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Blood Moon
On a hot, steamy afternoon in Miami, Cuban-American businessman Recidio Suarez is brutally beaten and abducted. Handcuffed, shackled and blindfolded, he has no idea why he has been targeted. What he discovers is heart-stopping. What he endures during almost a month of captivity compares only to the most horrendous stories of prisoners of war. He is tortured, and under the threat of death, and worse – the rape of his wife and torture of his children – Suarez is forced to hand over his multi-million dollar holdings to his captors.
Suarez survives and then spends the next few months staying one step ahead of the murderous pack. During this time, he and his lawyer, Nolan Stevens – a former Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Office of the FBI – are having difficulties convincing the Miami-Dade Police Department that a crime has been committed. Their efforts are complicated by Steven’s difficult history with the head of the MDPD Special Investigations Division, who is not interested in pursuing the case.
Suarez survives and then spends the next few months staying one step ahead of the murderous pack. During this time, he and his lawyer, Nolan Stevens – a former Special Agent in Charge of the Miami Office of the FBI – are having difficulties convincing the Miami-Dade Police Department that a crime has been committed. Their efforts are complicated by Steven’s difficult history with the head of the MDPD Special Investigations Division, who is not interested in pursuing the case.
450 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2016
5 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 26, 2017
“Blood Moon” written by John David Bethel had me literally blown away! Normally for me the more dark, twisted and gruesome the book the better, but not on this occasion!
Just knowing that the book is based on an actual true crime case of kidnapping, extortion, torture and multiple murders, had my nervous anticipation levels at critical. You just don’t know how far this terrifying story is going to go or what was going to come next and just when you think that it couldn’t really get any worse it horrifyingly flies off the scale.
Recidio Suarez is savagely beaten and abducted by a gang of extortionists and endures a month long captivity that compares only to the horrendous stories of prisoners of war. Brutally tortured and constantly threatened with the rape and murder of his wife and kids, Suarez is forced to sign over his multi million dollar holdings. Miraculously he survives the attempt to kill him, but on telling the police, they fail to believe his fantastical tale of kidnapping and survival. It’s not until much later when a couple disappear under similar circumstances that the police start to take note. But can the police get to the gang before others who are after them too and can Suarez keep his himself and his family safe from further harm?
The tension throughout this book is unbelievable and certainly not for the fainthearted as there are a great deal of violent scenes. However, if this is your type of book, then i guarantee you will enjoy reading this.
I liked the way the characters were portrayed - good and bad - and i especially liked Nolan Stevens who is Suarez’s lawyer and a former Special Agent in Charge with the FBI who helps crack the case open - his dedication and determination to help his friend is commendable.
I’m not normally an ‘eye for an eye’ type of person, but on this occasion I really felt that the revenge punishment really befitted the crimes and that the author did a fantastic job at including this as an extra into the book.
I was mentally drained by the time i had finished this story, which just shows how much Marc Schiller (who the book is based on) must have felt and suffered if just reading about it made me feel this way. This chunky and very substantial book deserves a lot of attention in its reading and shouldn’t be rushed and if you feel that its just too far fetched to be real, think again, IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED!!!
A fabulous 5 stars!!!
Just knowing that the book is based on an actual true crime case of kidnapping, extortion, torture and multiple murders, had my nervous anticipation levels at critical. You just don’t know how far this terrifying story is going to go or what was going to come next and just when you think that it couldn’t really get any worse it horrifyingly flies off the scale.
Recidio Suarez is savagely beaten and abducted by a gang of extortionists and endures a month long captivity that compares only to the horrendous stories of prisoners of war. Brutally tortured and constantly threatened with the rape and murder of his wife and kids, Suarez is forced to sign over his multi million dollar holdings. Miraculously he survives the attempt to kill him, but on telling the police, they fail to believe his fantastical tale of kidnapping and survival. It’s not until much later when a couple disappear under similar circumstances that the police start to take note. But can the police get to the gang before others who are after them too and can Suarez keep his himself and his family safe from further harm?
The tension throughout this book is unbelievable and certainly not for the fainthearted as there are a great deal of violent scenes. However, if this is your type of book, then i guarantee you will enjoy reading this.
I liked the way the characters were portrayed - good and bad - and i especially liked Nolan Stevens who is Suarez’s lawyer and a former Special Agent in Charge with the FBI who helps crack the case open - his dedication and determination to help his friend is commendable.
I’m not normally an ‘eye for an eye’ type of person, but on this occasion I really felt that the revenge punishment really befitted the crimes and that the author did a fantastic job at including this as an extra into the book.
I was mentally drained by the time i had finished this story, which just shows how much Marc Schiller (who the book is based on) must have felt and suffered if just reading about it made me feel this way. This chunky and very substantial book deserves a lot of attention in its reading and shouldn’t be rushed and if you feel that its just too far fetched to be real, think again, IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED!!!
A fabulous 5 stars!!!
February 6, 2017
Blood Moon is a horrific suspense fiction novel based on an actual crime case. When reading this novel it was difficult to decipher when fiction became fact and fact became fiction. This gave the book an extra edge and unnerving as the story reveals the horrific extent of the physical and mental torture, Recidio Suarez has to endure in the hands of his captors. It's certainly not for the faint-hearted; quite graphic on many occasions.
The book immediately grabs you and within the first few chapters, you are engaged. The pace starts off pretty quickly and maintains a steady flow of high tension throughout. At times I did think the book was been drawn out a little, but upon reminding myself that this is based on a true event, the author has to include every event to get a real picture and feeling of the story being told.
The book is extremely well written, and it's evidently clear that the author has spent a tremendous amount of time collating the facts and turning these true events into a very good piece of fiction, or fact, it's quite hard to differentiate.
Overall I did enjoy this novel. It demonstrates how evil people can really be when large amounts of money is involved and to what lengths they will go to. It also demonstrates the failures of the authorities. They fail on so many levels throughout this story due to ignorance and self-importance which leads to events that could have been prevented. Towards the latter end of the book, it becomes even more intense and a much higher level of violence and tension and the anxiety levels definitely increase. Things do take a strange twist at the end, and I never saw it coming – quite an eye-opener.
This is quite an endurance read, but highly enthralling. It's definitely worth a read.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars.
The book immediately grabs you and within the first few chapters, you are engaged. The pace starts off pretty quickly and maintains a steady flow of high tension throughout. At times I did think the book was been drawn out a little, but upon reminding myself that this is based on a true event, the author has to include every event to get a real picture and feeling of the story being told.
The book is extremely well written, and it's evidently clear that the author has spent a tremendous amount of time collating the facts and turning these true events into a very good piece of fiction, or fact, it's quite hard to differentiate.
Overall I did enjoy this novel. It demonstrates how evil people can really be when large amounts of money is involved and to what lengths they will go to. It also demonstrates the failures of the authorities. They fail on so many levels throughout this story due to ignorance and self-importance which leads to events that could have been prevented. Towards the latter end of the book, it becomes even more intense and a much higher level of violence and tension and the anxiety levels definitely increase. Things do take a strange twist at the end, and I never saw it coming – quite an eye-opener.
This is quite an endurance read, but highly enthralling. It's definitely worth a read.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars.
December 29, 2017
For some reason, when I began reading this book I had a feeling that I wasn’t going to like it. I’m not sure why that was the case as when the author came to me to ask if I’d like to read & review it I really liked the sound of it… but starting it was slow for me. It turns out that my initial feelings towards the book were totally misplaced as I ended up having a great time reading this.
If you’ve seen the film Pain & Gain with Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson, you’ll already know the story to this one, as it’s based on the same true crime tale. This book, however, is a much more serious retelling over the comedic movie that, was taken by the victim/survivor as pretty offensive.
This book is dark and doesn’t hold back on the gory details! Some of the descriptions of rotting and shredded skin are really nauseating, so if your stomach is weak to those kinds of things, I wouldn’t recommended picking this book up.
The first half of this book is far more the gory and intense part of the novel (plus the part best representing the real crime) and the second part is much more of a heart racing thrill ride as to whether the killers will catch up with Suarez or not.
This is a really interesting and intense read. If you’re into crime thrillers with no mystery, just crime-thrills-crime, then you would really enjoy this book! It’s fast paced and the fact that is based upon a true story, makes it all the more interesting.
If you’ve seen the film Pain & Gain with Mark Wahlberg and Dwayne Johnson, you’ll already know the story to this one, as it’s based on the same true crime tale. This book, however, is a much more serious retelling over the comedic movie that, was taken by the victim/survivor as pretty offensive.
This book is dark and doesn’t hold back on the gory details! Some of the descriptions of rotting and shredded skin are really nauseating, so if your stomach is weak to those kinds of things, I wouldn’t recommended picking this book up.
The first half of this book is far more the gory and intense part of the novel (plus the part best representing the real crime) and the second part is much more of a heart racing thrill ride as to whether the killers will catch up with Suarez or not.
This is a really interesting and intense read. If you’re into crime thrillers with no mystery, just crime-thrills-crime, then you would really enjoy this book! It’s fast paced and the fact that is based upon a true story, makes it all the more interesting.
August 21, 2017
“Praise for Blood Moon! Truth can make great fiction. Blood Moon is a work of fiction, at its core is a true story of a crime committed in Florida in the 1990”
John David Bethnal’s book is a blood thirsty tale which he does an excellent job with the facts while adding his own narrative to the story.
It is exceptionally well written, and offers a good choice of words that describes the abduction, and torture of Surez with gut wrenching accuracy. It comes across so vivid that it sparks the imagination for totally evil captors!
The storyline was well planned with twists and turns, and with plenty of intrigue. For me, a complete surprising twist at the end revealled one of the characters in a completely different light. A very dark, bloody and gut wrenching mood follows this book through which Bethnal wrote well of such evil deeds.
The depth of characters in the book are believable, and some I wouldn’t want to meet on a dark night!! Easy flowing and fast pace, this is a certain page turner. A dark plot which shows the reader to what depths some humans will go to for money.
Reviewed by Linda on www.whisperingstories.com
John David Bethnal’s book is a blood thirsty tale which he does an excellent job with the facts while adding his own narrative to the story.
It is exceptionally well written, and offers a good choice of words that describes the abduction, and torture of Surez with gut wrenching accuracy. It comes across so vivid that it sparks the imagination for totally evil captors!
The storyline was well planned with twists and turns, and with plenty of intrigue. For me, a complete surprising twist at the end revealled one of the characters in a completely different light. A very dark, bloody and gut wrenching mood follows this book through which Bethnal wrote well of such evil deeds.
The depth of characters in the book are believable, and some I wouldn’t want to meet on a dark night!! Easy flowing and fast pace, this is a certain page turner. A dark plot which shows the reader to what depths some humans will go to for money.
Reviewed by Linda on www.whisperingstories.com
April 8, 2017
Finished reading: April 2nd 2017
“When your life is on the line, you can do a lot of things you never thought possible.”
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
October 22, 2017
I’ve had this novel Blood Moon for quite some time already and I have no idea why I haven’t read it sooner really because when the author contacted me I was immediately interested when I heard it was based on true events. Nothing prepared me for the horrendous ordeal the main character, Redicio Suarez, had to go through while abducted though. The preface is written by the true victim of these crimes and I thought at first that it’d be easier to read, maybe I was even a bit disappointed I already knew how the story was going to end, but I had to revise this opinion quite soon! I was nothing but relieved to know that this man would survive ultimately. Reading about the time he was held captive was in some ways worse than many thrillers I’ve read and you wouldn’t even be able to come up with this if it was fiction. These abductors were crossing the line of human dignity in every way possible, they were monsters. If I hadn’t read the preface I wouldn’t have expected him to have survived really, it was that brutal. I had no idea where the line was drawn between fact and fiction and it felt so outlandish that even part of it was true, it left me wondering and occupied my thoughts largely throughout this story.
The first thing I did when I finished this was look up what I could find about Marc Schilling in an attempt to recount some of the facts and it turns out that plenty of what he went through wasn’t made up. Blood Moon was really intense to read and the accounts of duct tape around his face, being in the dark all the time and having to sign documents without seeing a thing actually turned out to be real. I got chills while reading this but knowing afterwards that these parts weren’t fiction and did actually happen made my blood run cold. The way his abduction ended was quite spectacular although the true version of events would have suited just as well. The first part was largely a description of every single thing he was subjected to, along with the backstory in how they started to get the idea to plan all of this. I can’t believe someone would do all this and go to these lengths to get everything, not wanting to leave a single penny.
His escape from the money grabbing vultures who abducted him didn’t go how I’d anticipated at all and you might think it would put an end to his nightmare but even then it continues. While he should be protected by the police, the bad people put away behind bars, that apparently is a storyline that only occurs in fiction stories. It was sad and frustrating to read that he had to go through all of this and then wasn’t believed, even ridiculed and yes in another way but a victim once again. This time personal grudges were dragged into it as well and unfortunately he’s right in the middle of it.
I shook my head quite a few times while reading. At times it’s just so unbelievable, or maybe I almost didn’t want to believe this could be so close to the truth. I felt it was a bit of a stretch that his lawyer would do the legwork the police should have been doing. I wanted to shout as well that it was dangerous what he was doing but then I also wanted to get some justice, some closure for him so that he didn’t have to be afraid anymore. I just can’t imagine what that does to a person.
Blood Moon was a tense and quite violent read at times so I wouldn’t recommend this one for the faint at heart. There’s no gussying up and I can assure you that the writing isn’t suggestive so it is all due to the facts and his account without embelishments that it was so heart-breaking to read at times.
If you want to know more about what Marc Schiller, the true victim, went through, then you should definitely read this book. For your info: there was also a movie made based on the story that many have probably seen (I know I did) but doesn’t do justice to him at all. I can’t believe either they actually made a comedy out of this, there’s really nothing to laugh after reading this.
The first thing I did when I finished this was look up what I could find about Marc Schilling in an attempt to recount some of the facts and it turns out that plenty of what he went through wasn’t made up. Blood Moon was really intense to read and the accounts of duct tape around his face, being in the dark all the time and having to sign documents without seeing a thing actually turned out to be real. I got chills while reading this but knowing afterwards that these parts weren’t fiction and did actually happen made my blood run cold. The way his abduction ended was quite spectacular although the true version of events would have suited just as well. The first part was largely a description of every single thing he was subjected to, along with the backstory in how they started to get the idea to plan all of this. I can’t believe someone would do all this and go to these lengths to get everything, not wanting to leave a single penny.
His escape from the money grabbing vultures who abducted him didn’t go how I’d anticipated at all and you might think it would put an end to his nightmare but even then it continues. While he should be protected by the police, the bad people put away behind bars, that apparently is a storyline that only occurs in fiction stories. It was sad and frustrating to read that he had to go through all of this and then wasn’t believed, even ridiculed and yes in another way but a victim once again. This time personal grudges were dragged into it as well and unfortunately he’s right in the middle of it.
I shook my head quite a few times while reading. At times it’s just so unbelievable, or maybe I almost didn’t want to believe this could be so close to the truth. I felt it was a bit of a stretch that his lawyer would do the legwork the police should have been doing. I wanted to shout as well that it was dangerous what he was doing but then I also wanted to get some justice, some closure for him so that he didn’t have to be afraid anymore. I just can’t imagine what that does to a person.
Blood Moon was a tense and quite violent read at times so I wouldn’t recommend this one for the faint at heart. There’s no gussying up and I can assure you that the writing isn’t suggestive so it is all due to the facts and his account without embelishments that it was so heart-breaking to read at times.
If you want to know more about what Marc Schiller, the true victim, went through, then you should definitely read this book. For your info: there was also a movie made based on the story that many have probably seen (I know I did) but doesn’t do justice to him at all. I can’t believe either they actually made a comedy out of this, there’s really nothing to laugh after reading this.
April 14, 2017
Well David Bethel doesn't waste words, no lets get to know the characters that are sort of hazy, bland and you can't remember their names, no way. This is a story based on true events and these people were so in my face it made me cringe and shudder.
Oh my what a belting story my heart broke for this poor man, Recidio Suarez who was only guilty of being a success and having someone he trusted double cross him. To say he was kidnapped and tortured just doesn't cover the horror that Suarez endured. OMG it really did come to life in my mind, I mean it had to. Every detail of every minute must have been unbearable and David Bethel captures it all. His descriptions of the physical pain inflicted, infections, smells and sores turned my stomach, but I had to keep reading. It made me anxious and I feared for Suarez and felt no one could survive this depraved ruthless gang.
Greed is almost like a disease. The more a person gets the more they want and quicker. At about the half way mark I got to know the bad guys better and I felt like they had crawled under my skin. It felt frightening to think that people like this do really exist. They were like a little bunch of psychopaths that had found each other and discuss there next adventure like a book group would discuss next months reading choice. The further you get into the book the more violent it becomes which is really hard to believe but it does.
The third part is a climax whopper. That is, it just gets better, well after saying that I do feel guilty because I really did get pleasure from this book, it really does make very compelling reading it is extremely well written and I had to keep reminding myself that people really died. It starts off with a heart pounding pace and by the time it ends I was ready for a defibrillator. Stunning!
Oh my what a belting story my heart broke for this poor man, Recidio Suarez who was only guilty of being a success and having someone he trusted double cross him. To say he was kidnapped and tortured just doesn't cover the horror that Suarez endured. OMG it really did come to life in my mind, I mean it had to. Every detail of every minute must have been unbearable and David Bethel captures it all. His descriptions of the physical pain inflicted, infections, smells and sores turned my stomach, but I had to keep reading. It made me anxious and I feared for Suarez and felt no one could survive this depraved ruthless gang.
Greed is almost like a disease. The more a person gets the more they want and quicker. At about the half way mark I got to know the bad guys better and I felt like they had crawled under my skin. It felt frightening to think that people like this do really exist. They were like a little bunch of psychopaths that had found each other and discuss there next adventure like a book group would discuss next months reading choice. The further you get into the book the more violent it becomes which is really hard to believe but it does.
The third part is a climax whopper. That is, it just gets better, well after saying that I do feel guilty because I really did get pleasure from this book, it really does make very compelling reading it is extremely well written and I had to keep reminding myself that people really died. It starts off with a heart pounding pace and by the time it ends I was ready for a defibrillator. Stunning!
December 8, 2016
For the full review, please visit paytonsbookthoughts.wordpress.com
* I received this book from the author in exchange for my completely honest review*
The preface is a note from the lone survivor and it is purely heartbreaking.The fact this book was based on a true story is kind of scary, to be completely honest.
Bethel wastes no time getting to the nitty gritty details of the story and the pace stays this was pretty much throughout the whole book. My anxiety was super high reading this. It was most definitely suspenseful and thrilling, for those of you who love that genre!
As you can see from the cover, this book is about the kidnapping and extortion of a man named Recidio Suarez. Reading about the torture that this man suffered was really hard, but necessary at the same time. I found myself shaking my head at different points in the story because I just couldn't believe the things that Suarez was put through. If I were put in his position, I'm not sure I could survive. Suarez is definitely one tough man.
One of the things that really bothered me was the reasoning behind kidnapping and torturing this man. The primary motivation was because Suarez "stole" from his business partner. This is beyond ridiculous because you cant steal what is already (and rightfully) yours.
What's even more aggravating is how many of these men jumped on the bandwagon and willingly helped enact the torturing of a man they didn't even know. All of these men were so easily swayed to help based on the amount of money they would be able to extort from Suarez. Didn't think you could put a price on your life and your freedom. These men were so gullible that none of them even mentioned how off the wall the reasoning and the plan was. It's really hard for me to wrap my head around that. But the worst criminals are super smart and super stupid all at the same time. I think Bethel embodied these men very well.
I was extremely disappointed by "Big Hands" as Suarez called him because he was blind folded throughout the month of his torture. I had hope for "Big Hands". I just knew he would be the one to break the mold and do the right thing. But NOPE. I just couldn't understand how he could be so nice to Suarez all the time, but wasn't willing to help him escape in any sort of way. He was definitely not like the other involved in this horrific plan.
This story also contains a stroke of God and pure luck. It's the only way to explain how Suarez becomes the "lone survivor". The people that tortured him are pure insane! Their attempt at getting rid of the evidence after they finished the plan was fool proof (ALMOST). All I can say is what a LUCKY mother trucker. :)
You would think that after being tortured and everything else Suarez had been through, that it would be over after his kidnappers were done with him. Guess again. Poor guy now has to suffer through ANOTHER kind of torture. When he wakes up in the hospital, nobody will listen to him about what happened to him and they just think he is crazy. My heart seriously was being tortured FOR him.
When we FINALLY meet Lina (Suarezes wife), she is NOTHING like she had been described by husband. She was smart enough to pick up on all of his "tells" and is very stern with people in order to protect her husband. She's a strong woman and does what needs to be done to get JUSTICE for her husband.
Suarez attempts to take all of the evidence to the proper authorities and the PD literally tosses it aside. What the heck? Even with all of that evidence. After the next victim, they will be wishing they hadn't done that. Especially he's a much BIGGER fish in the grander scheme of things.
This book definitely addresses the serious flaws within the American justice system and those who are entrusted to protect and serve the citizens. This is just one example of where they fail tremendously. Unfortunately, it is shamefully true.
However, in the end everyone gets EXACTLY what they deserve. Some more so than others. ;)
* I received this book from the author in exchange for my completely honest review*
The preface is a note from the lone survivor and it is purely heartbreaking.The fact this book was based on a true story is kind of scary, to be completely honest.
Bethel wastes no time getting to the nitty gritty details of the story and the pace stays this was pretty much throughout the whole book. My anxiety was super high reading this. It was most definitely suspenseful and thrilling, for those of you who love that genre!
As you can see from the cover, this book is about the kidnapping and extortion of a man named Recidio Suarez. Reading about the torture that this man suffered was really hard, but necessary at the same time. I found myself shaking my head at different points in the story because I just couldn't believe the things that Suarez was put through. If I were put in his position, I'm not sure I could survive. Suarez is definitely one tough man.
One of the things that really bothered me was the reasoning behind kidnapping and torturing this man. The primary motivation was because Suarez "stole" from his business partner. This is beyond ridiculous because you cant steal what is already (and rightfully) yours.
What's even more aggravating is how many of these men jumped on the bandwagon and willingly helped enact the torturing of a man they didn't even know. All of these men were so easily swayed to help based on the amount of money they would be able to extort from Suarez. Didn't think you could put a price on your life and your freedom. These men were so gullible that none of them even mentioned how off the wall the reasoning and the plan was. It's really hard for me to wrap my head around that. But the worst criminals are super smart and super stupid all at the same time. I think Bethel embodied these men very well.
I was extremely disappointed by "Big Hands" as Suarez called him because he was blind folded throughout the month of his torture. I had hope for "Big Hands". I just knew he would be the one to break the mold and do the right thing. But NOPE. I just couldn't understand how he could be so nice to Suarez all the time, but wasn't willing to help him escape in any sort of way. He was definitely not like the other involved in this horrific plan.
This story also contains a stroke of God and pure luck. It's the only way to explain how Suarez becomes the "lone survivor". The people that tortured him are pure insane! Their attempt at getting rid of the evidence after they finished the plan was fool proof (ALMOST). All I can say is what a LUCKY mother trucker. :)
You would think that after being tortured and everything else Suarez had been through, that it would be over after his kidnappers were done with him. Guess again. Poor guy now has to suffer through ANOTHER kind of torture. When he wakes up in the hospital, nobody will listen to him about what happened to him and they just think he is crazy. My heart seriously was being tortured FOR him.
When we FINALLY meet Lina (Suarezes wife), she is NOTHING like she had been described by husband. She was smart enough to pick up on all of his "tells" and is very stern with people in order to protect her husband. She's a strong woman and does what needs to be done to get JUSTICE for her husband.
Suarez attempts to take all of the evidence to the proper authorities and the PD literally tosses it aside. What the heck? Even with all of that evidence. After the next victim, they will be wishing they hadn't done that. Especially he's a much BIGGER fish in the grander scheme of things.
This book definitely addresses the serious flaws within the American justice system and those who are entrusted to protect and serve the citizens. This is just one example of where they fail tremendously. Unfortunately, it is shamefully true.
However, in the end everyone gets EXACTLY what they deserve. Some more so than others. ;)
February 25, 2017
Blood Moon is a gritty thriller with gruesome details. What makes it even more horrific in my eyes, is that the plot is based on real-life events. Recidio Suarez has climbed the ladder of success and has recently purchased a wholesale food business next to his existing medical supply company. Recidio is married to Mexican (Caro)Lina, a stay at home mum of their two children. Life is smiling upon the Suarez family until that fateful day Recidio is assaulted. How could he know that his life is about to make a turn for the worst and that he would need every fibre in his body to survive the horrific suffering he is about to face …
Storyline
Before this story begins, the reader is drawn into another, that of Marc Schiller – upon whom Recidio Suarez’ character is based. Recidio Suarez however, has no idea how a mugging taking place on an ordinary Friday afternoon will soon turn out to become his worst nightmare. Recidio panics because of the violent attack and the following brutal beatings. What do these men want from him? As Recidio is being heaved into a van and brought to an empty warehouse, he struggles to keep calm. But his ordeal is far from being over – in fact, the beatings he endured were only the beginning. What can you do when you have been locked up in a box for which you have to “say thanks“? In between the beatings and interrogations, Recidio has time to think about his life – how he and his Mexican wife “ended up in Miami to escape the violence in Mexico” to this current situation which will probably soon lead to his death.
We, the readers, feel powerless witnessing the cruelty brought upon Recidio. We are only too aware of the savageness displayed by his kidnappers to reach their goals. It does not take long for Recidio to realise the brutal men want it all: his assets, his house, his businesses. Added to them taking his life apart, he has a growing fear for the lives of his wife and children. Recidio knows, if he fails to cooperate, his family will be murdered or even worse, tortured before his eyes. He cannot let that happen and knows he has no choice but to comply with his kidnappers’ demands. All the more terrifying is the fact they have inside information. Who would hate him enough to betray him? If you think that with the end of the torture the story is complete, you are wrong. The murderous games involving dark criminals and a Mexican drugs cartel are just beginning; what follows has sensational plot twists and is even more unbelievable and utterly shocking!
My Thoughts
This was a disturbing and unsettling read for me. As I was aware of the protagonist surviving his tortures, I thought it would be easier to read about it – but boy was I wrong! I was impressed by the author’s character description of Recidio and the insights the author provides into his thoughts and feelings while experiencing the horrific abuse. The novel can be divided into two parts – where the first part reads as a psychological thriller the second part feels more a police procedural with a twist (it would be a spoiler to give that away!). I would like to have learned a bit more about Recidio in the same intense way after as during his kidnapping but understand the need to capture the many events to follow. I loved the character of Nolan Stevens and his diligence in finding justice for Recidio. My compliments to David Bethel who succeeded in turning a mind-boggling real-life story into a remarkable thriller!
Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/blood-...
Storyline
Before this story begins, the reader is drawn into another, that of Marc Schiller – upon whom Recidio Suarez’ character is based. Recidio Suarez however, has no idea how a mugging taking place on an ordinary Friday afternoon will soon turn out to become his worst nightmare. Recidio panics because of the violent attack and the following brutal beatings. What do these men want from him? As Recidio is being heaved into a van and brought to an empty warehouse, he struggles to keep calm. But his ordeal is far from being over – in fact, the beatings he endured were only the beginning. What can you do when you have been locked up in a box for which you have to “say thanks“? In between the beatings and interrogations, Recidio has time to think about his life – how he and his Mexican wife “ended up in Miami to escape the violence in Mexico” to this current situation which will probably soon lead to his death.
We, the readers, feel powerless witnessing the cruelty brought upon Recidio. We are only too aware of the savageness displayed by his kidnappers to reach their goals. It does not take long for Recidio to realise the brutal men want it all: his assets, his house, his businesses. Added to them taking his life apart, he has a growing fear for the lives of his wife and children. Recidio knows, if he fails to cooperate, his family will be murdered or even worse, tortured before his eyes. He cannot let that happen and knows he has no choice but to comply with his kidnappers’ demands. All the more terrifying is the fact they have inside information. Who would hate him enough to betray him? If you think that with the end of the torture the story is complete, you are wrong. The murderous games involving dark criminals and a Mexican drugs cartel are just beginning; what follows has sensational plot twists and is even more unbelievable and utterly shocking!
My Thoughts
This was a disturbing and unsettling read for me. As I was aware of the protagonist surviving his tortures, I thought it would be easier to read about it – but boy was I wrong! I was impressed by the author’s character description of Recidio and the insights the author provides into his thoughts and feelings while experiencing the horrific abuse. The novel can be divided into two parts – where the first part reads as a psychological thriller the second part feels more a police procedural with a twist (it would be a spoiler to give that away!). I would like to have learned a bit more about Recidio in the same intense way after as during his kidnapping but understand the need to capture the many events to follow. I loved the character of Nolan Stevens and his diligence in finding justice for Recidio. My compliments to David Bethel who succeeded in turning a mind-boggling real-life story into a remarkable thriller!
Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/blood-...
June 11, 2017
Blood Moon by John David Bethel, 451 pages, Tell-Tale Publishing Group LLC, December 4th 2016, Genre: Thriller and Suspense. Warning: May Contain Spoilers.
Review by Leigh Holland.
This horrifying, violent, gritty thriller isn’t for the faint of heart. This gripping, suspenseful novel terrifies, reminding us of how fragile life is. Blood Moon is about justice delayed and justice denied; based on a real crime that happened in the 1990’s in Miami, Florida. The foreword was written by the survivor of these events and the investigator who helped him, driving home how easy it would be for others to do us harm. Justice does finally come- but not with any help from the Miami police.
Recidio Suarez is a good man, a good husband and father, and a hard-working example of the American Dream. He has survived the trials of life, some of them high risk situations, and has worked hard to build an affluent, comfortable life for his wife and kids. Imperfect as we all are, he nevertheless has always striven to do right by others and treat them fairly. That’s one of the reasons it’s so horrifying when his former protege Dario Pedrajo, a man he trusted, trained, and helped succeed in life, turns on him, getting involved in a plot to kidnap, torture, and extort everything the Suarez family has built. Pedrajo falls in with a bad crowd of criminals, headed by a strip club owner named Blaine Nesbit. With the aid of allies Bob Camarillo and Rector, they kidnap Suarez, holding him at a warehouse for weeks where they torture and maim him. They threaten to rape his wife Lina and torture his kids if he doesn’t sign over his bank accounts, businesses, house, and retirement funds to them. The torture he is subjected to is truly gruesome and a sign of how deeply wicked his kidnappers are. Suarez narrowly survives their clumsy attempt to murder him once they’d acquired his assets. The police chief dislikes Suarez’s attorney due to a past grudge and refuses to allow the case to be pursued. It’s only after the murderous crooks bite off more than they can chew and it can no longer be avoided that the police get involved.
The plot is straightforward with justice eventually dispensed in an unconventional but thoroughly satisfying manner. John David Bethel’s writing is excellent. The characters are relatable and believable. The lack of action and the blaming of the victim on the part of the police burns the reader with anger. The intense and at times unnecessary violence perpetrated by the criminals on their helpless prey horrifies and saddens. How can human beings commit such terrible acts against their fellow men? How can the forces we empower to protect us and obtain justice for us turn a blind eye?
I enjoyed Blood Moon and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys true crime stories, suspenseful thrillers, and gritty, hard-hitting tales.
Review by Leigh Holland.
This horrifying, violent, gritty thriller isn’t for the faint of heart. This gripping, suspenseful novel terrifies, reminding us of how fragile life is. Blood Moon is about justice delayed and justice denied; based on a real crime that happened in the 1990’s in Miami, Florida. The foreword was written by the survivor of these events and the investigator who helped him, driving home how easy it would be for others to do us harm. Justice does finally come- but not with any help from the Miami police.
Recidio Suarez is a good man, a good husband and father, and a hard-working example of the American Dream. He has survived the trials of life, some of them high risk situations, and has worked hard to build an affluent, comfortable life for his wife and kids. Imperfect as we all are, he nevertheless has always striven to do right by others and treat them fairly. That’s one of the reasons it’s so horrifying when his former protege Dario Pedrajo, a man he trusted, trained, and helped succeed in life, turns on him, getting involved in a plot to kidnap, torture, and extort everything the Suarez family has built. Pedrajo falls in with a bad crowd of criminals, headed by a strip club owner named Blaine Nesbit. With the aid of allies Bob Camarillo and Rector, they kidnap Suarez, holding him at a warehouse for weeks where they torture and maim him. They threaten to rape his wife Lina and torture his kids if he doesn’t sign over his bank accounts, businesses, house, and retirement funds to them. The torture he is subjected to is truly gruesome and a sign of how deeply wicked his kidnappers are. Suarez narrowly survives their clumsy attempt to murder him once they’d acquired his assets. The police chief dislikes Suarez’s attorney due to a past grudge and refuses to allow the case to be pursued. It’s only after the murderous crooks bite off more than they can chew and it can no longer be avoided that the police get involved.
The plot is straightforward with justice eventually dispensed in an unconventional but thoroughly satisfying manner. John David Bethel’s writing is excellent. The characters are relatable and believable. The lack of action and the blaming of the victim on the part of the police burns the reader with anger. The intense and at times unnecessary violence perpetrated by the criminals on their helpless prey horrifies and saddens. How can human beings commit such terrible acts against their fellow men? How can the forces we empower to protect us and obtain justice for us turn a blind eye?
I enjoyed Blood Moon and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys true crime stories, suspenseful thrillers, and gritty, hard-hitting tales.
January 8, 2017
I received Blood Moon by John David Bethel for review and these are my honest thoughts.
Blood Moon is a novel based on a true story of innocent Recidio Suarez who finds himself in the hands of some dangerous men for what seemed like longer, but only for one month. These men blindfold him with duct tape and torture him until getting the information they need to inherit his billions of dollars. If only the police believed this story, maybe they could have saved the others…
Before receiving this novel, I had totally forgotten it was based on a true story. Upon arrival on my door stop I became that much more excited to devour this, it being something that actually happened. As a reviewer I like to read everything, especially real stories to stay up to date on what is happening in today's world.
Bethel did a great job describing the torture, and death. At all of the appropriate times there was cringing and shock in many of my facial expressions. There were even a few points during the book where laughter was necessary. Laughing while reading something that was all true may seem rude, but it just shows that the author knows what he’s doing in terms of writing. A writer wants to be able to pull out of their readers as many emotions as possible and Bethel really did that with this one.
An interesting aspect of this novel is that there were more than one story. After learning what happened to Suarez our original main character the author moves into the stories of another man and his girlfriend, and we learn what happens to them at the hands of this very same group of men.
I also loved that the scenes in the book that were not dealing with Suarez and his torture or the other victims were also good enough to hold my interest. Often when I read true crime novels some of the technical stuff or investigation can get boring to me, but here that did not happen at all which I was pleased with.
The only thing I would change about this book was the usage of Spanish phrases. I have read books in which use spanish phrasing before, but either they only use it once or twice throughout the whole book or the phrase is translated almost immediately. Here, there were a few times in which the spanish was translated, but there were also times where it wasn’t and I was so eager to know what they were saying, and ended up being disappointed when I had no idea.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good thriller as well as those who enjoy true crime. The book being true and full of suspense was what kept me turning the pages constantly.
Blood Moon is a novel based on a true story of innocent Recidio Suarez who finds himself in the hands of some dangerous men for what seemed like longer, but only for one month. These men blindfold him with duct tape and torture him until getting the information they need to inherit his billions of dollars. If only the police believed this story, maybe they could have saved the others…
Before receiving this novel, I had totally forgotten it was based on a true story. Upon arrival on my door stop I became that much more excited to devour this, it being something that actually happened. As a reviewer I like to read everything, especially real stories to stay up to date on what is happening in today's world.
Bethel did a great job describing the torture, and death. At all of the appropriate times there was cringing and shock in many of my facial expressions. There were even a few points during the book where laughter was necessary. Laughing while reading something that was all true may seem rude, but it just shows that the author knows what he’s doing in terms of writing. A writer wants to be able to pull out of their readers as many emotions as possible and Bethel really did that with this one.
An interesting aspect of this novel is that there were more than one story. After learning what happened to Suarez our original main character the author moves into the stories of another man and his girlfriend, and we learn what happens to them at the hands of this very same group of men.
I also loved that the scenes in the book that were not dealing with Suarez and his torture or the other victims were also good enough to hold my interest. Often when I read true crime novels some of the technical stuff or investigation can get boring to me, but here that did not happen at all which I was pleased with.
The only thing I would change about this book was the usage of Spanish phrases. I have read books in which use spanish phrasing before, but either they only use it once or twice throughout the whole book or the phrase is translated almost immediately. Here, there were a few times in which the spanish was translated, but there were also times where it wasn’t and I was so eager to know what they were saying, and ended up being disappointed when I had no idea.
Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good thriller as well as those who enjoy true crime. The book being true and full of suspense was what kept me turning the pages constantly.
June 20, 2017
Blood Moon is an intense thriller. Although the tale is a work of fiction it’s based on real events which made for a gripping tale as you didn’t really know which aspects were fact and which fiction.. it didn’t bother me not knowing..it just had the cogs in my mind ticking trying to imagine what it must have been like living any of the events portrayed in the book.
So the story follows Suarez who is kidnapped and forced to give everything up..his money, his house, his entire life basically. Suarez quickly works out there’s going to be no way they will let him leave alive..they want to get every last penny out of him they can and they will do anything for it.
What we get is a rather engrossing read but at times disturbing with its gruesomeness. What I really enjoyed was the reality hit you get.. the descriptiveness of the mental and physical torture and also the lasting effects this has on Suarez, mind and body.. this really did make the story real to me.
As a reader I did feel frustrated at how no one put the pieces together, banks, friends and family etc but I think it shows the personal touch to life I feel we’ve lost over the years.. as long as something doesn’t affect them they continue along the same path. Suarez’s wife does believe her husband is in trouble but she just doesn’t know how bad things are and with her trust issues regarding the police I understood why she didn’t raise the alarm.
I must admit by the end of the book I really enjoyed the character of his wife she develops an exciting edge to her in the later stages of the tale.
There’s some really good twists in this tale that kept me hooked, after Suarez narrowly escapes death you're invested in his recovery and you’ll find yourself exasperated with the lack of support he gets from those who should be helping him.. luckily his family and a close friend Nolan Stevens know he wouldn’t lie and help him come to terms a little with what has happened and set him on the path to get justice.
Before reading the book I sort of had ideas on how the plot would progress.. the end result was nothing like my thoughts, the events are so unexpected and dark but so riveting. It’s that reality check moment again.. since the story is based on a real crime you sort of don’t want to love/enjoy the story as you feel a little bad but you do.. it’s certainly got some wow moments that stick with you.
So the story follows Suarez who is kidnapped and forced to give everything up..his money, his house, his entire life basically. Suarez quickly works out there’s going to be no way they will let him leave alive..they want to get every last penny out of him they can and they will do anything for it.
What we get is a rather engrossing read but at times disturbing with its gruesomeness. What I really enjoyed was the reality hit you get.. the descriptiveness of the mental and physical torture and also the lasting effects this has on Suarez, mind and body.. this really did make the story real to me.
As a reader I did feel frustrated at how no one put the pieces together, banks, friends and family etc but I think it shows the personal touch to life I feel we’ve lost over the years.. as long as something doesn’t affect them they continue along the same path. Suarez’s wife does believe her husband is in trouble but she just doesn’t know how bad things are and with her trust issues regarding the police I understood why she didn’t raise the alarm.
I must admit by the end of the book I really enjoyed the character of his wife she develops an exciting edge to her in the later stages of the tale.
There’s some really good twists in this tale that kept me hooked, after Suarez narrowly escapes death you're invested in his recovery and you’ll find yourself exasperated with the lack of support he gets from those who should be helping him.. luckily his family and a close friend Nolan Stevens know he wouldn’t lie and help him come to terms a little with what has happened and set him on the path to get justice.
Before reading the book I sort of had ideas on how the plot would progress.. the end result was nothing like my thoughts, the events are so unexpected and dark but so riveting. It’s that reality check moment again.. since the story is based on a real crime you sort of don’t want to love/enjoy the story as you feel a little bad but you do.. it’s certainly got some wow moments that stick with you.
January 9, 2017
I want to thank the author of Blood Moon John David Bethel for sending me a copy of his book in exchange for an honest review.
Right on the first page of the preface it felt like my heart was being squeezed inside my chest. To know that this novel is based on a true story and that the treatment of this person was hell both during his captivity and when he manages to escape is both scary and revolting. It really shows the flaws in the justice system and proves that justice doesn’t always prevail, unfortunately.
Blood Moon tells the story of Recidio Suarez, a man that is kidnapped from his working place for no apparent reason, blindfolded and tortured for a month, living and suffering under conditions that no human being ever should. Under the threat of his life and his loved ones, Suarez is forced to submit to the conditions of his kidnappers. When he alone manages to escape his captivity, he faces another level of torture: no one believes him. Both police and The Special Investigations Division of the Miami-Dade Police discredit his evidence and his story; refusing to take the case further. I will tell you this: It’s not a book for the faint of heart.
Bethel describes the events with accuracy and the characters are very well developed, and I think he portrays the kidnappers with frightening accuracy as well.
As I read through the novel, I’m sure I gained white hairs. Not knowing what would happen and what horrible thing would come up next left me in a state of anxiety and suspense that I sure I’ve never felt before with a book. Reading through the insane torture scenes was, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the hardest things I’ve read. At some point I just wanted to throw the book on the floor and scream at the things these people were willing to do to and how far they were willing to go for money. The arrogance of thinking they would never get caught and that they could do whatever they pleased. These people are the living proof that monsters do exist in the world. And when you think you can rely on those with the responsibility and duty of protecting the people, they completely discredit his story and completely ignore the pain, the suffering and the physical and mental scars that will haunt him until the end of his days. The indifference is revolting. Suarez proves to be a true hero, surviving through something I would never be able to and having the courage and the strength to escape.
The fact that it’s based on a true story just enhances everything that’s for sure.
A thrilling, suspenseful and horror novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat and that will put your problems into perspective.
Right on the first page of the preface it felt like my heart was being squeezed inside my chest. To know that this novel is based on a true story and that the treatment of this person was hell both during his captivity and when he manages to escape is both scary and revolting. It really shows the flaws in the justice system and proves that justice doesn’t always prevail, unfortunately.
Blood Moon tells the story of Recidio Suarez, a man that is kidnapped from his working place for no apparent reason, blindfolded and tortured for a month, living and suffering under conditions that no human being ever should. Under the threat of his life and his loved ones, Suarez is forced to submit to the conditions of his kidnappers. When he alone manages to escape his captivity, he faces another level of torture: no one believes him. Both police and The Special Investigations Division of the Miami-Dade Police discredit his evidence and his story; refusing to take the case further. I will tell you this: It’s not a book for the faint of heart.
Bethel describes the events with accuracy and the characters are very well developed, and I think he portrays the kidnappers with frightening accuracy as well.
As I read through the novel, I’m sure I gained white hairs. Not knowing what would happen and what horrible thing would come up next left me in a state of anxiety and suspense that I sure I’ve never felt before with a book. Reading through the insane torture scenes was, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the hardest things I’ve read. At some point I just wanted to throw the book on the floor and scream at the things these people were willing to do to and how far they were willing to go for money. The arrogance of thinking they would never get caught and that they could do whatever they pleased. These people are the living proof that monsters do exist in the world. And when you think you can rely on those with the responsibility and duty of protecting the people, they completely discredit his story and completely ignore the pain, the suffering and the physical and mental scars that will haunt him until the end of his days. The indifference is revolting. Suarez proves to be a true hero, surviving through something I would never be able to and having the courage and the strength to escape.
The fact that it’s based on a true story just enhances everything that’s for sure.
A thrilling, suspenseful and horror novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat and that will put your problems into perspective.
May 17, 2017
First Thoughts
It’s quite difficult to write a review on such a tragic story. To filter past the horrendous events the story tells, to focus on seemingly petty things such as writing style, emotion and general narrative devices used. However all of these combined make for compelling story telling which Blood Moon was not.
Nonetheless, the story begins right into the action. We get a glimpse of the man that is Recidio Suarez. We experience his kidnapping, and his confusion. As the story unfolds, and characters come to light, there was a sense of sickness at the inhumanity his kidnappers were willing to display.
Writing
From a writing perspective, Blood Moon was not thrilling. Not suspenseful. This is due to how close the novel was to the truth. Sitting through the thirty days of a man’s torture is not supposed to be fun or easy or thrilling, and on that merit, Blood Moon is spot on. At the same time, without all the context of “based on a true story”, there isn’t anything gripping about the story. Disturbing, yes, but not engaging.
I did not relate to, or felt moved by Recidio’s perilous situation. The writing was more of a journal than a delve into the frayed mind of a man who is on the brink of losing everything. No internal monologues. No thoughts about “what ifs” or “could haves” or anything that would give us an emotional tie-in during the horror of his experience. Just the gritty day to day of surviving. Not to undermine what he went through, but a little humanity would have made it more digestible.
Humour was thrown in here and there to show how Recidio was working to cope with the fact that he’d been kidnapped and would most likely end up dead. The unlikely friendship forming also broke the monotony. The violence was gruesome, descriptions visceral, and it all made me wonder just how depraved humans can be.
Final Thoughts
While this wasn’t my favourite book to read, it was respectable. I applaud John Bethel for the amount of research and effort he must have put in to write this novel true enough to the actual tragedy. The foreword and afterword put a real perspective on the whole thing. That it’s not just a fictional tale, but a reminder of a tragedy re-written in fictional form.
It’s quite difficult to write a review on such a tragic story. To filter past the horrendous events the story tells, to focus on seemingly petty things such as writing style, emotion and general narrative devices used. However all of these combined make for compelling story telling which Blood Moon was not.
Nonetheless, the story begins right into the action. We get a glimpse of the man that is Recidio Suarez. We experience his kidnapping, and his confusion. As the story unfolds, and characters come to light, there was a sense of sickness at the inhumanity his kidnappers were willing to display.
Writing
From a writing perspective, Blood Moon was not thrilling. Not suspenseful. This is due to how close the novel was to the truth. Sitting through the thirty days of a man’s torture is not supposed to be fun or easy or thrilling, and on that merit, Blood Moon is spot on. At the same time, without all the context of “based on a true story”, there isn’t anything gripping about the story. Disturbing, yes, but not engaging.
I did not relate to, or felt moved by Recidio’s perilous situation. The writing was more of a journal than a delve into the frayed mind of a man who is on the brink of losing everything. No internal monologues. No thoughts about “what ifs” or “could haves” or anything that would give us an emotional tie-in during the horror of his experience. Just the gritty day to day of surviving. Not to undermine what he went through, but a little humanity would have made it more digestible.
Humour was thrown in here and there to show how Recidio was working to cope with the fact that he’d been kidnapped and would most likely end up dead. The unlikely friendship forming also broke the monotony. The violence was gruesome, descriptions visceral, and it all made me wonder just how depraved humans can be.
Final Thoughts
While this wasn’t my favourite book to read, it was respectable. I applaud John Bethel for the amount of research and effort he must have put in to write this novel true enough to the actual tragedy. The foreword and afterword put a real perspective on the whole thing. That it’s not just a fictional tale, but a reminder of a tragedy re-written in fictional form.
June 26, 2017
Blood Moon's foreword is written by Marc Schiller and is a remarkable brief account of the ordeal he endured for after being kidnapped and held captive for a month.It is his story that John David Bethel has adapted in to a work of fiction for Blood Moon - and what a work of fiction it is, tense, brutal and gripping.
There isn't much in the way of a gradual build up to Blood Moon, after an ominous prologue we are almost immediately thrust into the action as Recidio Suarez (the Marc Schiller character) is violently kidnapped, beaten up, blindfolded, then thrust into a van before being taken to an unknown destination where he is forced into the small box where he will eventually spend much of his time while a prisoner of these evil men. What follows, knowing it is based on a true story, is deeply disturbing. While not a stranger to books that portray the worst people are capable of, the depiction of the torture - both physical and mental - inflicted on Suarez means Blood Moon is one of the most unsettling books I've read. It's also a compelling read, although I knew from the description that Suarez would eventually escape I was glued to the pages waiting for his ordeal to be over. However, even after his release from the hands of his captors, Suarez is still at the mercy of others. Blood Moon continues to really stir the emotions - the frustration and anger as the authorities refuse to believe he is the victim of a terrifying crime, the very visceral fear that he and his loved ones are still at terrible risk once his former kidnappers learn he is still alive and the ominous dread and revulsion felt as we realise the extent of their greed and their shocking blood lust.
If Blood Moon was purely a work of fiction it would still be a tense and often upsetting read, however, as a fictionalised account of a real life crime it is also a reminder of not only of the evil people can do but also of the courage and fortitude that can be found in the most unlikely of us. In many ways it is a bleak story but it is also an absorbing record of how a man survived against all odds. My grateful thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this uniquely intriguing and dramatic thriller in return for my review.
There isn't much in the way of a gradual build up to Blood Moon, after an ominous prologue we are almost immediately thrust into the action as Recidio Suarez (the Marc Schiller character) is violently kidnapped, beaten up, blindfolded, then thrust into a van before being taken to an unknown destination where he is forced into the small box where he will eventually spend much of his time while a prisoner of these evil men. What follows, knowing it is based on a true story, is deeply disturbing. While not a stranger to books that portray the worst people are capable of, the depiction of the torture - both physical and mental - inflicted on Suarez means Blood Moon is one of the most unsettling books I've read. It's also a compelling read, although I knew from the description that Suarez would eventually escape I was glued to the pages waiting for his ordeal to be over. However, even after his release from the hands of his captors, Suarez is still at the mercy of others. Blood Moon continues to really stir the emotions - the frustration and anger as the authorities refuse to believe he is the victim of a terrifying crime, the very visceral fear that he and his loved ones are still at terrible risk once his former kidnappers learn he is still alive and the ominous dread and revulsion felt as we realise the extent of their greed and their shocking blood lust.
If Blood Moon was purely a work of fiction it would still be a tense and often upsetting read, however, as a fictionalised account of a real life crime it is also a reminder of not only of the evil people can do but also of the courage and fortitude that can be found in the most unlikely of us. In many ways it is a bleak story but it is also an absorbing record of how a man survived against all odds. My grateful thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this uniquely intriguing and dramatic thriller in return for my review.
June 19, 2018
When businessman Recidio Suarez is kidnapped it is the start of a brutal ordeal of beatings and torture as the gang try to steal as many of his assets as they can, and once they have done so it is clear they will kill him.
The police fail to investigate and it is up to Suarez' lawyer Nolan Stevens to track down the gang and try to stop them before they strike again. He races against time to put the evidence together that he needs, but will his efforts be enough?
Based on a true story, there are two distinct phases of this story. Firstly the kidnapping, torture and theft carried out by the gang. The second that of the attempt to capture them. The first part manage to convey the plight Suarez finds himself in well, the panic, the desperation, the pain and the realisation that he is unlikely to get out of this alive.
But it is with the investigation that this novel really steps up a gear. Stevens is a great foil, using the law to his advantage but also carefully breaking it when he needs to. As he tracks the gang down, piecing together their identities, actions and motivations bit by bit the reader is drawn along too, wanting him to succeed.
Everything is described well, from the sticky heat Suarez has to endure in captivity to the indifference of the police and the planning of the gang and the violence of their crimes. I also couldn't help but chuckle as Stevens find time to settle an old score at the same time.
As crime thrillers go this is a good one. Not a 'whodunnit' as that is revealed very early on, but more showing not only how far some people will go for money but also how guile, wit and tenacity will often produce results in the end.
The police fail to investigate and it is up to Suarez' lawyer Nolan Stevens to track down the gang and try to stop them before they strike again. He races against time to put the evidence together that he needs, but will his efforts be enough?
Based on a true story, there are two distinct phases of this story. Firstly the kidnapping, torture and theft carried out by the gang. The second that of the attempt to capture them. The first part manage to convey the plight Suarez finds himself in well, the panic, the desperation, the pain and the realisation that he is unlikely to get out of this alive.
But it is with the investigation that this novel really steps up a gear. Stevens is a great foil, using the law to his advantage but also carefully breaking it when he needs to. As he tracks the gang down, piecing together their identities, actions and motivations bit by bit the reader is drawn along too, wanting him to succeed.
Everything is described well, from the sticky heat Suarez has to endure in captivity to the indifference of the police and the planning of the gang and the violence of their crimes. I also couldn't help but chuckle as Stevens find time to settle an old score at the same time.
As crime thrillers go this is a good one. Not a 'whodunnit' as that is revealed very early on, but more showing not only how far some people will go for money but also how guile, wit and tenacity will often produce results in the end.
March 9, 2017
This book, which was based on a true story, is stranger than fiction. John David Bethel skillfully captures the heart wrenching crimes committed against Marc Schiller. The evil nature, greed, repulsive motivations of the perpetrators are thoroughly exposed. It's hard to imagine this was based of a true story. if you're into crime fiction I highly recommend it.
March 19, 2017
Blood Moon, is a suspenseful novel that is based on an actual crime case. This book first grasped my attention by the note type preface which was heartbreaking and terrifying all in one. John is able to get the physical torture on point but he was able to grasp the mental terror that Recidio, endured. Personally, the pace was really fast paced the entire book, however, it almost needed to be fast paced because the intensity of the story would have been lost if he had slowed it down any. My favorite part of the Blood Moon, is while reading the novel and knowing it was based on something that actually happened.
I think as the book was coming to an end he was able to top the intensity and emotions to what seemed like an overall high of the book. This shows true evil can lie anywhere and ignorance in authority is real and it does have costs. I recommend this book to the non faint hearted because its not for everyone, but do note that once you stop reading you wont be able to put it down until the story is finished.
This will also be posted to www.heatherbloggs.com
I think as the book was coming to an end he was able to top the intensity and emotions to what seemed like an overall high of the book. This shows true evil can lie anywhere and ignorance in authority is real and it does have costs. I recommend this book to the non faint hearted because its not for everyone, but do note that once you stop reading you wont be able to put it down until the story is finished.
This will also be posted to www.heatherbloggs.com
February 10, 2017
The headlines we read in today’s newspapers often eclipse the horrors writers dream up in modern suspense or thriller novels so to find the most horrific storyline one often has to find the book that is labeled ‘based on a true story.’ Bethel has done just that in Blood Moon. Taking the true life drama that Marc Schiller endured he has wrapped a story for our enjoyment right from the headlines.
Describing the kidnapping, torture, extortion and murder plots that a group of money-hungry despots engaged in in the mid 90’s in Miami and turning it into a horrific suspense story Bethel describes the atrocities that one man had to endure as he takes us through the tribulations of Recidio Suarez. A successful businessman and workaholic Suarez had built a mini-empire, was a self-made millionaire, and had just moved his family into their dream home. Coming from humble Cuban beginnings he sacrificed his personal life to give his family what he saw as the American dream.
When a disgruntled business partner saw a way to get what he figured he deserved, respect and money, he spins a yarn to a group of despicable desperados, headed up by an ex-con, who readily join in the plot to take Suarez hard-earned wealth and spread it amongst themselves, and they stop at nothing to make it happen. With stomach-curdling efficiency, they bring down Suarez and he barely escapes with his sanity, let alone his life.
But the story doesn’t end there. Once away from his captors Suarez has difficulty persuading the police that a crime has even taken place. In fact, it takes a second victim and a scorned wife to bring the justice that we are anticipating. Bethel has written a page turner that will leave you wondering about the depravity of humans for the sake of blood money.
Describing the kidnapping, torture, extortion and murder plots that a group of money-hungry despots engaged in in the mid 90’s in Miami and turning it into a horrific suspense story Bethel describes the atrocities that one man had to endure as he takes us through the tribulations of Recidio Suarez. A successful businessman and workaholic Suarez had built a mini-empire, was a self-made millionaire, and had just moved his family into their dream home. Coming from humble Cuban beginnings he sacrificed his personal life to give his family what he saw as the American dream.
When a disgruntled business partner saw a way to get what he figured he deserved, respect and money, he spins a yarn to a group of despicable desperados, headed up by an ex-con, who readily join in the plot to take Suarez hard-earned wealth and spread it amongst themselves, and they stop at nothing to make it happen. With stomach-curdling efficiency, they bring down Suarez and he barely escapes with his sanity, let alone his life.
But the story doesn’t end there. Once away from his captors Suarez has difficulty persuading the police that a crime has even taken place. In fact, it takes a second victim and a scorned wife to bring the justice that we are anticipating. Bethel has written a page turner that will leave you wondering about the depravity of humans for the sake of blood money.
December 21, 2016
Awesome Book
When I realized this book was based on true story, I almost dismissed it, but am glad I didn't! Don't pass up this terrific read.
When I realized this book was based on true story, I almost dismissed it, but am glad I didn't! Don't pass up this terrific read.
Read
October 1, 2018Just not my kind of book.
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