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The Artist : Psychological Thriller with a creative twist
Some obsessions are born in silence. Others are carved in bone.
He sees beauty in bone. Perfection in fear.
By day, he’s just another starving artist. By night, he’s something else entirely—a meticulous killer who transforms his victims into haunting sculptures, using their skulls as the foundation for his grotesque masterpieces. Art is his religion. Death is his medium. And no one suspects a thing.
But when he crosses paths with Finley—enigmatic, sharp-eyed, and disturbingly captivating—his routine begins to unravel. She isn’t like the others. She inspires him. Challenges him. Watches him a little too closely.
As obsession bleeds into paranoia, the line between artist and prey begins to blur. And in the end, every masterpiece demands a final stroke.
He sees beauty in bone. Perfection in fear.
By day, he’s just another starving artist. By night, he’s something else entirely—a meticulous killer who transforms his victims into haunting sculptures, using their skulls as the foundation for his grotesque masterpieces. Art is his religion. Death is his medium. And no one suspects a thing.
But when he crosses paths with Finley—enigmatic, sharp-eyed, and disturbingly captivating—his routine begins to unravel. She isn’t like the others. She inspires him. Challenges him. Watches him a little too closely.
As obsession bleeds into paranoia, the line between artist and prey begins to blur. And in the end, every masterpiece demands a final stroke.
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2025
20 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 1, 2025
“The Artist” by J.D. Setzer is a dark, suspenseful, and utterly chilling thriller. The Artist pulls you into the twisted mind of a killer who turns his victims' bones into haunting works of art. As his obsession with a particular woman grows, so does the tension. Will she be his ultimate masterpiece—or his downfall? A gripping, edge-of-your-seat read that’s both disturbing and captivating.
July 14, 2025
This book is what a reader looks forward to reading. The characters are flawed and weird in such a perfect way that you actually relate! The story moves without ever becoming boring or stagnant. The ending is a twist that would make a martini jealous.
Finley is the perfect foil for Oliver. She understands more than he knows, and the relationship sets off a need-to-know ending for the reader. Hooks you from page one and doesn't let go...even after you've finished.
I have read the other books by this author, and all are emotional and powerful. I don't think I could choose a favorite! J.D. Setzer is one yo follow.
Finley is the perfect foil for Oliver. She understands more than he knows, and the relationship sets off a need-to-know ending for the reader. Hooks you from page one and doesn't let go...even after you've finished.
I have read the other books by this author, and all are emotional and powerful. I don't think I could choose a favorite! J.D. Setzer is one yo follow.
June 16, 2025
The Artist is my 2nd book by author J.D. Setzer.
As much as I hated the main character in The Web She Wove, I found myself unable to put the book down.
After reviewing that book, I spoke with J.D. and he told me about his latest book The Artist.
I couldn't wait to read it !!
Oliver & Finley are artists, working with 2 very different mediums, but they each have a dark secret that enhances their art.
This book had me hooked immediately. I read it all in one sitting, while traveling back from vacation.
⚠️SPOILER ALERT ⚠️
If you enjoy serial un-alivers, this book is for you!!
As much as I hated the main character in The Web She Wove, I found myself unable to put the book down.
After reviewing that book, I spoke with J.D. and he told me about his latest book The Artist.
I couldn't wait to read it !!
Oliver & Finley are artists, working with 2 very different mediums, but they each have a dark secret that enhances their art.
This book had me hooked immediately. I read it all in one sitting, while traveling back from vacation.
⚠️SPOILER ALERT ⚠️
If you enjoy serial un-alivers, this book is for you!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2025
rounding down from 4.3 stars
This slow burn of a novel wasn't what I had expected. I had anticipated a dark love story between two psychologically disturbed individuals who find each other through their art. While that proved true, this book was much more. Setzer's writing had me engaged and wanting to know if either would get caught or if they would end up together. The Artist concluded instead in a way I hadn't considered.
This slow burn of a novel wasn't what I had expected. I had anticipated a dark love story between two psychologically disturbed individuals who find each other through their art. While that proved true, this book was much more. Setzer's writing had me engaged and wanting to know if either would get caught or if they would end up together. The Artist concluded instead in a way I hadn't considered.
August 5, 2025
Blown away
This is a wild ride. Fast paced read and a shocking ending. I will be reading more from J.D. Setzer
This is a wild ride. Fast paced read and a shocking ending. I will be reading more from J.D. Setzer
February 4, 2026
Oliver is a sculptor. He's broke, always hungry (art comes first), and a ruthless killer. His victims don't just die though, they come 'alive' through his art. He uses their skulls as the base for his shocking masterpieces. His art consumes him, he sees nothing but beauty in bones and facial structure. He then meets Finley - a Painter - who is fractured from the past and pours everything into her creations.
They have an instant connection when they meet, but Finley also sees something dark in Oliver so she watches him closely while also battling her desire for him. Oliver is obsessed with her but has no idea what she has seen....
One is a hunter. One is the prey. Who will survive this tumultuous liason???
An absolute blinder of a book!!! I was fully immersed in it from page one. Oliver's art fascinated me. It was passionate but brutal. His character is broken yet focused. Finley was similar, but her intuition constantly battled with her intense attraction to Oliver. I could FEEL how torn she was.
The pace is fast and sharp. Destruction and clever creativity blend into one, and I had no idea how it would end!
Revenge, possession, tension, and desire fill the pages. A truly gripping thriller that both shocked and captivated me.
Thanks J.D, my second book of yours and I NEED to read them all! Your narrative had me by the throat. It's deep, descriptive, and addictive. I couldn't put it down. The storyline is unique but brilliant. Character developments were chillingly good and I could 'feel' their angst and emotions coming through the pages. That's talent right there 🥰
They have an instant connection when they meet, but Finley also sees something dark in Oliver so she watches him closely while also battling her desire for him. Oliver is obsessed with her but has no idea what she has seen....
One is a hunter. One is the prey. Who will survive this tumultuous liason???
An absolute blinder of a book!!! I was fully immersed in it from page one. Oliver's art fascinated me. It was passionate but brutal. His character is broken yet focused. Finley was similar, but her intuition constantly battled with her intense attraction to Oliver. I could FEEL how torn she was.
The pace is fast and sharp. Destruction and clever creativity blend into one, and I had no idea how it would end!
Revenge, possession, tension, and desire fill the pages. A truly gripping thriller that both shocked and captivated me.
Thanks J.D, my second book of yours and I NEED to read them all! Your narrative had me by the throat. It's deep, descriptive, and addictive. I couldn't put it down. The storyline is unique but brilliant. Character developments were chillingly good and I could 'feel' their angst and emotions coming through the pages. That's talent right there 🥰
July 14, 2025
This book drew me in immediately. Short twisted story, but I really enjoyed it!
July 13, 2025
OMG, I absolutely loved this book!!!! J.D.Setzer is my new favorite author! This book was so beautifully written, almost poetic at times and it hooked me from the start. I started this book last night and ended up cancelling all my plans for the day, so I could just stay home and read The Artist. Do yourself a favor and immediately order this book! I've gotta go now, so I can buy everything he's ever written and binge read all week 😊
June 5, 2025
J.D. Setzer takes you on a dark ride that’s heavy but somehow pulls you in without trying too hard.
He keeps it straightforward no fluff, no sugarcoating just a steady, creeping tension that sticks with you. And just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, the ending drops out of nowhere, hitting hard and leaving a mark you can’t shake.
Another fantastic read that I definitely recommend.
He keeps it straightforward no fluff, no sugarcoating just a steady, creeping tension that sticks with you. And just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, the ending drops out of nowhere, hitting hard and leaving a mark you can’t shake.
Another fantastic read that I definitely recommend.
June 8, 2025
A couple weeks ago I read and reviewed another book by him but this one?!?! I was HOOKED. I flew through this.
It was so haunting how much darkness was in plain sight for the world to see!
I cannot wait for this to release so you guys can read it, his work truly just gets better and better!
And fun little note, the characters are named after his dogs!
It was so haunting how much darkness was in plain sight for the world to see!
I cannot wait for this to release so you guys can read it, his work truly just gets better and better!
And fun little note, the characters are named after his dogs!
July 14, 2025
a little predictable but we'll written. an easy quick read and enjoyable
September 5, 2025
Thrilling, shocking, and poetically immersive!! A binge-worthy book of the highest order! This is definitely an auto read author!!
October 25, 2025
Enjoyable. I liked the art descriptions and explanations
February 4, 2026
Oliver is a sculptor. He's broke, always hungry (art comes first), and a ruthless killer. His victims don't just die though, they come 'alive' through his art. He uses their skulls as the base for his shocking masterpieces. His art consumes him, he sees nothing but beauty in bones and facial structure. He then meets Finley - a Painter - who is fractured from the past and pours everything into her creations.
They have an instant connection when they meet, but Finley also sees something dark in Oliver so she watches him closely while also battling her desire for him. Oliver is obsessed with her but has no idea what she has seen....
One is a hunter. One is the prey. Who will survive this tumultuous liason???
An absolute blinder of a book!!! I was fully immersed in it from page one. Oliver's art fascinated me. It was passionate but brutal. His character is broken yet focused. Finley was similar, but her intuition constantly battled with her intense attraction to Oliver. I could FEEL how torn she was.
The pace is fast and sharp. Destruction and clever creativity blend into one, and I had no idea how it would end!
Revenge, possession, tension, and desire fill the pages. A truly gripping thriller that both shocked and captivated me.
Thanks J.D, my second book of yours and I NEED to read them all! Your narrative had me by the throat. It's deep, descriptive, and addictive. I couldn't put it down. The storyline is unique but brilliant. Character developments were chillingly good and I could 'feel' their angst and emotions coming through the pages. That's talent right there 🥰
They have an instant connection when they meet, but Finley also sees something dark in Oliver so she watches him closely while also battling her desire for him. Oliver is obsessed with her but has no idea what she has seen....
One is a hunter. One is the prey. Who will survive this tumultuous liason???
An absolute blinder of a book!!! I was fully immersed in it from page one. Oliver's art fascinated me. It was passionate but brutal. His character is broken yet focused. Finley was similar, but her intuition constantly battled with her intense attraction to Oliver. I could FEEL how torn she was.
The pace is fast and sharp. Destruction and clever creativity blend into one, and I had no idea how it would end!
Revenge, possession, tension, and desire fill the pages. A truly gripping thriller that both shocked and captivated me.
Thanks J.D, my second book of yours and I NEED to read them all! Your narrative had me by the throat. It's deep, descriptive, and addictive. I couldn't put it down. The storyline is unique but brilliant. Character developments were chillingly good and I could 'feel' their angst and emotions coming through the pages. That's talent right there 🥰
August 30, 2025
Love the photo of Oliver and Finley at the start of this book. It familiarises the author with the reader.
This story has a similar take on the Silence of the Lambs MO in using skin as art. In this case, it’s bones, and specifically, the human skull. It’s really well done and beautifully executed—like his victims. Oliver sees beauty where others recoil. The story highlights the elegance of the art world. But it adds brutality and violence as Oliver prepares for an exhibition. The pacing is sharp, and the story makes creativity and destruction inseparable. Oliver is calculated, but it’s intimate when we’re taken into his studio and get to watch from the corner as he caresses clay over a base to produce his sculptures.
The writing takes us into the workings of obsession, but it isn’t written as a flaw. The madness is presented as a primal force and desire. The tension between the killer and Finley is awkward, and she comes into her own at the right point in the book, turning the story into a psychological time bomb.
A great thriller about art, obsession, and creativity at its darkest.
This story has a similar take on the Silence of the Lambs MO in using skin as art. In this case, it’s bones, and specifically, the human skull. It’s really well done and beautifully executed—like his victims. Oliver sees beauty where others recoil. The story highlights the elegance of the art world. But it adds brutality and violence as Oliver prepares for an exhibition. The pacing is sharp, and the story makes creativity and destruction inseparable. Oliver is calculated, but it’s intimate when we’re taken into his studio and get to watch from the corner as he caresses clay over a base to produce his sculptures.
The writing takes us into the workings of obsession, but it isn’t written as a flaw. The madness is presented as a primal force and desire. The tension between the killer and Finley is awkward, and she comes into her own at the right point in the book, turning the story into a psychological time bomb.
A great thriller about art, obsession, and creativity at its darkest.
November 11, 2025
The Artist By JD Setzer
Review Time!
This fast paced well written book took off at the gate and I think it’s perfect for fans of KING and COBEN because of the twist after twist, on the edge reading!
I loved this Dark thriller and William with his fractured mind from childhood.
The man he becomes is in pieces from violence, bullying, and after losing his father, the fight for survival begins!
The boy begins to CHANGE. He no longer lingers at the will of others tormenting him.
When William breaks down, And pieces of past and present come together a razor thin line marks Victim vs Villain
Tread lightly in this chilling dark thriller that brings forth
THE IRIPPER who exhibits his Power in A string of macabre murders.
The Artist
Brilliantly Brutal
Review Time!
This fast paced well written book took off at the gate and I think it’s perfect for fans of KING and COBEN because of the twist after twist, on the edge reading!
I loved this Dark thriller and William with his fractured mind from childhood.
The man he becomes is in pieces from violence, bullying, and after losing his father, the fight for survival begins!
The boy begins to CHANGE. He no longer lingers at the will of others tormenting him.
When William breaks down, And pieces of past and present come together a razor thin line marks Victim vs Villain
Tread lightly in this chilling dark thriller that brings forth
THE IRIPPER who exhibits his Power in A string of macabre murders.
The Artist
Brilliantly Brutal
November 16, 2025
Told from the ki!!ers POV The Artist is deeply creative. Art is everything it speaks volumes and tells all the emotions someone struggles to verbalize so they create instead. Oliver and Finley are tortured souls who cross paths being invited to the same art exhibition. Each has a dark past that is difficult to speak of. Finely is gorgeous, Oliver is handsome and mysterious.... Love this story and recommend JD to anyone looking for raw and emotional. Troubled pasts and tortured souls. JD is able to capture all the emotions so pure, so beautifully, it's beyond words and makes you wonder how he knows this deep emotion so passionately.
November 25, 2025
Wow!! I absolutely loved this book. Oliver has officially become one of my favorite villains... twisted, fascinating, and impossible to look away from. I’m not even sure what I expected the ending to be, but it definitely wasn’t that, and I loved it.
JD Setzer’s writing style is so smooth, sharp, and addictive. I really enjoy the way he builds tension and character layers without ever slowing down the pace. I can’t wait to dive into more of his books.
JD Setzer’s writing style is so smooth, sharp, and addictive. I really enjoy the way he builds tension and character layers without ever slowing down the pace. I can’t wait to dive into more of his books.
September 5, 2025
Intriguing
Very Good Book. I love the characters. Oliver and Finley. Very well written. I couldn't put it down. I felt the explanation of artistry was very descriptive.
Very Good Book. I love the characters. Oliver and Finley. Very well written. I couldn't put it down. I felt the explanation of artistry was very descriptive.
November 12, 2025
This is an amazing book that keeps you captivated! Every step of the way, you have twists and turns that are unpredictable! Love it!!!
November 23, 2025
Dark, disturbing and a true masterpiece. This story is going to live in my psyche for a very long time
September 3, 2025
This book was an amazing page turner!! The artist showed his true colors.
August 14, 2025
This was a fast paced, intriguing read that kept me turning the pages. The premise hooked me right away and the tension never really let up, which I loved However, as a true crime lover and thriller reader, this didn’t completely stick the landing, as it was a little predictable. Although it was dark, it wasn’t as dark or original as I was hoping. It also could have used a bit more editing (not a huge deal, just a handful of missed capitalizations & clunky transitions). Since the twists were a little too predictable, it took away from some shock value. Still, if you’re looking for an intriguing easy-to-binge psychological thriller with plenty of momentum, this is worth the read.
October 12, 2025
With a Smashing Opening, Setzer, sets the reader for a fast paced pych thriller, that will keep the reader enthralled until the end. His take on an artists use of materials are certainly unique, and have made me JD Setzer fan for life.
PS Check out his coloring book!
PS Check out his coloring book!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews