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Recluse
HE'S WEAVING HIS WEB OF MURDER.Lukas Retter is a recluse in the correctional city of East Haddam, Connecticut, washing cars and dreaming about taking back control of his life. He has been ever since The Safety First Act redefined criminal justice in America.
Meanwhile, the children of criminals are placed in psychiatric hospitals to be evaluated.
But when Lukas murders Rebecca Waylow, his girlfriend, he leaves her dismembered and strung-up on a web of bloody ropes and wires. And she won't be the last.
As Lukas recalls his sinister past and becomes the new nightmare of his correctional city, he transforms into the serial killer he was destined to become. He'll do whatever it takes to feel control, even if it means stringing a few people up in the process.
Descend into Lukas’s sinister world and uncover the truth about The Safety First Act and Lukas's life in this multi-perspective dystopian thriller.
Fans of "Joker" and "You" will love this twisted tale filled with suspense and chilling murders.
Trigger Warnings: Profanity, Violence, Rape, Death, Abuse, and Some Sexual Content
Meanwhile, the children of criminals are placed in psychiatric hospitals to be evaluated.
But when Lukas murders Rebecca Waylow, his girlfriend, he leaves her dismembered and strung-up on a web of bloody ropes and wires. And she won't be the last.
As Lukas recalls his sinister past and becomes the new nightmare of his correctional city, he transforms into the serial killer he was destined to become. He'll do whatever it takes to feel control, even if it means stringing a few people up in the process.
Descend into Lukas’s sinister world and uncover the truth about The Safety First Act and Lukas's life in this multi-perspective dystopian thriller.
Fans of "Joker" and "You" will love this twisted tale filled with suspense and chilling murders.
Trigger Warnings: Profanity, Violence, Rape, Death, Abuse, and Some Sexual Content
- GenresThriller
402 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2024
1 person is currently reading
22 people want to read
About the author
Gabriel Zavala
1 book7 followersGabriel Zavala is an aspiring writer with a passion for the thrilling and macabre. At just nineteen, Gabriel has already been honing his craft for several years, crafting suspenseful and eerie tales that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
As Gabriel embarks on his next journey, he currently attends Salt Lake Community College to pursue a Bachelor’s in English. When not writing, he can be found at the theater, the gym, or spending time with his close friends. With a love for horror and thriller, Gabriel Zavala is dedicated to continuing his journey as a writer and sharing his captivating stories with the world.
Website: https://www.authorgabrielzavala.com/
Instagram: gabriel_zavalaa
As Gabriel embarks on his next journey, he currently attends Salt Lake Community College to pursue a Bachelor’s in English. When not writing, he can be found at the theater, the gym, or spending time with his close friends. With a love for horror and thriller, Gabriel Zavala is dedicated to continuing his journey as a writer and sharing his captivating stories with the world.
Website: https://www.authorgabrielzavala.com/
Instagram: gabriel_zavalaa
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 6, 2024
First and foremost, a large thank you to BookSirens and Gabriel Zavala for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
New to the world of Gabriel Zavala, I gladly accepted this ARC. I always enjoy a good thriller and this piece had all the needed elements to be impactful. Zavala presents. the story of a reclusive young man whose past has been anything but calm. Living in a town where freedom is secondary to security, Lukas Retter finds himself trying to piece his life together. His issue? He has a penchant for murder and presents his victims in a shocking manner, stymying the police and those who come upon the victims. As the race to find the killer heats up, Retter remains in the shadows, waiting to strike once more, as calm as a spider. An intriguing piece by Zavala, which will have the reader questing everything they know.
Lukas Retter has been a resident of East Haddam, Connecticut for a number of years. A correctional city, East Haddam is part of the plan under the Safety First Act, a law that tries to keep crime on the down low and providing safety for the larger population. For now, Retter will live reclusively and work at a car wash, dreaming about how he can shed himself of this life and the boredom that follows.
Retter thinks back on his youth, when he was locked away in a psychiatric hospital for a crime he says that he never committed. He was analysed and left to answer countless questions, in hopes that he would help share how his mind might be wired and what led him to commit such a horrible act. This stewing has led Lukas Retter to resent the world and the town in which he has been placed to protect others. He ends up killing his girlfriend, Rebecca Waylow, in an effort to keep his secret quiet, but also to challenge the authorities who are trying to keep the peace. By dismembering Rebecca’s body and stringing her up, Retter goads the authorities to find him, while replicating the spiders he watched in his youth.
Hoping to take his life back, Retter begins killing with more frequency and leaving his victims in a web, dangling and dismembered. He pushes to see if anyone will notice and turn to him, while denying his role in anything as a local detective tries to piece it all together. The Safety First Act has been able to keep the majority of the population sated, but there will surely be come who cannot be controlled, Lukas Retter might be one, but he will not simply bow down and wait. He will have to be caught, though he is ready, his web prepped to catch yet another victim. Zavala shows his abilities with this one in a great story that has much potential.
I tend to have high hopes of books with strong summaries, though without context for the author, I can only hope things will go well during the reading process. Gabriel Zavala presents what could be stunning novel, but stumbles coming out of the gate. The opening chapters work, but they do not paint the needed impact I hoped to find, pulling me in and taking control of my reading experience. One might say that I wanted to get stuck in the web of this story and not being able to experience this left me feeling empty. I did enjoy things and Zavala delivers some of the key points, but there was a lack of electrical sensation that this piece might have had. The balance between past and present is found in the story, offering up some backstory for Lukas Retter, but there is no jaw-dropping moment at any point. The narrative flows and pushes along, but I was not shocked or left needing to keep flipping pages in order to get to the end. I hoped for more and yet somehow made it through the book.
There were moments of decent character development throughout the novel, providing the reader with context in this story. While nothing stellar, Zavala does paint a collection of central characters in order to make things come together. They flavour the narrative in ways needed to add depth to a story that did not have as much as I hoped. While I did not connect with the characters, I can see what Zavala was doing and am pleased to see he took time to create them to keep the story moving.
Plot development was there, at least on some level. Zavala delivers some surprise in the narrative and provides moments of tension onto which the reader can build a curiosity. I was pleased to see how well things moved in the book, oscillating between past and present, though I had hoped for more and sought something that left me begging for more. Zavala made a decent effort, but one cannot rely on a desire to like something. I had higher hopes and trust others will enter this reading experience with eyes opened and expectations in reserve.
Kudos, Mr. Zavala, for planting some decent ideas. While I do not feel they flourished as much as they ought to , there was a foundation on which to build things.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
New to the world of Gabriel Zavala, I gladly accepted this ARC. I always enjoy a good thriller and this piece had all the needed elements to be impactful. Zavala presents. the story of a reclusive young man whose past has been anything but calm. Living in a town where freedom is secondary to security, Lukas Retter finds himself trying to piece his life together. His issue? He has a penchant for murder and presents his victims in a shocking manner, stymying the police and those who come upon the victims. As the race to find the killer heats up, Retter remains in the shadows, waiting to strike once more, as calm as a spider. An intriguing piece by Zavala, which will have the reader questing everything they know.
Lukas Retter has been a resident of East Haddam, Connecticut for a number of years. A correctional city, East Haddam is part of the plan under the Safety First Act, a law that tries to keep crime on the down low and providing safety for the larger population. For now, Retter will live reclusively and work at a car wash, dreaming about how he can shed himself of this life and the boredom that follows.
Retter thinks back on his youth, when he was locked away in a psychiatric hospital for a crime he says that he never committed. He was analysed and left to answer countless questions, in hopes that he would help share how his mind might be wired and what led him to commit such a horrible act. This stewing has led Lukas Retter to resent the world and the town in which he has been placed to protect others. He ends up killing his girlfriend, Rebecca Waylow, in an effort to keep his secret quiet, but also to challenge the authorities who are trying to keep the peace. By dismembering Rebecca’s body and stringing her up, Retter goads the authorities to find him, while replicating the spiders he watched in his youth.
Hoping to take his life back, Retter begins killing with more frequency and leaving his victims in a web, dangling and dismembered. He pushes to see if anyone will notice and turn to him, while denying his role in anything as a local detective tries to piece it all together. The Safety First Act has been able to keep the majority of the population sated, but there will surely be come who cannot be controlled, Lukas Retter might be one, but he will not simply bow down and wait. He will have to be caught, though he is ready, his web prepped to catch yet another victim. Zavala shows his abilities with this one in a great story that has much potential.
I tend to have high hopes of books with strong summaries, though without context for the author, I can only hope things will go well during the reading process. Gabriel Zavala presents what could be stunning novel, but stumbles coming out of the gate. The opening chapters work, but they do not paint the needed impact I hoped to find, pulling me in and taking control of my reading experience. One might say that I wanted to get stuck in the web of this story and not being able to experience this left me feeling empty. I did enjoy things and Zavala delivers some of the key points, but there was a lack of electrical sensation that this piece might have had. The balance between past and present is found in the story, offering up some backstory for Lukas Retter, but there is no jaw-dropping moment at any point. The narrative flows and pushes along, but I was not shocked or left needing to keep flipping pages in order to get to the end. I hoped for more and yet somehow made it through the book.
There were moments of decent character development throughout the novel, providing the reader with context in this story. While nothing stellar, Zavala does paint a collection of central characters in order to make things come together. They flavour the narrative in ways needed to add depth to a story that did not have as much as I hoped. While I did not connect with the characters, I can see what Zavala was doing and am pleased to see he took time to create them to keep the story moving.
Plot development was there, at least on some level. Zavala delivers some surprise in the narrative and provides moments of tension onto which the reader can build a curiosity. I was pleased to see how well things moved in the book, oscillating between past and present, though I had hoped for more and sought something that left me begging for more. Zavala made a decent effort, but one cannot rely on a desire to like something. I had higher hopes and trust others will enter this reading experience with eyes opened and expectations in reserve.
Kudos, Mr. Zavala, for planting some decent ideas. While I do not feel they flourished as much as they ought to , there was a foundation on which to build things.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
February 26, 2024
Rating: 4.5/5
Character Development:
In "Recluse," Gabriel Zavala crafts a chilling narrative centered around the enigmatic protagonist, Lukas Retter, whose descent into darkness unravels with each turn of the page. Lukas is a complex character, haunted by his past and driven by a relentless desire for control in a world that has spiraled out of his grasp. As the story unfolds, readers are drawn into Lukas's twisted psyche, grappling with his inner demons and the dark impulses that propel him toward violence and chaos. Zavala skillfully explores Lukas's inner turmoil, peeling back the layers of his psyche to reveal the depths of his depravity and the fractured nature of his humanity. From Lukas's chilling transformation into a remorseless serial killer to his haunting recollections of past traumas, the character development in "Recluse" is both compelling and deeply unsettling, immersing readers in a world of moral ambiguity and psychological suspense.
Themes and Exploration:
"Recluse" delves into themes of control, power, and the nature of evil, offering a stark exploration of the human condition and the darkness that lurks within us all. Through Lukas's harrowing journey, Zavala confronts readers with the disturbing realities of unchecked obsession and the consequences of unchecked violence. The novel delves into the complexities of criminal psychology and the blurred lines between perpetrator and victim, challenging readers to confront their own perceptions of morality and justice. As Lukas navigates the treacherous landscape of his own psyche, "Recluse" invites readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the nature of evil and the fragility of the human psyche, weaving a gripping narrative that lingers long after the final page is turned.
Plot and Pacing:
The plot of "Recluse" unfolds with taut, suspenseful pacing, drawing readers into a dark and twisted world of murder and mayhem from the very first page. Zavala deftly navigates multiple narrative threads, weaving together past and present in a seamless tapestry of suspense and intrigue. The tension mounts steadily throughout the novel, as Lukas's reign of terror escalates and the body count rises. From the visceral intensity of the murder scenes to the haunting echoes of Lukas's tortured past, the plot of "Recluse" is as riveting as it is unsettling, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the final, shocking conclusion. With its skillfully crafted twists and turns, "Recluse" is a masterclass in psychological suspense—a gripping and unnerving journey into the heart of darkness.
Writing Style:
Gabriel Zavala's writing style is atmospheric, evocative, and brimming with raw intensity, plunging readers into a nightmarish world of terror and despair. Through vivid descriptions and immersive prose, he brings Lukas's twisted reality to life with chilling clarity and precision. The dialogue crackles with tension and authenticity, capturing the nuances of human emotion and the sinister depths of Lukas's psyche. Zavala's keen eye for detail and keen sense of pacing imbue the narrative with a sense of urgency and momentum, propelling readers forward on a relentless journey of suspense and dread. From its haunting opening passages to its gut-wrenching climax, "Recluse" is a testament to Zavala's skill as a storyteller, offering a gripping and unforgettable reading experience that will leave readers breathless and haunted long after the final page is turned.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, "Recluse" is a dark and riveting psychological thriller that grips readers from beginning to end. Gabriel Zavala's masterful storytelling, complex characters, and atmospheric prose combine to create a chilling and immersive reading experience that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Through its exploration of themes of control, power, and the nature of evil, "Recluse" challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the human condition and the darkness that resides within us all. With its relentless pacing, spine-tingling suspense, and hauntingly vivid imagery, "Recluse" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers—a mesmerizing and unsettling journey into the heart of darkness that will linger in the mind long after the final page is turned.
Character Development:
In "Recluse," Gabriel Zavala crafts a chilling narrative centered around the enigmatic protagonist, Lukas Retter, whose descent into darkness unravels with each turn of the page. Lukas is a complex character, haunted by his past and driven by a relentless desire for control in a world that has spiraled out of his grasp. As the story unfolds, readers are drawn into Lukas's twisted psyche, grappling with his inner demons and the dark impulses that propel him toward violence and chaos. Zavala skillfully explores Lukas's inner turmoil, peeling back the layers of his psyche to reveal the depths of his depravity and the fractured nature of his humanity. From Lukas's chilling transformation into a remorseless serial killer to his haunting recollections of past traumas, the character development in "Recluse" is both compelling and deeply unsettling, immersing readers in a world of moral ambiguity and psychological suspense.
Themes and Exploration:
"Recluse" delves into themes of control, power, and the nature of evil, offering a stark exploration of the human condition and the darkness that lurks within us all. Through Lukas's harrowing journey, Zavala confronts readers with the disturbing realities of unchecked obsession and the consequences of unchecked violence. The novel delves into the complexities of criminal psychology and the blurred lines between perpetrator and victim, challenging readers to confront their own perceptions of morality and justice. As Lukas navigates the treacherous landscape of his own psyche, "Recluse" invites readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the nature of evil and the fragility of the human psyche, weaving a gripping narrative that lingers long after the final page is turned.
Plot and Pacing:
The plot of "Recluse" unfolds with taut, suspenseful pacing, drawing readers into a dark and twisted world of murder and mayhem from the very first page. Zavala deftly navigates multiple narrative threads, weaving together past and present in a seamless tapestry of suspense and intrigue. The tension mounts steadily throughout the novel, as Lukas's reign of terror escalates and the body count rises. From the visceral intensity of the murder scenes to the haunting echoes of Lukas's tortured past, the plot of "Recluse" is as riveting as it is unsettling, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the final, shocking conclusion. With its skillfully crafted twists and turns, "Recluse" is a masterclass in psychological suspense—a gripping and unnerving journey into the heart of darkness.
Writing Style:
Gabriel Zavala's writing style is atmospheric, evocative, and brimming with raw intensity, plunging readers into a nightmarish world of terror and despair. Through vivid descriptions and immersive prose, he brings Lukas's twisted reality to life with chilling clarity and precision. The dialogue crackles with tension and authenticity, capturing the nuances of human emotion and the sinister depths of Lukas's psyche. Zavala's keen eye for detail and keen sense of pacing imbue the narrative with a sense of urgency and momentum, propelling readers forward on a relentless journey of suspense and dread. From its haunting opening passages to its gut-wrenching climax, "Recluse" is a testament to Zavala's skill as a storyteller, offering a gripping and unforgettable reading experience that will leave readers breathless and haunted long after the final page is turned.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, "Recluse" is a dark and riveting psychological thriller that grips readers from beginning to end. Gabriel Zavala's masterful storytelling, complex characters, and atmospheric prose combine to create a chilling and immersive reading experience that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. Through its exploration of themes of control, power, and the nature of evil, "Recluse" challenges readers to confront uncomfortable truths about the human condition and the darkness that resides within us all. With its relentless pacing, spine-tingling suspense, and hauntingly vivid imagery, "Recluse" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers—a mesmerizing and unsettling journey into the heart of darkness that will linger in the mind long after the final page is turned.
February 29, 2024
This wasn't an easy read for me. I wanted to stop several times, because I thought I was going to puke. I felt the bile rise up in my throat , and I felt ill most of the time I read this. I don't know if I'm a glutton for punishment, a masochist, or just sic. I finished this with great temerity. The programming and brainwashing of at risk youth was gutwrenching. Broken children taken over the edge and never to return to baseline. What a living nightmare!!! Betrayals and revenge. Predator and prey. In the end, I believe Lukas was only doing what he was programmed and taught. I voluntarily read a free copy of this provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.
May 11, 2024
This was pretty brutal from start to finish. Not one of these characters have any redeeming qualities. This main character was taken from his home at a young age, accused of killing his father even though he watched his sister do it to then be put into a violent situation by the government.
It’s a tough read but actually really well written especially from such a young author who definitely has a long promising career ahead of him.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It’s a tough read but actually really well written especially from such a young author who definitely has a long promising career ahead of him.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2024
Plot:
The idea behind this novel is superb; it’s thought provoking, gruesome (if you like that kind of thing) and original. The issue I have with this story is the many holes, inconsistencies and lack of tied plot points. I can’t give examples without spoilers so I guess you’ll just have to trust me.
Characters:
All the characters were unlikable and immature.
They were all given the same blank and grinning expressions and there was nothing of substance about their personalities.
Writing style:
The writing style is my main source of frustration. It honestly feels like it was written by an immature AI. Not every thing needs an adjective! Also, this book needs some serious editing, I’m afraid the writer was failed in this regard. There are many grammatical errors and sentences that just don’t make sense.
Example - “the swollen gray clouds cast a gray overcast”
Example - “Whoever he was meant mattered to someone”
Example - “he whimpered as he dismembered approached the wet corpse”
Example - “he scrupulously stood up”
Example - ‘“always rarely discussed”
There was no real sense of atmosphere, the story fell slightly flat when trying to build suspense or provide cliffhangers.
The writer is obsessed with wrinkles and sneers and grins ‘slipping’ and ‘sliding’ ONTO faces (?!)
The same words repeat constantly; everything is pounding and exploding.
Random words were italicised where they didn’t need to be.
Conclusion:
While I must give one well deserved star for the original and striking storyline, I, unfortunately, can’t get past the unpalatable writing, the plot holes or dullness of the characters. So it remains as a one star I’m afraid.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review
The idea behind this novel is superb; it’s thought provoking, gruesome (if you like that kind of thing) and original. The issue I have with this story is the many holes, inconsistencies and lack of tied plot points. I can’t give examples without spoilers so I guess you’ll just have to trust me.
Characters:
All the characters were unlikable and immature.
They were all given the same blank and grinning expressions and there was nothing of substance about their personalities.
Writing style:
The writing style is my main source of frustration. It honestly feels like it was written by an immature AI. Not every thing needs an adjective! Also, this book needs some serious editing, I’m afraid the writer was failed in this regard. There are many grammatical errors and sentences that just don’t make sense.
Example - “the swollen gray clouds cast a gray overcast”
Example - “Whoever he was meant mattered to someone”
Example - “he whimpered as he dismembered approached the wet corpse”
Example - “he scrupulously stood up”
Example - ‘“always rarely discussed”
There was no real sense of atmosphere, the story fell slightly flat when trying to build suspense or provide cliffhangers.
The writer is obsessed with wrinkles and sneers and grins ‘slipping’ and ‘sliding’ ONTO faces (?!)
The same words repeat constantly; everything is pounding and exploding.
Random words were italicised where they didn’t need to be.
Conclusion:
While I must give one well deserved star for the original and striking storyline, I, unfortunately, can’t get past the unpalatable writing, the plot holes or dullness of the characters. So it remains as a one star I’m afraid.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for the honest review
September 27, 2024
2,5 ⭐
Thank you to HiddenGemsBooks for this free ARC, this review is given voluntarily.
What I liked :
- The main POV is the killer : we are really thrown into the mind of a serial killer, craving blood and violence. This is a nice twist to the usual thriller as we already know who is responsible and we are now trying to figure out why and how they will commit their murder
- The twist between the detective, the doctor and the drug dealer (no spoiler but that was a good twist)
What I didn't like :
- I gagged a couple of time at the gore and violence ngl
- There are still some plot holes left at the end
Thank you to HiddenGemsBooks for this free ARC, this review is given voluntarily.
What I liked :
- The main POV is the killer : we are really thrown into the mind of a serial killer, craving blood and violence. This is a nice twist to the usual thriller as we already know who is responsible and we are now trying to figure out why and how they will commit their murder
- The twist between the detective, the doctor and the drug dealer (no spoiler but that was a good twist)
What I didn't like :
- I gagged a couple of time at the gore and violence ngl
- There are still some plot holes left at the end
February 27, 2024
From the first page I was immediately hooked. The story line was strong and the characters were well developed. About halfway through I started to get bored and lost interest but I persisted on. I think that some of the story could have been left out altogether to make it less wordy and more enjoyable( ex: while Lukas’s backstory truly painted the story and his overall demeanor of his character, some of it was not really needed to make the story— parts of his time in the facility as a child could have been heavily shortened and still gave enough insight to the reader) Overall, I think it was a great story and very well written just a tad bit long and could’ve been more simplified to still get the point of the story across. Thank you book sirens and Gabriel for sending me an ARC in exchange for review!
Read
May 8, 2024Great mystery/thriller. There are some parts of the book that are a little gruesome, so if you have a weak stomach, this book may not be for you.
There is murderer in the correctional town of East Haddam. A correctional town is a town turned into a prison. It is the government’s way of freeing up the overcrowded prisons. The people can’t leave. The murderer cuts up the bodies and leaves them tied up in a web. The town folks are concerned for their safety. They can’t escape the town, so they are all trapped. The local police need to find the perpetrator before more people are killed. But they don’t know who it is. How will they figure it out? How many people will die?
There is murderer in the correctional town of East Haddam. A correctional town is a town turned into a prison. It is the government’s way of freeing up the overcrowded prisons. The people can’t leave. The murderer cuts up the bodies and leaves them tied up in a web. The town folks are concerned for their safety. They can’t escape the town, so they are all trapped. The local police need to find the perpetrator before more people are killed. But they don’t know who it is. How will they figure it out? How many people will die?
March 19, 2024
Recluse By Gabriel Zavala
Used Kindle fire to read
402 Pages
Gabriel Zavala is a new author to me.
Within the first few pages I was reminded of a little of Silence of the Lambs with the Scene of the murder, the story does flip from the horror of the characters childhood to the present day horrors that are quite harrowing owing to say the least and does come with a trigger warning all that been said It was a very good read and I look farward to reading more from this author.
Used Kindle fire to read
402 Pages
Gabriel Zavala is a new author to me.
Within the first few pages I was reminded of a little of Silence of the Lambs with the Scene of the murder, the story does flip from the horror of the characters childhood to the present day horrors that are quite harrowing owing to say the least and does come with a trigger warning all that been said It was a very good read and I look farward to reading more from this author.
March 19, 2024
Gabriel Zavala is a new author to me.
Within the first few pages I was reminded of a little of Silence of the Lambs with the Scene of the murder, the story does flip from the horror of the characters childhood to the present day horrors that are quite harrowing owing to say the least and does come with a trigger warning all that been said It was a very good read and I look farward to reading more from this author.
Within the first few pages I was reminded of a little of Silence of the Lambs with the Scene of the murder, the story does flip from the horror of the characters childhood to the present day horrors that are quite harrowing owing to say the least and does come with a trigger warning all that been said It was a very good read and I look farward to reading more from this author.
August 17, 2025
This book had me unsettled from the very first page. Lukas’s transformation from a broken recluse to a cold-blooded killer is written so vividly, it felt disturbingly real. The way the story ties into The Safety First Act gave me chills, like peeking into a possible future. Dark, gritty, and unforgettable.
February 28, 2024
This book needs to be an actual movie. While reading this i thought i was watching one of the creepiest horror movies i have seen in a while… well i guess read in a while lol. I am definitely getting a hard copy of this for my trophy shelf.
March 3, 2024
He killed once before and he is housed in the city as a prisoner and he will set out to be the serial killer he wanted to be. Who will be his next victim? Will he be stopped? Who will stop him? See just what he will do to his next victim
March 30, 2024
A free book from Voracious Readers thank you.
A thriller of a different kind.
All the characters are desperate and conniving for their own gain in this future correction facility. A murderer is spinning his web with his delusional idea of power.
Just how twisted and paranoid can someone become?
A thriller of a different kind.
All the characters are desperate and conniving for their own gain in this future correction facility. A murderer is spinning his web with his delusional idea of power.
Just how twisted and paranoid can someone become?
Read
March 4, 2024Gabriel's macabre thriller follows a troubled young boy as he is innocently groomed to be a killer.
April 10, 2024
Interesting book, but had some issues with it. The title clearly refers to a recluse spider, but it was difficult to maintain the context. It read like a very long conceit, to use a literary reference . I would recommend, but only for determined readers. Not a bad book by any means, just not my favorite.
Thanks to BookSirens and the author for the ARC. This is my voluntary review.
Thanks to BookSirens and the author for the ARC. This is my voluntary review.
March 17, 2025
Definitely a good pick up for a noir-style, psychologically tense, dystopian world-residing. The prose is sharp and the suspense taut. You'll enjoy the little jabs toward the title. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews