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The K: A serial killer novel
He loves her too much to kill her.
That’s what makes her dangerous.
When thirteen-year-old Jeremiah goes frog hunting in rural Ohio, he stumbles upon something he was never meant to see. In that moment, something inside him fractures, quietly, permanently. The boy who comes home is not the one who left.
Loss follows. Then isolation. Then the slow erosion of right and wrong.
As Jeremiah grows, so does the darkness living inside him, patient, persuasive, impossible to silence. He learns how it feels to give in. How power hums beneath the skin. How control is an illusion that tastes like freedom. When he finally embraces his deepest urges, an entire world opens to him… one that begins to consume him from the inside out.
Then he meets Victoria.
She disrupts the careful order of his darkness. She awakens something dangerously close to hope. Jeremiah tells himself she might save him, but love has never stopped a monster before.
How long can he hold back what he’s become?
And when the darkness finally wins, will there be anything left of the boy who once existed?
If you crave dark, unsettling psychological suspense, The K will pull you into the unraveling mind of a serial killer and refuse to let go. This is not a story about redemption. It’s about obsession, inevitability, and the terrifying question of whether love can survive evil or only delay it.
Download today.
But be The K will keep you awake long after the final page and linger even longer in your thoughts.
That’s what makes her dangerous.
When thirteen-year-old Jeremiah goes frog hunting in rural Ohio, he stumbles upon something he was never meant to see. In that moment, something inside him fractures, quietly, permanently. The boy who comes home is not the one who left.
Loss follows. Then isolation. Then the slow erosion of right and wrong.
As Jeremiah grows, so does the darkness living inside him, patient, persuasive, impossible to silence. He learns how it feels to give in. How power hums beneath the skin. How control is an illusion that tastes like freedom. When he finally embraces his deepest urges, an entire world opens to him… one that begins to consume him from the inside out.
Then he meets Victoria.
She disrupts the careful order of his darkness. She awakens something dangerously close to hope. Jeremiah tells himself she might save him, but love has never stopped a monster before.
How long can he hold back what he’s become?
And when the darkness finally wins, will there be anything left of the boy who once existed?
If you crave dark, unsettling psychological suspense, The K will pull you into the unraveling mind of a serial killer and refuse to let go. This is not a story about redemption. It’s about obsession, inevitability, and the terrifying question of whether love can survive evil or only delay it.
Download today.
But be The K will keep you awake long after the final page and linger even longer in your thoughts.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2026
About the author
Dawn Merriman
41 books274 followersDawn Merriman lives in northeastern Indiana on a small pig farm with her husband and teenage children. She enjoys animals, auctions, reading, snorkeling and writing small town murder mystery novels. Dawn Merriman completed her first novel in Middle School and a few others in High School and college. She won 1st place in the Northeast Indiana Young Writers short story contest in 1990. After a writing hiatus to raise her children, she published her debut novel, "How Murder Saved My Life" in 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 19, 2026
Jeremiah White is a creepy dude. This book is totally different than her past books.
January 25, 2026
A fast paced read from multiple POVs, including a murderer’s! This is dark, disturbing, twisted, yet… beautiful. You’ll be afraid yet attached to Jeremiah in an instant. This is perfect for fans of Dexter and Hannibal. With that being said, proceed with caution - there’s suicide, murder, taxidermy, blood, and grossly weird and creepy murderer characteristics. Seriously, if you’re a freckled girl, beware ⚠️ I think the most intriguing part of this book was the very end. Victoria’s final admittance of loving Jeremiah… and the author possibly giving Jeremiah a sequel?!
I listened to this book on audible and enjoyed the different voices.
I listened to this book on audible and enjoyed the different voices.
February 23, 2026
So I beta read this book, and I was given the heads up that this was not like my favourite series, Rylan Flynn... that this would be DARK! My god, I was not prepared for it to be this dark. I love Dawn's writing, and it's no different here, but I did say to her that at one point I needed to have a shower to scrub Jeremiah off my skin! THIS IS DARK!
I didn't have a blurb when I started, so I went in completely blind, just "enjoying" the adventure ahead of me. There are so many moments I had to stop and have a break. Signs of a good book, no? I am just glad I will never meet Jeremiah, as I don't want him to become obsessed with my freckles!
Right before it all goes bat-shit crazy, it seemed Victoria was going to go the dark side, but I am left with the longing to know! She loved Jeremiah, but I'm not sure if she still does after everything! This really is a book about obsession, but not the kind you might think it is.
I thought Savannah was an awesome character, tenacious and determined to get to the truth, but her introduction - WOAH! I was not expecting that!!
I do worry about Dawn's mind, though, as it is a huge departure from Rylan (I've not had the pleasure of meeting Gabby yet), and it is addictive, despite you not wanting to be addicted. You have some sympathy for Jeremiah, but you don't want to at the same time. This book will make you feel VERY conflicting emotions, and I love it for that!
Top book in my eyes!
I didn't have a blurb when I started, so I went in completely blind, just "enjoying" the adventure ahead of me. There are so many moments I had to stop and have a break. Signs of a good book, no? I am just glad I will never meet Jeremiah, as I don't want him to become obsessed with my freckles!
Right before it all goes bat-shit crazy, it seemed Victoria was going to go the dark side, but I am left with the longing to know! She loved Jeremiah, but I'm not sure if she still does after everything! This really is a book about obsession, but not the kind you might think it is.
I thought Savannah was an awesome character, tenacious and determined to get to the truth, but her introduction - WOAH! I was not expecting that!!
I do worry about Dawn's mind, though, as it is a huge departure from Rylan (I've not had the pleasure of meeting Gabby yet), and it is addictive, despite you not wanting to be addicted. You have some sympathy for Jeremiah, but you don't want to at the same time. This book will make you feel VERY conflicting emotions, and I love it for that!
Top book in my eyes!
February 28, 2026
My Initial Thoughts
When I first started reading this I really was wondering why I was reading and what. It is disturbing at best. I knew this was about a serial unaliver but be prepared that it is graphic from the start. Only after I started reading did I understand the cover as well. However it is gripping from the very start.
Plot
I don’t know how to even word the plot for this. Spilt into three POVs so we follow the unaliver and his own thoughts, feelings and wrong doing. His obsession Victoria and the detective Savanah. I will say be prepared for the gore and the graphic scenes that start from the very beginning.
Characters
The only character with any morals is Savanah and I enjoyed her putting together the pieces. Otherwise the characters just didn’t sit morally or any sign of humanity, but I guess if you read an unaliver novel its to be expected.
Recommend
I think maybe if you enjoy this kind of novel.
Favourite Quote/s
“Now I just wish I’d brought a book. I’d rather be lost in the pages of dark romance than sitting in this cruiser for hours on end.”
Favourite Chapter/s
I did not have a favourite chapter.
Summed up in one sentence
Disturbing. That is all.
Overall Wrap up
This book was something and it had me gagging numerous times. It also grabs you and you don’t want to put it down. I don’t think this review sums up the book much but I don’t want to give anything away. Just please read the content warnings before reading.
Stars – 3.75 stars.
Dates read – 27th February to 28th February.
Book Information – The K by Dawn Merriman.
Genre – Serial unaliver.
Pages – 208 pages.
Tropes –
Serial unaliver.
Available on Kindle Unlimited – This is available on kindle unlimited.
Available Formats – Available on kindle and paperback.
Publishing Information – Published on 14th January 2026.
Format in Which I Read – My copy was on kindle.
Where my copy come From – My copy came from Zooloo’s Book Tours.
POVs – This is written in multiple POV – Jerimah, Victoria and Savanah.
Single/Dual/Multiple Timelines – This is written on a single timeline.
1st, 2nd or 3rd person – This is written in first person.
HEA, HFN or Cliff hanger – This ends with death.
Series or Standalone – The K is a standalone.
Trigger Warnings – Please check content warnings before reading if necessary and please always remember that your mental health matters.
When I first started reading this I really was wondering why I was reading and what. It is disturbing at best. I knew this was about a serial unaliver but be prepared that it is graphic from the start. Only after I started reading did I understand the cover as well. However it is gripping from the very start.
Plot
I don’t know how to even word the plot for this. Spilt into three POVs so we follow the unaliver and his own thoughts, feelings and wrong doing. His obsession Victoria and the detective Savanah. I will say be prepared for the gore and the graphic scenes that start from the very beginning.
Characters
The only character with any morals is Savanah and I enjoyed her putting together the pieces. Otherwise the characters just didn’t sit morally or any sign of humanity, but I guess if you read an unaliver novel its to be expected.
Recommend
I think maybe if you enjoy this kind of novel.
Favourite Quote/s
“Now I just wish I’d brought a book. I’d rather be lost in the pages of dark romance than sitting in this cruiser for hours on end.”
Favourite Chapter/s
I did not have a favourite chapter.
Summed up in one sentence
Disturbing. That is all.
Overall Wrap up
This book was something and it had me gagging numerous times. It also grabs you and you don’t want to put it down. I don’t think this review sums up the book much but I don’t want to give anything away. Just please read the content warnings before reading.
Stars – 3.75 stars.
Dates read – 27th February to 28th February.
Book Information – The K by Dawn Merriman.
Genre – Serial unaliver.
Pages – 208 pages.
Tropes –
Serial unaliver.
Available on Kindle Unlimited – This is available on kindle unlimited.
Available Formats – Available on kindle and paperback.
Publishing Information – Published on 14th January 2026.
Format in Which I Read – My copy was on kindle.
Where my copy come From – My copy came from Zooloo’s Book Tours.
POVs – This is written in multiple POV – Jerimah, Victoria and Savanah.
Single/Dual/Multiple Timelines – This is written on a single timeline.
1st, 2nd or 3rd person – This is written in first person.
HEA, HFN or Cliff hanger – This ends with death.
Series or Standalone – The K is a standalone.
Trigger Warnings – Please check content warnings before reading if necessary and please always remember that your mental health matters.
February 2, 2026
Another Great Thriller from beginning to end.
Dawn Merriman writes the most phenomenal heart pounding, non stop reading mysteries of all time. I have read several of her novels and this is one of the best. Read it in 2 days and found it difficult to put down. What better way to read a story thru the eyes of the killer.
Dawn Merriman writes the most phenomenal heart pounding, non stop reading mysteries of all time. I have read several of her novels and this is one of the best. Read it in 2 days and found it difficult to put down. What better way to read a story thru the eyes of the killer.
February 27, 2026
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The K' by Dawn Merriman.
'The K' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Dawn discusses/includes hunting and the killing of animals.
This is the fifth book I have read by this author. The previous four books are all part of her 'Rylan Flynn Mystery' which I would highly recommend although it is definitely a lot more of a lighter series than this book is!!
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really put you in the storyline, feeling the hair on your arms raise and putting you on the edge of your seat!!!
The first thing that I will say is that I am a MASSIVE animal lover so when I started reading this book and there was talk of hunting and there was also the killing of animals I must admit that I did almost top reading it. However, as many people know most killers do start off by torturing and killing animals so what was being done in this book is the start of most killer's killing. Well, I say that, it wasn't technically what started Jeremiah as his spree started with his freckle obsession. Anyway, although I was tempted to put it down I was also already completely compelled and intrigued by both the storyline and Jeremiah so I just had to see it out and I am pleased that I did. Although there were a few tortures when it came to the women the animal killings were pretty swift. Can you tell I am one of those that cried watching Bambi but my eyes were glued to the screen watching Ed Gein!! Speaking of which Ed Gein and Jeremiah would definitely have gotten on!! As this book is just 208 pages on kindle and 243 pages in paperback I would class this as more of a novella than a full story. Considering it is so short Dawn has packed so much into it and gives a storyline filled with love, obsession, heartache, murder, torture, crime, twists, suspense, family and so much more! I loved Dawn's 'Rylan Flynn' series but I must admit that I out of them all this has got to be my favourite. I loved all the twists at the end that I definitely didn't see coming so well done Dawn! It is getting harder and harder to surprise me after reading so many books but you managed it hook, line and sinker!! I completely devoured this book in just 2-3 hours as I just could not put it down. Dawn does an absolutely incredible job of weaving the storyline through not only the multiple protagonist perspective's of Jeremiah White, Savannah McClearly, Detective Archuletta and Victoria Burkmeyer but she also takes us through multiple timelines from when Jeremiah, Savannah and Victoria are children through to when they are adults. She weaves all this into the storyline seamlessly and beautifully giving the readers the bigger picture of what is going on from the serial killer's perspective, the police's perspective but also a love interest's perspective too! With an explosive storyline ram packed with crime, suspense, romance, friendship, murder, tension and so, so much more what on Earth are you waiting for?!? I absolutely love ,love, LOVED the unique storyline!! I have read so many books that it is getting harder and harder for me to find a truly unique plot but Dawn absolutely smashes it out of the park with this one!! I am landed that she decided to end this book in a way that she can turn it into a series and I really, really hope that that is exactly what she does as I would love to see more of Jeremiah, even though there is obviously something seriously wrong with him he definitely makes an intriguing character! I picked it up and even though I kept telling myself just one more chapter I just could not put it down as every time I went to something happened which meant I had to read just one more again until I ended up reading it in one sitting having been glued to my kindle for a few hours!! Dawn's evocative writing skills and descriptions really brought the storyline to life and I just cannot wait to get hooked into her next book!!! I loved the twists and turns that Dawn created with this absolutely epic read. This has got to be one of the best books I have read this year and I just cannot wait to see if Dawn does decide to continue with making this into a series!!! This book truly is an absolutely addictive page turner and if you are after a creepy serial killer book to keep you hooked then grab your copy now!!!!
Clear your schedules before turning a single page as this book is truly unputdownable!!!
This is the BEST serial killer novella I have ever read!!This novella really is a truly unique page turner that I picked up this morning and could not put it down until I finished 2/3 hours later!!!
Well done Dawn on yet another absolutely fantastic success and here is to what is guaranteed to be many more 🥂
Overall an absolutely addictive, action packed serial killer thriller!!
#TheK #DawnMerriman #BooksOnTour #ZooLoosBookTours
@DawnMerriman @ZooLoosBT
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Review for 'The K' by Dawn Merriman.
'The K' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Dawn discusses/includes hunting and the killing of animals.
This is the fifth book I have read by this author. The previous four books are all part of her 'Rylan Flynn Mystery' which I would highly recommend although it is definitely a lot more of a lighter series than this book is!!
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really put you in the storyline, feeling the hair on your arms raise and putting you on the edge of your seat!!!
The first thing that I will say is that I am a MASSIVE animal lover so when I started reading this book and there was talk of hunting and there was also the killing of animals I must admit that I did almost top reading it. However, as many people know most killers do start off by torturing and killing animals so what was being done in this book is the start of most killer's killing. Well, I say that, it wasn't technically what started Jeremiah as his spree started with his freckle obsession. Anyway, although I was tempted to put it down I was also already completely compelled and intrigued by both the storyline and Jeremiah so I just had to see it out and I am pleased that I did. Although there were a few tortures when it came to the women the animal killings were pretty swift. Can you tell I am one of those that cried watching Bambi but my eyes were glued to the screen watching Ed Gein!! Speaking of which Ed Gein and Jeremiah would definitely have gotten on!! As this book is just 208 pages on kindle and 243 pages in paperback I would class this as more of a novella than a full story. Considering it is so short Dawn has packed so much into it and gives a storyline filled with love, obsession, heartache, murder, torture, crime, twists, suspense, family and so much more! I loved Dawn's 'Rylan Flynn' series but I must admit that I out of them all this has got to be my favourite. I loved all the twists at the end that I definitely didn't see coming so well done Dawn! It is getting harder and harder to surprise me after reading so many books but you managed it hook, line and sinker!! I completely devoured this book in just 2-3 hours as I just could not put it down. Dawn does an absolutely incredible job of weaving the storyline through not only the multiple protagonist perspective's of Jeremiah White, Savannah McClearly, Detective Archuletta and Victoria Burkmeyer but she also takes us through multiple timelines from when Jeremiah, Savannah and Victoria are children through to when they are adults. She weaves all this into the storyline seamlessly and beautifully giving the readers the bigger picture of what is going on from the serial killer's perspective, the police's perspective but also a love interest's perspective too! With an explosive storyline ram packed with crime, suspense, romance, friendship, murder, tension and so, so much more what on Earth are you waiting for?!? I absolutely love ,love, LOVED the unique storyline!! I have read so many books that it is getting harder and harder for me to find a truly unique plot but Dawn absolutely smashes it out of the park with this one!! I am landed that she decided to end this book in a way that she can turn it into a series and I really, really hope that that is exactly what she does as I would love to see more of Jeremiah, even though there is obviously something seriously wrong with him he definitely makes an intriguing character! I picked it up and even though I kept telling myself just one more chapter I just could not put it down as every time I went to something happened which meant I had to read just one more again until I ended up reading it in one sitting having been glued to my kindle for a few hours!! Dawn's evocative writing skills and descriptions really brought the storyline to life and I just cannot wait to get hooked into her next book!!! I loved the twists and turns that Dawn created with this absolutely epic read. This has got to be one of the best books I have read this year and I just cannot wait to see if Dawn does decide to continue with making this into a series!!! This book truly is an absolutely addictive page turner and if you are after a creepy serial killer book to keep you hooked then grab your copy now!!!!
Clear your schedules before turning a single page as this book is truly unputdownable!!!
This is the BEST serial killer novella I have ever read!!This novella really is a truly unique page turner that I picked up this morning and could not put it down until I finished 2/3 hours later!!!
Well done Dawn on yet another absolutely fantastic success and here is to what is guaranteed to be many more 🥂
Overall an absolutely addictive, action packed serial killer thriller!!
#TheK #DawnMerriman #BooksOnTour #ZooLoosBookTours
@DawnMerriman @ZooLoosBT
https://m.facebook.com/Bookwork86/?__...
https://www.instagram.com/bookwormwhi...
https://www.facebook.com/GoldenOldies...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...
https://mobile.twitter.com/kcmw86
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/profile/a...
February 27, 2026
The K: or the hum beneath the (reflecting) skin
Reading The K by Dawn Merriman feels less like consuming a thriller and more like being slowly enrolled into one. Do I fear for my sanity after reading it? Absolutely (but then if you know me, you’ll know that’s probably not a new sensation!?)…
We get to observe young Jeremiah and before I realised it I was uncomfortably adjacent to him. And by the final act, I was beginning to understand his internal logic. My lawyer says I have to put ‘not agreeing or endorsing’ in here, but I definitely recognised the terrifying smoothness of it.
Merriman (who must be fun to have a glass of wine or two with) doesn’t bludgeon you with depravity. She gives you rationalisation. The small permissions. The interior voice that sounds disturbingly calm. Evil here isn’t theatrical, it’s more administrative. It kinda explains itself.
There’s a tonal lineage running through the book, I picked up a flicker of Dexter without the winking charm, a touch of American Psycho without the satire, maybe even a trace of Blue (saw this on the big screen last week and it’s still ace) Velvet’s suburban rot but in a stripped form. Here is moral decay under flat Midwestern skies, speaking of film references, if you like The K, then you should check the lesser know classic The Reflecting Skin (lesser seen 1995 cult classic).
But back to The , this is a master-class in restraint and that makes it hit harder.
One of the many things that lingered with me is how the book weaponizes intimacy. You don’t fear Jeremiah because he’s monstrous. You fear him because he’s coherent. Because you can track the steps. Because the slope is so rational it almost feels reasonable. *shudder*
Then comes the love story and it’s here’s where The K gets crueller.
Victoria isn’t a redemption arc. She’s friction. She introduces hesitation into inevitability. And as a reader, you find yourself wanting, absurdly, for love to matter.
What Merriman explores through her quietly relentless prose (which put me in mind of the masterful Catriona Ward), is the idea that love doesn’t erase darkness. At best, it complicates it. At worst, it becomes a kind of ‘possession’.
This thematic tension is what gives the novel its aftertaste, it’s bitter because this isn’t a “can he be saved?” It’s more a “why do we need him to be?” tale.
The prose itself is cool, controlled, just my twisted cup of tea. This unpacking of a psychological descent made me feel like I was watching corrosion spread across metal in real time. Perhaps the corrosion is in my mind now after reading this? Thanks Dawn…
As the Sisters of Mercy so eloquently sang ‘hey now, hey now now – sing this corrosion to me..’.
When I finished the book I closed it slowly. And sat with the hum in my head.
The K isn’t interested in shock value, although it is shocking. Dawn is more interested I think in complicity. You get a dip into the very mind of monster and asked “how comfortable we are watching?”.
And that’s unsettling but I highly recommend you take this trip…
Reading The K by Dawn Merriman feels less like consuming a thriller and more like being slowly enrolled into one. Do I fear for my sanity after reading it? Absolutely (but then if you know me, you’ll know that’s probably not a new sensation!?)…
We get to observe young Jeremiah and before I realised it I was uncomfortably adjacent to him. And by the final act, I was beginning to understand his internal logic. My lawyer says I have to put ‘not agreeing or endorsing’ in here, but I definitely recognised the terrifying smoothness of it.
Merriman (who must be fun to have a glass of wine or two with) doesn’t bludgeon you with depravity. She gives you rationalisation. The small permissions. The interior voice that sounds disturbingly calm. Evil here isn’t theatrical, it’s more administrative. It kinda explains itself.
There’s a tonal lineage running through the book, I picked up a flicker of Dexter without the winking charm, a touch of American Psycho without the satire, maybe even a trace of Blue (saw this on the big screen last week and it’s still ace) Velvet’s suburban rot but in a stripped form. Here is moral decay under flat Midwestern skies, speaking of film references, if you like The K, then you should check the lesser know classic The Reflecting Skin (lesser seen 1995 cult classic).
But back to The , this is a master-class in restraint and that makes it hit harder.
One of the many things that lingered with me is how the book weaponizes intimacy. You don’t fear Jeremiah because he’s monstrous. You fear him because he’s coherent. Because you can track the steps. Because the slope is so rational it almost feels reasonable. *shudder*
Then comes the love story and it’s here’s where The K gets crueller.
Victoria isn’t a redemption arc. She’s friction. She introduces hesitation into inevitability. And as a reader, you find yourself wanting, absurdly, for love to matter.
What Merriman explores through her quietly relentless prose (which put me in mind of the masterful Catriona Ward), is the idea that love doesn’t erase darkness. At best, it complicates it. At worst, it becomes a kind of ‘possession’.
This thematic tension is what gives the novel its aftertaste, it’s bitter because this isn’t a “can he be saved?” It’s more a “why do we need him to be?” tale.
The prose itself is cool, controlled, just my twisted cup of tea. This unpacking of a psychological descent made me feel like I was watching corrosion spread across metal in real time. Perhaps the corrosion is in my mind now after reading this? Thanks Dawn…
As the Sisters of Mercy so eloquently sang ‘hey now, hey now now – sing this corrosion to me..’.
When I finished the book I closed it slowly. And sat with the hum in my head.
The K isn’t interested in shock value, although it is shocking. Dawn is more interested I think in complicity. You get a dip into the very mind of monster and asked “how comfortable we are watching?”.
And that’s unsettling but I highly recommend you take this trip…
March 14, 2026
Here is my review for The K by Dawn Merriman
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this serial killer story which was told from the perspective of the young serial killer. It was very detailed and descriptive which I enjoyed immensely and it put me in mind of Dexter. The story was told from multiple povs. Jeremiah was an intriguing character and his character was excellently explained in great detail. Just like his desires were explained in a way. I got hooked right from the very start of the story and found I couldn’t put it down. The chapters are quite short and it seemed like a quick read. I would love to read more books like this from this author.
Blurb :
The body in the swamp changed everything
Jeremiah: I was only thirteen when I found her face down in the water, dead. The impulse to carve a backwards K into her pale skin overpowers me. Three quick strikes of my pocketknife, and I start down a path of darkness I can’t escape. When I lose everything I hold dear, what little part of my heart is shattered.
When Uncle Stanley takes me in and I meet Victoria, I think maybe I can keep the demon inside chained up and live a normal life. But the darkness wins and I find my true self.
I’m a serial killer and I need to hunt.
Detective Savanah McCleary: Women disappear in Fort Wayne in alarming numbers. No one seems to think the cases are related except me. When yet another woman disappears, I’m sure there’s a monster in our city working below the radar. Little did I know what depths the killer has sunk to. Can I find him before he kills again?
A dark, twisted novel told from the killer’s point of view. Disturbing and beautiful, you’ll keep turning pages until late at night, then sleep with the lights on. Thriller readers, like you, are saying: “I’ve never been so afraid of a killer but also care about him so much. This book is intense!”
For fans of Dexter and Hannibal, dive deep into a deranged mind with “The K” today.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this serial killer story which was told from the perspective of the young serial killer. It was very detailed and descriptive which I enjoyed immensely and it put me in mind of Dexter. The story was told from multiple povs. Jeremiah was an intriguing character and his character was excellently explained in great detail. Just like his desires were explained in a way. I got hooked right from the very start of the story and found I couldn’t put it down. The chapters are quite short and it seemed like a quick read. I would love to read more books like this from this author.
Blurb :
The body in the swamp changed everything
Jeremiah: I was only thirteen when I found her face down in the water, dead. The impulse to carve a backwards K into her pale skin overpowers me. Three quick strikes of my pocketknife, and I start down a path of darkness I can’t escape. When I lose everything I hold dear, what little part of my heart is shattered.
When Uncle Stanley takes me in and I meet Victoria, I think maybe I can keep the demon inside chained up and live a normal life. But the darkness wins and I find my true self.
I’m a serial killer and I need to hunt.
Detective Savanah McCleary: Women disappear in Fort Wayne in alarming numbers. No one seems to think the cases are related except me. When yet another woman disappears, I’m sure there’s a monster in our city working below the radar. Little did I know what depths the killer has sunk to. Can I find him before he kills again?
A dark, twisted novel told from the killer’s point of view. Disturbing and beautiful, you’ll keep turning pages until late at night, then sleep with the lights on. Thriller readers, like you, are saying: “I’ve never been so afraid of a killer but also care about him so much. This book is intense!”
For fans of Dexter and Hannibal, dive deep into a deranged mind with “The K” today.
February 27, 2026
🔪 When love stands on the edge of darkness 🔪
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
“Love doesn’t redeem the monster. It only teaches him what he stands to lose.”
The K is a slow fracture of a story — and I mean that as the highest praise. It begins with a boy and a single irreversible moment, then unspools into something intimate, disturbing, and hypnotic. We don’t simply witness Jeremiah’s descent. We are pressed inside it, forced to feel every shift, every justification, every quiet surrender.
Merriman’s greatest strength is restraint. The darkness here isn’t theatrical; it’s patient. The erosion of right and wrong feels chillingly plausible, less a snap than a soft, incremental loosening. Jeremiah’s internal voice is persuasive in the most uncomfortable way — lucid, intelligent, and achingly self-aware. You understand him, and that’s what makes it enticingly dangerous.
And then Victoria enters the story, like oxygen in a sealed room.
Their connection hums with tension. She unsettles the careful architecture of his darkness, and for a fleeting, fragile moment, you almost believe love might alter the trajectory. But this is not a redemption arc. It’s a meditation on inevitability — on whether hope is salvation or simply delay. Every tender scene carries the weight of what we know is coming.
The pacing feels deliberate rather than indulgent — immersive instead of repetitive. The introspection deepens the dread. The ending doesn’t shock for the sake of it; it lands with quiet, devastating certainty.
This is psychological suspense that lingers. It doesn’t rely on gore or spectacle. It relies on proximity — and that is far more unsettling.
Verdict: Dark, intimate, and disturbingly human. A gripping descent into obsession that left me unsettled in the best possible way.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
“Love doesn’t redeem the monster. It only teaches him what he stands to lose.”
The K is a slow fracture of a story — and I mean that as the highest praise. It begins with a boy and a single irreversible moment, then unspools into something intimate, disturbing, and hypnotic. We don’t simply witness Jeremiah’s descent. We are pressed inside it, forced to feel every shift, every justification, every quiet surrender.
Merriman’s greatest strength is restraint. The darkness here isn’t theatrical; it’s patient. The erosion of right and wrong feels chillingly plausible, less a snap than a soft, incremental loosening. Jeremiah’s internal voice is persuasive in the most uncomfortable way — lucid, intelligent, and achingly self-aware. You understand him, and that’s what makes it enticingly dangerous.
And then Victoria enters the story, like oxygen in a sealed room.
Their connection hums with tension. She unsettles the careful architecture of his darkness, and for a fleeting, fragile moment, you almost believe love might alter the trajectory. But this is not a redemption arc. It’s a meditation on inevitability — on whether hope is salvation or simply delay. Every tender scene carries the weight of what we know is coming.
The pacing feels deliberate rather than indulgent — immersive instead of repetitive. The introspection deepens the dread. The ending doesn’t shock for the sake of it; it lands with quiet, devastating certainty.
This is psychological suspense that lingers. It doesn’t rely on gore or spectacle. It relies on proximity — and that is far more unsettling.
Verdict: Dark, intimate, and disturbingly human. A gripping descent into obsession that left me unsettled in the best possible way.
February 24, 2026
Since finishing The K in the early hours of the morning, the story has been haunting me.
From the very start we know that there’s something dark, something twisted, lurking inside Jeremiah White. His reaction to coming across a grizzly scene crosses into the taboo.
Over the years, his mind returns to this moment again and again, and we follow his origin story as he pushes the boundaries of his desires to see how far he dares to go.
Victoria catches Jeremiah’s eye when he moves to live with his great uncle. Over the years he finds ways to be close to her, however darkness is never far away.
Savannah also witnesses a traumatic event and she too is shaped by it. But whereas Jeremiah is drawn to the dark, Savannah is completely opposite. Yet their paths are destined to cross.
This book never let up. I had a knot of anxiety in my stomach the whole way through and the relentless pace continued until the very end. As a listener of true crime podcasts, I’ve heard plenty of shocking details from crime scenes but Dawn Merriman takes us into a cold and calculating mind, bringing us face to face with evil. And I’ll admit to making “bleurgh” sounds at some scenes which don’t hold back on the detail!
From the very start we know that there’s something dark, something twisted, lurking inside Jeremiah White. His reaction to coming across a grizzly scene crosses into the taboo.
Over the years, his mind returns to this moment again and again, and we follow his origin story as he pushes the boundaries of his desires to see how far he dares to go.
Victoria catches Jeremiah’s eye when he moves to live with his great uncle. Over the years he finds ways to be close to her, however darkness is never far away.
Savannah also witnesses a traumatic event and she too is shaped by it. But whereas Jeremiah is drawn to the dark, Savannah is completely opposite. Yet their paths are destined to cross.
This book never let up. I had a knot of anxiety in my stomach the whole way through and the relentless pace continued until the very end. As a listener of true crime podcasts, I’ve heard plenty of shocking details from crime scenes but Dawn Merriman takes us into a cold and calculating mind, bringing us face to face with evil. And I’ll admit to making “bleurgh” sounds at some scenes which don’t hold back on the detail!
January 25, 2026
The first I read from Merriman were her Rylan Flynn mysteries. It was at this point I decided that I'd read anything this woman wrote because they were so bloody good!
K couldn't be any further away from those books if it tried. It's got Ed Gein vibes running all the way. A man with an obsession with skin. Freckled skin to be precise. Skin that takes him down a path from which there is no return.
It's a fairly short read that I eagerly devoured in one sitting when the ARC hit my inbox.
Narrated in first person from multiple perspectives; we get to venture inside the mind of Jeremiah White, a man fast spiralling into inescapable insanity. His thirst to kill unsatiable. Victoria Burkmeyer, the woman he loves whose skin he loves more. Her excitement at being treated like one of his victims decidedly weird, but plausible. And Savanah McCleary, the cop who caught a killer and ended his reign.
An addictively good read with a great plot and fantastic characters.
Bloody loved it!
K couldn't be any further away from those books if it tried. It's got Ed Gein vibes running all the way. A man with an obsession with skin. Freckled skin to be precise. Skin that takes him down a path from which there is no return.
It's a fairly short read that I eagerly devoured in one sitting when the ARC hit my inbox.
Narrated in first person from multiple perspectives; we get to venture inside the mind of Jeremiah White, a man fast spiralling into inescapable insanity. His thirst to kill unsatiable. Victoria Burkmeyer, the woman he loves whose skin he loves more. Her excitement at being treated like one of his victims decidedly weird, but plausible. And Savanah McCleary, the cop who caught a killer and ended his reign.
An addictively good read with a great plot and fantastic characters.
Bloody loved it!
February 25, 2026
The K by Dawn Merriman is the kind of dark, disturbing read that we love with moments that make you cringe, feel sorry for the serial killer, and wonder if there was one specific event that could have changed the way this turns out. This one crawls under your skin (iykyk… and if you don’t, you will). It delivers everything we love in the most twisted way: psychological tension, haunting trauma, and a chilling thread that keeps tightening, especially when you understand the meaning of a backwards K in baseball and the devastating weight of what Jeremiah endured. For such a short book, it leaves a massive shadow, which makes it nearly impossible to talk about without risking spoilers — so honestly, read the blurb, lean in, and prepare yourself. This story forces you to confront the darkness that lurks inside some people and the damage it leaves behind. The real question haunting every page: will love prevail, or will the darkness win?
February 24, 2026
This book instantly intrigued me, so much so I caught myself reading the blurb a few times, almost like psyching myself up maybe?
As soon as I read the powerful opener, that gave all the menacing feels, I knew this book was going to be a hit with me. I love my reads dark and this lived up to that, so much so, it definitely turned my stomach in places, so if you are interested, please make sure this really is the genre for you, I’m sure not everyone is as warped as me!
To say this was a short read, it packed a punch, I devoured it. Dark, disturbing, yet interesting and fascinating, with an ending that left me wanting more. The clever plot and the Ed Gein feels I was getting from this, has made this a read that will stick with me, what a journey this read was and I’ll definitely be exploring the author further
As soon as I read the powerful opener, that gave all the menacing feels, I knew this book was going to be a hit with me. I love my reads dark and this lived up to that, so much so, it definitely turned my stomach in places, so if you are interested, please make sure this really is the genre for you, I’m sure not everyone is as warped as me!
To say this was a short read, it packed a punch, I devoured it. Dark, disturbing, yet interesting and fascinating, with an ending that left me wanting more. The clever plot and the Ed Gein feels I was getting from this, has made this a read that will stick with me, what a journey this read was and I’ll definitely be exploring the author further
February 25, 2026
"𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚓𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚘 𝚋𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚗𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗."
From the moment I first saw this unique cover and glanced at this intriguing blurb — I knew 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊 was written for me.
Books about serial killers and psychopaths are my absolute favorites and this wasn't an exception either. This novel mesmerized me from page one, I couldn't stop reading this brilliant story. It was dark, gripping and had everything I love in a horror. The writing style was flawless and I loved the characters!
I felt so sorry for Jeremiah & Savanah, I understand exactly how hard it is to loose a parent... My Daddy died when I was only eight and the space that lefts in a child is unimaginable to someone who never experienced loss like that...
I wholeheartedly recommend checking out 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊, to all horror lovers! ♡
From the moment I first saw this unique cover and glanced at this intriguing blurb — I knew 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊 was written for me.
Books about serial killers and psychopaths are my absolute favorites and this wasn't an exception either. This novel mesmerized me from page one, I couldn't stop reading this brilliant story. It was dark, gripping and had everything I love in a horror. The writing style was flawless and I loved the characters!
I felt so sorry for Jeremiah & Savanah, I understand exactly how hard it is to loose a parent... My Daddy died when I was only eight and the space that lefts in a child is unimaginable to someone who never experienced loss like that...
I wholeheartedly recommend checking out 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊, to all horror lovers! ♡
March 2, 2026
This read...It will leave you wondering, can serial killers have empathy? Honestly i didnt even know where to start with this review. This book left me speechless, and wondering what i just read. This book is super fast paced, and has multiple POVs, even a murders. Essentially you follow the decent of how one became a serial killer, and the perspective from his eyes. This book is dark and uncomfortable, but also gripping and addictive. The ending leaves you with a twist. There are scenes of murder, suicide, taxidermy, blood, and other weird characteristics in this book; if you are scwimish, proceed with caution. If you love dexter and Hannibal? you will want to add this to your TBR isntantly!
February 19, 2026
This is such a creepy book. One of the best books I have read this year so far. It’s dark and unsettling, with a main character in Jeremiah White who sinks to unspeakable depths of depravity. I’ve read reviews that say you can’t help being drawn to him. I, for one, am not. And not just because of the frog hunting (which is bad enough).
After his father dies and his mother falls into a deep depression, 13-year-old Jeremiah is pretty much left to his own devices. And then he finds a body in the swamp behind his house. His reaction is not normal.
He is sent to live with his Uncle Stanley, where he seems to be getting on pretty well. He goes to the local school – Uncle Stanley gets him a bike and a dog. He also happens to be a taxidermist, which suits Jeremiah down to the ground. So far so good.
But deep down, for Jeremiah, it’s all about his obsession with skin, especially freckled skin, and no-one has more beautiful skin than Victoria Burkmeyer. Can his love for her save him from his deepest, darkest thoughts and redeem him?
Savanah McCleary is a detective, the daughter of a cop, and someone who is determined to catch a serial killer. She gives us her point of view at intervals throughout the book. I really loved her.
Many thanks to @ZooloosBT for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
After his father dies and his mother falls into a deep depression, 13-year-old Jeremiah is pretty much left to his own devices. And then he finds a body in the swamp behind his house. His reaction is not normal.
He is sent to live with his Uncle Stanley, where he seems to be getting on pretty well. He goes to the local school – Uncle Stanley gets him a bike and a dog. He also happens to be a taxidermist, which suits Jeremiah down to the ground. So far so good.
But deep down, for Jeremiah, it’s all about his obsession with skin, especially freckled skin, and no-one has more beautiful skin than Victoria Burkmeyer. Can his love for her save him from his deepest, darkest thoughts and redeem him?
Savanah McCleary is a detective, the daughter of a cop, and someone who is determined to catch a serial killer. She gives us her point of view at intervals throughout the book. I really loved her.
Many thanks to @ZooloosBT for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
February 23, 2026
This is one of those books that got me thinking right from seeing this front cover.
On the one hand, it doesn't really give anything away - especially with the title.
But once you see the tagline, that made me study the image more and my mind went to dark places - this possibly says more about me ...but I couldn't wait to dive in and find out more.
I've only read one book by this author before, a couple of years ago, but I remember it vividly and absolutely loved it! - this made me even more excited to find out how things would play out in this book.
Now, you know that I always go into books blind - I very rarely read blurbs, so it was quite a shock when I went into this and found it quite different from my last read by Dawn.
I absolutely love a dark read and this was pretty much jet black...and I blooming loved it!!
We follow things from multiple perspectives, but we get a great delve around in the grimy depths of Jeremiah's mind - our killer.
I love this pov because I can't get enough of working out what really motivates killers and what on earth is going on in their minds to really want to cause such chaos and devastation.
So, my dark imaginings from the cover image proved right and Jeremiah is obsessed with skin - or freckles in skin.
He's one disturbed guy and I found him so fascinating throughout.
What's more, I actually felt so much sympathy for him too - which really messed with my mind.
When Savannah drops in, all guns blazing so to speak, I knew this was going to be one heck of an investigation.
This writing is so, so compelling and despite the grime, I was completely hooked from the first page to the last! I literally could not put this book down and it was over far too swiftly!
Ok, I'm definitely getting myself in trouble with being quite so enthusiastic, maybe!?
This has reminded me how much I love this author's writing and that I really must go back and grab more books for my shelves asap!
On the one hand, it doesn't really give anything away - especially with the title.
But once you see the tagline, that made me study the image more and my mind went to dark places - this possibly says more about me ...but I couldn't wait to dive in and find out more.
I've only read one book by this author before, a couple of years ago, but I remember it vividly and absolutely loved it! - this made me even more excited to find out how things would play out in this book.
Now, you know that I always go into books blind - I very rarely read blurbs, so it was quite a shock when I went into this and found it quite different from my last read by Dawn.
I absolutely love a dark read and this was pretty much jet black...and I blooming loved it!!
We follow things from multiple perspectives, but we get a great delve around in the grimy depths of Jeremiah's mind - our killer.
I love this pov because I can't get enough of working out what really motivates killers and what on earth is going on in their minds to really want to cause such chaos and devastation.
So, my dark imaginings from the cover image proved right and Jeremiah is obsessed with skin - or freckles in skin.
He's one disturbed guy and I found him so fascinating throughout.
What's more, I actually felt so much sympathy for him too - which really messed with my mind.
When Savannah drops in, all guns blazing so to speak, I knew this was going to be one heck of an investigation.
This writing is so, so compelling and despite the grime, I was completely hooked from the first page to the last! I literally could not put this book down and it was over far too swiftly!
Ok, I'm definitely getting myself in trouble with being quite so enthusiastic, maybe!?
This has reminded me how much I love this author's writing and that I really must go back and grab more books for my shelves asap!
February 24, 2026
Well, what an awesome read this was! I’d heard whispers of darkest in this book but my goodness it was dark, creepy, uncomfortable at times but it was also fascinating, completely unexpected, addictive and totally gripping, i absolutely loved it!
Poor little Jeremiah I did feel sorry for him them I was like, maybe he’s just curious then I had to just pause and catch my breath for a bit 😱😂
I loved the different perspectives in this read, different ages different people, I was waiting for it all to tie in, such a clever plot.
Definitely the best thriller I’ve read so far this year.
Poor little Jeremiah I did feel sorry for him them I was like, maybe he’s just curious then I had to just pause and catch my breath for a bit 😱😂
I loved the different perspectives in this read, different ages different people, I was waiting for it all to tie in, such a clever plot.
Definitely the best thriller I’ve read so far this year.
March 15, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up.
Whoa! This is a dark, disturbing, propulsive psychological suspense. We get multiple perspectives, including Jeremiah as the darkness takes over as he grows up following a disturbing experience in his youth. Impossible to put down. Including Jeremiah's perspective from his youth so the reader is witness to his descent into obsession was brilliant. Readers with freckles beware 😂
💜Thank you to Dawn Merriman and Zooloo's Book Tours for including me on this book tour and for the gifted digital review copy! All thoughts expressed are my own.💜
Whoa! This is a dark, disturbing, propulsive psychological suspense. We get multiple perspectives, including Jeremiah as the darkness takes over as he grows up following a disturbing experience in his youth. Impossible to put down. Including Jeremiah's perspective from his youth so the reader is witness to his descent into obsession was brilliant. Readers with freckles beware 😂
💜Thank you to Dawn Merriman and Zooloo's Book Tours for including me on this book tour and for the gifted digital review copy! All thoughts expressed are my own.💜
February 1, 2026
Amazing!
Im shocked at the different tone Dawn Merriman wrote this in. It is very different from her other books. Also refreshing to read as the POV is from the serial killer. Dont find many that do that. It was pretty creepy and at times I found myself having a hard time reading the details. I was worried at how a in depth book loke this would be wrapped up in short book but she did it again. Leaves you open to possibilities.
Im shocked at the different tone Dawn Merriman wrote this in. It is very different from her other books. Also refreshing to read as the POV is from the serial killer. Dont find many that do that. It was pretty creepy and at times I found myself having a hard time reading the details. I was worried at how a in depth book loke this would be wrapped up in short book but she did it again. Leaves you open to possibilities.
March 18, 2026
Wow!
This is a different style from Dawn Merriman’s other books. I have read all of her books and loved them. This book was much darker and intense but still retains a beauty that is always in Dawn’s books. The flow of the story and development of the characters kept me unable to put this book down.
This is a different style from Dawn Merriman’s other books. I have read all of her books and loved them. This book was much darker and intense but still retains a beauty that is always in Dawn’s books. The flow of the story and development of the characters kept me unable to put this book down.
January 20, 2026
Actually felt in the mind of the killer
Wow, what an amazing book! I truly felt what the serial killer was feeling, and saw from his eyes. I can't remember ever being totally absorbed into a book like this before. Masterfully written!
Wow, what an amazing book! I truly felt what the serial killer was feeling, and saw from his eyes. I can't remember ever being totally absorbed into a book like this before. Masterfully written!
January 22, 2026
Another GREAT Thriller!
This book tells the story of a man with so many issues. I loved that it switched to different character’s perspectives. The descent into becoming a serial killer is so interesting. I look forward to reading more books from Dawn Merriman!
This book tells the story of a man with so many issues. I loved that it switched to different character’s perspectives. The descent into becoming a serial killer is so interesting. I look forward to reading more books from Dawn Merriman!
February 5, 2026
Serial killer with empathy
Quite a departure from the other books I have have read from tnis author.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though there's a tease at the end, which will keep me wondering for awhile.
Definitely give this one a read.
Quite a departure from the other books I have have read from tnis author.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though there's a tease at the end, which will keep me wondering for awhile.
Definitely give this one a read.
September 2, 2026
Great read
I love all her books I've read so far. This one is a bit crazy. What an insane kink!! And the ending makes me wonder if there will be a part 2?? That would be interesting. Like murder mystery?? This is a good one!!
I love all her books I've read so far. This one is a bit crazy. What an insane kink!! And the ending makes me wonder if there will be a part 2?? That would be interesting. Like murder mystery?? This is a good one!!
January 16, 2026
Wow, this is one intense book. The main character is someone you feel bad for even as you fear him. Once again, Wow!
February 2, 2026
extra twisted
Did Not Finish
February 19, 2026DNF at 40% - please check triggers.
May 24, 2026
good book littered with erros
really enjoyed the overall story and characters, however the book has a ton of wrong words used and editing errors.
really enjoyed the overall story and characters, however the book has a ton of wrong words used and editing errors.
January 29, 2026
I have read and love this author some other series and read this one but this typed is really not on my style! I really don’t know if this is the kind of thinking serial killers have and the way they start but again not for me so if it’s your style happy for you! Thanks to the author for sharing
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