a line at a grocery store while a person in front of you argued every price and then at the very end they pulled out a book of coupons? Have you ever waited in a drive thru as the person in front of you took forever to order his food? There is a person in Rockton Illinois that has had this happen to him and he is doing something about it. He is getting rid of the Time Wasters in Rockton.
Detective Max Larkin has a pretty simple life in Rockton. He wakes up every morning and goes to the police station to solve small town crimes. However, today is going to be different. Not only is he getting a new partner, Jesse Fairlane, that he doesn’t want, but he is getting assigned to a murder case where the murderer writes TIME WASTER on the wall in the victim’s blood.
Follow them as they attempt to solve the murder mystery case and find out if their tandem would work in Time Killer.
Witness a gripping thriller that will surely hook you from start to finish in Time Killer…
Have you ever stood in a line at a grocery store while a person in front of you argued every price and then at the very end they pulled out a book of coupons? Have you ever waited in a drive thru as the person in front of you took forever to order his food? There is a person in Rockton Illinois that has had this happen to him and he is doing something about it. He is getting rid of the Time Wasters in Rockton.
Detective Max Larkin has a pretty simple life in Rockton. He wakes up every morning and goes to the police station to solve small town crimes. However, today is going to be different. Not only is he getting a new partner, Jesse Fairlane, that he doesn’t want, but he is getting assigned to a murder case where the murderer writes TIME WASTER on the wall in the victim’s blood.
Follow them as they attempt to solve the murder mystery case and find out if their tandem would work in Time Killer.
202 pages, Paperback
First published January 25, 2013
29 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
July 12, 2013
"Time Killer" by Todd M. Thiede is a terrific crime thriller concerning a serial killer that targets people who in his own words "have wasted his time".
The opening sequence is well done as the newest victim, a policeman himself, wakes up tied up and muted to witness the brutal murder of his family. The premise of "who would do that because of time" is a fascinating one and one that did engage me from the beginning.
The theme of "time is money" is prevailing in our modern way of life and in this regard the book is a moral tale on our times, the lack of consideration for others that can be a by-product of the pressures of modern life.
Now to the other side: Investigating Detective Max Larkin, top of the class and a somewhat loner in the police force, is being teamed up with beautiful and clever Jesse, a match not made in heaven. Rest assured however that this is not your usual taming of the shrew chemistry, both characters have more strings to their character than meets the eye at first and their developing relationship is one of the many strong points of the book.
As the killer continues to punish and kill we, the readers, finally get to meet the person behind the killing, which is perfectly timed to change the dynamics of the writing and make for a continued interest in the story.
Thiede does a great job at juggling the issues in the lives of the investigators and the investigation itself. Paced perfectly and edited sharply this book never runs out of steam until the big finale.
This is a remarkable first book in a series in that it goes well beyond the setting up of the characters, the original idea for the book is exactly that, highly original, and unlike many helpings of the genre Thiede does not copy currently popular forensic TV programmes and bore us with DNA matches and other hat tricks. This is solidly written with the use of a variety of tools of the trade which includes a more logical and deductive investigation.
I really enjoyed this book and can honestly recommend it to fans of the genre and people who have not read a good crime story for a while. This is a good one to get you started on it. Very entertaining.
The opening sequence is well done as the newest victim, a policeman himself, wakes up tied up and muted to witness the brutal murder of his family. The premise of "who would do that because of time" is a fascinating one and one that did engage me from the beginning.
The theme of "time is money" is prevailing in our modern way of life and in this regard the book is a moral tale on our times, the lack of consideration for others that can be a by-product of the pressures of modern life.
Now to the other side: Investigating Detective Max Larkin, top of the class and a somewhat loner in the police force, is being teamed up with beautiful and clever Jesse, a match not made in heaven. Rest assured however that this is not your usual taming of the shrew chemistry, both characters have more strings to their character than meets the eye at first and their developing relationship is one of the many strong points of the book.
As the killer continues to punish and kill we, the readers, finally get to meet the person behind the killing, which is perfectly timed to change the dynamics of the writing and make for a continued interest in the story.
Thiede does a great job at juggling the issues in the lives of the investigators and the investigation itself. Paced perfectly and edited sharply this book never runs out of steam until the big finale.
This is a remarkable first book in a series in that it goes well beyond the setting up of the characters, the original idea for the book is exactly that, highly original, and unlike many helpings of the genre Thiede does not copy currently popular forensic TV programmes and bore us with DNA matches and other hat tricks. This is solidly written with the use of a variety of tools of the trade which includes a more logical and deductive investigation.
I really enjoyed this book and can honestly recommend it to fans of the genre and people who have not read a good crime story for a while. This is a good one to get you started on it. Very entertaining.
May 13, 2022
Have you ever been ticked off by someone taking to long in the grocery store line? Has someone made you wait while they decided which cafe latte they wanted? And…to put the shoe on the other foot, have you ever got in a fast food line and hemmed and hawed about what you wanted to order? Have you ever fumbled around at the ATM for your debit card? At the pharmacy? This book will make you think twice…maybe.
Time Killer by Todd M Thiede is one of those books that is hard for me to rate. It had so many things I love in a suspense/thriller…an unhinged killed, lots of bodies falling, danger and tension making me have to know what happens.
It looks like this is the second book of Todd M Thiede’s writing career and his first Max Larkin Detective Series novel, so I can forgive some of the things that bothered me. The writing seemed to be loose, at times too quick to pass over what is happening. I would have loved to have more details about a couple of events, more details on the characters feelings about what transpired. But, all in all, well done, Todd. I would definitely read more of your work.
I flipped flopped between 3 and 4 stars, and when that happens I up it, so…………
Time Killer by Todd M Thiede is one of those books that is hard for me to rate. It had so many things I love in a suspense/thriller…an unhinged killed, lots of bodies falling, danger and tension making me have to know what happens.
It looks like this is the second book of Todd M Thiede’s writing career and his first Max Larkin Detective Series novel, so I can forgive some of the things that bothered me. The writing seemed to be loose, at times too quick to pass over what is happening. I would have loved to have more details about a couple of events, more details on the characters feelings about what transpired. But, all in all, well done, Todd. I would definitely read more of your work.
I flipped flopped between 3 and 4 stars, and when that happens I up it, so…………
April 2, 2013
A few of the reviews mention that this book may be one that fans of the show “Criminal Minds” may find that they will like, and I would agree with that. It really does, at times, read almost like an episode of the show. However, the author is in no way at all even remotely close to being a copy of “Criminal Minds”. His story is refreshing and uniquely his own, just that if you do watch shows similar to that mentioned, you begin to read the book as if you are read-watching an episode. It’s really very… for lack of a better word, cool.
There are times where the story becomes fairly predictable so you sort of know what’s going on rather early on and the detectives don’t. You figure out certain things (which I am not telling, go read the book and you will figure out what I’m talking about… go on, go read it) very quickly and kind of put two and two together and can kind of see where things are going, however, this isn’t a bad thing! In some books it would be. In this book, it’s not a bad thing at all because even though you may have figured things out, you still must wait for it all to play out so even if you know something 50 pages before the detectives, guess what? You still have to wait those 50 pages to find out what will happen when they figure it out and you can’t jump in the pages and tell them! When the end comes, it’s a good satisfying ending that leaves you waiting for the next adventure these two detectives will embark upon.
This book has some good gory serial killer parts so if you don’t like gore, well, you should like it and read this book or you will be missing out! My one objection and it might be a small spoiler so I will warn just a little bit right here. This might be a spoiler and you have been warned. My one problem with the whole things, and I know it wasn’t graphic and it had a very good purpose and stuff, but oh not the animals!! Just kill the people but oh woe is me, leave the animals be!! Ok, that was all (it was a super quick non-graphic part but I cry easily with animal things, I admit it. I’m a total sap with the animal things but I don’t mind the literary people slashing). Aside from that tiny little thing, I really enjoyed reading it and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
There are times where the story becomes fairly predictable so you sort of know what’s going on rather early on and the detectives don’t. You figure out certain things (which I am not telling, go read the book and you will figure out what I’m talking about… go on, go read it) very quickly and kind of put two and two together and can kind of see where things are going, however, this isn’t a bad thing! In some books it would be. In this book, it’s not a bad thing at all because even though you may have figured things out, you still must wait for it all to play out so even if you know something 50 pages before the detectives, guess what? You still have to wait those 50 pages to find out what will happen when they figure it out and you can’t jump in the pages and tell them! When the end comes, it’s a good satisfying ending that leaves you waiting for the next adventure these two detectives will embark upon.
This book has some good gory serial killer parts so if you don’t like gore, well, you should like it and read this book or you will be missing out! My one objection and it might be a small spoiler so I will warn just a little bit right here. This might be a spoiler and you have been warned. My one problem with the whole things, and I know it wasn’t graphic and it had a very good purpose and stuff, but oh not the animals!! Just kill the people but oh woe is me, leave the animals be!! Ok, that was all (it was a super quick non-graphic part but I cry easily with animal things, I admit it. I’m a total sap with the animal things but I don’t mind the literary people slashing). Aside from that tiny little thing, I really enjoyed reading it and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
March 2, 2013
A brilliant crime thriller.
When Stephen Bjornson wakes up drowsy and unable to move, he knows something is terribly wrong, but the nightmare has only just begun... Soon his family are dead and Rockton Illinois has a killer on the loose.
Detective Max Larkin works alone, so he’s not impressed when he is teamed up with rookie detective and local girl Jesse Fairlane. However, before long a strong partnership develops as they try to capture the grizzly murderer.
The motive quickly becomes apparent, the victims have wasted the murderer’s time and he doesn’t like time wasters! Confirmation of this is written in their blood at the crime scenes, but he never makes a mistake and leaves no clues.
As the death toll rises, the young detectives discover the murderer has struck before, and their partnerships tested in unimaginable ways as they try to find a lead.
Will they discover who the serial killer is?
Why does time wasting anger him so?
I couldn’t put this book down, and would thoroughly recommend it. The storyline is brilliant and there are some great twists.
When Stephen Bjornson wakes up drowsy and unable to move, he knows something is terribly wrong, but the nightmare has only just begun... Soon his family are dead and Rockton Illinois has a killer on the loose.
Detective Max Larkin works alone, so he’s not impressed when he is teamed up with rookie detective and local girl Jesse Fairlane. However, before long a strong partnership develops as they try to capture the grizzly murderer.
The motive quickly becomes apparent, the victims have wasted the murderer’s time and he doesn’t like time wasters! Confirmation of this is written in their blood at the crime scenes, but he never makes a mistake and leaves no clues.
As the death toll rises, the young detectives discover the murderer has struck before, and their partnerships tested in unimaginable ways as they try to find a lead.
Will they discover who the serial killer is?
Why does time wasting anger him so?
I couldn’t put this book down, and would thoroughly recommend it. The storyline is brilliant and there are some great twists.
July 1, 2013
This book is one that will have you reeling, asking questions, and wanting to devour more.
The story starts with a psycho killer who sneaks into a couple's home in the middle of the night and takes their lives. The only survivor of these murders is Mr.Bjornson, who is too stunned at the loss of his family to be of much help to Max, the detective assigned to this grisly murder case. As Max delves deeper into trying to understanding the psyche of this killer, he discovers that the killer has done this before in other Mid-western towns 10 and 25 years ago. Of the three known sets of murders, only Mr. Bjornson and a three year old boy ever made it out alive.
