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Morris Brick #1
Deranged
Introducing L.A. investigator Morris Brick, a former homicide cop on the trail of a murderous psychopath who gives a terrifying new meaning to the word DERANGED . . .
They call him the Skull Cracker Killer. He drugs his victims. Breaks open their skulls with a hammer and chisel. The rest is inhuman.
Five years ago he terrorized New York City, claiming twelve victims before the killing stopped. Now he’s racking up victims on a fresh hunting ground. Where former LAPD homicide detective Morris Brick is working as a consultant on a serial-killer film. Where a desperate mayor pleads with Brick to take on the case. And where the only way he can stop the next wave of murders is by outsmarting a madman—before he strikes again, this time much too close to home . . .
They call him the Skull Cracker Killer. He drugs his victims. Breaks open their skulls with a hammer and chisel. The rest is inhuman.
Five years ago he terrorized New York City, claiming twelve victims before the killing stopped. Now he’s racking up victims on a fresh hunting ground. Where former LAPD homicide detective Morris Brick is working as a consultant on a serial-killer film. Where a desperate mayor pleads with Brick to take on the case. And where the only way he can stop the next wave of murders is by outsmarting a madman—before he strikes again, this time much too close to home . . .
294 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2017
21 people are currently reading
484 people want to read
About the author
Jacob Stone
5 books108 followersJacob Stone is the byline chosen by award-winning author Dave Zeltserman for his new Morris Brick series of serial-killer thrillers. His crime, mystery and horror fiction have won awards and top praise and has been translated into six languages. His novels Small Crimes and Pariah were both named by the Washington Post as best books of the year. Small Crimes topped National Public Radio's list of best crime and mystery novels of 2008 and has been made into a feature film starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Molly Parker that is now available on Netflix. Dave lives in the Boston area. His website is davezeltserman.com.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 5, 2017
DERANGED introduces the reader to LA investigator Morris Brick. Brick is a former homicide cop. His investigations practice is hired by local law enforcement to track down a vicious serial killer.
The Skull Cracker Killer drugs his victims, breaks open their skulls with a hammer, and scoops out the brains with a chisel. The victim is alive during most of this.
The killer claimed 12 victims before disappearing 5 years ago. Now he's back .....
This is a well-written crime book. The killer and his wife are what I would call the Odd Couple. Brick has a wife and daughter and is a straight-shooter. He loves what he does, although it is a little tiring to keep hunting down serial killers. But he believes in justice. I absolutely adored Parker, the family dog who loves to go to work with Brick.
There is a huge twist about half way through that will totally catch the reader off guard. The book is told in the voice of different characters.
I enjoyed this one and look forward to see what Brick will be doing in the future.
Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books -Lyrical Underground / Netgalley for the advanced copy of this novel. All opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
The Skull Cracker Killer drugs his victims, breaks open their skulls with a hammer, and scoops out the brains with a chisel. The victim is alive during most of this.
The killer claimed 12 victims before disappearing 5 years ago. Now he's back .....
This is a well-written crime book. The killer and his wife are what I would call the Odd Couple. Brick has a wife and daughter and is a straight-shooter. He loves what he does, although it is a little tiring to keep hunting down serial killers. But he believes in justice. I absolutely adored Parker, the family dog who loves to go to work with Brick.
There is a huge twist about half way through that will totally catch the reader off guard. The book is told in the voice of different characters.
I enjoyed this one and look forward to see what Brick will be doing in the future.
Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books -Lyrical Underground / Netgalley for the advanced copy of this novel. All opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 3, 2017
The title fits this psychotic thriller.
Morris Brick a detective that is on the case of SCK (Skull Cracker Killer). I am not going to go in much detail about how this killer killed his victims because the acronym says enough. If this was made into a movie, I could not go see it...just a bit too gruesome. However, the author is more descriptive on the character of the killer Henry Pollard. The narration is seamlessly done in different times as you get a good ideal of who Henry Pollard really is and how he became the killer that he was.
The narration starts with Henry caring for his invalid wife. The contrast to how he cares for her and how he stalks his victims is what makes this narration a genius. Henry was the kid that was chosen last, who was an odd ball, but who was extremely strong. Henry realized with this father's help, his strength was to his advantage when he was bullied. Henry also had trouble with the girls as he was little clumsy and not to nice to look out. Did I mention that he was weird. His life changed when he married his wife Sheila and the accident that left her a invalid. That was the start of crime spree.
The narration is done with Officer Brick in his search for the SCK suspect and how he closed in on who he was. Henry as he stalked and picked his victims. And Sheila to the reason why she picked Henry would no one else would have him. Again, the author masterfully brings his characters together where you are more intrigued by them than driven by hate. Don't get me wrong- I wanted Brick to bring Henry in however, Henry was destined to be who he was.
I will definitely be going the ride of Morris Brick. Good detective work and character development.
A Special Thank You to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Morris Brick a detective that is on the case of SCK (Skull Cracker Killer). I am not going to go in much detail about how this killer killed his victims because the acronym says enough. If this was made into a movie, I could not go see it...just a bit too gruesome. However, the author is more descriptive on the character of the killer Henry Pollard. The narration is seamlessly done in different times as you get a good ideal of who Henry Pollard really is and how he became the killer that he was.
The narration starts with Henry caring for his invalid wife. The contrast to how he cares for her and how he stalks his victims is what makes this narration a genius. Henry was the kid that was chosen last, who was an odd ball, but who was extremely strong. Henry realized with this father's help, his strength was to his advantage when he was bullied. Henry also had trouble with the girls as he was little clumsy and not to nice to look out. Did I mention that he was weird. His life changed when he married his wife Sheila and the accident that left her a invalid. That was the start of crime spree.
The narration is done with Officer Brick in his search for the SCK suspect and how he closed in on who he was. Henry as he stalked and picked his victims. And Sheila to the reason why she picked Henry would no one else would have him. Again, the author masterfully brings his characters together where you are more intrigued by them than driven by hate. Don't get me wrong- I wanted Brick to bring Henry in however, Henry was destined to be who he was.
I will definitely be going the ride of Morris Brick. Good detective work and character development.
A Special Thank You to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
January 29, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of Deranged which tells of the hunt for a serial killer in Los Angeles.
Morris Brick was a highly decorated LAPD detective, until he left to set up his own private detective agency, having had enough of violent crime after chatting 3 separate serial killers. The mayor's office asks him to lead the investigation when a body is found with all the hallmarks of SCK (skull cracker killer) who was active in New York 5 years ago.
Deranged is a routine serial killer novel with gruesome crimes (not too explicitly described fortunately) and a smart detective hunting him. The reader knows almost from the start who the killer is and as the novel progresses his rather implausible reason for killing. I also have to say that the big twist in the novel is fairly well signposted so I had guessed before the reveal.
It is a straightforward hunt for a killer with an emphasis on the killer rather than the investigative detail with his backstory and attempt to explain his psychology. It is not particularly nuanced so it's all fairly obvious.
If you want a novel with a fairly simple plot to pass away a few hours Deranged will fit the bill nicely.
Morris Brick was a highly decorated LAPD detective, until he left to set up his own private detective agency, having had enough of violent crime after chatting 3 separate serial killers. The mayor's office asks him to lead the investigation when a body is found with all the hallmarks of SCK (skull cracker killer) who was active in New York 5 years ago.
Deranged is a routine serial killer novel with gruesome crimes (not too explicitly described fortunately) and a smart detective hunting him. The reader knows almost from the start who the killer is and as the novel progresses his rather implausible reason for killing. I also have to say that the big twist in the novel is fairly well signposted so I had guessed before the reveal.
It is a straightforward hunt for a killer with an emphasis on the killer rather than the investigative detail with his backstory and attempt to explain his psychology. It is not particularly nuanced so it's all fairly obvious.
If you want a novel with a fairly simple plot to pass away a few hours Deranged will fit the bill nicely.
February 28, 2021
My first book by this author and won’t be my last.
I couldn’t tell you why this book catch my eye on Kobo. I have over 200 books that I bought on my Kobo to read. This book was expensive at nearly €10 but I still had to buy it. This is the most expensive book I have bought in a long time but saying all that, I really enjoyed it. I found it hard to put the book down, a real page turner.
I liked every character in this book even poor Henry, his wife not so much though. I really liked Morris and his team at MBI.
I am going to continue on with this series.
I couldn’t tell you why this book catch my eye on Kobo. I have over 200 books that I bought on my Kobo to read. This book was expensive at nearly €10 but I still had to buy it. This is the most expensive book I have bought in a long time but saying all that, I really enjoyed it. I found it hard to put the book down, a real page turner.
I liked every character in this book even poor Henry, his wife not so much though. I really liked Morris and his team at MBI.
I am going to continue on with this series.
August 7, 2025
Πρόκειται για ένα πολύ καλογραμμένο θρίλερ, με γοργή ροή, που κρατά την αγωνία αμείωτη. Εξελίσσεται σε τρία μέρη αφήγησης -παρελθόν δράστη, παρόν δράστη και παρόν Μπρικ- εισχωρώντας έτσι βαθύτερα στην ψυχοσύνθεση των ηρώων και ανεβάζοντας την αδρεναλίνη σε κάθε σελίδα.
Στο Netflix κυκλοφορεί η ταινία Μικρά Εγκλήματα (2017) βασισμένη στο ομώνυμο βιβλίο του συγγραφέα Small Crimes. Έχει μπει στη λίστα μου για να τη δω σύντομα.
Full review on Insta @vivliofreneia
https://shorturl.at/4414d
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Στο Netflix κυκλοφορεί η ταινία Μικρά Εγκλήματα (2017) βασισμένη στο ομώνυμο βιβλίο του συγγραφέα Small Crimes. Έχει μπει στη λίστα μου για να τη δω σύντομα.
Full review on Insta @vivliofreneia
https://shorturl.at/4414d
Follow me on Insta @vivliofreneia
https://www.instagram.com/vivliofreneia/
March 3, 2017
Deranged (A Morris Brick Thriller #1) by Jacob Stone
4.5 stars
M/F Murder Thriller
Triggers: Stalking, murder
I was given this for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Morris is a retired expert on serial killers. He is consulting on a movie when he is called back in to the scene because the SCK (Skull Cracker Killer) has returned. Morris' wife is worried about his stress level, but he promises that he'll keep it under control. You get to see in to Morris' way of conducting his investigations and see how he gets to the bottom of the mystery that is provided in this story.
Then you have the SCK. This is a twisted person, but not necessarily in the way most killers are. I think there is a manner of love that only another twisted person can feel, return and cherish. I think that these are the ways that the SCK is able to continue killing.
While the killer is horrible, there are definite moments when you feel bad for SCK. I wanted to get SCK help - to have someone else, anyone else see this and somehow reason with SCK... obviously, I know this would have taken the story in a different direction, but there was so much hope that SCK could have been different and I think that's what I loved most about this story. The possibility, but inability to help SCK.
Stone creates a great story - it's developed, twisted, not super predictable, and then, when you get to the end, I felt that it was a very abrupt ending. Almost as if there was some page limit and it just needed to end. I think if the ending had been different, this would have been a solid 5 star story for me.
I can't wait for the second story - the teaser at the end has my interest peaked and I want to know more about Morris' way of finding the killers.
4.5 stars
M/F Murder Thriller
Triggers: Stalking, murder
I was given this for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Morris is a retired expert on serial killers. He is consulting on a movie when he is called back in to the scene because the SCK (Skull Cracker Killer) has returned. Morris' wife is worried about his stress level, but he promises that he'll keep it under control. You get to see in to Morris' way of conducting his investigations and see how he gets to the bottom of the mystery that is provided in this story.
Then you have the SCK. This is a twisted person, but not necessarily in the way most killers are. I think there is a manner of love that only another twisted person can feel, return and cherish. I think that these are the ways that the SCK is able to continue killing.
While the killer is horrible, there are definite moments when you feel bad for SCK. I wanted to get SCK help - to have someone else, anyone else see this and somehow reason with SCK... obviously, I know this would have taken the story in a different direction, but there was so much hope that SCK could have been different and I think that's what I loved most about this story. The possibility, but inability to help SCK.
Stone creates a great story - it's developed, twisted, not super predictable, and then, when you get to the end, I felt that it was a very abrupt ending. Almost as if there was some page limit and it just needed to end. I think if the ending had been different, this would have been a solid 5 star story for me.
I can't wait for the second story - the teaser at the end has my interest peaked and I want to know more about Morris' way of finding the killers.
April 21, 2025
Πρώτα να διευκρινίσω ότι είμαι φαν του είδους (αστυνομικά-θρίλερ) και ότι δεν είχα ξαναδιαβάσει Jacob Stone. Ένα εύπεπτο αστυνομικό θρίλερ που μπορεί άνετα να διαβαστεί μονορούφι, αλλά και σε δύο δόσεις. Η δράση συνεχής χωρίς να είναι κουραστική, η πλοκή εξελίσσεται σωστά και χωρίς να πονοφαλιάζει με περιττές πολυπλοκότητες, οι αναδρομές στο παρελθόν γίνονται στα κατάλληλα σημεία για να εξοικειώσουν τον αναγνώστη περισσότερο με τον δράστη, μία σημαντική ανατροπή που γίνεται ίσως νωρίτερα από όσο θα ήθελα αλλά από την άλλη εξυπηρετεί την πλοκή και κάνει την ιστορία ακόμα πιο ενδιαφέρουσα, αλλά ένα τέλος πραγματικά φτωχό, που θα μπορούσε να είχε δουλευτεί πολύ καλύτερα! Σαν να "ξεφούσκωσε" απότομα η πλοκή λίγο πριν το τέλος, σαν να βιάστηκε ο συγγραφέας να το κλείσει, ενώ με ένα πιο πολύπλοκο και δυνατό τελείωμα θα μπορούσαμε να έχουμε ένα πάρα πολύ καλό μυθιστόρημα. Πάντως αφήνει "τυράκι" για τη συνέχεια, με αφορμή κάτι φαινομενικά άσχετο που συνέβη στη διάρκεια της πλοκής (και που αρχικά με ξένισε γιατί φαινόταν ότι δεν προσέφερε τίποτα ουσιώδες, αλλά αποδείχτηκε ότι είναι ο συνδετικός κρίκος για το επόμενο μυθιστόρημα). Θα ήθελα να διαβάσω και το επόμενο, αν έχω την ευκαιρία...
September 3, 2017
SCK (The Skull Cracker Killer)
The Skull Cracker Killer started out in New York City but there haven't been any new cases for five years...until now. All of the sudden the deadly killer seems to be back but now in the L.A. area. Or is he? Could it be a copycat?
The Mayor's office calls in Morris Brick, a retired homicide detective that specialized in capturing serial killers. He now runs an investigation company and the City of L.A. wants his expertise to help stop these killings.
This is a good investigative mystery with an unexpected twist (which I always like). It is gruesome in spots so be forewarned.
I read this first book in the Morris Brick series because I have the Advanced Reading Copy of the second book CRAZED ready and waiting and I'm glad I did read it to get more background on Brick. I especially liked Brick's dog, a bull terrier named Parker.
The Skull Cracker Killer started out in New York City but there haven't been any new cases for five years...until now. All of the sudden the deadly killer seems to be back but now in the L.A. area. Or is he? Could it be a copycat?
The Mayor's office calls in Morris Brick, a retired homicide detective that specialized in capturing serial killers. He now runs an investigation company and the City of L.A. wants his expertise to help stop these killings.
This is a good investigative mystery with an unexpected twist (which I always like). It is gruesome in spots so be forewarned.
I read this first book in the Morris Brick series because I have the Advanced Reading Copy of the second book CRAZED ready and waiting and I'm glad I did read it to get more background on Brick. I especially liked Brick's dog, a bull terrier named Parker.
March 15, 2017
This one's for you if you like procedurals where the cop (or in this case the retired expert) is chasing a serial killer. It's well written and Brick's a good character but it got a little out there for me. There are good twists and some reddish herrings in this fast read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
October 25, 2017
What a great read 5+ stars. Morris Brick will grab your attention. Startling subject matter thank goodness this is a work of fiction. Author Jacob Stone is a great story teller will read more of his work for sure and give him a high recommendation.
March 26, 2018
All of these Morris Brick thrillers are great reads. These are violent serial killer novels with really deranged characters. The private detective, Morris Brick; along with his Bull Terrier, are a great team to track these guys down.
August 29, 2019
One of the best thrillers I have read in a long time. One story, two teller. One the killers the others the good guys. Once you start you never want to stop reading. Twisted and thrilling right until the very end.
February 16, 2021
Great first in a series. Great characters, and lots of back stories for characters that won’t make future books, which I like. Story line kept me interested and I am happily into the second in the series.
February 5, 2018
Page turner right until the end! Captivating.
August 7, 2019
Great
His stories are great. First time reading his books read the whole series. Hard to out down once you start
His stories are great. First time reading his books read the whole series. Hard to out down once you start
March 19, 2020
Boring
Sorry, I have given up on this one, just could not maintain interest at all. Kept reading as long as possible, hoping it would improve Zzzzzz
Sorry, I have given up on this one, just could not maintain interest at all. Kept reading as long as possible, hoping it would improve Zzzzzz
March 11, 2017
Deranged by Jacob Stone.
They call him the Skull Cracker Killer. He drugs his victims. Breaks open their skulls with a hammer and chisel. The rest is inhuman.
Five years ago he terrorized New York City, claiming twelve victims before the killing stopped. Now he's racking up victims on a fresh hunting ground. Where former LAPD homicide detective Morris Brick is working as a consultant on a serial-killer film. Where a desperate mayor pleads with Brick to take on the case. And where the only way he can stop the next wave of murders is by outsmarting a madman—before he strikes again, this time much too close to home . . .
Absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved the story. Gave you a real insight into why he became a killer. You got to know why he did what he did. I definitely didn't see that coming. OMG. Can't wait for next part. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
They call him the Skull Cracker Killer. He drugs his victims. Breaks open their skulls with a hammer and chisel. The rest is inhuman.
Five years ago he terrorized New York City, claiming twelve victims before the killing stopped. Now he's racking up victims on a fresh hunting ground. Where former LAPD homicide detective Morris Brick is working as a consultant on a serial-killer film. Where a desperate mayor pleads with Brick to take on the case. And where the only way he can stop the next wave of murders is by outsmarting a madman—before he strikes again, this time much too close to home . . .
Absolutely fantastic read with brilliant characters. I loved the story. Gave you a real insight into why he became a killer. You got to know why he did what he did. I definitely didn't see that coming. OMG. Can't wait for next part. Highly recommended. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from netgalley.
March 9, 2017
I received this arc from Netgalley.
Just an okay read. The first half was interesting and then my attention started to drift. Overall a passable read.
Just an okay read. The first half was interesting and then my attention started to drift. Overall a passable read.
February 20, 2017
I want to thank Kensington Books and Dave Zeltserman for the wonderful opportunity to read the advanced copy of "Deranged". Wow!! What an excellent read and now I have to read the sequel "Crazed"!!!
March 29, 2017
Deranged by Jacob Stone Deranged (A Morris Brick Thriller) by Jacob Stone is a twisted thriller about a mysterious serial murderer called the Skull Cracker Killer. It has violence galore and a psychopath that found a mate. It kept me entertained and turning the pages, so I gave it five stars.
Morris Brick is a credible character and I found myself intrigued by the preview of the pending book about him called Crazed.
I received a complimentary Kindle copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Deranged-Morri...
It is in pre-order status until March 7, 2017, so I could not leave a review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Morris Brick is a credible character and I found myself intrigued by the preview of the pending book about him called Crazed.
I received a complimentary Kindle copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. That did not change my opinion for this review.
Link to purchase: https://www.amazon.com/Deranged-Morri...
It is in pre-order status until March 7, 2017, so I could not leave a review on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
December 30, 2017
It was entertaining, but not high on my 'love' list. I did really like how it differed from other serial killer novels. In Deranged, you know from the start who is doing the killings, though you find out more details and why as the novel goes on. The pace moved at a steady pace; I didn't find it getting overly slow anywhere, but I don't think it really had me turning pages all that fast either. Overall, it was an ok read.
April 3, 2017
Dave Zeltserman has written some great crime noir books over the past dozen years or so, and I eagerly await every single release of his. In addition to his noir books, he has dabbled in horror, super natural, and mystery as well. His latest release, the first in a planned thriller series, is being released under the pseudonym, Jacob Stone. The idea behind the switch in names is to differentiate the series from his previous body of work. For me, the name Dave Zeltserman calls to mind books that are well-plotted, have great character development, and grab you by the throat and force you to finish them in one sitting, so I scratch my head at the name change, but I am excited to say nothing other than his name has changed; his writing style still lives up to the billing!
This series comes out of the gate swinging with the first offering, Deranged. The series is built around Morris Brick, the leader of an investigative firm, who is tasked with helping the LAPD investigate and solve the SCK (Skull Cracker Killings) case. Brick is a no nonsense main character with strong morals and a bulldog mentality when he locks into a task. His determination and grit are apparent throughout the novel and this makes him a great protagonist for a thriller series.
I loved the manner in which Stone (Zeltserman) fleshed out the killer himself. The backdrop to why the killer does what he does allows his actions to make sense and allows the reader to, if not connect with, at least understand him and his motivations. The usage of flashbacks to the killer’s youth were well paced and added a nice layer of action to the story. A nice usage of twists and turns also adds depth to the story of the deranged killer on the loose. The surprise twists in the motivations of the killer really helped keep me engaged in the story.
The first book for any series is an important one, as it needs to hook the reader so they not only enjoy the book itself, but have a desire to seek out the next books in the series. The main characters need to have room to grow and evolve, and I hope to see Brick have a long shelf life with a bit more of his backstory woven into the series. This book had me engaged and while I think Zeltserman is at his best when writing dark noir, I found this book to be another winner for his catalog.
This series comes out of the gate swinging with the first offering, Deranged. The series is built around Morris Brick, the leader of an investigative firm, who is tasked with helping the LAPD investigate and solve the SCK (Skull Cracker Killings) case. Brick is a no nonsense main character with strong morals and a bulldog mentality when he locks into a task. His determination and grit are apparent throughout the novel and this makes him a great protagonist for a thriller series.
I loved the manner in which Stone (Zeltserman) fleshed out the killer himself. The backdrop to why the killer does what he does allows his actions to make sense and allows the reader to, if not connect with, at least understand him and his motivations. The usage of flashbacks to the killer’s youth were well paced and added a nice layer of action to the story. A nice usage of twists and turns also adds depth to the story of the deranged killer on the loose. The surprise twists in the motivations of the killer really helped keep me engaged in the story.
The first book for any series is an important one, as it needs to hook the reader so they not only enjoy the book itself, but have a desire to seek out the next books in the series. The main characters need to have room to grow and evolve, and I hope to see Brick have a long shelf life with a bit more of his backstory woven into the series. This book had me engaged and while I think Zeltserman is at his best when writing dark noir, I found this book to be another winner for his catalog.
April 4, 2017
Great Serial Killer Book
There was some serious action and I hadn't figured it out yet when halfway through, the culprit was revealed. I had not suspected whodonit. At first I didn't like the way it was revealed, and then I got hooked all over again. VERY GOOD BOOK!
There was some serious action and I hadn't figured it out yet when halfway through, the culprit was revealed. I had not suspected whodonit. At first I didn't like the way it was revealed, and then I got hooked all over again. VERY GOOD BOOK!
May 1, 2017
Lyrical Underground and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of Deranged. This is my honest opinion of the book.
Morris Brick was an LAPD homicide detective for 14 years and lead investigator on three serial killer cases. Now his own boss at Morris Brick Investigations, he has been hiring himself out as a consultant for the Hollywood film industry. An unexpected call regarding a resurfaced serial killer known as the Skull Cracker Killer brings Morris, his investigative team, and an unexpected observer on the hunt. Will Morris be able to help the LAPD capture the dangerous killer before there are more victims?
Deranged is marketed as a thriller, but there are really no surprises here. With the exception of one small twist, readers are given the identity of the killer. As the author uses flashbacks to explain the origins of the killer, the continuity of the story is lost. There is no suspense, no build up to the identity of the killer, which ruins the book for me. I also wish that the story had ended before the postscript, for it was simply not necessary to end the book with a cliffhanger. Deranged had promise, but the aforementioned issues made the book an average read for me.
Morris Brick was an LAPD homicide detective for 14 years and lead investigator on three serial killer cases. Now his own boss at Morris Brick Investigations, he has been hiring himself out as a consultant for the Hollywood film industry. An unexpected call regarding a resurfaced serial killer known as the Skull Cracker Killer brings Morris, his investigative team, and an unexpected observer on the hunt. Will Morris be able to help the LAPD capture the dangerous killer before there are more victims?
Deranged is marketed as a thriller, but there are really no surprises here. With the exception of one small twist, readers are given the identity of the killer. As the author uses flashbacks to explain the origins of the killer, the continuity of the story is lost. There is no suspense, no build up to the identity of the killer, which ruins the book for me. I also wish that the story had ended before the postscript, for it was simply not necessary to end the book with a cliffhanger. Deranged had promise, but the aforementioned issues made the book an average read for me.
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