Blind Evil

by Eric Praschan

Sometimes you can be so close to evil, you can't even see it.

Police detective John Grayson's worst nightmare comes to life when he investigates a chilling double homicide and discovers that his best friend, David Vincent, is the prime suspect. As John unravels the mystery and trails the killer across Missouri, he finds himself caught in the web of David's twisted psychological schemes. The terror increases when Emily Dolon, the woman both John and David have loved since childhood, becomes the target of David's macabre mind games.

Trapped between his duty of solving the case and his devotion to his best friend, John struggles to find the truth, knowing he must execute justice, even if it costs him lifelong loyalties or his own life. Blind Evil is a taut psychological thriller that explores the dark place where sanity and madness collide.

Genres: Suspense, Mystery

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 11, 2014

About the author

Eric Praschan lives in Springfield, MO, with his wife. He loves writing and reading. He has a background in drama, music, teaching, and theology. He enjoys college football, March Madness, Marvel movies and monster movies, hard rock music, and spending time with family and friends at cookouts and game nights.

His fiction writing is suspense in nature and often involves psychological thriller elements. His nonfiction writing is focused on theological themes involving the intersection of faith and daily living.

For more information, please check out his website at www.ericpraschan.com.

Reviews

[Babus Ahmed · Rating 3 out of 5]

A riveting thriller about a psychologist who was abused as a child by his meth-addicted parents and his two best friends Emily and John. When Emily breaks her engagement off with David and falls in love with John, David seems to take the news very well, too well in fact.

This love triangle is corrupted by the experiences David had been through resulting in a very malevolent side of him emerging.

Although this reasonably short book was very engaging it lacked the psychological sophistication of Hannibal the cannibal and there was some confusion between psychologists and psychiatrists. I was sure David and Emily were psychologists at the start of the book but then they were psychiatrists. There is a distinction and I also found that the psychology had been overly dumbed down in parts.

David was a creepy character before his transformation and I found myself questioning how much good friends would have overlooked, for example the killing and hurrying of 55 animals? Anyway the good hits made this thriller worth it, even if some part left me unconvinced.

[Frances Vivienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read.

This is the first book I've read by Eric Praschan,
The characters are well place, the storyline is good, and you don't have to think who the killer is, as it comes out early in the story. We all have friends we have known from childhood, or do were really know them ? The big question is, if you gradually found out one could be very dangerous, would you still want them for a friend ? Well, why not, how could you give up your best man - We three will always stay friends. Read it and find out.
I will be very happy to read more from this author.
A recommend read.

[Brian O'Hare · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT ZIGS...IT ZAGS...IT KEEPS YOU GUESSING

Blind Evil is a psychological thriller so fraught with tension that it keeps the reader’s heart in his mouth all the way through it. The main antagonist is seriously psychotic, fiendishly manipulative and eerily creepy. It is his brilliant but evil machinations that keep the reader wondering what awful circumstance is going to occur next. Early in the story the killer is caught…but is he? Then he disappears…but has he? He swears he loves his two friends…but does he? He says he will kill them… but will he? With David there are no answers, only questions….and a never-ending sense of dread. Jekyll and Hyde…except that Jekyll is an illusion? Or is he?

Eric Prashan’s taut writing drags the reader straight into the story from page one. The murder, the suspect, the back stories are all expertly dealt with in only a few pages. With his deft touch, the characters grow from names to real people in a matter of minutes. In David Vincent, particularly, Prashan has created a character as memorable and intriguing, I would venture to suggest, as Hannibal Lecter. Tortured by his parents from early childhood, he overcomes his background to grow into a suave, highly qualified psychiatrist with an unnatural interest in the psychology of violence. This interest eventually evolves from theory to practice leading his two lifelong friends into a horror-ridden vortex of suspense, heartache and terror.

Prashan’s plotting is original, tight and complex leaving the reader absolutely clueless about what is to happen next. The real trial and the mock trial both take the reader down paths so unexpected that he has to stop guessing where the story leads and simply go with it. Even when the killer is manacled on death row, his aura of menace is ever-present but the reader is relieved that his murder spree is at an end. Or is it?

This is a great story by a skilled writer comfortable with his craft. It is an absolute must for any kindle library and I would strongly recommend it to all aficionados of the thriller genre.

[Kathryn Dionne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What motivates you the most; love or fear?

Detective John Grayson, Emily Dolon and David Vincent have been best friends since grade school. They both love Emily. But when Emily chooses John over David, David can't control his psychotic obsessions anymore and begins to torment both John and Emily with sadistic mind games. Sent to investigate a series of bizarre killings, Detective Grayson begins to suspect that the killer is his best and life long friend, David.

In this hauntingly suspenseful story about love, loyalties and friendships, author Eric Praschan delves into the fundamental question of nurture verses nature. Is a person born with the need to kill or are those desires instilled to him?

I know it's cliche, but I honestly could not put this book down! It is such a tight, well written, and gripping story with so much thought behind the development of the characters, that, as far as I'm concerned, it's as close to a perfect story as you can get. Eric Praschan is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This is one of those MUST READ stories!!!

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-timed episodes told through alternating viewpoints carry this gruesome tale forward. It starts with mystery and turns fast toward horror, as three long-time friends find the hurts of the past overpower friendship’s ties. A clever setup leaves the reader guessing for a while, but soon the only question is how the killer will strike again, and psychological horror takes center stage. “The more fear you have, the more it will consume you,” is the claim. “Go ahead. Have fun.” And the characters seem all too willing to take those dangerous risks.

Details and plot aren’t always convincing, and the dialog’s stilted at times. But the story keeps you turning pages to see how the killer will strike again, and how or if the protagonists will ever escape. Dark, gruesome and unflinching, this is a tale of broken hearts and the long harsh shadow of abuse, of unforgiving guilt and dark revenge.

Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy and I offer my honest review.

[Deb Dillow · Rating 1 out of 5]

Silly and unbelievable

The story didn't make since from the very beginning. The leap from a letter to guilt? The heroes are portrayed as good and honorable yet didn't realize something was amiss with their closest friend? The escape was another leap without any backing. Just not well written.

[Lucila Rangel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book!

This was one I couldn't put down. Finished reading it at midnight -- it's now almost 1 AM and my arms still have goosebumps.

[Pat · Rating 1 out of 5]

Its not often I give one lonely star but I just didn't connect with this book at all. I couldn't relate to any of the characters. Their behaviour didn't make any sense and there was too much ridiculous dialogue which any any normal person would simply not entertain.

Why did John Immediately suspect that David was the killer on the basis of one letter? If Emily was afraid of David why was she working with him? Why did neither John nor Emily ever mention David's childhood abuse to anyone?

David appeared, in most of the book, to be simply grandstanding how brilliant he was - why would you indulge that? And the prison guards helped him escape AND set up his elaborate sting just days before he was due to die? Puhleeeese! Totally OTT and full of self-indulgent psychobabble. And the worst of it all for a thriller fan, the supposedly tense and dramatic moments felt totally flat and contrived. Sorry, but the book left me cold and unentertained. The best thing about it was its short length.

[Queen Spades · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: This abbreviated review was provided in exchange for an honest review. The full review can be found on The Review Board.

“Sometimes you can be so close to evil, you can’t even see it.” What a chilling line that leads into an enticing blurb. I sat down eager to read this work. There are a few things that a psychological thriller/crime drama must hold in order for it to hold my interest and achieve high marks for me. The main factors are:

(1) Well researched
(2) Strong sense of realism
(3) Unpredictable

Well Researched (aka “Did one do his homework?”)
One of the opportunities in Blind Evil was that I feel the author should have done more research with certain elements on the book. For one, there is a difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist, yet in multiple places, these terms were used interchangeably. The major areas in differences involve education (training and credentials), the prescribing of medication, and purpose. Two of the characters in this book—David and Emily—are described as psychiatrists, but when it comes to “fear tests”, that actually stems closer to the work of psychologists.

Realism (aka “Do I buy it?”)
There is embellishment and then there is outright fantasy. I don’t have anything against sensationalism and embellishment. Yet, even in crime fiction, there has to be some element of believably. I have to put myself in the moment and honestly feel like “that could happen to me”.

Unfortunately, I found quite a few things laughable and too many things made me go hmm, along with the “evil not being that blind” because I could see it by the time I got twenty-five percent in the book. Some of these queries are as follows:

(1) If John concluded from the gate that David is the prime suspect, why is he allowing the prime suspect to draw up the psychological profile on the serial killer? Isn’t that what the Behavioral Analysis Unit is for?

(2) Why was John even allowed to stay on the case, even though the Chief of Police knows John and David are best friends? I don’t care if John insisted he can stay objective, it’s a conflict of interest and he should have gotten thrown off the case. For all the Chief could have known, he and David may have been in cahoots.

(3) It is apparent throughout their association (with the flashbacks) that John and Emily have this obvious fear towards David. Why remain friends with someone you fear so strongly, to the point where your lives are put on hold and you’re afraid that one wrong statement may drive him off the deep end?

(4) If Emily and John claim to know David so well, how come he was always three steps ahead? I don’t think that showcased David’s smarts as much as it demonstrated Emily’s gross naivety and John’s shocking stupidity. Although I predict the author’s ultimate goal was for the reader to feel all sorry for Emily and John and totally abhor David, I found myself relating more to David (which was the better of three evils, since quite honestly, I wasn’t too crazy about any of the characters).

There are more but these are the ones that were red flags.

Unpredictability (aka “Did you catch me off guard?”)
For me, a work cannot advertise itself as “thrilling” if the twists and turns can be predicted with ease. The moment that John’s suspicion became reality, everything went downhill. The flashbacks of the bond between the three main characters were meant to provide more information yet it gave too much content as it pertained to David’s blueprint. Therefore, nothing that David really did—in my opinion—was all that surprising as more unfolded. The final showdown was anticlimactic, for it reminded me of a movie I had seen which had almost that same type of feel.

Here are some further observations:

(a) I would have liked to have seen this told from David‘s point of view, either solely or in addition to the narratives of John and Emily. The reader has to take John and Emily’s words as gospel on David’s behavior. David’s first person account would have given him more dimension.

(b) Dialogue could have been more extensive and conveyed a bit more emotion, particular in the psychological warfare sequences involving the trio.

(c) More attention to character detail, particularly with Emily. Besides the female these two guys fawned over, who was she? It felt like she was thrown in just for the sole purpose of generating conflict. There was a missed chance for her to really shine in her narrative moments.

(d) The cover, although nice, didn’t quite fit the content.

I am weighing this against the pros in this work, which are as follows:

(1) The separate first person narrative voices were done quite well. This can be challenging even for the most experienced writer.

(2) Interior content is beautiful—font very easy to read, crisp graphics.

(3) Edited to a superb standard.

(4) Chapters were a reasonable length.

(5) Story was very well paced.

Verdict: 3.25 out of 5 Stars

Blind Evil has a beautiful presentation. It has been ages since I’ve seen such internal beauty and success in split narrative delivery. Unfortunately, the very characteristics that makes a work an intriguing psychological thriller were undeveloped and lacking. If the above mentioned challenges were fine tuned, this work could have easily achieved top marks from me, for this author definitely has potential. However, Blind Evil in its current state isn’t where the author’s ability achieves top shine.

[Valerie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down!! Very quick read.

[lucile shinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

Wow what page Turner, never a dull moment. For once I didn't hAve the ending figures out . Enjoyable from the get go ! ThAnks for the suspense !!

[D.A. Bale · Rating 2 out of 5]

When John is called to investigate the gruesome murder of newlyweds recently returned from their honeymoon, the first thing that strikes our detective is that the scene is so carefully plotted out to the last detail. It feels orchestrated - too personal.

As well it should. In just one month, John is set to marry Emily, the love of his life since seventh grade. Now those plans are on hold until he can stop the serial killer known as The Wedding Slasher. And John is afraid he might well know the killer.

David is a brilliant psychiatrist with a dark past. His childhood was filled with so many beatings and unimaginable atrocities at the hands of his meth-addicted parents, it's a wonder he grew up to be a sane adult. It was that chance friendship with John and Emily in middle school that gave David an escape from the household of horrors.

Or did it?

Blind Evil is written in two simultaneous first-person points-of-view, that of our two protagonists John and Emily. The division between was clean and concise and never muddled or blurred. First person is not always easy to write with just one character, much less two, so I applaud Mr. Praschan for keeping these clear.

Grammar and punctuation errors were almost non-existent. It's always nice to read a book with minimal errors and proper formatting, not something you always come across in the traditional publishing world, much less in the indie publishing realm.

David is more than adequately evil, twisted, and maniacal - but at times he was so over-the-top that he became more of a caricature instead of a real human being.

And characterization was where I struggled with Blind Evil.

When the murders occur, John is immediately suspicious of the man who is characterized as his best friend. How would someone who is supposed to be a smart detective have such a friend in his back pocket? I could understand this if David at one time was considered a best friend, but something about this supposed dynamic of best friends between these two in the present did not work for me. John came across as too naive to be a streetwise, gritty detective. With his close association to the primary suspect, he would have more likely been removed officially from the case. But this did not occur.

Then there's Emily, John's fiancee who is also best friends with David (and dated him for eight years when John failed to make a move first). Emily works with David in their joint practice, helping with his unorthodox methods of "therapy" that I found horrifying - and there is a disclaimer at the end of the book that says how this would never be considered an acceptable practice in therapy (thank you!). So if Emily broke up with David because she was afraid of him, why then does she continue working with him in the practice and participating with these unorthodox methods as if there's nothing wrong with it all? This says to me that there is something wrong with Emily as well, but that is never addressed.

I wish there would have been more moments of internalization with John and Emily to better understand the why of how they maintained this odd friendship with David when they didn't trust him and were actually afraid of him. When the murders first begin, David is immediately suspect and John tells Emily not go to work, lock herself in the house, and not to answer the door for anyone - especially David. So if John is too close to evil to see it, why then does he see it immediately as David at the first murder scene? Most of the storyline is made up of a few moments of action, mostly dialogue and moments where I as the reader watched the characters "watch" themselves on video. I felt very disconnected from the characters because of this distance and lack of internalization to understand their motivations. Therefore, I never developed much in the way of empathy for any of them.

The plot had a lot of potential, but the overall inability to connect with the characters and the lack of grounding in reality left me feeling flat. Again, however, the book was written cleanly and concisely and that counts for something with me. Overall, I'd give Blind Evil two and a-half stars.

[Dinese E. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was chilling. But I have some questions:

1) Why did John and Emily never tell what was going on with David abuse-wise? Why, when he was their best friend, did they let him continue to be abused every day, even when he swore them to secrecy? Who could be a friend to someone and allow that to go on? He was in a cage up until he left for college. I don't understand that.

2) Emily worked with him but they both knew that something wasn't quite right about him because when John saw that letter from David at the house of the murdered couple, he immediately thought he was involved without even questioning him first. They knew subconsciously what he was capable of. They feared him but yet Emily dated him for 8 years, knowing she loved John. They were truly blind to the evil inside him. OR maybe they could see the evil and turned a blind eye to it, hoping they were so very wrong.

Emily told David he didn't have to become what he did. He could have been a good man even though he was abused every day of his life she felt. I'm not so sure that his parents didn't play a significant part, as David felt himself, in what he eventually became. If he had grown up in a normal household with loving parents would he have turned out this way? The answer to that is debatable.

One thing is for sure: He HAD become too dangerous for the world.

This book was a twist and turn of mind games and I could not put it down until I finished it. I look forward to more books from Mr. Praschan. This psychological suspense story was stellar.

[Kathryn Svendsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Grayson, David Vincent and Emily Dolon have been friends since childhood. They have stuck together through college and into adulthood. Both men have loved Emily, but John eventually won her heart.

Now John is investigating a double homicide and signs are pointing to his best friend David Vincent as the prime suspect. How can he keep his loyalty to his friend at bay while he investigates this crime?

Blind Evil was a riveting book to read. One man’s descent into madness caused so much pain in the lives of other people who were so loyal to him. Was their loyalty to him part of the reason he was able to cause all that pain?

The characters in this novel were well developed and interesting. I cared about what happened to them especially when Emily becomes the target.

There were many twists and turns that only the mind of a madman can conceive. David Vincent planned each move carefully as he had everyone on their toes guessing as to what was going to happen next.

Blind Evil is hard to put down once you pick it up. Be prepared for late nights until you’ve finished it because you’ll just have to know what happens next. I rated it 5 stars out of 5.

Thank you to the author for providing a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion is not required. All thoughts are my own.

This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of this book in return for an honest review

Three friends since grade school, one of them a psychotic killer determined to make the other two pay for the perceived wrongs he suffered at their hands.

John, David and Emily have been close friends for years. Both John and David are in love with Emily although David’s idea of love is strange to say the least.

John is a police detective investigating a horrific double murder. The further he digs the more he believes David is responsible and he and Emily are dragged into David's weird and dangerous mind games. Their nightmare is only just beginning. David is a very sick and scary character, totally evil with no remorse for his actions.

Thoughts

This is a chillingly disturbing tale of how a particular upbringing can shape a life. How a childhood lived in fear can affect the psyche in terrible ways. It’s also about friendship and loyalty. How much can you take from someone you thought of as a close friend before the bonds of that friendship are broken irrevocably.

If I have one niggle it’s that two of the main protagonists' story are told in the first person, I found it a little disconcerting jumping from one to the other. Apart from that it's a well crafted story full of tension and suspense.

[Underground Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

Buckle your seatbelts, folks, because Blind Evil is a fast, twisted ride. The novel begins with a crime scene which our protagonist, Detective Grayson, is investigating. A couple, recently back from their honeymoon, has been murdered in their home and the bodies are clearly arranged in an intentional, ritualistic manner. It quickly becomes clear Grayson suspects his close friend, a psychiatrist named David Vincent, although he has no real evidence to prove it.

The story quickly escalates, and all too soon Grayson and his wife are in danger of the same fate as the hapless honeymoon couple. However, Grayson gives Vincent the benefit of the doubt time and time again, unable to come to terms with the fact that his good friend is fit to rival Hannibal Lecter. Vincent is, indeed, a dangerous killer, but he is not portrayed as a soulless villain. The author, Eric Praschan, does a good job of delving into the psychology behind the deranged psychiatrist, and leaves his readers with plenty to think about.

...read more at undergroundbookreviews(dot)com

[Deborahazzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy the book, as the plot kept me wanting to read more, but, I thought we could have been given more information of David, Emily and John in their younger years.

John arrives at a crime scene, and he immediately suspects his best friend. My curious mind wanted to know why? What about that crime scene made John think that? The writer only scratched the surface of life David had growing up.

Emily stays with David for eight long years before she learns that John loves her? Was she blind before that? Why didn't John tell Emily how he felt? Did he stay quiet out of loyalty to David?

I didn't understand how two people whose moral compass points in the right direction for most of the time, could be friends with a man, who they knew was capable of such violence?

For me, it's all about the details in a book. Even though it left me with questions, I did enjoy it....I just wanted more about this love triangle.

[TheWriter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review! What can I say about this book.... WOW!!! Where did this author come from? This book was amazing, it was one of the best psychological thrillers I've read. If you like a book that has twist, turns, and twisted main character, this book is for you. Excellent plot, characters were well thought out and did each one of them Justice! ;) This book takes you on a ride that you soon won't forget. You have three best friends friends Emily, Johnny, and David. Their friendship is tested beyond anyone's wildest imagination. I'd tell you more but I will so give the book away! READ THIS BOOK!!!!! <3

[Hadena James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have two rules to reviewing: no spoilers and no authors I know personally. I'm breaking the second rule for this review because I did enjoy the book that much.

It's a gritty, psychological thriller with good character development and a well-thought out plot. As a reader, I could relate to all the characters, including the killer, to some degree, which is a huge plus for any book I read.

I prefer gritty thrillers that are driven by character development, but this was definitely more plot driven. That did not distract from the book and I sat down one night and read it cover to cover, dragging my Kindle along when I had to get up and do something.

[J.F. Penn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Detective John Grayson finds himself investigating a gruesome double murder, he suspects his best friend, David, of being involved. His fiancee, Emily, was once engaged to David and the victims had just got married. When John confronts David, the real murder spree begins ...
As someone who has studied psychology, the aspects of this book around the psychology of fear, as well as serial killers, were fascinating. David is a smart antagonist, with a past of hideous abuse, but the reader is challenged whether to pity him or condemn him as the book evolves. The definition of a psychological thriller as John and Emily are stretched to their limits ...

[Lisa Kinard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blind Friends

I enjoyed this crazy psychological story. It was about three friends and how one was three different people in one. The storyline was great but I would have liked a little more detail of David's early life. This book kind of takes you into the disturbed mind of a killer. Definitely an adult read. This book kept my attention throughout the story.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Psychological Thriller....

This book kept me intrigued from page one. I kind of wish it were more detailed, longer perhaps,,but definitely a good read.

[john black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense

Very good read from start to finish and very real characters anyone who likes a good thiller should read it

[Marlene Shofner-Daves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very exciting.

I could not lay this book down once I started reading it. I was very imaginative & fearful. I. do recommend this to anyone who likes mysteries.

[Jim Ahern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed it

I really enjoyed this book. It gave me a lot to think about. I put it down but not very often and not for long.