The murder's motive and peculiar habits is what drives this story. He kills people who he feels as if they are wasting his time. He charges them money as compensation for the time they have wasted. The murder is getting more bold and brash, allowing his death count to keep piling up. The author allows us to know the actions of the killer but still keeps him enough of a secret that we are unsure of what he will do next. This is an awesome, thrilling read.
This book is not a waste of your time.
The story starts with a psycho killer who sneaks into a couple's home in the middle of the night and takes their lives. The only survivor of these murders is Mr.Bjornson, who is too stunned at the loss of his family to be of much help to Max, the detective assigned to this grisly murder case. As Max delves deeper into trying to understanding the psyche of this killer, he discovers that the killer has done this before in other Mid-western towns 10 and 25 years ago. Of the three known sets of murders, only Mr. Bjornson and a three year old boy ever made it out alive.
The murder's motive and peculiar habits is what drives this story. He kills people who he feels as if they are wasting his time. He charges them money as compensation for the time they have wasted. The murder is getting more bold and brash, allowing his death count to keep piling up. The author allows us to know the actions of the killer but still keeps him enough of a secret that we are unsure of what he will do next. This is an awesome, thrilling read.
This book is not a waste of your time.
July 7, 2013
Not sure exactly how I received this book, but know it was a read it and review it book.
All in all, I thought it was a good story, but I got bogged down in the dialogue of this book. It seemed very amateurish. The characters were a little cheesy as well as the dialogue. Felt more like I was reading a screenplay. This may have been what the author was going for and that's okay.
The story was very interesting, but I think that there were things that could have been done to make this a better read and hence a better story.
I had to skip a few pages because it was a little too cheesy, but I think this is this author's first book and I don't want to discourage him. The story was there, the character development was there, but it was a little tedious to read.
I look forward to reading more by this author and hope this review does not discourage him, but only encourages.
All in all, I thought it was a good story, but I got bogged down in the dialogue of this book. It seemed very amateurish. The characters were a little cheesy as well as the dialogue. Felt more like I was reading a screenplay. This may have been what the author was going for and that's okay.
The story was very interesting, but I think that there were things that could have been done to make this a better read and hence a better story.
I had to skip a few pages because it was a little too cheesy, but I think this is this author's first book and I don't want to discourage him. The story was there, the character development was there, but it was a little tedious to read.
I look forward to reading more by this author and hope this review does not discourage him, but only encourages.
May 25, 2013
I love crime thriller and The Time Killer was an amazing find. It started out strong and it kept exceeding my expectations since then. The book starts with the killer and his latest and perhaps first victims, the Bjornsons. It is here that we get the first glimpse of the killer and his motivations. That first account is insightful and the fear you feel for the victims is palatable. The killer is angry at the father for wasting his time and he make sure the family pays for it.I read this book in 2 days and would have finished faster if I didn't have to go to work. This book was electrifying and I could not wait to see what would unfold. I will be adding this author to my list of people to follow when I want to read a good book. I recommend this book to fans of thrillers and crime novels.
August 10, 2013
Mindblowing!!!
What fantastic and unbelievable read from Thiede- Mindblowing!!! A thrilling and 'edge of the seat' page-turner from start to finish. A blinding run of a killer's thoughts with a unique writing style of destruction and horror creates a gripping story. The novel will keep you on your toes with a strong storyline and good characters. The 'down to Earth' writing added to the feel of the book making you believe you are drawn into the plot. Todd has touched the surface with Time Killer which I am sure could develop into a fascinating follow-up.
I can't wait to read more of this authors work!
What fantastic and unbelievable read from Thiede- Mindblowing!!! A thrilling and 'edge of the seat' page-turner from start to finish. A blinding run of a killer's thoughts with a unique writing style of destruction and horror creates a gripping story. The novel will keep you on your toes with a strong storyline and good characters. The 'down to Earth' writing added to the feel of the book making you believe you are drawn into the plot. Todd has touched the surface with Time Killer which I am sure could develop into a fascinating follow-up.
I can't wait to read more of this authors work!
July 24, 2013
I am only two thirds through this fascinating mystery, unlike all the others I have read lately, and I hate to put it down for the night. It is a gripping tale, but more than that, it has some interesting twists that make it an unusual study of human nature. It Doesn't follow the formula of a lot of mysteries - to its credit. I am anxious to follow it to the end. I think I know what is going to happen - we'll see.
I was wrong - what happened the last 25% of the book was much better than I could have imagined.
I was wrong - what happened the last 25% of the book was much better than I could have imagined.
June 12, 2013
Time Killer grabbed me by the hair, giving me front-row passes to a jaw-droppingly brutal murder scene executed by a deranged killer on page one.
I found this book particularly interesting for the unique experience with the villain: the reader is privy to his every murder, his every ruse, manipulation, and charade. He is a serial killer, targeting a huge demographic of people, which left me, as a reader, shocked at his total absence of empathy. The story unravels creatively, first allowing the witness of murder, and then the escalation of murder, as the killer moves toward more personal targets and becomes frustrated, revealing pieces of his broken mind. The killer isn't just a twisted killer, he's a disturbed man with a disturbed past, and as much as I wanted justice and knew it was inevitable, I was on the seat of my pants reading to learn more about the villain, and what he would do next.
Max and Jesse are lovable characters, each a perfect fit for the job. Max's relationship with his car and bachelor life had me rolling with laughter, but he has some deep ties to family and nightmares of his own to confront. There is tension, friendship, and an evolution of trust between the two. There's a nice balance of character depth, without the weight of brooding or excessive sentimentality, making it easy to sail through pages.
Topping an excellent cast, there are a number of unexpected plot twists that made the book a joyride, including ghosts from the past concerning Max and the villain. Max hatches a master plan that kept me guessing until the last few pages of the book.
Time Killer is fast, fun, and suspenseful, and the unique character personalities are what really make the book shine.
I found this book particularly interesting for the unique experience with the villain: the reader is privy to his every murder, his every ruse, manipulation, and charade. He is a serial killer, targeting a huge demographic of people, which left me, as a reader, shocked at his total absence of empathy. The story unravels creatively, first allowing the witness of murder, and then the escalation of murder, as the killer moves toward more personal targets and becomes frustrated, revealing pieces of his broken mind. The killer isn't just a twisted killer, he's a disturbed man with a disturbed past, and as much as I wanted justice and knew it was inevitable, I was on the seat of my pants reading to learn more about the villain, and what he would do next.
Max and Jesse are lovable characters, each a perfect fit for the job. Max's relationship with his car and bachelor life had me rolling with laughter, but he has some deep ties to family and nightmares of his own to confront. There is tension, friendship, and an evolution of trust between the two. There's a nice balance of character depth, without the weight of brooding or excessive sentimentality, making it easy to sail through pages.
Topping an excellent cast, there are a number of unexpected plot twists that made the book a joyride, including ghosts from the past concerning Max and the villain. Max hatches a master plan that kept me guessing until the last few pages of the book.
Time Killer is fast, fun, and suspenseful, and the unique character personalities are what really make the book shine.
March 14, 2013
It seems like there are two types of murder mystery books…one where the killer has been known to us almost the whole time and we try to figure out who it is, and then the kind where we have no idea who he is as a character (other than a killer) and we are “introduced” late (or at the end) of the novel. Both approaches have their merits, but I admit I am preferential to the former as I like to try and guess who the culprit is before the author does the reveal. Although “Time Killer” by Todd M. Thiede takes the latter approach, it is still great fun to watch the twisted and sadistic killer at work for his perceived transgressions (people who waste time, especially his). There were some punctuation and editing things and some cases of redundancy (thinking something than saying it right after), but overall was well-written and compelling. Would read more from this author in the future.
August 13, 2013
As soon as you begin the opening page of this novel it grips you and hangs on tightly until the very last page.
I don't usually read detective novels involving serial killers but this book has seriously made me reconsider my reading material.
The evil mind of the killer Mike/Tom is realistic and filled with malevolent thoughts which draw the reader into his creepy world.
The detectives investigating the murders are believable and engaging as we watch them piece the mystery together.
The pace of the novel matches the desperation of the police as they close in on their killer, trying to prevent him striking again.
The details of his crimes made me squirm but were totally necessary for the realism of this tale.
You seriously won't regret purchasing this book; a great find.
I don't usually read detective novels involving serial killers but this book has seriously made me reconsider my reading material.
The evil mind of the killer Mike/Tom is realistic and filled with malevolent thoughts which draw the reader into his creepy world.
The detectives investigating the murders are believable and engaging as we watch them piece the mystery together.
The pace of the novel matches the desperation of the police as they close in on their killer, trying to prevent him striking again.
The details of his crimes made me squirm but were totally necessary for the realism of this tale.
You seriously won't regret purchasing this book; a great find.
March 23, 2013
Todd is a truly great crime writer but with this one he has surpassed his own standards. As a retired cop and detective he knows how things work and how these terrible crimes get solved. This is one that you will want to read all at once. Try real hard not to as the genus is in the details. The writer developed his characters as only a master story teller can do. They have depth and a gritty realism. This story is like going on a detective ride along. The story flows beautifully. You will never get bored and the mind bending twist at the end I did not see coming. You will not be disappointed. Danieldabear@Gmail.com
September 26, 2014
In the small town of Rockton there is a murderer who kills people that wasted his time. Detective Max Larkin and Jesse Fairlane, his new partner, are in charge of investigations.
I enjoy reading this book. It's an easy read and it have a very interesting storyline. It looks bad to say, but the best part of the book is about the crime scenes and the details of the killing.
I don't recommend it for mystery fans. Why? Because the poorly written characters affect the story in the end. I didn't like the detectives. They are unrealistic and there is something wrong with their dialogue, it felt forced at times.
January 20, 2015
Hated this book...the dialogue was absolutely horrible! The characters seemed childish and unrealistic. Unable to get into the book because the writing was so boring and unimaginative. I could not even finish this book because the writing was that bad. The concept seemed interesting but the author I feel needs to do more research on police detectives and how they truly interact with each other as I work in law enforcement and he was so far from the truth it hurt me. Don't recommend.
February 25, 2013
This is an awesome book if you love murder mysteries. The author draws you into the story from the first page. It is a very easy read that you aren't gonna want to put down until you finish it. There are lots of great twists and turns to the plot. You won't be disappointed!! Can't wait for the next book in this new series from Mr Thiede!!
March 25, 2013
Definitely outside my normal read. And sooo worth it.
I liked how once I thought I had it all figured out, a curve was thrown my way. I liked how Max and Jesse did not go the predictable romantic way. It was a very quick enjoyable read that has invaded my dreams - not a normal occurance for my books. Excellent read!
I liked how once I thought I had it all figured out, a curve was thrown my way. I liked how Max and Jesse did not go the predictable romantic way. It was a very quick enjoyable read that has invaded my dreams - not a normal occurance for my books. Excellent read!
August 10, 2013
This is a fast paced crime novel that'll keep you reading until the end. The relationship between the two detectives added an extra dimension to the story and it worked well. As for the killer, well, you'll have to read it to believe it. Highly recommended.
March 3, 2013
A great first book from Todd Thiede! Many twists and turns that will keep you guessing throughout this murder mystery.
April 16, 2013
Time wasters, you know the type. The person: who reaches the front of the line and still doesn’t know what to order; who never signals when driving their car; that checks all fifty lottery tickets at a gas station when you just want to pay for your gas, etc. Who among us has never experienced this? Perhaps we’re guilty ourselves of being one of those people at one time or another. So when reading the synopsis to “Time Wasters,” I thought I was in for a great read as it’s such an intriguing concept with disturbing end results. Reading the first page will definitely hold your attention as it did mine. The executions of the serial killer’s victims are well-written giving the reader a clear understanding of what’s taking place. However, that’s all that I found to be worthwhile; hence, two stars.
We have the two detectives, Max and Jesse, at the heart of the novel both of whom I found to be unrealistic and asinine. While others found them to be a well-developed, dynamic duo, I found them to be the complete opposite. In fact, there wasn’t one thing that I found likeable about either one. They were both arrogant, narcissistic, smug, and very fake-like. I didn’t understand them individually or as partners. The writing and dialogue between the two was ill-conceived and poorly written, at times very child-like. It felt as though two authors had written this novel, combining the two sub-plots (ie: the killer, and the interaction and relationship between the two detectives), thinking it made for a suspenseful mystery. Suspenseful? Absolutely not. Not only is the story predictable, so are the twists and turns the author has deemed to include hoping to stun its readers. For two supposedly smart people who are able to examine and solve how each crime took place on their first try, they both don’t even catch the blatant and obvious clue a witness gives them; which would have directed them towards the killer. Perhaps the author thinks his readers will miss this clue like his detectives.
“Max is one of the best detectives Rockton has ever seen. He advanced quickly from patrolman to detective because of his natural instincts and great people skills.”
Instincts? Give me a break! People skills? What detective grabs his partner’s arm several times to guide her out of a room?
Max to his Captain:
“It says here she had offers from all over the country.”
She has been on the force for four years already and is just getting promoted? Why did it take her so long?”
I’d like to know how an officer of only four years on the force could be getting “offers from all over the country.” She's an OFFICER. Does this seem realistic? Does it even make sense? Hell no! (cue eye-rolling, not once but several times).
Half-way thru and I just wanted to toss this one into the trash, but I kept at it, and now I wish I hadn’t. Aside from the executions, I found this book to be boring and tedious, full of mindless drivel. I have absolutely no intention of reading the next book in this series.
We have the two detectives, Max and Jesse, at the heart of the novel both of whom I found to be unrealistic and asinine. While others found them to be a well-developed, dynamic duo, I found them to be the complete opposite. In fact, there wasn’t one thing that I found likeable about either one. They were both arrogant, narcissistic, smug, and very fake-like. I didn’t understand them individually or as partners. The writing and dialogue between the two was ill-conceived and poorly written, at times very child-like. It felt as though two authors had written this novel, combining the two sub-plots (ie: the killer, and the interaction and relationship between the two detectives), thinking it made for a suspenseful mystery. Suspenseful? Absolutely not. Not only is the story predictable, so are the twists and turns the author has deemed to include hoping to stun its readers. For two supposedly smart people who are able to examine and solve how each crime took place on their first try, they both don’t even catch the blatant and obvious clue a witness gives them; which would have directed them towards the killer. Perhaps the author thinks his readers will miss this clue like his detectives.
“Max is one of the best detectives Rockton has ever seen. He advanced quickly from patrolman to detective because of his natural instincts and great people skills.”
Instincts? Give me a break! People skills? What detective grabs his partner’s arm several times to guide her out of a room?
Max to his Captain:
“It says here she had offers from all over the country.”
She has been on the force for four years already and is just getting promoted? Why did it take her so long?”
I’d like to know how an officer of only four years on the force could be getting “offers from all over the country.” She's an OFFICER. Does this seem realistic? Does it even make sense? Hell no! (cue eye-rolling, not once but several times).
Half-way thru and I just wanted to toss this one into the trash, but I kept at it, and now I wish I hadn’t. Aside from the executions, I found this book to be boring and tedious, full of mindless drivel. I have absolutely no intention of reading the next book in this series.
August 5, 2013
Time Killer is the first book in a series of Max Larkin mystery novels. It reminded me of Judas Child, which was another mystery I really enjoyed. Time Killer is very unique. There are no other mystery or thriller novels with similar relationships between characters, not to mention the killer's motive. I'm not sure where Thiede got the ideas that went into this book, but they are very creative.
Jesse really added to the story. Max was, in many ways, your typical mystery protagonist: experienced detective, tough, clever... but Jesse came out of nowhere. She is a strong female figure, a detective just starting out who is very observant. Her clarifications and explanations of the crime scenes leave you thinking wish I could do that. The relationships between characters in this story are unique and written in such a way that they are interesting to read about.
*spoiler alert* One thing I didn't like was that the killer wasn't one of the main characters. There was no shocking "I can't believe it's him!" moment. But he is connected to the two main characters' past, so I was not completely let down. Some parts of the book were a predictable, sure, but it wasn't very obvious. You certainly won't be able to figure out the whole plot in the second chapter. I was disappointed that the watch Max remembered didn't ever come into play in the story, although that is just a small detail that didn't detract from the story.
The editing isn't perfect - at the climax of the story, you read: "Give me another reason blow your head off!" There are also extra commas sprinkled throughout the novel. Not enough to really distract from the story, but enough to be annoying.
One of the most unique aspects of the story is Jesse and Max's relationship. I was definitely expecting a somewhat cliched ending with Max and Jesse getting together. *spoiler alert* That doesn't happen!
Different from any other mystery you will read this summer, Time Killer stands alone: a complex, fast-paced story that will leave you wanting more.
Jesse really added to the story. Max was, in many ways, your typical mystery protagonist: experienced detective, tough, clever... but Jesse came out of nowhere. She is a strong female figure, a detective just starting out who is very observant. Her clarifications and explanations of the crime scenes leave you thinking wish I could do that. The relationships between characters in this story are unique and written in such a way that they are interesting to read about.
*spoiler alert* One thing I didn't like was that the killer wasn't one of the main characters. There was no shocking "I can't believe it's him!" moment. But he is connected to the two main characters' past, so I was not completely let down. Some parts of the book were a predictable, sure, but it wasn't very obvious. You certainly won't be able to figure out the whole plot in the second chapter. I was disappointed that the watch Max remembered didn't ever come into play in the story, although that is just a small detail that didn't detract from the story.
The editing isn't perfect - at the climax of the story, you read: "Give me another reason blow your head off!" There are also extra commas sprinkled throughout the novel. Not enough to really distract from the story, but enough to be annoying.
One of the most unique aspects of the story is Jesse and Max's relationship. I was definitely expecting a somewhat cliched ending with Max and Jesse getting together. *spoiler alert* That doesn't happen!
Different from any other mystery you will read this summer, Time Killer stands alone: a complex, fast-paced story that will leave you wanting more.
January 3, 2016
Sometimes I am reticent to provide good, honest reviews. Because I know that there are people - authors, chefs - on the other end of that review that might be troubled by what I write. I don't want to make people feel bad. When the general manager of a restaurant I panned on Yelp called me multiple times, for instance, I couldn't bring myself to return his calls. I respected the fact that he responded to my feedback but I couldn't help but think that he took my thoughts personally. And books...knowing there's an author on the other end of this...that's tough.
But I truly loathed this book.
The first chapter grabbed me. And to be honest, that first chapter was the only thing that propelled me through the rest of this hot mess of a novel.
Time Killer is a typical serial killer/buddy cop novel. The serial killer is menacing and the whole buddy cop thing is wrought with complications and mistrust. But nothing about this novel works.
The serial killer - who grabs you at the beginning - just repeats ad nauseum. The buddy cops never really seem to get buddy. Or cops, really. Worse, the dialog is horrid. The book took twice as long for me to read because I - not a skilled writer, no novels under my belt - kept reworking all the dialogue in my head to make it sound like something other than a robot had uttered it. The dialogue was insanely stilted to the point at which none of the characters used contractions. Who talks like that? There were way too many instances of "We have to catch this guy. We have to get him off the street!" for my liking. One insanely prescient example took noir to new levels of ridiculousness - "Awkwardness is their passenger and it is buckled in for the ride."
I liked the premise, I liked the crime, and I liked the overall story. But the writing kept me from truly enjoying any of these aspects.
I'm sorry Todd. Don't take this personally. I tried, I really did. This just didn't do it for me.
But I truly loathed this book.
The first chapter grabbed me. And to be honest, that first chapter was the only thing that propelled me through the rest of this hot mess of a novel.
Time Killer is a typical serial killer/buddy cop novel. The serial killer is menacing and the whole buddy cop thing is wrought with complications and mistrust. But nothing about this novel works.
The serial killer - who grabs you at the beginning - just repeats ad nauseum. The buddy cops never really seem to get buddy. Or cops, really. Worse, the dialog is horrid. The book took twice as long for me to read because I - not a skilled writer, no novels under my belt - kept reworking all the dialogue in my head to make it sound like something other than a robot had uttered it. The dialogue was insanely stilted to the point at which none of the characters used contractions. Who talks like that? There were way too many instances of "We have to catch this guy. We have to get him off the street!" for my liking. One insanely prescient example took noir to new levels of ridiculousness - "Awkwardness is their passenger and it is buckled in for the ride."
I liked the premise, I liked the crime, and I liked the overall story. But the writing kept me from truly enjoying any of these aspects.
I'm sorry Todd. Don't take this personally. I tried, I really did. This just didn't do it for me.
April 30, 2013
TIME KILLER BY TODD M. THIEDE
If you’ve ever muttered about something being a waste of time, then this killer can relate. On a vendetta to punish people who’ve wasted his time, he leaves a gruesome collection in his wake.
With very few clues to go on, Max Larson, head detective on the case, is dumbfounded. Bloody words at the crime scenes left Detective Larson know the motive. They simply wasted his time. Such a vague motive leaves no room for guesswork. Max needs to be on his game, but now he’s been given a rookie as a partner. Anyone could be next. No rhyme or reason is apparent.
Gory crime scene photos, mutilated witnesses, & a decade long bloodbath are all Max has to go on. Can the seasoned detective & his rookie partner figure out the mess before they are out of time?
Todd M. Thiede has certainly created a unique plot here. The killer’s reasoning & methods were clever. I did have some issue with the character dialogue. It seemed forced. More natural conversation would’ve made the characters much more relatable. Most folks don’t speak in full sentences or not use any contractions.
Also, there was a lack of climax. Starting out, there’s an air of excitement of who this killer is & why he’s killing. Then it is just handed to us in a neat tidy package. Perhaps I’ve seen or read too many thrillers. For me, it simply landed flat. Entirely readable, it’s a 3-1/2 star novel for me.
I received 1 eBook copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
If you’ve ever muttered about something being a waste of time, then this killer can relate. On a vendetta to punish people who’ve wasted his time, he leaves a gruesome collection in his wake.
With very few clues to go on, Max Larson, head detective on the case, is dumbfounded. Bloody words at the crime scenes left Detective Larson know the motive. They simply wasted his time. Such a vague motive leaves no room for guesswork. Max needs to be on his game, but now he’s been given a rookie as a partner. Anyone could be next. No rhyme or reason is apparent.
Gory crime scene photos, mutilated witnesses, & a decade long bloodbath are all Max has to go on. Can the seasoned detective & his rookie partner figure out the mess before they are out of time?
Todd M. Thiede has certainly created a unique plot here. The killer’s reasoning & methods were clever. I did have some issue with the character dialogue. It seemed forced. More natural conversation would’ve made the characters much more relatable. Most folks don’t speak in full sentences or not use any contractions.
Also, there was a lack of climax. Starting out, there’s an air of excitement of who this killer is & why he’s killing. Then it is just handed to us in a neat tidy package. Perhaps I’ve seen or read too many thrillers. For me, it simply landed flat. Entirely readable, it’s a 3-1/2 star novel for me.
I received 1 eBook copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 17, 2013
Next time you're in line at a store you may want to think twice about holding up the line as there could be someone behind you that hates when people waste his time and he will make you pay dearly. God have mercy if you become his latest victim as you will be tortured beyond belief.
Time Killer details the acts of a serial killer in Rockton (Rockford?), Illinois and the two detectives trying to catch him. The violence is graphic and it had me flinching at several scenes (i.e., the stapling of the roses was particularly unsettling.) Definitely not for the squeamish.
There's plenty of gore, suspense, and plot twists in this book to appease horror and thriller fans. It was a quick read that I devoured even during inappropriate times like work. Oh my, I think I wasted my bosses' time! (no worries - I am the boss so no one will kill me except for pissed off customers).
While I believe the plot is original and engaging I am only giving this 3 stars because it was simply not well written. I'm not talking about grammatical and spelling errors often found in indie books but rather the dialogue was not natural and seemed forced and fake. I also took offense to
Overall this was a good freshmen effort. There is supposed to be additional titles in this series so it will be interesting to see what the author brings to the table next time. Another horrific killer or something else? I will just have to wait...
Time Killer details the acts of a serial killer in Rockton (Rockford?), Illinois and the two detectives trying to catch him. The violence is graphic and it had me flinching at several scenes (i.e., the stapling of the roses was particularly unsettling.) Definitely not for the squeamish.
There's plenty of gore, suspense, and plot twists in this book to appease horror and thriller fans. It was a quick read that I devoured even during inappropriate times like work. Oh my, I think I wasted my bosses' time! (no worries - I am the boss so no one will kill me except for pissed off customers).
While I believe the plot is original and engaging I am only giving this 3 stars because it was simply not well written. I'm not talking about grammatical and spelling errors often found in indie books but rather the dialogue was not natural and seemed forced and fake. I also took offense to
Overall this was a good freshmen effort. There is supposed to be additional titles in this series so it will be interesting to see what the author brings to the table next time. Another horrific killer or something else? I will just have to wait...
May 5, 2013
Time Killer, by Todd Thiede, is not a book for those who get queasy at the site or mention of blood. A serial killer carries out a crazed vendetta against people who, in his mind, have wasted his time. He leaves a trail of victims across Illinois and Indiana that spans a 25-year period.
Max Larkin, a 29-year-old, fast-rising detective on the small Rockton, Illinois police force, is assigned the hot case after a family is murdered in the normally sleepy town. He is given a new female partner, Jessie Fairlane, before going to the scene of the murder – a move that doesn’t please Max. The story revolves around the dynamics between Max and Jessie as they close in on the killer who is always masked and wearing a business suit. His MO includes leaving victims with missing fingers and writing messages in blood, warning others not to waste his time.
Mr. Thiede is a gifted storyteller. The plot is intriguing, moves rapidly, and includes sufficient surprises to keep the reader entertained and on his toes. I would rate the storyline and characters developed by the author as five star. However, I felt the dialogue was wordy and sounded unnatural at times, and another run-through by the editor would have helped clean up some minor, yet repeating, punctuation problems.
This was his first, but I expect we will see more Todd Thiede novels. At least, I hope so.
Max Larkin, a 29-year-old, fast-rising detective on the small Rockton, Illinois police force, is assigned the hot case after a family is murdered in the normally sleepy town. He is given a new female partner, Jessie Fairlane, before going to the scene of the murder – a move that doesn’t please Max. The story revolves around the dynamics between Max and Jessie as they close in on the killer who is always masked and wearing a business suit. His MO includes leaving victims with missing fingers and writing messages in blood, warning others not to waste his time.
Mr. Thiede is a gifted storyteller. The plot is intriguing, moves rapidly, and includes sufficient surprises to keep the reader entertained and on his toes. I would rate the storyline and characters developed by the author as five star. However, I felt the dialogue was wordy and sounded unnatural at times, and another run-through by the editor would have helped clean up some minor, yet repeating, punctuation problems.
This was his first, but I expect we will see more Todd Thiede novels. At least, I hope so.
May 20, 2013
Time is money. Wasted time is time that you could have been making money, but you weren't because your time was wasted instead. The person that cuts in front of you in traffic and then drives slowly. The person in line in front of you that takes forever to order. All time wasters and can be annoying when you are in a hurry. Most people forget about the incidents by the end of the day. However most people aren't homicidal crackpots either, unlike the person in this story who not only doesn't forget these seemingly inconsequential moments of wasted time but decides to take it upon himself to rid the woorld of the people who are chronic time wasters.
The plot has an interesting premise that you may think of the next time you are debating what to order and there are people waiting in line behind you. The detectives trying to catch the killer seem a bit slow though and even though they are supposedly the department's best and brightest, even I was several steps ahead of them before we are enlightened as to certain aspects of the story. In fact there is one clue the detective never catches on to that I'm sure was right in front of his face if he had bothered to look.
At any rate, this was a decently fast-paced story that was incredibly hard to put down. Other than the frequent editing errors it was quite an enjoyable read.
The plot has an interesting premise that you may think of the next time you are debating what to order and there are people waiting in line behind you. The detectives trying to catch the killer seem a bit slow though and even though they are supposedly the department's best and brightest, even I was several steps ahead of them before we are enlightened as to certain aspects of the story. In fact there is one clue the detective never catches on to that I'm sure was right in front of his face if he had bothered to look.
At any rate, this was a decently fast-paced story that was incredibly hard to put down. Other than the frequent editing errors it was quite an enjoyable read.
June 10, 2013
Someone is angry that people are wasting his time. And his punishment is losing their life. And two detectives - Max and Jesse - are on the case. And they don't like partnered with each other. And the case is more serious than they thought. The killer don't leave any clues, except writing a message about not to waste time with the victim's blood. With their indifferences, are the detectives going to find the killer? As the killings seems to be a long time happening, where is this all going to end?
The concept is good. And that's what made me pick this book. The crime scenes are well described. All the gory details are well brought out which added up to the horror and thrill of the plot. The plot following the killer is one major plus of this novel. His criminal thinking and killing methods are new and although it looks bad to say it, I enjoyed those parts.
The detectives, the climax and the dialogues are the major flaws of this novel. The characters of the detectives felt forced, and not something I can just go on with. In spite of the editing problems, I thought of enjoying the novel, but the dialogues are still a major letdown. And then the climax. Actually there is nothing wrong with the climax, but the thrill is lost towards the end as everything is laid out on the table just like that.
Verdict: For a debut, this is a decent crime thriller!
The concept is good. And that's what made me pick this book. The crime scenes are well described. All the gory details are well brought out which added up to the horror and thrill of the plot. The plot following the killer is one major plus of this novel. His criminal thinking and killing methods are new and although it looks bad to say it, I enjoyed those parts.
The detectives, the climax and the dialogues are the major flaws of this novel. The characters of the detectives felt forced, and not something I can just go on with. In spite of the editing problems, I thought of enjoying the novel, but the dialogues are still a major letdown. And then the climax. Actually there is nothing wrong with the climax, but the thrill is lost towards the end as everything is laid out on the table just like that.
Verdict: For a debut, this is a decent crime thriller!
January 9, 2014
I love serial killer books and I found this story line very interesting. Who doesn't get furious when the person in front of you at the checkout stand in the grocery waits until all the groceries are rung up and then pulls out her checkbook and starts filling it out? It happens far too frequently at my Safeway but I really wouldn't kill over it. Mr. Thiede's killer, however, does just that - and mercilessly. He doesn't like people wasting his time. That being said, I only gave the book 3 stars because of the horrible dialogue between the two detectives. At first, I thought it was just immature, then I downgraded it to sophomoric, and eventually concluded it was just plain juvenile. Am I really supposed to think that a grown woman, recently made detective, actually curtsies to her fellow detective? Do any adults, other than Miley Cyrus actually stick out their tongues as Jesse does to her partner? Does one detective really slug her partner in the shoulder and then he feigns real pain? Would one detective call the other "Miss Smarty Pants"? Does someone actually put rotten Chinese food back into the refrigerator? I made lots of notes on my Kindle and most of them say "Really?" "How old are these two detectives?" "This is just plain ridiculous." As I said, the story is a good one but the narrative and dialogue needs improvement.
December 1, 2013
Thriller with a Twist!, November 30, 2013
By Cherry Keal
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Time Killer (Kindle Edition)
Author Todd M. Thiede plunges you into a murder scene from the beginning of this mystery thriller. You will enjoy this author’s unique writing style while following the detectives as they sort through the trail left by a serial killer with a cause and a message for his victims and others. Being a writer myself, it is usually easy for me to figure out a plot and character twists within a few pages of beginning the book, but Mr. Thiede keeps the reader wondering and guessing what will happen next as he builds the profile of a killer whose passion is to wake people up to the amount of time being wasted each day.
This book reminds me a bit of James Patterson and his Alex Cross books. You get a glimpse into the mind of a serial killer who gets so caught up in his work that he begins to toy with the detectives, leading them on a chase that has a surprise twist that even the killer himself couldn’t guess. This book is a must read for the action loving murder mystery reader!
By Cherry Keal
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Time Killer (Kindle Edition)
Author Todd M. Thiede plunges you into a murder scene from the beginning of this mystery thriller. You will enjoy this author’s unique writing style while following the detectives as they sort through the trail left by a serial killer with a cause and a message for his victims and others. Being a writer myself, it is usually easy for me to figure out a plot and character twists within a few pages of beginning the book, but Mr. Thiede keeps the reader wondering and guessing what will happen next as he builds the profile of a killer whose passion is to wake people up to the amount of time being wasted each day.
This book reminds me a bit of James Patterson and his Alex Cross books. You get a glimpse into the mind of a serial killer who gets so caught up in his work that he begins to toy with the detectives, leading them on a chase that has a surprise twist that even the killer himself couldn’t guess. This book is a must read for the action loving murder mystery reader!
June 17, 2013
Book one in the Max Larkin Detective series is a remarkable debut that will prompt fans of Criminal Minds and NCIS to read more and watch less television. This gripping thriller is quite terrifying and not for the faint of heart. A slaughtered family cues two young detectives, Max and Jesse who just became partners to unearth a murderer. Little do they know that they will be attempting to track down a gruesome serial killer. In this frightening murder mystery, Thiede grants the reader access to the killer's warped mind where we get to witness the horrid slayings described vividly and graphically. The disturbing storyline with several plot twists and turns flows with ease throughout, and Max and Jesse possess ample personality and are an admirable duo of characters. Although some of the dialogue was unrealistic, almost forced at times, it won't stop book lovers from anticipating the next installment in this new, bizarre series.
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