What do you think?
Rate this book
Monarch
When a big city detective stumbles into a crime scene, he sees a gruesome, nearly dissected set-up from a killer that baffles his senses and puts him on a personal warpath to bring them to justice. With little to go on, the detective relies on his intuition to piece together a string of bloody clues left behind by the dubbed Monarch Killer and reveals that sometimes, it’s the people closest to us that are the ones we are most blind to.
The debut novel from Erik Fox, Monarch is a gritty, raw and twisting tale of murder, mental health and evolution.
The debut novel from Erik Fox, Monarch is a gritty, raw and twisting tale of murder, mental health and evolution.
375 pages, Paperback
Published August 16, 2024
266 people are currently reading
1323 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
December 4, 2024
This is normally not the genre I read, but, I saw the author on tiktok promoting this book, and wanted to give it a try - I’m SO glad I did!
It’s a psychological thriller that’s giving American Psycho/ Dexter vibes!
”How many people would sacrifice their humanity to achieve this level of success? How many people would kill to live like a king?”
The story is fantastic. It was so entertaining and thought provoking. The first half had me questioning my critical thinking skills, and the second half had me developing trust issues… with myself? Jaw dropping moments with twists and turns, chapter after chapter!!
Not only that, but I really enjoyed the writing style and short chapters. It kept me engaged and turning the page!
Very much looking forward to a second book!!!
It’s a psychological thriller that’s giving American Psycho/ Dexter vibes!
”How many people would sacrifice their humanity to achieve this level of success? How many people would kill to live like a king?”
The story is fantastic. It was so entertaining and thought provoking. The first half had me questioning my critical thinking skills, and the second half had me developing trust issues… with myself? Jaw dropping moments with twists and turns, chapter after chapter!!
Not only that, but I really enjoyed the writing style and short chapters. It kept me engaged and turning the page!
Very much looking forward to a second book!!!
August 4, 2024
So I started this last night before bed and I had to finish it today. I absolutely loved this. I could not stop reading, I love a good cat/mouse with a detective and serial killer. I had no idea which way this was going to go even though the way it did go, has been done before.. (depending on how it’s done can either ruin a book or make it) and let me just say this totally made the book. I couldn’t put this down.
Bravo, Mr Fox.
Book 2?
Bravo, Mr Fox.
Book 2?
December 2, 2024
This book had potential. The plot as interesting and the characters had some depth. However, the strange use of punctuation and grammatical errors were a huge distraction. I understand the purpose of not using quotations for the MMC (Connor), but it made parts of the book hard to read.
The first 1/2 of the book was well-paced and would’ve rated a strong 3.5-4 stars from me. The second half was a 1 star. It drug on for what felt like forever, and the ending was incredibly predictable by the time we finally got there.
This book needed a good editor and proofreader.
The first 1/2 of the book was well-paced and would’ve rated a strong 3.5-4 stars from me. The second half was a 1 star. It drug on for what felt like forever, and the ending was incredibly predictable by the time we finally got there.
This book needed a good editor and proofreader.
January 25, 2025
a serial killer story from the POV of a serial killer?? YES. i will say the staccato way in which conner speaks took me a while to get used to, but i was sucked into this!! it was like an episode of CSI from both perspectives the whole time?? and georgia at the end?! omg i need more
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2025
One of my thriller book clubs met this author at a local signing event so we decided to read this for this month's book club as so many of us got the book, supporting the local author. Within the entire group, one member said she enjoyed it, I appreciate that she caveats that with saying that she just treated this novel like it was fantasy. Everyone else.....we did not enjoy it and then they had a lot of questions concerning the behavioral health part of this novel and so forth. I took notes while I was reading so I will post each point as my review.
o This novel starts and makes me think of older detective type shows that were black and white with the smokey sounding narrator/detectives voice speaking what he was thinking and feeling and seeing. It started like that and didn't seem so bad.....but then it felt like it stayed like that and got jarring quite quickly.
o When the main character was speaking there were no quotes around when he was speaking, no italics when he was thinking. It would be written like I went to the store is what I thought, let's go is what I said. The amount of times I had to consistently re-read because I had no idea if he was saying this to the person or fucking thinking it. The ENTIRE novel is like that with the main character. Do we just not know how to write damn conversations? You seem to understand that concept with OTHER characters!! It legit felt like we were ONLY in his head the entire novel and it was intensely frustrating.
o To continue on the shitty editing with not quotes, at 68% the main character finally has quotes! And at 69% back to the trash of no quotes and irritation reading it. Then, begin consistently writing quotes with the alters speaking so at least THAT was less confusing. Still, shows some real trash editing.
o Why the fuck is a SEASONED detective telling his damn dry cleaning lady E V E R Y T H I N G about active crime cases. This is beyond ethically and morally wrong, not to mention, illegal. Why?
o If you wanted to write a book that was mirroring Dexter, maybe just stick with how Dexter operates. Figured out the "who done it" right before this was revealed....at like 35% into the novel.
o Then, when we have the big reveal, it turns out Conner the detective has disassociative identity disorder (known as DID) from a police shooting that the detective participated in TWENTY YEARS AGO. Fun fact, maybe next time, do some real research on DID. Let me give you some real lessons. Mind you, I am a therapist, I have written papers on DID and even had DID clients before. Not one client EVER had DID that did not develop during CHILDHOOD. Not some police shooting in his what, 20s? 30s? Conner's age is never fully explained. With this false logic then combat veterans, police officers, home invasion victims and so forth would all have DID if they were traumatized by the shooting event. DID is a very, very rare diagnosis and born from EXTREME HORRENDOUS TRAUMA during childhood. Again, back to editing issues, get a content editor, do not just google because you think this sounds cool for a book. You were so vastly wrong and presenting incorrectly that I was grinding my teeth through this novel. I put it down and read a whole ass other 400+ page book to try to avoid this because of the glaring discrepancies and stupid choices that were made when you could have (and should have) done real research, not just google. Editing issues all over. Do better.
o To continue with a very rare, flashy diagnosis, let's ADD on and even more rare occurrence that he also has schizophrenia. This is now SHOWING how little research and lack of editing, this is lazy writing (as one friend said) because this is just trying to use flashy things to hide bad writing. Facts.
o Crime scene etiquette because wtf?! Have you never watched an kind of crime show? Now you are legit making shit up. Smoking at a crime scene, moving stuff around without gloves on, sitting on the damn couch at a crime scene and TAKING A NAP?!?!?!? Lazy writing and beyond incorrect.
o Continuing on with the book, how and WHY did the DRY CLEANING LADY end up at the hospital after his damn car accident? Where is the sense and logic there? It's not like she was his emergency contact since his phone was in pieces and still at his place when the car accident happened.
o How in the hell has Harken apparently been such a good and prolific serial killer for TWENTY YEARS and then started making so many dumb mistakes? With that, how could he have been doing this when Conner was married only 7 years before? Inconsistent, does not make sense. Editing issue!!
o And now at 70% we find out that Chief has known for YEARS. Finally, something realistic. Because NO PERSON with DID can hide it that long, people notice. Except apparently Conner's spouse and everyone else. The only way Chief knows is because he caught Harken in the act? Why the hell was the Chief piddling about where Harken was burying bodies? And why was the Chief so damn willing to put his career on the line to let one of his detectives knowingly murder people for decades! So stupid. Editing and content fail. Why did not of your beta readers see this as a problem? Were none of them actual readers?!
o Before this horrendous car accident, Conner had been shot through and could hardly move and was whiny and complaining in pain, yet has no problem having sex with Georgia. Then, we get into this horrible car accident and apparently had a HUGE chunk of metal in his body and this invasive surgery yet...a few days later he is out of the hospital and walking around fine. Going to chat with the dry cleaner, yet again. Math ain't mathing.
o Georgia is horribly injured in the accident, they make it sound like she is paralyzed, yet later in the novel she seems to be fine with no explanation....then also, after this accident it is briefly mentioned about witness protection. Ummmm what? But later in the novel there are letter correspondence between Conner and Georgia, so which is it? Did she go into witness protection? Was she paralyzed? How did they communicate if she was in witness protection?!?! Editing and content fail.
o To continue with Georgia and that stupidity. The letter she wrote to Conner is absolutely ridiculous. He bashed her in the head which knocked her out, tied her up, then got into a car accident that (maybe) put her in a wheelchair and yet......it's cool, we're good. WTF?!?! She says she's been in therapy and it's really helping.... girl, no it is not, get a new therapist and work on your damn self-esteem since you are going down the sociopath route.
o What was the point of bringing up pervy Gary and his shitty restaurant and shitty behavior? Seems like he would be the kind of guy who Harken would want to kill, instead, it was nonsensical filler in a book that was already too long.
o There are so many HORRENDOUS and glaringly incorrect things with ALL of Part 4. Did the author even think to SPEAK with mental health professionals? Or someone who works or has worked at a prison? Or someone who knows any damn thing about a maximum security in-patient psychiatric facility?!?!? Because EVERYTHING was fucking wrong.
o Let's start with the therapist's office. That was a lovely description of a therapist office.....NOT one that would be in a damn in-patient facility! This is a high security hospital and right off that bat so many things described are HUGE safety risks, the therapists office would not be a lovely warm and inviting office like that. This is a hospital for the CRIMINALLY INSANE, which means people whom have killed, yes, let's have a gazillion weapons for them to murder the therapist. Zen garden, absolutely not. Plants in CERAMIC pots that we then give to the patient to take back to his JAIL CELL, are you kidding me?!?!??! Editing and content fail.
o An actual professional therapist who works in a PRISON would never, never, never say to a patient in a lock down facility that "it's a date" for their next session they see each other. Beyond unethical, inappropriate and trying to turn this into a borderline lifetime movie? Nope. Editing and content fail.
o Legally, as the therapist is a therapist for the criminally insane, she is REQUIRED to report improvements, like his alters assimilating, to the judge. Yes, I get she was all sorts of ecstatic and clearly wants a book deal out of it, however, legally she would have been required.
o Then, the therapist has Conner come to her office, she calls Georgia for him (witness protection?!?!) and then LEAVES HIM ALONE IN HER OFFICE. Again, maximum security prison for the criminally insane. This does not occur. And the hugely ethical issues of allowing a prisoner to speak to someone on an unmonitored phone line?!?!? This therapist needs to be fired.
o Then the letters from Georgia with the stupid and weird butterfly facts. Weird. I get that these were randomly peppered throughout the novel, never really fit, never really made sense, then dropped in SERIOUS overdrive at the end to set up the next stupid novel where the psychopath is going to have a whole cult of sociopathic murders! Dumb. Noted what the next book will be and HARD PASS for me....and clearly most of the book club.
o Why were so many pages wasted and droned on about the stupid chess games? So many parts of this book were just describing and explaining EVERYTHING that was not necessary. Editing and content issues.
o The "day shift" attendant Will was showing pretty brazenly what a hard on he had for Monarch and his work. Gross and disturbing. Then, why was the "day shift" attendant Will, working at MIDNIGHT?!?!?
o This stupid and ridiculous 'escape plan,' I mean WTF ever. Let's talk AGAIN about doing some proper research! This is supposed to be a maximum security mental health facility, which means cameras would be EVERYWHERE, including inmate cells. There would have been some form of prison guards and/or security constantly monitoring cameras....that would be EVERYWHERE. They would have seen if his alters returned. And the escape plan of 'we'll just put on uniforms and magically walk out,' nope, that shit doesn't actually happen. Will would NOT have had his phone or keys on him while working in a maximum security facility. Even with Will being part of the sociopathic serial killer 'flutter' fan club, this is still such a bunch of nonsense. The ENTIRE escape and murders were just straight bullshit.
o The epilogue was just straight bullshit and incredibly stupid. The FIRST damn place police would have gone would have been to Georgia's place. They would not be hanging out on the couch, post-sex hanging out and watching the news. Plus, again, was she in a damn wheelchair now or not?!?! And what the hell happened with witness protection?!?!?
o Clearly the author is a big fan of Batman and idolizes the idea of a rich vigilante taking the law into his hands while causing millions of dollars worth of damage in the city. I have had this disagreement with my nephew, consistently, since he was like 8. He is 20 now. Batman should not be labeled as a superhero, he has no powers. He is a rich dude with expensive toys that OTHER smart people built.
In summary, this was a horrendously awfully written novel. The editing was trash on all levels. Get a content reader to help with GLARING issues, put fucking quotes around sentences, and nonsense that you should research BEYOND damn google. Clearly this author took the concept of Dexter and Batman, rolled them together with some bullshit googling and inaccurate information to compile this novel. If this author wants to continue to publish and actually write GOOD novels, then he should have spent the money using an editor and beta readers who did not feed his ego and lie to author about 'how great' this novel is. Get a damn content editor; so very much was so very, disgustingly wrong. This is sometimes to be expected when I find indie authors at author signings. It sounded like a good concept, this was an epic fail.
o This novel starts and makes me think of older detective type shows that were black and white with the smokey sounding narrator/detectives voice speaking what he was thinking and feeling and seeing. It started like that and didn't seem so bad.....but then it felt like it stayed like that and got jarring quite quickly.
o When the main character was speaking there were no quotes around when he was speaking, no italics when he was thinking. It would be written like I went to the store is what I thought, let's go is what I said. The amount of times I had to consistently re-read because I had no idea if he was saying this to the person or fucking thinking it. The ENTIRE novel is like that with the main character. Do we just not know how to write damn conversations? You seem to understand that concept with OTHER characters!! It legit felt like we were ONLY in his head the entire novel and it was intensely frustrating.
o To continue on the shitty editing with not quotes, at 68% the main character finally has quotes! And at 69% back to the trash of no quotes and irritation reading it. Then, begin consistently writing quotes with the alters speaking so at least THAT was less confusing. Still, shows some real trash editing.
o Why the fuck is a SEASONED detective telling his damn dry cleaning lady E V E R Y T H I N G about active crime cases. This is beyond ethically and morally wrong, not to mention, illegal. Why?
o If you wanted to write a book that was mirroring Dexter, maybe just stick with how Dexter operates. Figured out the "who done it" right before this was revealed....at like 35% into the novel.
o Then, when we have the big reveal, it turns out Conner the detective has disassociative identity disorder (known as DID) from a police shooting that the detective participated in TWENTY YEARS AGO. Fun fact, maybe next time, do some real research on DID. Let me give you some real lessons. Mind you, I am a therapist, I have written papers on DID and even had DID clients before. Not one client EVER had DID that did not develop during CHILDHOOD. Not some police shooting in his what, 20s? 30s? Conner's age is never fully explained. With this false logic then combat veterans, police officers, home invasion victims and so forth would all have DID if they were traumatized by the shooting event. DID is a very, very rare diagnosis and born from EXTREME HORRENDOUS TRAUMA during childhood. Again, back to editing issues, get a content editor, do not just google because you think this sounds cool for a book. You were so vastly wrong and presenting incorrectly that I was grinding my teeth through this novel. I put it down and read a whole ass other 400+ page book to try to avoid this because of the glaring discrepancies and stupid choices that were made when you could have (and should have) done real research, not just google. Editing issues all over. Do better.
o To continue with a very rare, flashy diagnosis, let's ADD on and even more rare occurrence that he also has schizophrenia. This is now SHOWING how little research and lack of editing, this is lazy writing (as one friend said) because this is just trying to use flashy things to hide bad writing. Facts.
o Crime scene etiquette because wtf?! Have you never watched an kind of crime show? Now you are legit making shit up. Smoking at a crime scene, moving stuff around without gloves on, sitting on the damn couch at a crime scene and TAKING A NAP?!?!?!? Lazy writing and beyond incorrect.
o Continuing on with the book, how and WHY did the DRY CLEANING LADY end up at the hospital after his damn car accident? Where is the sense and logic there? It's not like she was his emergency contact since his phone was in pieces and still at his place when the car accident happened.
o How in the hell has Harken apparently been such a good and prolific serial killer for TWENTY YEARS and then started making so many dumb mistakes? With that, how could he have been doing this when Conner was married only 7 years before? Inconsistent, does not make sense. Editing issue!!
o And now at 70% we find out that Chief has known for YEARS. Finally, something realistic. Because NO PERSON with DID can hide it that long, people notice. Except apparently Conner's spouse and everyone else. The only way Chief knows is because he caught Harken in the act? Why the hell was the Chief piddling about where Harken was burying bodies? And why was the Chief so damn willing to put his career on the line to let one of his detectives knowingly murder people for decades! So stupid. Editing and content fail. Why did not of your beta readers see this as a problem? Were none of them actual readers?!
o Before this horrendous car accident, Conner had been shot through and could hardly move and was whiny and complaining in pain, yet has no problem having sex with Georgia. Then, we get into this horrible car accident and apparently had a HUGE chunk of metal in his body and this invasive surgery yet...a few days later he is out of the hospital and walking around fine. Going to chat with the dry cleaner, yet again. Math ain't mathing.
o Georgia is horribly injured in the accident, they make it sound like she is paralyzed, yet later in the novel she seems to be fine with no explanation....then also, after this accident it is briefly mentioned about witness protection. Ummmm what? But later in the novel there are letter correspondence between Conner and Georgia, so which is it? Did she go into witness protection? Was she paralyzed? How did they communicate if she was in witness protection?!?! Editing and content fail.
o To continue with Georgia and that stupidity. The letter she wrote to Conner is absolutely ridiculous. He bashed her in the head which knocked her out, tied her up, then got into a car accident that (maybe) put her in a wheelchair and yet......it's cool, we're good. WTF?!?! She says she's been in therapy and it's really helping.... girl, no it is not, get a new therapist and work on your damn self-esteem since you are going down the sociopath route.
o What was the point of bringing up pervy Gary and his shitty restaurant and shitty behavior? Seems like he would be the kind of guy who Harken would want to kill, instead, it was nonsensical filler in a book that was already too long.
o There are so many HORRENDOUS and glaringly incorrect things with ALL of Part 4. Did the author even think to SPEAK with mental health professionals? Or someone who works or has worked at a prison? Or someone who knows any damn thing about a maximum security in-patient psychiatric facility?!?!? Because EVERYTHING was fucking wrong.
o Let's start with the therapist's office. That was a lovely description of a therapist office.....NOT one that would be in a damn in-patient facility! This is a high security hospital and right off that bat so many things described are HUGE safety risks, the therapists office would not be a lovely warm and inviting office like that. This is a hospital for the CRIMINALLY INSANE, which means people whom have killed, yes, let's have a gazillion weapons for them to murder the therapist. Zen garden, absolutely not. Plants in CERAMIC pots that we then give to the patient to take back to his JAIL CELL, are you kidding me?!?!??! Editing and content fail.
o An actual professional therapist who works in a PRISON would never, never, never say to a patient in a lock down facility that "it's a date" for their next session they see each other. Beyond unethical, inappropriate and trying to turn this into a borderline lifetime movie? Nope. Editing and content fail.
o Legally, as the therapist is a therapist for the criminally insane, she is REQUIRED to report improvements, like his alters assimilating, to the judge. Yes, I get she was all sorts of ecstatic and clearly wants a book deal out of it, however, legally she would have been required.
o Then, the therapist has Conner come to her office, she calls Georgia for him (witness protection?!?!) and then LEAVES HIM ALONE IN HER OFFICE. Again, maximum security prison for the criminally insane. This does not occur. And the hugely ethical issues of allowing a prisoner to speak to someone on an unmonitored phone line?!?!? This therapist needs to be fired.
o Then the letters from Georgia with the stupid and weird butterfly facts. Weird. I get that these were randomly peppered throughout the novel, never really fit, never really made sense, then dropped in SERIOUS overdrive at the end to set up the next stupid novel where the psychopath is going to have a whole cult of sociopathic murders! Dumb. Noted what the next book will be and HARD PASS for me....and clearly most of the book club.
o Why were so many pages wasted and droned on about the stupid chess games? So many parts of this book were just describing and explaining EVERYTHING that was not necessary. Editing and content issues.
o The "day shift" attendant Will was showing pretty brazenly what a hard on he had for Monarch and his work. Gross and disturbing. Then, why was the "day shift" attendant Will, working at MIDNIGHT?!?!?
o This stupid and ridiculous 'escape plan,' I mean WTF ever. Let's talk AGAIN about doing some proper research! This is supposed to be a maximum security mental health facility, which means cameras would be EVERYWHERE, including inmate cells. There would have been some form of prison guards and/or security constantly monitoring cameras....that would be EVERYWHERE. They would have seen if his alters returned. And the escape plan of 'we'll just put on uniforms and magically walk out,' nope, that shit doesn't actually happen. Will would NOT have had his phone or keys on him while working in a maximum security facility. Even with Will being part of the sociopathic serial killer 'flutter' fan club, this is still such a bunch of nonsense. The ENTIRE escape and murders were just straight bullshit.
o The epilogue was just straight bullshit and incredibly stupid. The FIRST damn place police would have gone would have been to Georgia's place. They would not be hanging out on the couch, post-sex hanging out and watching the news. Plus, again, was she in a damn wheelchair now or not?!?! And what the hell happened with witness protection?!?!?
o Clearly the author is a big fan of Batman and idolizes the idea of a rich vigilante taking the law into his hands while causing millions of dollars worth of damage in the city. I have had this disagreement with my nephew, consistently, since he was like 8. He is 20 now. Batman should not be labeled as a superhero, he has no powers. He is a rich dude with expensive toys that OTHER smart people built.
In summary, this was a horrendously awfully written novel. The editing was trash on all levels. Get a content reader to help with GLARING issues, put fucking quotes around sentences, and nonsense that you should research BEYOND damn google. Clearly this author took the concept of Dexter and Batman, rolled them together with some bullshit googling and inaccurate information to compile this novel. If this author wants to continue to publish and actually write GOOD novels, then he should have spent the money using an editor and beta readers who did not feed his ego and lie to author about 'how great' this novel is. Get a damn content editor; so very much was so very, disgustingly wrong. This is sometimes to be expected when I find indie authors at author signings. It sounded like a good concept, this was an epic fail.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2025
This writing style is not for me.
I am not quite sure what style this is and one of my friends said it is reminiscent of the old timey detective movies and I could kind of see it but it really doesn't work here. Let's keep it in the movies. The reading did not flow well and came across as choppy and stunted. I was also confused with the dialogue as only some of what is spoken is in quotes, but a lot of it is not marked any different until it is stated as 'I say', 'he says', or some other dialogue tag. We are also walked through every little action when a generalization would lead the reader to the same conclusion without having to spell it out for them.
Next, the pacing: We find out who the killer is around 35% in the book and then they are put away at about 70% through the book. These usually end a story and left me wondering what was left for 30% more? I also found a continuity error.
I am not quite sure what style this is and one of my friends said it is reminiscent of the old timey detective movies and I could kind of see it but it really doesn't work here. Let's keep it in the movies. The reading did not flow well and came across as choppy and stunted. I was also confused with the dialogue as only some of what is spoken is in quotes, but a lot of it is not marked any different until it is stated as 'I say', 'he says', or some other dialogue tag. We are also walked through every little action when a generalization would lead the reader to the same conclusion without having to spell it out for them.
Next, the pacing: We find out who the killer is around 35% in the book and then they are put away at about 70% through the book. These usually end a story and left me wondering what was left for 30% more? I also found a continuity error.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2024
Like a theme from the book, this story couldn’t decide what type of book it wanted to be.
What started as a strong “whodunnit” serial killer murder mystery became a true detective, fight club, shutter island hybrid. All three stories fighting for supremacy. Creative, but I couldn’t appreciate the flow.
What started as a strong “whodunnit” serial killer murder mystery became a true detective, fight club, shutter island hybrid. All three stories fighting for supremacy. Creative, but I couldn’t appreciate the flow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 31, 2025
"X is what i think, x is what I say"... used 52 times. The plot had potential, and I hope the author tries again But. very little of this was clear or consice. I understand the style and reason behind it, the plot was not enough to excuse so much of this.
February 24, 2025
Dexter-style murder thriller…..I thought the twist was revealed pretty early and would have loved the mystery to last a little longer to spend less time in the Part III of the book. There are some gory scenes in this book….But overall, I thought this was a enjoyable wild ride of a story!
September 3, 2025
The premise sounded interesting and I love a good thriller, but this didn’t work.
First of all, there were SO many formatting and grammatical issues. There needed to be at least one more round of line edits. I immediately noticed that all the text was aligned left. There were also weird spaces in the middle of sentences and too many pages were left blank or almost entirely blank. If you’re an indie author, please, PLEASE pay attention to these little details.
There were major issues with the dialogue. It needed to be cleaned up badly. So many times I had no clue who was talking until the dialogue tag was improperly added. If a writer doesn’t know the basic mechanics of dialogue, the rest of the book will struggle.
I read the “Acknowledgments” and it seems like the author’s wife edited the book. I have no idea if she’s a real editor, but the book is poorly edited. If there are 2-3 small typos in a book, I can tolerate those, but these typos were excessive. Here are a few:
- Using “surveillance” as a verb. “…we can spare to surveillance any potential targets.” (the verb is “surveil”)
- Using “post haste” as a word when the correct spelling is “posthaste.”
- “Que the gooey eyes and soft smile.” (the correct word is “cue”)
- Possibly the worst offense: “I want you to watch Harken and I’s conversation as well.” (I is NEVER possessive)
The book reads like a second draft. It was not ready for publishing.
Every now and then I came across a line I liked: “After the two of us have finished sharing the drinks with the linoleum, we apologize profusely to the staff for making such a mess.”
But the story loses momentum around page 123. And the plot twist was incredibly predictable. Unfortunately, this book is a mess and not one I’d recommend.
First of all, there were SO many formatting and grammatical issues. There needed to be at least one more round of line edits. I immediately noticed that all the text was aligned left. There were also weird spaces in the middle of sentences and too many pages were left blank or almost entirely blank. If you’re an indie author, please, PLEASE pay attention to these little details.
There were major issues with the dialogue. It needed to be cleaned up badly. So many times I had no clue who was talking until the dialogue tag was improperly added. If a writer doesn’t know the basic mechanics of dialogue, the rest of the book will struggle.
I read the “Acknowledgments” and it seems like the author’s wife edited the book. I have no idea if she’s a real editor, but the book is poorly edited. If there are 2-3 small typos in a book, I can tolerate those, but these typos were excessive. Here are a few:
- Using “surveillance” as a verb. “…we can spare to surveillance any potential targets.” (the verb is “surveil”)
- Using “post haste” as a word when the correct spelling is “posthaste.”
- “Que the gooey eyes and soft smile.” (the correct word is “cue”)
- Possibly the worst offense: “I want you to watch Harken and I’s conversation as well.” (I is NEVER possessive)
The book reads like a second draft. It was not ready for publishing.
Every now and then I came across a line I liked: “After the two of us have finished sharing the drinks with the linoleum, we apologize profusely to the staff for making such a mess.”
But the story loses momentum around page 123. And the plot twist was incredibly predictable. Unfortunately, this book is a mess and not one I’d recommend.
August 14, 2025
My rating system:
5 stars - Absolutely loved it! I would definitely read again anytime!
4 stars - Really liked it! Will most likely read again sometime.
3 stars - Liked it. Glad I read it but probably won't read again.
2 stars - Didn't like it. Glad I'm done with the book and I'll never read it again.
1 star - Very rare rating. Absolutely hated the book. Will never read again and I'll probably burn any copies I come across.
I'll say 3.5 stars. Very interesting read! DID (see what I did there?) not see some of those plot twists coming! This was fun to read because it's different than anything else that I've been reading lately. I would recommend giving this book a read! There is another book out right now that I believe is more of a prequel story but I haven't read it. I may read again someday myself if another book comes out continuing the storyline of The Flutter
Edited to add:
I forgot to say... My one critique would be about the sentence structure and punctuation. I did not care for the way that the speaking portions of the main character were written. What he said outloud was always clumped in with his thoughts.
Examples:
“You look great, boss,” Harken says as he catches me staring at myself in the mirror. Thanks, pal, is what I say. A few decades past my prime is what I think.
...from his neck, I think. No real clue is what I say.
About the height for a hit-and-run, I think. Any details from the tech? Is what I say.
Every word that the main character says is written like that. The first couple of times it was fine but after reading an entire book I was annoyed. I was dying for some quotation marks by the end 😅
Other than that sentence structure annoying me, the writing overall was pretty good.
5 stars - Absolutely loved it! I would definitely read again anytime!
4 stars - Really liked it! Will most likely read again sometime.
3 stars - Liked it. Glad I read it but probably won't read again.
2 stars - Didn't like it. Glad I'm done with the book and I'll never read it again.
1 star - Very rare rating. Absolutely hated the book. Will never read again and I'll probably burn any copies I come across.
I'll say 3.5 stars. Very interesting read! DID (see what I did there?) not see some of those plot twists coming! This was fun to read because it's different than anything else that I've been reading lately. I would recommend giving this book a read! There is another book out right now that I believe is more of a prequel story but I haven't read it. I may read again someday myself if another book comes out continuing the storyline of The Flutter
Edited to add:
I forgot to say... My one critique would be about the sentence structure and punctuation. I did not care for the way that the speaking portions of the main character were written. What he said outloud was always clumped in with his thoughts.
Examples:
“You look great, boss,” Harken says as he catches me staring at myself in the mirror. Thanks, pal, is what I say. A few decades past my prime is what I think.
...from his neck, I think. No real clue is what I say.
About the height for a hit-and-run, I think. Any details from the tech? Is what I say.
Every word that the main character says is written like that. The first couple of times it was fine but after reading an entire book I was annoyed. I was dying for some quotation marks by the end 😅
Other than that sentence structure annoying me, the writing overall was pretty good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2025
3.5 rounded down. It was pretty obvious at 12% that 'Harken' was behind the murders, but I did not see the split personality coming along. The book felt 50 pages too long.
My major issue is that why suddenly did 'Harken' decide to turn himself in? Seems like his personality would have had him run. After that point in the book it was just irritating. Also, Albert's personality joining seemed pointless.
Overall I liked the idea, and the detail involved in the plot.
Two issues I believe were missed when editing:
Harken says that it was going to be hard to get 2 bodies outside when he was taking over the body during the Finches murders, but then they were found inside.
Connor says he always gets his ass kicked by Sparky playing chess, but then he is the chess pro and Harken is the one that gets his butt kicked?
My major issue is that why suddenly did 'Harken' decide to turn himself in? Seems like his personality would have had him run. After that point in the book it was just irritating. Also, Albert's personality joining seemed pointless.
Overall I liked the idea, and the detail involved in the plot.
Two issues I believe were missed when editing:
Harken says that it was going to be hard to get 2 bodies outside when he was taking over the body during the Finches murders, but then they were found inside.
Connor says he always gets his ass kicked by Sparky playing chess, but then he is the chess pro and Harken is the one that gets his butt kicked?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2024
Ooooo this book!!! Kudos to Eric, the author, for creating this book as his debut as an author because it’s so well done! The first twist was SO unexpected and for there to be so many twists throughout was so intriguing! The best part of reading this book is that I found it in my local coffee shop unexpectedly where the author works! I’m grateful to support a local author and will now be sharing this book with all of my forensic nurse coworkers who I think will also enjoy it :)
November 24, 2024
Monarch leads the reader down a twisted path of revenge and self discovery. Fox delivers a tale that fractures the readers ability to trust reality in a story that is part Dexter and part Fight Club. We are tasked with questioning the darker side of the justice system and Fox begs the question what happens when we truly discover who we are .
February 28, 2025
This was quite good! The plot was entertaining and by the end I really couldn’t guess what was going to happen. There were so many plot twists but they didn’t feel forced like a lot of thriller novels do. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a good and unique thriller. I will definitely be picking up the next one whenever it comes out!
My only complaints which are really more editing/writing related - the short sentences threw me off in the beginning but I feel like it improved as the book went on. I also very much disliked the repetition of him saying “…is what I thought” and then “…is what I said”. Overall I feel like these are personal gripes though and not related to the story itself. For a first novel it was good in my opinion
My only complaints which are really more editing/writing related - the short sentences threw me off in the beginning but I feel like it improved as the book went on. I also very much disliked the repetition of him saying “…is what I thought” and then “…is what I said”. Overall I feel like these are personal gripes though and not related to the story itself. For a first novel it was good in my opinion
May 26, 2025
This book held my attention the whole way through. The amount of time and research Erik Fox put into this book really shows through in the writing. If you like serial killers killing serial killers with some psychological mind games, you may be part of the flutter 🦋
May 19, 2025
I listened, I went in blind, and I have ZERO regrets!
Just wow. Ngl, I was going to put it down but then at about 30% in… the mic dropped. I sprinted to the end at that point. Couldn’t put it down.
Erik, thank you for this masterpiece. I can’t wait for Gimbals!
Just wow. Ngl, I was going to put it down but then at about 30% in… the mic dropped. I sprinted to the end at that point. Couldn’t put it down.
Erik, thank you for this masterpiece. I can’t wait for Gimbals!
June 18, 2025
Holy Butterflies. This book is insane in all the best ways. And for it to be his debut novel, I am so impressed. Can’t wait to see what else The Flutter has in store.
October 19, 2025
Like many of the fictional murder books I've read, this was a gift (otherwise, I wouldn't have read it). and also like many of the murder books I've read, I was disappointed by twists and found some things a bit far-reaching or hard to believe. Despite this, I did find myself drawn into the story and wondering what would come next. It was an easy read, and seemed much shorter than its 300+ pages. I found out when nearing the end that there is a sequel book, or that this was the first book in a series (of two, currently). I looked at the other book, identified as prequel and deeper look into some of the characters, and I do not believe I will be reading it. I don't say this to take away from Monarch, but this isn't a genre I love, and I do not feel so drawn in that I need to know any more.
March 29, 2025
Loved how easy this was to read through. Kept me interested and guessing the whole way through.
March 31, 2025
Looking for your next read??
Wow! Honestly I had to put this book down multiple times because of other books and an ARC and I wish I didn’t! I literally just finished and I need more 🤯 One of my favorite thrillers so far this year!!
Wow! Honestly I had to put this book down multiple times because of other books and an ARC and I wish I didn’t! I literally just finished and I need more 🤯 One of my favorite thrillers so far this year!!
June 12, 2025
Found him on TikTok and got a signed copy! Book was good, lots of twists but pretty graphic. The last ten pages made me want to take a break but I powered through since I was so close to being done.
August 7, 2025
Been a while since I’ve read a book that I haven’t been able to put down! I like to think that I’m a pretty good judge of characters and that I can see where the path is going - but this book truly kept me on my toes the entire time and the twists were completely unpredictable.
10/10 would read again. Looking forward to Gimbals. I should call Gary.
10/10 would read again. Looking forward to Gimbals. I should call Gary.
August 26, 2024
Really enjoyed the twists and turns this book took.
I didn’t expect there to be so many and it kept me on my toes - I was about 30% into the book before the first big twist and it was a riiiiiide from then on.
I struggled a bit to get into it at first, the writing style was a bit sharp / jarring until I understood the personality of the MC a bit better.
Some of the things some characters said took me out of the story a bit, but once the plot kicked in, I was hooked.
A great debut novel and I’m definitely reading the sequel!
I didn’t expect there to be so many and it kept me on my toes - I was about 30% into the book before the first big twist and it was a riiiiiide from then on.
I struggled a bit to get into it at first, the writing style was a bit sharp / jarring until I understood the personality of the MC a bit better.
Some of the things some characters said took me out of the story a bit, but once the plot kicked in, I was hooked.
A great debut novel and I’m definitely reading the sequel!
December 13, 2025
Keeps you hooked.
After seeing this series promoted on TikTok, I purchased both Monarch and Gimbals. There’s so many twists and turns that it keeps you hooked. Fans of Dexter will enjoy this story line.
After seeing this series promoted on TikTok, I purchased both Monarch and Gimbals. There’s so many twists and turns that it keeps you hooked. Fans of Dexter will enjoy this story line.
January 11, 2025
UPDATE:
It’s been a couple days and I’ve changed my rating from 3 to 4 because I can’t get this book out of my mind! The plot was so crazy to even be thought of and I felt like I could look past my distaste in some of the writing style to give it another star that it deserves.
……………………………………………………
I have completely mixed feelings on this book. I read it because I saw the author on Tik Tok. At the beginning, I loved it, then it really lost me, but came back around for a little bit at the end. I did finish it fast just because I wanted to find out what direction he would take.
My biggest problem was with the writing style and dialogue. I did not like how he wrote from the MC’s perspective and voice, which made it confusing at times. It also never came together why the author wrote so much repetition into the early chapters to never follow through with it in the rest of the book and have it mean anything. Seems like wasted space at the time.
All that being said, I’ve never read anything like this and would recommend to give it a try just because it’s on KU!
It’s been a couple days and I’ve changed my rating from 3 to 4 because I can’t get this book out of my mind! The plot was so crazy to even be thought of and I felt like I could look past my distaste in some of the writing style to give it another star that it deserves.
……………………………………………………
I have completely mixed feelings on this book. I read it because I saw the author on Tik Tok. At the beginning, I loved it, then it really lost me, but came back around for a little bit at the end. I did finish it fast just because I wanted to find out what direction he would take.
My biggest problem was with the writing style and dialogue. I did not like how he wrote from the MC’s perspective and voice, which made it confusing at times. It also never came together why the author wrote so much repetition into the early chapters to never follow through with it in the rest of the book and have it mean anything. Seems like wasted space at the time.
All that being said, I’ve never read anything like this and would recommend to give it a try just because it’s on KU!
May 20, 2025
I ran into this author on my fyp and the story sounded interesting. I'm glad I gave this a shot, the plot was so unique! I haven't read anything like this before.
There were tons of twists that I didn't expect even though I had a feeling about some of the characters being suspicious. The author did a good job making it difficult to decipher who The Monarch really was.
The writing style took me awhile to get used to, but once the story got going, I was hooked. I love a "whodunnit" and serial killer thriller. Overall made for an enjoyable debut that will stick with me.
There were tons of twists that I didn't expect even though I had a feeling about some of the characters being suspicious. The author did a good job making it difficult to decipher who The Monarch really was.
The writing style took me awhile to get used to, but once the story got going, I was hooked. I love a "whodunnit" and serial killer thriller. Overall made for an enjoyable debut that will stick with me.
October 10, 2025
This is one of those books that trick you in beginning. The plot starts out fine, but oh how it quickly falls. The lack of quotation marks drove me insane.
Example sentence: I ask if we have a home address for Mr. Daniel's.
What could have been done "Do we have an address for Mr. Daniels?" I asked.
During a conversation, we'll understand quickly who's talking.
It did this for the entire book. It's not something I've come across before, and I hope to never again. It made it difficult to know when the MC was talking out loud to to himself.
We get a lot of "I think" comments made.
Example sentence: Easy to clean, I think.
What it could be: Easy to clean.
If quotations were in the book, we wouldn't need to be told when he's thinking and when he's talking outloud. The sentences are so simple. It's like I'm learning to read, but make it thriller..ish. Example above "Easy to clean." ok...?
The lack quotation marks just gets worse as the book goes on. Am I in a conversation or am I being told about events right after they happened, or is he thinking again? It's all in one paragraph. This book is in need of more editing, and perhaps more honest beta readers. If there were any beta readers, and I'm being to think that's a big IF, they blew smoke up his a$$ for a free book. It's also missing MAJOR lack of actual research. Again, beta readers or an editor would have been so helpful. I could go on about more problems, but at this point I feel like I'm beating a dead horse. If you're in a reading slump, just say no. I was in one, and now I'm questioning if I even like reading anymore after that.
Kidding, I do like reading. My brain just needs a reboot or something.
Example sentence: I ask if we have a home address for Mr. Daniel's.
What could have been done "Do we have an address for Mr. Daniels?" I asked.
During a conversation, we'll understand quickly who's talking.
It did this for the entire book. It's not something I've come across before, and I hope to never again. It made it difficult to know when the MC was talking out loud to to himself.
We get a lot of "I think" comments made.
Example sentence: Easy to clean, I think.
What it could be: Easy to clean.
If quotations were in the book, we wouldn't need to be told when he's thinking and when he's talking outloud. The sentences are so simple. It's like I'm learning to read, but make it thriller..ish. Example above "Easy to clean." ok...?
The lack quotation marks just gets worse as the book goes on. Am I in a conversation or am I being told about events right after they happened, or is he thinking again? It's all in one paragraph. This book is in need of more editing, and perhaps more honest beta readers. If there were any beta readers, and I'm being to think that's a big IF, they blew smoke up his a$$ for a free book. It's also missing MAJOR lack of actual research. Again, beta readers or an editor would have been so helpful. I could go on about more problems, but at this point I feel like I'm beating a dead horse. If you're in a reading slump, just say no. I was in one, and now I'm questioning if I even like reading anymore after that.
Kidding, I do like reading. My brain just needs a reboot or something.
April 30, 2025
It started off really rough, it almost felt like a young adult wrote their first book. The second part was better, a shocking plot twist, got more into it. The last part felt like it went on longer than it needed. Over all it wasn't terrible, but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend.
July 22, 2025
I wanted to like this book, but there were just too many small issues early on that led to me being more critical for the whole story. I’ll have a more in depth review posted here after it goes live on my blog.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews