Death Rites

by Bruce Elliot

A woman’s nightmare, a cop’s redemption, and a killer’s ritual. Night after night, Michelle Ransom is trapped in a terrifying dreamworld where the faceless bodies of murdered women haunt her, drawing her ever closer to the edge of madness. Is it all in her mind . . . or all too real? Since his wife’s death, grief and alcohol have slowly consumed LAPD detective Amiel “Touch” Benson. Until a chance meeting with Michelle Ransom reminds him what he once was and what he once had. When Michelle’s visions come to life in very real and very disturbing crime scenes, Benson is forced to consider the impossible. Is Michelle truly psychic? Or is she a suspect? Either way, Benson must risk everything to find out. Because the final ritual has already begun.

388 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2002

Reviews

[Mansuriah Hassan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I really couldn't put it down and found myself completely engulfed in it till the last page. This is the second series of LAPD Detective Touch Benson. The main characters, Amiel Touch Benson, and his partner Amanda Blaine are smart, funny, vulnerable and real, something you don't find often in other serial killer books. In this book, Touch and Amanda pursues a psychotic killer, Charles Grissom (who is delusional and thinks that he is the reincarnation of an Egyptian God). He commits a series of murder by luring young women and murdering them in ritualistic manner.

In Death Rites, Touch is consumed with grief and alcohol ever since his wife's death. Until he met Michelle Ransom, his childhood sweetheart. The trouble is, Michelle seems to be able to predict the murders through her dreams. The twist is when Michelle's own daughter was kidnapped by the killer. What happens next? Read this book to find out :)

The writings is excellent! We get a frightening peek into the mind of the psychotic killer. The author, Bruce Elliot writes in a very descriptive manner making you feel that you are a part of the story.. The pace is fast, pulling you along in its wake until you realize you have reached the end of the book! Highly recommended for admirers of the genre, and also for anyone who craves walking on the dark side (sounds spooky right?) :)

I am now in the quest to look for Elliot's first book from the Detective Amiel Touch Benson series.

[Dawn Olson-Cotie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent book. I enjoyed the characters and the storyline, although there were a few parts that didn't add up. The ending was a little confusing as to why some characters did what they did and how it all came about, but overall an easy and enjoyable read.

[Brett]

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