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Looks That Kill
Sometimes death is not enough...
Laura Johnson's life has been a mosaic of terror, each piece a fragment of her haunted past. In her world, to be unnoticed is to be safe, yet, beneath her camouflage lies a burning desire to live without the constant pulse of fear.
Enter Diablo, a serial killer who transforms his victims into chilling avatars that appear within his dark and popular computer games. With the police powerless to peel back his many masks, Diablo sets his sights on Laura.
In this heart-stopping race against time, Laura is thrust into a deadly play where facing fear isn't a choice-it's survival. With the killer's shadow looming, can she stand against the darkness? Or will she become the next character in his twisted games of death?
The terror begins now....
Laura Johnson's life has been a mosaic of terror, each piece a fragment of her haunted past. In her world, to be unnoticed is to be safe, yet, beneath her camouflage lies a burning desire to live without the constant pulse of fear.
Enter Diablo, a serial killer who transforms his victims into chilling avatars that appear within his dark and popular computer games. With the police powerless to peel back his many masks, Diablo sets his sights on Laura.
In this heart-stopping race against time, Laura is thrust into a deadly play where facing fear isn't a choice-it's survival. With the killer's shadow looming, can she stand against the darkness? Or will she become the next character in his twisted games of death?
The terror begins now....
390 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 15, 2025
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 10, 2025
One of the most prolific serial killers in the world, Theodore "Ted" Bundy, once said, "Murder is not about lust and it's not about violence. It's about possession." As dark as quoting a serial killer is, his words ring true as there is a cruel and vicious serial killer haunting the streets of Fairhaven, Virginia, lurking in the shadows for his next victim in Lee Gemmill's Looks that Kill.
While the story begins with a mysterious introduction of Dr. Lois Quint and her conversation with the aforementioned Ted Bundy, the story truly begins with our protagonist, Laura Johnson.
Laura is an attractive but insecure woman in her thirties, waking up to another day of her average, if not paranoid and melancholy, life. However, getting groped on the bus before starting her workday as a customer service representative will become the least of her worries.
Somewhere, in another part of Fairhaven, Virginia, Jeremy Gorch prepares his latest victim for her debut showing. Jeremy is the serial killer known as "Diablo," a man who abducts. tortures and kills young and beautiful women.
While Laura and Jeremy's lives have been separate, a sudden promotion at JimCo allows Laura to put her coke-bottle glasses down to show the true beauty beneath her...But it also allows Jeremy to come across her breathtaking picture in a newspaper.
From that moment on, their lives become intricately linked and the ultimate and horrific cat and mouse game begins...
When it comes to thrillers, there is a high standard that authors must meet, and the first standard is the characters. Lee Gemmill does a great job of building up his characters, their motivations, and their personalities. Despite having such a large cast of characters as he does, it can be difficult for authors to keep track of their voices.
With three special mentions going to the female lead, Laura Johnson, and the serial killer hunting her as his next prey, the psychotic Jeremy Gorch, aka "Diablo."
Laura is a shy, sympathetic, fearful character who readers will find relatable as she handles the massive threat coming her way.
Gorch, on the other hand, is a capable and fearsome villain, who not only poses his victims in a sickening display after they've been slain, but also collects their eyes as his trophies. As William Shakespeare once said, "The eyes are the window to your soul" and with taking their eyes, he's possessing their very soul.
Gemmill's writing is a masterclass on serial killer novels, particularly the scenes between Gorch and one of his victims. The suspense, tension, and dread builds throughout the story, especially when the narration is told from Gorch's point of view.
While Laura and Gorch are the central characters, the supporting characters in this story and the world around them feels authentic and relatable, serving to strengthen the story.
Gemmill's narration and storytelling is descriptive without becoming overly verbose, making for an engaging story.
The plot itself is solid as well. The twists and turns throughout the story, when it comes to Laura's escape from Gorch, as well as Detective Kenny Scarborough's pursuit of catching Gorch, and the ending will leave readers surprised.
With believable, likeable characters, a solid plot, great writing, and a satisfying conclusion, Looks That Kill is a worthy addition to any bookshelf, and this story gains an enthusiastic recommendation from me.
While the story begins with a mysterious introduction of Dr. Lois Quint and her conversation with the aforementioned Ted Bundy, the story truly begins with our protagonist, Laura Johnson.
Laura is an attractive but insecure woman in her thirties, waking up to another day of her average, if not paranoid and melancholy, life. However, getting groped on the bus before starting her workday as a customer service representative will become the least of her worries.
Somewhere, in another part of Fairhaven, Virginia, Jeremy Gorch prepares his latest victim for her debut showing. Jeremy is the serial killer known as "Diablo," a man who abducts. tortures and kills young and beautiful women.
While Laura and Jeremy's lives have been separate, a sudden promotion at JimCo allows Laura to put her coke-bottle glasses down to show the true beauty beneath her...But it also allows Jeremy to come across her breathtaking picture in a newspaper.
From that moment on, their lives become intricately linked and the ultimate and horrific cat and mouse game begins...
When it comes to thrillers, there is a high standard that authors must meet, and the first standard is the characters. Lee Gemmill does a great job of building up his characters, their motivations, and their personalities. Despite having such a large cast of characters as he does, it can be difficult for authors to keep track of their voices.
With three special mentions going to the female lead, Laura Johnson, and the serial killer hunting her as his next prey, the psychotic Jeremy Gorch, aka "Diablo."
Laura is a shy, sympathetic, fearful character who readers will find relatable as she handles the massive threat coming her way.
Gorch, on the other hand, is a capable and fearsome villain, who not only poses his victims in a sickening display after they've been slain, but also collects their eyes as his trophies. As William Shakespeare once said, "The eyes are the window to your soul" and with taking their eyes, he's possessing their very soul.
Gemmill's writing is a masterclass on serial killer novels, particularly the scenes between Gorch and one of his victims. The suspense, tension, and dread builds throughout the story, especially when the narration is told from Gorch's point of view.
While Laura and Gorch are the central characters, the supporting characters in this story and the world around them feels authentic and relatable, serving to strengthen the story.
Gemmill's narration and storytelling is descriptive without becoming overly verbose, making for an engaging story.
The plot itself is solid as well. The twists and turns throughout the story, when it comes to Laura's escape from Gorch, as well as Detective Kenny Scarborough's pursuit of catching Gorch, and the ending will leave readers surprised.
With believable, likeable characters, a solid plot, great writing, and a satisfying conclusion, Looks That Kill is a worthy addition to any bookshelf, and this story gains an enthusiastic recommendation from me.
February 6, 2026
Gripping from page one, this thriller fuses psychological horror with a dark digital twist. Laura is compelling, Diablo is terrifyingly original. Tense, fast, and haunting, it keeps you racing pages, afraid to blink. A true five-star must-read.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews