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Encounter
★★★★★ “Once again, a tour de force from Mr. Wickard.””… “…right up there with some of the biggest names in the thriller genre.” ★★★★★ “Sexy, hot & heart-pounding, this thriller will turn you inside out!” ★★★★★ ENCOUNTER You know him... known him... You met in college...you were sweethearts, lovers...remember? He wasn't your first... But, you vowed he'd be your last. For over fifteen years you've been married to him... had children by him... created a life with him... Then... he takes a business trip. Nothing unusual. A normal occurrence for his profession... The problem is... he doesn't return. EVER! Do you know where your husband is? San Francisco 2010 Five men. All mysteriously disappear. No clues... no ransom notes... no bodies. Vanished! Without a trace. Are you available tonight for a...thriller?
- GenresMystery
420 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2013
11 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Wickard
12 books263 followersTHE WANTING HOUR
JUNE 1, 2018
It's never too late for an awakening.
JUNE 1, 2018
It's never too late for an awakening.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 23, 2013
Alex is a successful businessman and has a wonderful wife and two kids. He also has a secret. His trips out of town aren't only about business. He manages to get some fun in too. When he flies to San Francisco for a meeting that is work related, Alex sets up a little fun too. Within just a few days, Rhonda, Alex's wife will realize she never really knew her husband. Her missing persons report opens the file on the horror happening in San Francisco! The police are stumped and clues can't be found anywhere. What is happening to married businessmen who come to San Francisco? Everyone would like to find out but it may change them all forever!
Sexy, hot and heart pounding, this thriller will turn you inside out! Extremely well written with characters defined so well you can feel their breath. You will NOT put this book down until you reach the end, it's that engaging. I found this thriller to be right up there with some of the biggest names in the thriller genre. Mr Wickard has the uncanny ability to lure you in slowly and then SLAM the door behind you. This is a book you'll be telling friends about.
I found no issues.
I gave this one 5+ cheers out of 5 because it made my skin crawl.. that's a good thing. *smile*
COMING THANKSGIVING DAY!!!
Sexy, hot and heart pounding, this thriller will turn you inside out! Extremely well written with characters defined so well you can feel their breath. You will NOT put this book down until you reach the end, it's that engaging. I found this thriller to be right up there with some of the biggest names in the thriller genre. Mr Wickard has the uncanny ability to lure you in slowly and then SLAM the door behind you. This is a book you'll be telling friends about.
I found no issues.
I gave this one 5+ cheers out of 5 because it made my skin crawl.. that's a good thing. *smile*
COMING THANKSGIVING DAY!!!
January 13, 2014
Encounter by Douglas Wickard is a powerful, tension building, compelling and exciting psychological masterpiece of a thriller from a maestro of page turning storytelling.
Encounter will grab you and hold you captive from the emotionally charged beginning to the suspenseful and unexpected pulse quickening climax.
In San Francisco, married men are arriving, but disappearing. Men who from the outside looking in seem to have it all, a wonderful family life, wealth and orderly and well organised lives but, they all have well hidden secrets, secrets that will ultimately change their lives and the lives of everyone close to them.
Alex Kitas is one of the men who has disappeared so wife Rhonda reports him as missing.
So we begin this artfully constructed storyline, meet many complex and fascinating characters, Inspector Vanessa Sanchez, profiler Harry Wright and newly graduated FBI agent Dan Hammer to name but a few and follow Douglas Wickard’s deftly woven plot to its ultimate conclusion.
I absolutely loved this thriller, a “corker” of a read that I couldn't put down and was reading till the early hours.
Douglas Wickard is a Tour de Force in the art of storytelling and Encounter comes highly recommended. I very much look forward to the author’s next novel.
Encounter will grab you and hold you captive from the emotionally charged beginning to the suspenseful and unexpected pulse quickening climax.
In San Francisco, married men are arriving, but disappearing. Men who from the outside looking in seem to have it all, a wonderful family life, wealth and orderly and well organised lives but, they all have well hidden secrets, secrets that will ultimately change their lives and the lives of everyone close to them.
Alex Kitas is one of the men who has disappeared so wife Rhonda reports him as missing.
So we begin this artfully constructed storyline, meet many complex and fascinating characters, Inspector Vanessa Sanchez, profiler Harry Wright and newly graduated FBI agent Dan Hammer to name but a few and follow Douglas Wickard’s deftly woven plot to its ultimate conclusion.
I absolutely loved this thriller, a “corker” of a read that I couldn't put down and was reading till the early hours.
Douglas Wickard is a Tour de Force in the art of storytelling and Encounter comes highly recommended. I very much look forward to the author’s next novel.
May 16, 2015
The beginning is pitiful and dark. The reader knows that things can only go bad in the long run. A little boy is forced to accompany his father - a well known actor - when he goes for a "massage" and a homosexual encounter. This happens regularly and sets the scene for the future.
