I'm not really a big horror buff so I went into this expecting that it would probably be a tough read for me. The surprise was on me. Aside from the killer's method for murdering people, and the fact that the first victim was a child, I really got into this book. That probably had to do with the fact that there was quite a bit of suspense, and that there were actually two stories unfolding.
First, poor Jeffrey. Sweet, clumsy, the voice of reason among his friends Jeffrey gets hit by a truck on his way home one evening, and dies. His friends in their grief decide to try to raise him from the dead. Not really expecting it to work, they are shocked when it does, but not quite right. This starts a chain of reactions that eventually lead several of them into the path of the serial killer now living in their small town.
Cal Denver is used to blending in. He moves from town to town looking for his next meal. Unfortunately, Cal is no normal man seeking employment, a place to live, and a home cooked meal. Nope, old Cal is a cannibal. And can I say YUCK!? I've got to agree with another reviewer, the detail of what he does is a bit much for me. And when I think about it, seriously gross. It isn't excruciating, but any description about eating live flesh is just UGH.
There is a lot of petty in-fighting amongst the townspeople. As a result, the FBI gets called in, and there is more fighting there. It takes a while before they start to find the victims and the two separate stories blend together seamlessly. Although a bit morose there at the end, both stories do wrap up and in a way that is not altogether expected. I think the author did a great job with this one and if you're a fan of horror or have the stomach for this type of book, I found it a good read and would recommend it to any fan of this genre.