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A Necessary Act
Can you stop a serial killer before he starts? If so, should you? How far would you go?
The students at Lake Mills Community High School knew there was something wrong with Scott – but what David saw firsthand was more than they could ever imagine. He and his best (only) friend Matt were content to keep their suspicions to themselves until a simple trip to the library sets them on parallel trajectories where even the most careful plans have unexpected consequences that can rock a community and reverberate long after they're gone.
Fifteen years later, Matt loses his high-profile reporter gig and is forced to return to the town he did everything he could to leave behind. He gets a shot at redemption with the small-town weekly where he started and quickly discovers a community that has moved on from the past. Well, everybody but David. He remembers everything and doesn’t buy a thirty-something Scott’s “normal” act. There's a madman hovering inside. After all, some people never change, right?
Something the entire town is reminded of when the first dead girl turns up.
The students at Lake Mills Community High School knew there was something wrong with Scott – but what David saw firsthand was more than they could ever imagine. He and his best (only) friend Matt were content to keep their suspicions to themselves until a simple trip to the library sets them on parallel trajectories where even the most careful plans have unexpected consequences that can rock a community and reverberate long after they're gone.
Fifteen years later, Matt loses his high-profile reporter gig and is forced to return to the town he did everything he could to leave behind. He gets a shot at redemption with the small-town weekly where he started and quickly discovers a community that has moved on from the past. Well, everybody but David. He remembers everything and doesn’t buy a thirty-something Scott’s “normal” act. There's a madman hovering inside. After all, some people never change, right?
Something the entire town is reminded of when the first dead girl turns up.
276 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 2016
423 people are currently reading
1779 people want to read
About the author
Tony Wirt
5 books237 followersTony was born in Lake Mills, IA, and got his first taste of publication in first grade, when his essay on Airplane II: The Sequel appeared in the Lake Mills Elementary School’s Creative Courier.
He's a graduate of the University of Iowa and spent nine years doing media relations in the Hawkeye Athletic Department. He's also been a sportswriter, movie ticket taker and Dairy Queen ice cream slinger who can still do the little curly thing on top of a soft serve cone.
He currently lives in Rochester, MN, with his wife and two daughters. When he’s not fly fishing or telling you what music you should be listening to, he’s working on his next novel.
He's a graduate of the University of Iowa and spent nine years doing media relations in the Hawkeye Athletic Department. He's also been a sportswriter, movie ticket taker and Dairy Queen ice cream slinger who can still do the little curly thing on top of a soft serve cone.
He currently lives in Rochester, MN, with his wife and two daughters. When he’s not fly fishing or telling you what music you should be listening to, he’s working on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
October 2, 2023
I downloaded a copy of A Necessary Act, a book I have never heard of, because the author will be participating in a 5-author panel discussion at my local library next week. I took delight in two things right off the bat. First, it is a prize winner. It won 2017 Novel of the Year by Underground Book Reviews. And even better, according to the acknowledgments, this book was partially written at Dunn Brothers in Rochester, my favorite coffee shop located about a mile down the road. That was big!
It also happens to be a fine read. The story takes place in the great state of Iowa. Mills Lake, Iowa, to be precise, a small town not terribly far from where I live. The premise is a grabber. Should you and can you stop a serial killer in order to save his future victims? Food for thought, eh? The first half of the book is devoted primarily to David, Matt, and Scott during their junior year in high school back in 1996. Halfway through, we shift to 2015, when the boys, now men, are 37 years old. I liked this format. We get back story and present day story without all the flow-stopping shifting about normally seen in most other books telling a tale in two time periods. That was refreshing. I should mention that the first half of the book felt pretty YA-ish, but that was OK.
The characters are well developed. I felt their relationships were true to life. The setting is especially well done, giving us a true flavor of midwestern small town life. I felt like I was right there with the characters.
This book is really creepy. It made me feel really antsy at times. The suspense, especially in the second half was making me awfully fidgety. Needless to say, this caused me to favor the second half over the first. I was stuck to this book. So stuck, I read it in 2 days when I should have been trying to freeze my credit reports.
Now the ending. Man, that was a doozy; actually a double doozy. I was so happy to see an epilogue come up. I just love epilogues. This one, however, is very different from the usual epilogue and really threw me for a loop. Holy hell…
So do you try to take it onto yourself to do something about a serial killer? Someone has to do something, right? Right??
OK, now I have to call out Mr. Wirt on a real biggie. Tony! I understand that animal torture is a thing serial killers do, and I’d give you a paragraph for that, but did you have to really string it out the way you did? Lucky for you I am a master of skimming and even skipping those sections, but I was close to chucking it all at one point. But the book won an award so I stuck with it and successfully navigated the animal torture landmines. Now before you readers stop reading this review and toss this book into the “do not read pile,” let me inform you that Tony has earned some redemption by writing one other book titled Opal vs. The Woods. This looks like a sweet story about a lost kitty who ends up doing quite well for herself. So Opal to Necessary Act is like Narcan to narcs. I forgive you, Tony, but no more animal torture please.
And back to that ending. I had to suspend a bit of believability there, Mr. Wirt, but I forgive you for that too as it was a goody.
To close, A Necessary Act is an original, thought-provoking, character-driven novel that I never would have picked up if Mr. Wirt hadn’t been coming to our library. Geez, that would have been a loss as I enjoyed the story immensely. Now off to get myself a copy of Opal’s book!
It also happens to be a fine read. The story takes place in the great state of Iowa. Mills Lake, Iowa, to be precise, a small town not terribly far from where I live. The premise is a grabber. Should you and can you stop a serial killer in order to save his future victims? Food for thought, eh? The first half of the book is devoted primarily to David, Matt, and Scott during their junior year in high school back in 1996. Halfway through, we shift to 2015, when the boys, now men, are 37 years old. I liked this format. We get back story and present day story without all the flow-stopping shifting about normally seen in most other books telling a tale in two time periods. That was refreshing. I should mention that the first half of the book felt pretty YA-ish, but that was OK.
The characters are well developed. I felt their relationships were true to life. The setting is especially well done, giving us a true flavor of midwestern small town life. I felt like I was right there with the characters.
This book is really creepy. It made me feel really antsy at times. The suspense, especially in the second half was making me awfully fidgety. Needless to say, this caused me to favor the second half over the first. I was stuck to this book. So stuck, I read it in 2 days when I should have been trying to freeze my credit reports.
Now the ending. Man, that was a doozy; actually a double doozy. I was so happy to see an epilogue come up. I just love epilogues. This one, however, is very different from the usual epilogue and really threw me for a loop. Holy hell…
So do you try to take it onto yourself to do something about a serial killer? Someone has to do something, right? Right??
OK, now I have to call out Mr. Wirt on a real biggie. Tony! I understand that animal torture is a thing serial killers do, and I’d give you a paragraph for that, but did you have to really string it out the way you did? Lucky for you I am a master of skimming and even skipping those sections, but I was close to chucking it all at one point. But the book won an award so I stuck with it and successfully navigated the animal torture landmines. Now before you readers stop reading this review and toss this book into the “do not read pile,” let me inform you that Tony has earned some redemption by writing one other book titled Opal vs. The Woods. This looks like a sweet story about a lost kitty who ends up doing quite well for herself. So Opal to Necessary Act is like Narcan to narcs. I forgive you, Tony, but no more animal torture please.
And back to that ending. I had to suspend a bit of believability there, Mr. Wirt, but I forgive you for that too as it was a goody.
To close, A Necessary Act is an original, thought-provoking, character-driven novel that I never would have picked up if Mr. Wirt hadn’t been coming to our library. Geez, that would have been a loss as I enjoyed the story immensely. Now off to get myself a copy of Opal’s book!
October 14, 2017
Holy Icy Hot, Tony Wirt! That was one intense book! And yes, folks, there IS a scene that involves Icy Hot that had me gasping. That’s all I’m saying, except, Tony, where did that idea come from? Yikes!
I had never heard of Tony Wirt or of his debut novel, A Necessary Act, until I saw a poster at my local Rochester, Minnesota, public library promoting a five-author Minnesota mystery writer panel, so I looked up the three authors I hadn’t read. Lo and behold, Mr. Wirt lives in my very own city! I didn’t get around to reading his book until after the presentation, but after meeting him briefly and listening to him on the panel, I was eager to read his story.
Wow! I can’t believe this is a first novel! The characters, the setting, and even most of the scenario seemed pretty realistic. The town is basically Tony’s hometown of Lake Mills, Iowa. The characters, Tony says, are entirely from his imagination, although he admits that each one may have bits and pieces of his personality. Not the serial killer parts, I hope. Because that’s what this book is about. David is a young boy who suspects, fears, thinks he knows that another kid in his school has all of the traits that will lead him to become a serial killer. He tells his best, and only, friend Matt, who isn’t really sure whether to believe him or not. Matt certainly doesn’t have the wherewithal to actually do anything about it. What about David? David is obsessed. What will David do? Will he tell someone? Can he stop a killer before he actually kills?
The story begins when these guys are kids. There are a few very horrific scenes. I had to fast-forward through the cat scenes. Okay, I was pretty well convinced too, wasn’t I?
After high school, the book jumps ahead fifteen years. Matt returns to Lake Mills after he has been laid off from his journalism job. Living in his small hometown and working for a weekly rag was not what he had planned, but hey, it’s only temporary, he thinks. When a terrible crime happens, Matt turns to his old pal David for information. David has never let go of his obsession, and Matt wonders if this could develop into a story that will be his big break.
I was totally engrossed in this story, which had some incredibly mean and creepy moments. Should I have seen what was going on? There were a few character quirks that had me wondering, but they weren’t enough to make me really doubt. In hindsight, yes. I give credit to Mr. Wirt for doing a credible job of storytelling. Then there’s the epilogue. What?!
If I ever run into you at Dunn Brothers Coffee, Tony Wirt, I’ll try not to chat too long. I wouldn’t want to delay your next book. I’m sure it will be well worth reading.
4 stars
I had never heard of Tony Wirt or of his debut novel, A Necessary Act, until I saw a poster at my local Rochester, Minnesota, public library promoting a five-author Minnesota mystery writer panel, so I looked up the three authors I hadn’t read. Lo and behold, Mr. Wirt lives in my very own city! I didn’t get around to reading his book until after the presentation, but after meeting him briefly and listening to him on the panel, I was eager to read his story.
Wow! I can’t believe this is a first novel! The characters, the setting, and even most of the scenario seemed pretty realistic. The town is basically Tony’s hometown of Lake Mills, Iowa. The characters, Tony says, are entirely from his imagination, although he admits that each one may have bits and pieces of his personality. Not the serial killer parts, I hope. Because that’s what this book is about. David is a young boy who suspects, fears, thinks he knows that another kid in his school has all of the traits that will lead him to become a serial killer. He tells his best, and only, friend Matt, who isn’t really sure whether to believe him or not. Matt certainly doesn’t have the wherewithal to actually do anything about it. What about David? David is obsessed. What will David do? Will he tell someone? Can he stop a killer before he actually kills?
The story begins when these guys are kids. There are a few very horrific scenes. I had to fast-forward through the cat scenes. Okay, I was pretty well convinced too, wasn’t I?
After high school, the book jumps ahead fifteen years. Matt returns to Lake Mills after he has been laid off from his journalism job. Living in his small hometown and working for a weekly rag was not what he had planned, but hey, it’s only temporary, he thinks. When a terrible crime happens, Matt turns to his old pal David for information. David has never let go of his obsession, and Matt wonders if this could develop into a story that will be his big break.
I was totally engrossed in this story, which had some incredibly mean and creepy moments. Should I have seen what was going on? There were a few character quirks that had me wondering, but they weren’t enough to make me really doubt. In hindsight, yes. I give credit to Mr. Wirt for doing a credible job of storytelling. Then there’s the epilogue. What?!
If I ever run into you at Dunn Brothers Coffee, Tony Wirt, I’ll try not to chat too long. I wouldn’t want to delay your next book. I’m sure it will be well worth reading.
4 stars
August 5, 2016
Astounding Thriller!
It is a quick and an engaging read. You get hooked to the story & there's no keeping the book down. 
It left me shocked and appalled and thinking and gave me chills.
It has the feel of a small town where everybody knows everybody and chances of anything bad happening are quite low. But is that really true?
What you'll do if you know someone who has all the traits of being a serial killer?
Would you stop him? or Steer clear of him?
This novel will keep you on your toes at every turn of events and doesn't give away the mystery easily. It has all the peculiarities of a good thriller.
February 19, 2017
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In 1996, students at Lake Mills Community High School knew there was something wrong with Scott. One student, David, witnessed first hand what type of violence Scott is capable of; with the help of his best friend Matt, they set off to prove what they believe to be true. That teenage Scott is destined to be a serial killer. Flash forward, fifteen years; Matt is back to his childhood home just as a teenage girl is found dead. David believes it is Scott, but Scott appears to be different. Matt finds himself in the middle. As he becomes closer to the truth, the more danger he finds himself in. Can he stop the killer before he becomes the next victim?
A Necessary Act by Tony Wirt was such a refreshing piece of fiction. From the first pages, I found myself engrossed in this story. The novel opens in 1996 with David and his best friend, Matt, in their final year of high school. Creepy and aggressive Scott is the school bully and after David reads an article discussing the twelve signs of a serial killer (bedwetting, problematic parental relationships, trouble in school), David becomes convinced that Scott is a killer. And he must prove it before it’s too late.
This novel is narrated quite differently; instead of the traditional back and forth between past and present, Wirt gives the first half of the novel to set the stage. I loved how this one gives ample time to develop the backstory. I also loved the character development. Each character is unique and complex.
A Necessary Act is also extremely fast paced, which as any regular reader of Clues and Reviews knows, is a necessary component in a thriller for me! I didn’t even have time to breathe with this one.
If you want a fast paced story with an original storyline, then you should read A Necessary Act. You will not regret it
www.cluesandreviews.wordpress.com
In 1996, students at Lake Mills Community High School knew there was something wrong with Scott. One student, David, witnessed first hand what type of violence Scott is capable of; with the help of his best friend Matt, they set off to prove what they believe to be true. That teenage Scott is destined to be a serial killer. Flash forward, fifteen years; Matt is back to his childhood home just as a teenage girl is found dead. David believes it is Scott, but Scott appears to be different. Matt finds himself in the middle. As he becomes closer to the truth, the more danger he finds himself in. Can he stop the killer before he becomes the next victim?
A Necessary Act by Tony Wirt was such a refreshing piece of fiction. From the first pages, I found myself engrossed in this story. The novel opens in 1996 with David and his best friend, Matt, in their final year of high school. Creepy and aggressive Scott is the school bully and after David reads an article discussing the twelve signs of a serial killer (bedwetting, problematic parental relationships, trouble in school), David becomes convinced that Scott is a killer. And he must prove it before it’s too late.
This novel is narrated quite differently; instead of the traditional back and forth between past and present, Wirt gives the first half of the novel to set the stage. I loved how this one gives ample time to develop the backstory. I also loved the character development. Each character is unique and complex.
A Necessary Act is also extremely fast paced, which as any regular reader of Clues and Reviews knows, is a necessary component in a thriller for me! I didn’t even have time to breathe with this one.
If you want a fast paced story with an original storyline, then you should read A Necessary Act. You will not regret it
February 14, 2017
Reviewed by Mystery Thriller Week 2017
The Book
He’s not normal. He’s a psycho. David knows it; he’s seen it firsthand. He knows something needs to be done. Someone needs to stop Scott. But no one is listening. No one cares.
When Matt returns to his small home town taking up a position at the local newspaper he is thrown right into a potential serial killer case. He remembers all those years ago, his best friend David telling him that horrific story. He knows he’s on to something and won’t stop until the truth is known by all, and hopefully without another body being found. How do you stop a killer before they kill again?
It’s all in the proof. You need evidence.
What I liked
1. OK so I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers. The human brain is fascinating to me and I have a secret passion for reading about the depraved actions of others, more because I want to know why. A Necessary Act does just that. It broaches the notion of being able to stop a killer before they kill. Can one really predetermine the actions of another? Is profiling accurate? Can a person change?
2. Oh and PTSD. Dude. It’s real. It’s really real, and I love that this is book subtly touches on the damage that can occur from not dealing with a trauma.
3. Clues are everywhere but still the answers eluded me. I was baffled, completely and utterly baffled by the climax because I just did not see it coming. It’s thrown everything I thought I knew out the window and lugged a whole new concept to the fore of my mind.
4. But then! Biscuit. Oh ye gods. Shame, I feel bad for Biscuit. But. Look, I’m a little sick when it comes to psycho’s and I love it when there’s a potential cliff hanger, though of course I’d love to know if this means there’s another book coming along. (Please let it be so!?)
5. I was a victim to bullying, on more than one occasion, so with the opening of the book I couldn’t help but feel like I’d been pulled into the poor boys shoes, especially because sometimes bullying can occur without the victim seeing it as just that, bullying. Reading this book has demonstrated how easily one can not only become a victim, but how so many others may witness it without ever acting to stop it. It’s a tough subject that I loved being able to mull over in my mind.
6. People are never as simple as black and white. Really. We like to think we’re black and white, but we aren’t. We live life with our blinkers on. We see what we chose to see, understand only what we want to and interpret information as it suits our own needs. Only, sometimes by living like that, we’re more of a danger than we realise .
What I disliked
1. And I feel super weird for even saying this, but I wanted more. I felt like it was all over too fast. I finished this in under 4 hours, and while that’s absolute testament to a gripping and absolutely thrilling read, I was sad when it was over. I need more. I do.
Final Thoughts
I was provided with a free copy the ebook of A Necessary Act by the author in exchange for an honest review for Mystery Thriller Week 2017. Thank you to Tony for the opportunity to read it and for allowing me a chance to see the other side of psycho that we may not realise is there. It’s a difficult read which may trigger some readers, I suppose this is a fairly standard potential risk when it comes to crime/thrillers but it’s worth reading because it really does allow you the chance to consider your own take on the topic of mental health and how real or influential it is in our lives.
The Book
He’s not normal. He’s a psycho. David knows it; he’s seen it firsthand. He knows something needs to be done. Someone needs to stop Scott. But no one is listening. No one cares.
When Matt returns to his small home town taking up a position at the local newspaper he is thrown right into a potential serial killer case. He remembers all those years ago, his best friend David telling him that horrific story. He knows he’s on to something and won’t stop until the truth is known by all, and hopefully without another body being found. How do you stop a killer before they kill again?
It’s all in the proof. You need evidence.
What I liked
1. OK so I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers. The human brain is fascinating to me and I have a secret passion for reading about the depraved actions of others, more because I want to know why. A Necessary Act does just that. It broaches the notion of being able to stop a killer before they kill. Can one really predetermine the actions of another? Is profiling accurate? Can a person change?
2. Oh and PTSD. Dude. It’s real. It’s really real, and I love that this is book subtly touches on the damage that can occur from not dealing with a trauma.
3. Clues are everywhere but still the answers eluded me. I was baffled, completely and utterly baffled by the climax because I just did not see it coming. It’s thrown everything I thought I knew out the window and lugged a whole new concept to the fore of my mind.
4. But then! Biscuit. Oh ye gods. Shame, I feel bad for Biscuit. But. Look, I’m a little sick when it comes to psycho’s and I love it when there’s a potential cliff hanger, though of course I’d love to know if this means there’s another book coming along. (Please let it be so!?)
5. I was a victim to bullying, on more than one occasion, so with the opening of the book I couldn’t help but feel like I’d been pulled into the poor boys shoes, especially because sometimes bullying can occur without the victim seeing it as just that, bullying. Reading this book has demonstrated how easily one can not only become a victim, but how so many others may witness it without ever acting to stop it. It’s a tough subject that I loved being able to mull over in my mind.
6. People are never as simple as black and white. Really. We like to think we’re black and white, but we aren’t. We live life with our blinkers on. We see what we chose to see, understand only what we want to and interpret information as it suits our own needs. Only, sometimes by living like that, we’re more of a danger than we realise .
What I disliked
1. And I feel super weird for even saying this, but I wanted more. I felt like it was all over too fast. I finished this in under 4 hours, and while that’s absolute testament to a gripping and absolutely thrilling read, I was sad when it was over. I need more. I do.
Final Thoughts
I was provided with a free copy the ebook of A Necessary Act by the author in exchange for an honest review for Mystery Thriller Week 2017. Thank you to Tony for the opportunity to read it and for allowing me a chance to see the other side of psycho that we may not realise is there. It’s a difficult read which may trigger some readers, I suppose this is a fairly standard potential risk when it comes to crime/thrillers but it’s worth reading because it really does allow you the chance to consider your own take on the topic of mental health and how real or influential it is in our lives.
August 29, 2016
The whole story starts in 1996 and I was disgusted with the beginning of the story- I fucking hate bullies. Scott is a total psychopath and every student and teacher who never did anything to address the issues with Scott are a bunch of pansies! Yeah, pretty riled up, me. Hook, line, sinker- I was into the whole book.
David and Matt witness Scott’s awful behavior. David, in fact, has experienced Scott’s psychopathic tendencies first-hand. Some horrors never leave David’s memories. Some horrors still give him nightmares and sleepless nights. Add a thick layer of guilt for doing nothing, saying nothing to stop Scott and you have a pretty broken young man.
Until he realizes that he actually could do something…
David’s near obsessive plans and schematics on how to save the small town from an impending doom that Scott is surely about to unleash upon it’s population any day now, surely, push him into a series of events that for the purposes of not spoilering the story, I can’t reveal.
When all is said and done, the story fast forwards us 15 years into 2011. Matt is back home after having lost his job and unexpectedly one of his first reporting news is what seems to be a murder case. A teenage girl is dead. Burnt in the cornfield very close to her home. What follows is an investigation and another dead girl. Similar injuries.
David insists that it’s Scott behind it all. Scott the psycho. No matter what everyone keeps saying about him being a ‘changed man’. So when David manages to make Matt see the light, the two come up with a plan to nail Scott for his crimes and be free of his evil for good.
Is it all that straight forward, though?
To be honest, I could kind of see ‘it’ coming. And then I couldn’t, and then I could… Tony Wirt did a pretty good job at making me suspicious about this character or the other. It was a bit like- ‘here’s a clue’ and ‘hah, it’s not valid anymore, here’s a new clue’…
The writing was good and flowy. The characters were great. I think David being the most complex of them. For sure the most complex of them, and all those present yet unmentioned psychological impacts on his very self were at the same time subtle yet very loud.
My rating: 4****. I really liked it. Especially David’s character. Not like, ooh, David is my new book boyfriends, but ooh, David is a tortured man. I really like the cover of this book.
David and Matt witness Scott’s awful behavior. David, in fact, has experienced Scott’s psychopathic tendencies first-hand. Some horrors never leave David’s memories. Some horrors still give him nightmares and sleepless nights. Add a thick layer of guilt for doing nothing, saying nothing to stop Scott and you have a pretty broken young man.
Until he realizes that he actually could do something…
David’s near obsessive plans and schematics on how to save the small town from an impending doom that Scott is surely about to unleash upon it’s population any day now, surely, push him into a series of events that for the purposes of not spoilering the story, I can’t reveal.
When all is said and done, the story fast forwards us 15 years into 2011. Matt is back home after having lost his job and unexpectedly one of his first reporting news is what seems to be a murder case. A teenage girl is dead. Burnt in the cornfield very close to her home. What follows is an investigation and another dead girl. Similar injuries.
David insists that it’s Scott behind it all. Scott the psycho. No matter what everyone keeps saying about him being a ‘changed man’. So when David manages to make Matt see the light, the two come up with a plan to nail Scott for his crimes and be free of his evil for good.
Is it all that straight forward, though?
To be honest, I could kind of see ‘it’ coming. And then I couldn’t, and then I could… Tony Wirt did a pretty good job at making me suspicious about this character or the other. It was a bit like- ‘here’s a clue’ and ‘hah, it’s not valid anymore, here’s a new clue’…
The writing was good and flowy. The characters were great. I think David being the most complex of them. For sure the most complex of them, and all those present yet unmentioned psychological impacts on his very self were at the same time subtle yet very loud.
My rating: 4****. I really liked it. Especially David’s character. Not like, ooh, David is my new book boyfriends, but ooh, David is a tortured man. I really like the cover of this book.
May 2, 2023
A fun, quick and engaging read! While thrillers are not my favorite genre, on a recommendation, I picked this up and had a great time. It took me a minute to get into it, but by 50 pages, I was hooked and the rest of the book just flew. My favorite thing about the book was how the author really seemed to capture the experience of being in a small, mid-western town. This is something you don't often see in novels and rarely see it done well. You get a sense of what it is really like to be in that town, with those characters and author managed to do that without idolizing or villainizing the people who live there.
February 3, 2025
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰
This kindle e-book novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account
This is an intense story that started with kids in high school. It then moves to later when it appears there is a serial killer in the town. It all comes to a unexpected conclusion.
I would recommend this novel and author to 👍 readers of intense mystery novels 👍🔰. 2025 😤😆
This kindle e-book novel is from my Kindle Unlimited account
This is an intense story that started with kids in high school. It then moves to later when it appears there is a serial killer in the town. It all comes to a unexpected conclusion.
I would recommend this novel and author to 👍 readers of intense mystery novels 👍🔰. 2025 😤😆
June 18, 2024
I liked the book, it was mostly about boys figuring out what has happened in their small town in Iowa. Later, we follow the same young men as they grow older. Not what I expected as an ending, which really increase my enjoyment.
April 22, 2016
Here’s an interesting question: What would you do if you were certain that a psycho acquaintance was going to become a serial killer? What if he had all the signs and perfectly matched the profile?
What if you’d seen him do something gruesome?
Would you wait until he killed someone? Or would you try to stop him?
Scott is the would-be serial killer that best friends David and Matt have known since high school.
At first, the story is about Scott’s increasingly disturbing behavior, and David and Matt’s decision that something should be done before someone dies. The first portion of the book builds the case that Scott is a dangerous person. That gives the justification for what comes later.
But, like a magician mis-directing his audience, the story turns and the focus is on David and Matt, the worried watchers, and their reactions, more than the dark deeds of the disturbed serial-killer-in-training.
And it is a scary read.
I truly felt apprehensive as the naive Good Samaritans sneak into the secret lair of their psycho friend. Like the characters, I was both nervous about what they would find in the dark and what would happen to them if they were discovered by their disturbed acquaintance.
I read through this story very quickly, putting aside some of my other books so that I could finish this and find out what happens. It is a page-turner. And I was truly surprised and caught off guard by the ending twist. That was great!
The plot moves forward logically and systematically. There were no un-necessary side stories.
I was surprised at the amount of time that the story covers, much more than just the high school years. But after completing the novel, I see how the time was needed for the characters to go to their deepest dark levels.
I felt that the book might have needed another editing pass, because there were a few typos and awkward phrases. But these minor irregularities didn’t inhibit my enjoyment of the story.
So I recommend A Necessary Act for any readers, but especially if you like scary thrillers.
Four out of Five stars.
What if you’d seen him do something gruesome?
Would you wait until he killed someone? Or would you try to stop him?
Scott is the would-be serial killer that best friends David and Matt have known since high school.
At first, the story is about Scott’s increasingly disturbing behavior, and David and Matt’s decision that something should be done before someone dies. The first portion of the book builds the case that Scott is a dangerous person. That gives the justification for what comes later.
But, like a magician mis-directing his audience, the story turns and the focus is on David and Matt, the worried watchers, and their reactions, more than the dark deeds of the disturbed serial-killer-in-training.
And it is a scary read.
I truly felt apprehensive as the naive Good Samaritans sneak into the secret lair of their psycho friend. Like the characters, I was both nervous about what they would find in the dark and what would happen to them if they were discovered by their disturbed acquaintance.
I read through this story very quickly, putting aside some of my other books so that I could finish this and find out what happens. It is a page-turner. And I was truly surprised and caught off guard by the ending twist. That was great!
The plot moves forward logically and systematically. There were no un-necessary side stories.
I was surprised at the amount of time that the story covers, much more than just the high school years. But after completing the novel, I see how the time was needed for the characters to go to their deepest dark levels.
I felt that the book might have needed another editing pass, because there were a few typos and awkward phrases. But these minor irregularities didn’t inhibit my enjoyment of the story.
So I recommend A Necessary Act for any readers, but especially if you like scary thrillers.
Four out of Five stars.
September 19, 2017
This story almost works, but didn't quite gel for me.
The first part is more horror than crime, which worked well enough; it was as disturbing and stomach turning as it was supposed to be. However, I found myself skimming more than reading; I think that, with a more brutal editor, this section could have been 2/3 to 3/4 as long as it was, which would have made for a tighter story and a more brutal punch.
The action picks up nicely in the second section. Unfortunately, the climax fell apart--at least, it did for me. That M. Night sort of "twist" is hard to pull off. It probably didn't help that I had to read through it three times to figure out what the twist actually was. I think that if David's path to madness was laid out more clearly, the climax might have worked. As it was written, it felt like too much of a leap; I found the notion that David would murder two people just to put this guy away preposterous.
The first part is more horror than crime, which worked well enough; it was as disturbing and stomach turning as it was supposed to be. However, I found myself skimming more than reading; I think that, with a more brutal editor, this section could have been 2/3 to 3/4 as long as it was, which would have made for a tighter story and a more brutal punch.
The action picks up nicely in the second section. Unfortunately, the climax fell apart--at least, it did for me. That M. Night sort of "twist" is hard to pull off. It probably didn't help that I had to read through it three times to figure out what the twist actually was. I think that if David's path to madness was laid out more clearly, the climax might have worked. As it was written, it felt like too much of a leap; I found the notion that David would murder two people just to put this guy away preposterous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2016
A Necessary Act is a psychological thriller that makes the reader wonder, "What would I do if I saw something bad coming?"
How far would you go? How far SHOULD you go? These questions are the backdrop of an intense story that doesn't always go the way the reader expects. Thrillers are not my usual read, but I found that this book really kept me glued to the page and kept me up late at night. I'd definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to spend a whole weekend reading.
Disclaimer: I read a free copy of this book.
How far would you go? How far SHOULD you go? These questions are the backdrop of an intense story that doesn't always go the way the reader expects. Thrillers are not my usual read, but I found that this book really kept me glued to the page and kept me up late at night. I'd definitely recommend it for anyone who wants to spend a whole weekend reading.
Disclaimer: I read a free copy of this book.
November 26, 2016
Excellent!
Very well written story with an intricate plot. I loved this book and could not stop reading it. It starts off in a gym with two high school watching a bully. They do not intervene. Then. Later David does and it is astounding.
Very well written story with an intricate plot. I loved this book and could not stop reading it. It starts off in a gym with two high school watching a bully. They do not intervene. Then. Later David does and it is astounding.
February 19, 2025
I have always been interested in the psychological similarities of serial killers so the premise of this book immediately intrigued me. It was engaging right from the start and a quick read. The beginning left me so uncomfortable just as it should- I found myself agreeing with David and Matt- someone should do something; something must be done or this will escalate. The climax was chilling and unexpected. Looking back I should have seen it coming as I feel like it is a common twist in this genre but the fact that I didn’t is a compliment to the author’s ability to make me sympathize and root for the ending I thought the characters deserved. The open- ended conclusion was deeply unsettling and the perfect way to end this novel.
October 5, 2023
Story wasn’t terribly engaging, and there were tons of distracting proofreading errors. If you are going to the house of the Jones family, it’s not “the Jone’s house.” Really simple errors that should have been caught by editors.
Oh, and a HORRIBLE cat torture/death. Had to page through it without reading because it was awful.
Oh, and a HORRIBLE cat torture/death. Had to page through it without reading because it was awful.
January 22, 2024
A very good thriller. The characters were extremely interesting.
February 1, 2024
I figured out the killer but it was still a well written novel. I gave it 4 stars because though it is very good and I believe many people will enjoy this book, my short attention span in the beginning caused some issues. I found it hard to follow and get through. 2015 is where it caught my attention and i'm glad I finished it.
January 14, 2017
Superb debut folks, superb! Such a great twist on serial killer fiction. Truly, one of those - you can't put down - so I warned you. Read my review at http://buttonholed.blogspot.com/
March 5, 2017
Wow, great book! A very well written and easy to read novel. I'm still trying to figure some of it out! Great mystery.
March 29, 2018
4.5* Very, very good.
February 15, 2018
Great.
Very convincing. I thought for sure it was Scott until the last chapter. It was a very interesting book. This was an intense story.
Very convincing. I thought for sure it was Scott until the last chapter. It was a very interesting book. This was an intense story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2016
I thought that it was interesting that everyone seems to rave about this book. It got very good reviews on both Amazon and Good reads but for me it was kind of Meh.
Although I did find the end fairly predictable the author did throw in one "oh my" at the end that I wasn't expecting.
Unfortunately, this is not a book I will be recommending to others, although it appears that most everyone else disagrees with me.
Although I did find the end fairly predictable the author did throw in one "oh my" at the end that I wasn't expecting.
Unfortunately, this is not a book I will be recommending to others, although it appears that most everyone else disagrees with me.
October 21, 2023
Good story, tense and creepy, with believable characters. I had already read his next book, so was a bit unnerved by his use of the same devices: psychotic kid, sprays of water which turn out to be lighter fluid, etc. and the mistakes, bad grammar or bad copy editing, kept pushing me out of the story…they showed up every couple of pages. No excuse for that; at least learn the difference between lay and lie, pore and pour…and many more.
April 8, 2016
I always read at night but with this book, I had trouble falling asleep, which is the sign of a good thriller. I'm going to look at the woods and back alleys of Lake Mills differently after this.
January 2, 2017
A real page turner!
Couldn't put this book down! One of the most suspenseful books I've read. Can't wait to read his next book
Couldn't put this book down! One of the most suspenseful books I've read. Can't wait to read his next book
October 2, 2017
As another reviewer said - this story almost worked, but for me it fell a bit short. Does the end justify the means? I didn't think the necessary act was necessary at all.
May 4, 2023
Somewhat biased review since I’m from the town that serves at its setting and I also know the author and he’s a cool guy. Probably inflated an additional star for that.
Anyway, a pretty fun yarn about the intersection of small-town life, it’s various fronts and gossip engines, and two students-turned-armchair psychologists trying to stop a serial killer before he kills (a human, at least). The main players in this drama were well-developed with clear motivations and arcs, which is great to read.
Structurally I think it could have been an even more taught thriller had [spoilers] the fateful action David took in high school been concealed from the reader until he confessed to Matt at the dinner table 3/4 through the book and that that scene played out with a little more heart and emotional re-bonding between Matt and David. Sprinkle in a few instances of Matt witnessing (or hearing 3rd-hand gossip about) some ambiguous actions by Scott and the ultimate reveal could have landed much more forcefully than it did for me. That said, the very end of the book (Scott staring at the fire and then the smile Scott gives Matt) and the epilogue were really nice touches reminiscent of the most delicious thriller endings where (gasp) the monster lives!!
Also, I think the intersection of small town gossip and consequential journalism could have been more insightfully explored (through biting satire or poignant study, etc). That may be a little unfair though since I truly did feel “the town gossip” as a anthropomorphized character, which was fun. I guess I wish that cobbled together “character” could have been more explicitly a “villain” akin to David.
Ultimately, though, I had a ton of fun with this book and playing “what if” in a setting I grew up in and know so well.
Anyway, a pretty fun yarn about the intersection of small-town life, it’s various fronts and gossip engines, and two students-turned-armchair psychologists trying to stop a serial killer before he kills (a human, at least). The main players in this drama were well-developed with clear motivations and arcs, which is great to read.
Structurally I think it could have been an even more taught thriller had [spoilers] the fateful action David took in high school been concealed from the reader until he confessed to Matt at the dinner table 3/4 through the book and that that scene played out with a little more heart and emotional re-bonding between Matt and David. Sprinkle in a few instances of Matt witnessing (or hearing 3rd-hand gossip about) some ambiguous actions by Scott and the ultimate reveal could have landed much more forcefully than it did for me. That said, the very end of the book (Scott staring at the fire and then the smile Scott gives Matt) and the epilogue were really nice touches reminiscent of the most delicious thriller endings where (gasp) the monster lives!!
Also, I think the intersection of small town gossip and consequential journalism could have been more insightfully explored (through biting satire or poignant study, etc). That may be a little unfair though since I truly did feel “the town gossip” as a anthropomorphized character, which was fun. I guess I wish that cobbled together “character” could have been more explicitly a “villain” akin to David.
Ultimately, though, I had a ton of fun with this book and playing “what if” in a setting I grew up in and know so well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2023
A Necessary Act will have you on the edge of your seat until the last page!
This awesome page turner shot right out from the beginning and kept me reading constantly until the very end and what a shocker it turned out to be; exceptional!
I had just bought a first reads book by Tony Wirt but since I already had this one in my Kindle library (I have over 30,000 books in there, so sometimes I forget the books I have), I thought I'd try this one out first. I'm thrilled and extremely pleased that I did too!
I don't like spoilers, so I won't reveal too much but it's got so many juicy twists and turns that as the reader, we're NEVER sure who the killer in this small town is until the last few pages. The author has us convinced from the beginning that one of the young men in the town is or will become a serial killer before he grows up. Time passes and the teenagers grow up, move away, move back and not much has changed...or has it?!
I love a suspenseful story that makes you THINK! As an English teacher, I'm rather picky and the books that REALLY have me second guessing myself are the one's that keep me glued all throughout the tale; THIS is one of those. I highly recommend A Necessary Act; you'll be intrigued AND when I finish Tony Wirt's new book, I'll let you know if he's a one hit wonder or if he's a TRULY great thriller writer!
This awesome page turner shot right out from the beginning and kept me reading constantly until the very end and what a shocker it turned out to be; exceptional!
I had just bought a first reads book by Tony Wirt but since I already had this one in my Kindle library (I have over 30,000 books in there, so sometimes I forget the books I have), I thought I'd try this one out first. I'm thrilled and extremely pleased that I did too!
I don't like spoilers, so I won't reveal too much but it's got so many juicy twists and turns that as the reader, we're NEVER sure who the killer in this small town is until the last few pages. The author has us convinced from the beginning that one of the young men in the town is or will become a serial killer before he grows up. Time passes and the teenagers grow up, move away, move back and not much has changed...or has it?!
I love a suspenseful story that makes you THINK! As an English teacher, I'm rather picky and the books that REALLY have me second guessing myself are the one's that keep me glued all throughout the tale; THIS is one of those. I highly recommend A Necessary Act; you'll be intrigued AND when I finish Tony Wirt's new book, I'll let you know if he's a one hit wonder or if he's a TRULY great thriller writer!
October 19, 2023
Intense, thrilling read!
I really enjoyed A Necessary Act.
This story is solidly written, has fantastic escalating tension, incredible characters (to root for, & against), & gorgeously crafted world-building!
I did read Tony Wirt’s other book prior to this one, however; Just Stay Away.
Now THAT BOOK I recommend wholeheartedly! It’s sublime!!
Getting my hands on this story after that? I think my expectations were so unrealistically high, that the experience of A Necessary Act wasn’t as balanced as it would have been if I had read the two in reverse order.
It’s the conclusion of this story which is sort of the let down.
There’s not much I can even share that does not give too much away. (I’m struggling to avoid spoilers! Lol) I guess I can safely put it this way …. there’s an inconsistency which seems rather sudden. Therefore yanking you out of the story & into logical thinking to try & figure out what the heck happened.
In short, perhaps the entirety of the concluding chapters could have been better. I wish this was one of those, “choose your own ending,” books of my youth. As I definitely would have gone with another option(s).
Do I recommend it, however?
Absolutely, yes. Wirt’s creativity & writing skills are a thrill to read!
(But DEFINITELY do yourself a favor — & read Just Stay Away — at some point. It blew my mind!! Sooooo enthralling!)
I really enjoyed A Necessary Act.
This story is solidly written, has fantastic escalating tension, incredible characters (to root for, & against), & gorgeously crafted world-building!
I did read Tony Wirt’s other book prior to this one, however; Just Stay Away.
Now THAT BOOK I recommend wholeheartedly! It’s sublime!!
Getting my hands on this story after that? I think my expectations were so unrealistically high, that the experience of A Necessary Act wasn’t as balanced as it would have been if I had read the two in reverse order.
It’s the conclusion of this story which is sort of the let down.
There’s not much I can even share that does not give too much away. (I’m struggling to avoid spoilers! Lol) I guess I can safely put it this way …. there’s an inconsistency which seems rather sudden. Therefore yanking you out of the story & into logical thinking to try & figure out what the heck happened.
In short, perhaps the entirety of the concluding chapters could have been better. I wish this was one of those, “choose your own ending,” books of my youth. As I definitely would have gone with another option(s).
Do I recommend it, however?
Absolutely, yes. Wirt’s creativity & writing skills are a thrill to read!
(But DEFINITELY do yourself a favor — & read Just Stay Away — at some point. It blew my mind!! Sooooo enthralling!)
June 30, 2017
Brilliant and Creepy!
The essence of evil jumped off the pages of this story. I found it wonderfully creepy and suspenseful. I have a weakness for books about serial killers and this is one of those book that I will always have in my mind. It's a great story and it keeps the reader engaged, so much that you don't want to leave the pages. The story shows a unique perspective of "knowing" that someone could possibly be a serial killer and not doing anything to stop it, but sometimes nothing can stop it. It's a gut-wrenching, tie-your-self-in-knots until the end, and that is everything but predictable.
The essence of evil jumped off the pages of this story. I found it wonderfully creepy and suspenseful. I have a weakness for books about serial killers and this is one of those book that I will always have in my mind. It's a great story and it keeps the reader engaged, so much that you don't want to leave the pages. The story shows a unique perspective of "knowing" that someone could possibly be a serial killer and not doing anything to stop it, but sometimes nothing can stop it. It's a gut-wrenching, tie-your-self-in-knots until the end, and that is everything but predictable.
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