The characters are well drawn; the detectives are likable people in whom I invested concern. Mr Wickard expertly shows their private lives and how frustration impinges on their relationships. The characterisation of the serial killer's victims are brilliantly portrayed, three of which the reader gets to know intimately. As their stories unfold, there is an inexorable sense of dread in the manuscript. I wanted to yell, "No, don't go there!" The families of the victims are expertly shown - the pain and anguish of some upon the realisation of their loved one's secret lives.
Such is the skill of this author that I became sorry for the killer, in fact one couldn't but be aware of why the person is committing these vicious and sordid crimes.
A truly terrifying and well crafted novel.
Congratulations, Mr Wickard
The characters are well drawn; the detectives are likable people in whom I invested concern. Mr Wickard expertly shows their private lives and how frustration impinges on their relationships. The characterisation of the serial killer's victims are brilliantly portrayed, three of which the reader gets to know intimately. As their stories unfold, there is an inexorable sense of dread in the manuscript. I wanted to yell, "No, don't go there!" The families of the victims are expertly shown - the pain and anguish of some upon the realisation of their loved one's secret lives.
Such is the skill of this author that I became sorry for the killer, in fact one couldn't but be aware of why the person is committing these vicious and sordid crimes.
A truly terrifying and well crafted novel.
Congratulations, Mr Wickard
November 24, 2013
WOW !!!!! I MEAN WOW ! This book absolutely blew my mind. It is awesome, brilliant, and enticing. Douglas Wickard did a fantastic job of writing this thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat through out the entire book. I could not put this book down (seriously, I would go hide from my kids so I could finish a chapter). Married men are dying in San Francisco. Who is killing these men, where are their bodies, and how do we catch this killer ? Inspector Sanchez is determined to solve this mystery. Will she catch her killer? I read a lot of books (all sorts of genres) but this book, this book seriously just became my number #1 book of the year. This book was beautifully written with multiple story lines that all come together in the end to bring this thriller to an exciting conclusion. I have to say, I did not figure out who did it, not until the very end when it was revealed. You have to read this book. I mean it, you really, really have to read this book. Douglas Wickard you did it again. I give it 5 stars.
November 23, 2013
The action begins with a prologue that expertly sets the tone for things to come. The scene is viewed through the eyes of a boy, and without being explicit it sets an atmosphere of mistrust, secretive, slightly sordid homosexual encounters, beneath everything a festering hatred and disgust that become a recurrent theme.
The novel deals with the disappearance of several men at the hands of a serial killer. All the victims seem to have the perfect life, position, family, children. After their disappearance the facade unravels. The victims craved something extra; excitement and freedom from the confines of home life. The portraits are totally believable. Much as people may want to think this is just a construct for a novel, the scenario is repeated in real life more often than you may feel comfortable admitting. The writing in these scenes is right on target and superbly constructed.
Mr Wickard detours into the world of bodybuilding, gyms and secret liaisons masquerading as "massage" with skill. He touches on the underbelly of this mode of life lightly but surely, and again leaves the reader to draw their own conclusions.
The scenes with the serial killer gradually escalate and are genuinely, intensely horrifying in their depiction. We are allowed insights into the killers mind, motives and actions that generate feelings of revulsion, but also a compelling need to keep reading. Mr Wickard displays genuine talent in his masterful handling of the narrative threads.
We are introduced to new protagonists in this novel. Not setting out to win the sympathy of anybody as we learn more about them, particularly Inspector Vanessa Sanchez, we become more and more attracted for good or bad. The characters are human, they face similar stresses and strains. Many will recognise the fight to escape a divorce, or the desire to connect with their children. My feeling was one of admiration and respect for Inspector Sanchez rather than liking, which demonstrates that there are multiple ways of engaging with characters.
Red herrings and clues are expertly scattered and I finished the book in a rush, completely carried along with the excitement and the surprise at the killer. Once again, a tour de force from Mr Wickard.
The novel deals with the disappearance of several men at the hands of a serial killer. All the victims seem to have the perfect life, position, family, children. After their disappearance the facade unravels. The victims craved something extra; excitement and freedom from the confines of home life. The portraits are totally believable. Much as people may want to think this is just a construct for a novel, the scenario is repeated in real life more often than you may feel comfortable admitting. The writing in these scenes is right on target and superbly constructed.
Mr Wickard detours into the world of bodybuilding, gyms and secret liaisons masquerading as "massage" with skill. He touches on the underbelly of this mode of life lightly but surely, and again leaves the reader to draw their own conclusions.
The scenes with the serial killer gradually escalate and are genuinely, intensely horrifying in their depiction. We are allowed insights into the killers mind, motives and actions that generate feelings of revulsion, but also a compelling need to keep reading. Mr Wickard displays genuine talent in his masterful handling of the narrative threads.
We are introduced to new protagonists in this novel. Not setting out to win the sympathy of anybody as we learn more about them, particularly Inspector Vanessa Sanchez, we become more and more attracted for good or bad. The characters are human, they face similar stresses and strains. Many will recognise the fight to escape a divorce, or the desire to connect with their children. My feeling was one of admiration and respect for Inspector Sanchez rather than liking, which demonstrates that there are multiple ways of engaging with characters.
Red herrings and clues are expertly scattered and I finished the book in a rush, completely carried along with the excitement and the surprise at the killer. Once again, a tour de force from Mr Wickard.
December 13, 2013
"The Perfect Spine-Tingling Thriller"
If you like thrillers, especially the macabre thrillers of Jeffery Deaver, you will definitely like this novel by Douglas Wickard. This is a story about professional married men arriving in San Francisco on business for a couple of days, and never making their meetings or even returning home. Alex Kitas is taking a retreat from his perfect life: job, wife, children, all of which he finds boring. He arrives in San Francisco to also satisfy his sexual hungers. He enjoys such forays while on business trips, it was his well-planned secret. But this time, the results were anything but pleasurable and erotic as he lays on a massage table and is suddenly drugged, losing all muscle control, and then glimpses a sharp knife as it makes the first ... cut. His wife, Rhonda receives no word from Alex and becomes very concerned. She leaves her children with their grandparents and flies to San Francisco and eventually reports him as a missing person. Inspector Vanessa Sanchez of SFPD is assigned to the case. Vanessa is a very professional law enforcer since her dad, Teddy Romano, had in his past assisted Harry Wright from Quantico on the "Trailside Killer" case. She's a divorced mother of a young girl, and while at a local gym meets Lucas who works at the gym. They eventually start dating and she's hopeful he'll be everything that he appears. On their first date, as they depart, little do they know that someone is watching them from the shadows. Alex is the fourth missing man, and the fifth is the son of a very rich man who pushes the SFPD to include the FBI in working this case. Coming on scene is Harry Wright, expert profiler, and the mentor of newly graduated FBI Agent Dan Hammer. Many characters in this exciting, pulsing thriller seem to have secrets. Who will break this case? This novel is uniquely written with much briefly descriptive detail to help you visualize the settings. The story is potent and tense, one you will not want to put down. Without a doubt, Douglas Wickard knows how to write a wicked thriller! Read it!
If you like thrillers, especially the macabre thrillers of Jeffery Deaver, you will definitely like this novel by Douglas Wickard. This is a story about professional married men arriving in San Francisco on business for a couple of days, and never making their meetings or even returning home. Alex Kitas is taking a retreat from his perfect life: job, wife, children, all of which he finds boring. He arrives in San Francisco to also satisfy his sexual hungers. He enjoys such forays while on business trips, it was his well-planned secret. But this time, the results were anything but pleasurable and erotic as he lays on a massage table and is suddenly drugged, losing all muscle control, and then glimpses a sharp knife as it makes the first ... cut. His wife, Rhonda receives no word from Alex and becomes very concerned. She leaves her children with their grandparents and flies to San Francisco and eventually reports him as a missing person. Inspector Vanessa Sanchez of SFPD is assigned to the case. Vanessa is a very professional law enforcer since her dad, Teddy Romano, had in his past assisted Harry Wright from Quantico on the "Trailside Killer" case. She's a divorced mother of a young girl, and while at a local gym meets Lucas who works at the gym. They eventually start dating and she's hopeful he'll be everything that he appears. On their first date, as they depart, little do they know that someone is watching them from the shadows. Alex is the fourth missing man, and the fifth is the son of a very rich man who pushes the SFPD to include the FBI in working this case. Coming on scene is Harry Wright, expert profiler, and the mentor of newly graduated FBI Agent Dan Hammer. Many characters in this exciting, pulsing thriller seem to have secrets. Who will break this case? This novel is uniquely written with much briefly descriptive detail to help you visualize the settings. The story is potent and tense, one you will not want to put down. Without a doubt, Douglas Wickard knows how to write a wicked thriller! Read it!
January 30, 2014
On the outside everything seems normal "Encounter " ( FBI Agent Dan Hammer) By Douglas Wickard
A perfect life, a perfect wife and children, that's what Alex's life was like, or was it? Alex and Rhonda Kitas seemed to be that couple who had it all. Alex thought his life was doomed from the beginning, he had a celebrity father who had secrets that Alex wasn't suppose to know about. Alex knew about those secrets. Alex worked for a network and took trips often, this trip to San Francisco was going just like any other trip he took. Rhonda was doing her usual, walking the kids to school in the morning after Alex got in a cab to go to the airport. She was happy in her life with Alex and the kids, or was she? She always got calls from Alex like clockwork, so when she didn't receive her usual call that morning from Alex, she started to worry. There are so many twist and turns in this well written mystery thriller that you must read for yourself. The author does a wonderful job keeping your attention with strong characters and well thought out action. I'll be reading more from this author.
A perfect life, a perfect wife and children, that's what Alex's life was like, or was it? Alex and Rhonda Kitas seemed to be that couple who had it all. Alex thought his life was doomed from the beginning, he had a celebrity father who had secrets that Alex wasn't suppose to know about. Alex knew about those secrets. Alex worked for a network and took trips often, this trip to San Francisco was going just like any other trip he took. Rhonda was doing her usual, walking the kids to school in the morning after Alex got in a cab to go to the airport. She was happy in her life with Alex and the kids, or was she? She always got calls from Alex like clockwork, so when she didn't receive her usual call that morning from Alex, she started to worry. There are so many twist and turns in this well written mystery thriller that you must read for yourself. The author does a wonderful job keeping your attention with strong characters and well thought out action. I'll be reading more from this author.
February 6, 2014
Encounter, like the other two books of Mr. Wickard’s that I have read, moves along at a rapid pace. The characters are introduced in a broad brush stroke initially then filled in with more details as the story unfolds.
There aren’t that many writers who make the reader sense the story using all five senses the way Mr. Wickard can. There are times I feel his scene description tends to slow down the stories progress, yet I was moved through the scene fully sensing its smells, texture and how the character felt about the setting and tasting the alcohol.
There are a couple of interesting twists in this story that weren’t anticipated making this reviewer kick himself for not seeing it coming.
I’m glad I’ve discovered Douglas Wickard and will be reading his novels as fast as he can write them.
There aren’t that many writers who make the reader sense the story using all five senses the way Mr. Wickard can. There are times I feel his scene description tends to slow down the stories progress, yet I was moved through the scene fully sensing its smells, texture and how the character felt about the setting and tasting the alcohol.
There are a couple of interesting twists in this story that weren’t anticipated making this reviewer kick himself for not seeing it coming.
I’m glad I’ve discovered Douglas Wickard and will be reading his novels as fast as he can write them.
July 7, 2014
OMG! I just finished Encounter, a 5 Star Must Read thriller that surpasses all other horror, sci-fi & suspense best sellers out there! ... If I hadn't have been so busy the last couple weeks, I could have read this page turning book much faster but, not a night :o ... It was that scary with twists & turns that keep me guessing & almost jumping out of my skin :o LOL ... I never knew who the psycho was until the very end!... Can't wait for more books with Dan and or Vanessa in them!!
June 13, 2014
VERY good book - excellent writing, story and characters. This is a suspense novel with no constructive romance. I thought I had it all figured out until about 2/3 through and then it was back to square one.
January 12, 2014
Review coming next week!!!
December 2, 2014
I enjoyed this book.
August 17, 2014
Great suspense
I liked this book a lot. it was suspenseful and kept my attention. Good plot twists and good character development.
I liked this book a lot. it was suspenseful and kept my attention. Good plot twists and good character development.
July 21, 2019
I don't do book reviews.......
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way
I don't do book reviews like you keep seeing, as I find that some give too much of the plot away and I personally hate that, as it makes the book not worth reading. I much prefer to take the authors back cover write up as a review as it can either intrigue you enough to read the book of provide you enough information to make you decide that the book is not for you.
My review rules are: The more stars, the more I liked it.
If there are too many typos or errors the less stars I give
If the storyline or plot is poor or contains too many errors, the characters are too weak, the ending lacking something, then the less stars I give.
Simple, uncomplicated and to the point without giving anything away.
Some of the books I read have been given to me by the author as a pre-release copy and this does not bias my reviews in any way
Read
January 15, 2020Couldn't out it down!
I really enjoyed reading this book. You are hooked from the beginning and it only picks up speed as you are drawn into the lives of all the characters. The twists and turns keep you engaged and wanting to read more. This is the 1st book I have read of Douglas Wickard and I will definitely be checking out more of his writings.
I really enjoyed reading this book. You are hooked from the beginning and it only picks up speed as you are drawn into the lives of all the characters. The twists and turns keep you engaged and wanting to read more. This is the 1st book I have read of Douglas Wickard and I will definitely be checking out more of his writings.
September 30, 2015
I liked this book, but I wouldn't call it a Dan Hammer book. There was very little that was about him and he definitely didn't solve any mysteries. I think it should have been called a Sanchez mystery. I liked her character and the conflict of being a single mom and a police inspector was interesting. I thought the over-all plot was good and the characters were great. I will definitely read more by Douglas Wickard.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews