Jack's Lantern

by Michael L. Hawley

Fear grips the citizens of Greater Boston A truly evil serial killer ‘hell-bent’ on accomplishing his brutal agenda unleashes his venom on the citizens of Boston. Boston’s leaders are not prepared for this breed of killer; ruthless, methodical, and with a taste for the ancient ways. As they flounder, the Watchmaker, a sleuth with an unmatched record for routing out serial killers, is forced upon them. Dr. Edward Dunham, FBI’s chief scientist, slowly grasps this elusive adversary is different; quite possibly out of his reach. The killer’s brutality and intelligence are unbelievable, almost otherworldly. The Watchmaker, a man guided by naturalistic methodology, realizes he must stretch these boundaries in order to end his terror. www.searchingfortruthwithabrokenflash...

274 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2014

Reviews

[John Dizon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack’s Lantern by Michael L. Hawley is an intriguing suspense novel featuring Dr. Edward Dunham, nicknamed the Watchmaker for his unerring accuracy in pursuing his trade as an FBI criminal profiler. The countdown to Halloween has begun, and the author takes us through different scenarios and events leading to All Saints Eve from 1570 to the present. For some the day has religious significance, for others it has superstitious overtones. For the October Killer, it is a time of reaping the human harvest as Dunham and his colleagues race the clock to disrupt his schedule. Hawley takes us on a thrill-kill ride as we follow the trail from past to present, beneath ancient bridges and through darkened warehouses, wondering where the hooded murderer will strike next.

The theme of religion resonates throughout the novel as the Gaelic tradition of Samhain (‘end of harvest’) is traced to its incorporation into Church doctrine. We also see how its historical ramifications have affected society as we travel to Salem and its witchcraft lore, to the International Association of Exorcists where such beliefs are accepted to the present day. The October Killer becomes the embodiment of evil, and belief systems continue to be challenged as reality TV criminal profiler Dr. Gillespie is brought into the case. Old school detectives Huff and Sadler are determined to do their jobs by the book, while Dunham brings a more eclectic system to the chase. The element of confusion enhances the atmosphere of the novel as mindsets and philosophies continue to collide as the killer threatens to slip through the embroglio.

Will the October Killer live to slay another day? Pick up a copy of Jack’s Lantern by Michael L. Hawley and you won’t be disappointed.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Hawley wrote a mysterious, intriguing book that takes s from 1570 to present. The murders continue until.all Hallows eve by who the reaper? in the begging you just seem like your taking forever to get anywhere reading this book but then it gets better as you get further along in the book. The 'Watchmaker' nicknamed from being a FBI profiler that always seems to.get his man. Theirs a surprise in the end but I'm not sure if I was really truly happy about it. I have to say it's a good book. just slow to start. They do tell a interesting tale of ghost walks in the bok and about a couple who sees a murder but the man just disappears just as fast as they seen him. later the couple is murdered. I think that's when the bok got more interesting finally.
I'd say it's a good supernatural, detective book..worth reading if you don't mind the jumping back and fourth.