I Disappeared Them

by Preston L. Allen

A serial killer's desire to protect children fuels a parallel drive to murder other sadistic men in this immersive and literary psychological thriller. BULLIED AS CHILD FOR BEING OVERWEIGHT and an orphan, the serial killer in I Disappeared Them hides in plain sight. By day, he is an affable family man with a disarming smile, surrounded by his children and loving wife. At night he punches the clock as a hard-working pizza man. After work, he roams Miami's nighttime streets as the Periwinkle Killer, the sociopath passing judgment on the wicked according to a twisted moral code. He believes himself to be a defender of women and children. The Everglades is filling up with the corpses of his victims. He must be stopped, but there are no clues except the periwinkles he leaves at every crime scene. I Disappeared Them is a brutal, boy meets girl love story that delves into the Periwinkle Killer’s childhood to confront the age-old question, is a serial killer designed or destined? Like Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho and Joyce Carol Oates's Zombie, Preston L. Allen's immersive narrative hauntingly occupies the peculiar psychological landscape of a murderer.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Dark, Crime, Thriller

312 pages, Hardcover

First published April 2, 2024

About the author

Preston L. Allen is the author of the new novel, I DISAPPEARED THEM (Akashic 2024)

Preston L. Allen, a graduate of the University of Florida (BA '87) and Florida International University (MFA '94), is a recipient of a State of Florida Individual Artist Fellowship and a recipient of the Sonja H. Stone Prize in Fiction. His work has been published in the Seattle Review and the Crab Orchard Review and has been anthologized in Las Vegas Noir, Miami Noir, Brown Sugar, Making the Hook-Up, and Here We Are: a Collection of South Florida Writers. His short story collection CHURCHBOYS AND OTHER SINNERS (Carolina Wren Press 2003) is the winner of the Sonja H. Stone Prize in Fiction, and his novels ALL OR NOTHING, JESUS BOY, and EVERY BOY SHOULD HAVE A MAN have received rave reviews from the New York Times Book Review, Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal, The Kirkus Review, Florida Book Review, The Feminist Review, and Foreword Magazine.

His latest novel is I DISAPPEARED THEM (Akashic, 2024).

https://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/....

He teaches creative writing in Miami, Florida. You can find him on Facebook or on his blog, PrestonLaLLen.blogspot.com. email: pallenagogy@aol.com

Reviews

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked about this book were the sections that told the personal story of our very unreliable protagonist who grows up to be the serial murderer known as The Periwinkle Killer. Was it childhood trauma that made him a killer? familial legacy? Or was it an anomaly within his psychological makeup? Can the murders be justified if the killer targets abusers?

The parts I did not like so much were the murders themselves. They just did not make much sense to me. Wouldn’t a company pizza delivery van with a mattress in the back be somewhat suspicious to other pizza employees? How about the unexplained time away from work (he’s the manager)? And how can he manage to do so much—take care of the kids, keep the house impeccably clean, work, keep his wife happy, kill--in a day?

Besides all this, however, I had a good time reading this book; even with all of the implausabilities. The writing was very good, and the twists and turns were fun.

I would like to thank Akashic Books and LibraryThing for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a walk through a disturbed mind. Told in the third person by "the Hunter," he leads you through his reasons for choosing his victims and I found them compelling. And then, you learn his family history. The characters are presented only through the Hunter's eyes, but you feel you know them. The story line is tight, the ending is not unexpected, but well done. I enjoyed this one.

[Tristan Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eerie and immersive, a fascinating and unsettling read. I mean that with the highest compliments.

[MGS · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark and twisted tale that’s also hilarious and touching at times, Preston Allen’s "I Disappeared Them" brings the serial-killer story back to Miami. It’s a page-turning addition to a popular genre set in the world’s hottest city and written with all the literary dimensions and signature style we’ve come to expect from Allen’s books. I couldn’t put it down.

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is in the top ten of most effed books I have ever read. I would have read this in one day if life’s obligations didn’t get in the way because it was hard to put down. I have read a lot of true crime and fictional books about serial killers and this author creeped me out the most of all of them.

Thank you for the advance copy for an honest review.

[Lit_Vibrations · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this was such an odd experience like I enjoyed it but then it got a bit weird. The novel follows Poe a boy bullied during his childhood only to grow up and become a well known serial killer in Miami. They called him the Periwinkle Killer. Poe wasn’t just an ordinary man who delivered pizzas and went home at night to his loving family. Poe was a sociopath on the verge of destruction. He sought pleasure in killing those who targeted the innocent, weak, and vulnerable which were mainly women and children. One thing I can say Poe didn’t kill without a reason although it wasn’t his place to intervene someone had to do law enforcements job . . . . at least that’s what he thought.

I can get down with the true crime/ serial killer vibes but the writing style and writing itself was very different. Since the book made references to Edgar Allen Poe which he was notorious for his work and odd writing style I’m going to assume some of the authors inspiration came from him.

The synopsis posed the question of whether a serial killer is designed or destined. In Poe’s case I’d say he was designed to be a serial killer. The father that raised him was a serial killer himself and Poe loved his father so I think he was just following in his footsteps. There were a few things that probably pushed Poe over the edge mentally like losing his father, being bullied, his best-friend committing suicide, and getting his side piece pregnant which caused him to lose the girlfriend he was so called in love with. So, I don’t think he was destined to be a killer just a lot of factors came into play that contributed to his irrational behavior.

Overall, the book was crazy it’s hard to explain. If you’re into true crime serial killer type books this might be for you. It does get a little confusing because it flips between a 1st and 3rd person point of view. But character development was great and the ending was so unexpected definitely made me say WTF‼️ Special thanks to the author & @akashicbooks for my gifted copy.

Rating: 3.75/5⭐️

[Miriam Downey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eight years ago, a Kalamazoo Uber driver killed 6 people and injured 2 others in a one-night shooting spree. Dead and injured were Uber clients he had picked up. I thought about him a lot as I was reading I Disappeared Them by Preston Allen.

While the Kalamazoo killer revealed that he thought the Uber app on his phone was directing his killing spree, the Periwinkle killer in I Disappeared Them is motivated by what he considers altruism—to rid the world of abuse to women and children. The author delves deep into the killer’s mind to attempt to answer the questions as to whether a serial killer is destined to be a killer or if the spree is circumstantial.

The book is a fascinating look at a killer’s motivation--something that is so hard to understand. To his credit, Allen tells an entire story, and does not leave the reader trying to figure everything out. He uses as his reference several well-known serial killing sprees. I was intrigued enough to read through the entire book, but I often scolded myself for wasting my time on something so negative. Darn it, though, I Disappeared Them was very well written!

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy through my work thanks to Akashic books with expected publication April, 2, 2024.

I enjoyed the book even though it took me a moment to get used to the main character being referenced as "the hunter". I loved being able to get a glimpse of the childhood of the hunter and to explore the theme of "is a serial killer made or born?".

I've always been intrigued by the physiological makeup of serial killers. Why do they think and react the way they do? Was it their past childhood circumstances? Or where they born with certain dispositions that no matter what their childhood was like, something would eventually "trigger" them?

I had favorite parts of the story and a couple times I was routing for the main character to make it out ok, and to overcome his mental obstacles. The ending was very entertaining and landed on a major plot twist I did not see coming. It helped add to the depth of the plot and background that I did enjoy seeing.

[Dawn Marache · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I Disappeared Them is scary good! Allen puts you in the Periwinkle Killer’s mind and you get to know him as more than a sociopath, you get to know him as a human. You enter his childhood and experience it the way he does, the name-calling, the bullying, the despair, but also the beautiful friendships. You enter his love life, feel his joy, his loss, his pain of betrayal. Like him, you wrestle with the demons that lead to violence and murder, but he never ceases to be human. I agree with the book jacket review that the Periwinkle Killer is a “complex blend of darkness and humanity.” I’m blown away by this book.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway

I would rate this book closer to 4.5 stars. I was immediately drawn into the character of the Hunter. I had tons of questions as I read and as one was answered, another would pop up. Excellently written story with lots of twists and turn. I NEVER saw the last one coming.

I enjoyed the way Allen created the characters in such a way that you didn’t always get generic physical descriptions but you understood who they were as people.

My main complaint is completely silly but I was very annoyed every time there was a teehee inserted as a laugh. I don’t know why it bothered me but it really did.

[Wendy Remez · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars-Poe (Edgar Jackson) is a serial killer. The kind made famous by Dexter, the kind who murders bad guys (and the guy who slept with his girlfriend/wife.) The first 100 pages were super entertaining, but I found myself wondering, is something going to happen?! Flashback to high school and we really get to know Poe…and in an odd way, maybe even like him just a teeny tiny bit. The writing of this book is so fast paced and the chapters are short. I devoured it in one sitting wondering how it was going to end (very good I will say.) This was a refreshing take on the serial killer story that we so often see and definitely a win for me!

[Haider · Rating 3 out of 5]

💬 Review: I really liked the premise of this book, but the writing style just wasn’t for me and I found it a bit distracting at times. This is definitely more of a character driven story than a fast paced, twisty thriller, so it wasn’t quite what I was expecting.

That said, I can see why other readers enjoyed it. If you like psychological thrillers that focus more on the characters and their motivations than nonstop action and twists, this one may be worth checking out.

✔️ Would I recommend it? Maybe, but don’t go into it expecting a fast paced, twisty thriller. If you enjoy a slower, more character focused psychological thriller, this may be more your style.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t like it. I wanted to and was interested but the sense of him was never clear enough, what he cared about/believes in, it was very shallow a few specific things repeated that didn’t let me create someone real, then none of his actions made sense. It just felt like a collection of traits and actions put together in a way that mimics plot and turns in narrative but didn’t feel like a real story about real people. Some nice turns of phrase/writing but kind of a dud overall. But glad I read

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. This was a quick read, but one that I’m fairly ambivalent about. The “teeheehee” and. “Dada” grated on me, but the writing format immersing you into his mind was interesting, if a bit confusing at times. Overall, it was fine.

[JC Sevart · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this one well written or good or particularly interesting...no. But! For reasons I have a hard time articulating I liked it a lot. It's strange, it's off-putting, the strange way plot points are revealed, and the odd ending really work for me

[Ashlee Beal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I thought the beginning and end were entertaining but I feel like the middle where they flashbacked seemed to take forever to get through. I’m glad I got to read this as it was definitely a change from the other books I’ve read recently.

[DIANA GRILLIOT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good storyline and characters. Just not my cup of tea.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a phenomenal read! I suggest for all!

[Kristen Serchen · Rating 1 out of 5]

10/10 don't recommend.

[Sue Hittle · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can I describe this book? What a wild story.
Short chapters kept me reading. Often felt confusion trying to understand what was happening. Just a truly unique and twisted story.

[Kara Ukolowicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror fiction at its best. A twisty thinker!

[Mars · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stars and ½!

This book fascinated me. I'm not sure I enjoyed the whole of it, but I couldn't stop listening.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book overall. The writing and arrangement were different and unique. I enjoyed that each chapter seemed to be like a cut to the next scene in a movie and eventually it all culminated into the story that is Periwinkle. That being said, much of this book closely resembles Dexter. The father’s voice in the killer’s head, the tumultuous love life, the code that he adheres to related to the killings… all seemed very, very similar to Dexter. And what is the deal with everyone being five foot seven? Besides the hunter, who is six foot two, every character was described as not terribly tall, standing at five foot seven. The way the hunter dies is very anticlimactic and quick. I felt it deserved more but the writer seemed to want to give him a hero’s death. Overall, this was a fun read but it felt too similar at some points.