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Kill Them All
An envelope of gruesome photos. A killer with a design. Can he be stopped in time?
An envelope lands on the desk of Detective Drexel Pierce. In it, hideous pictures of a dismembered woman displayed against a chalk pattern. As more envelopes arrive and the body count rises, a chance fingerprint points to one suspect while the victims are linked to another suspect. In a race to prevent more gruesome murders, Pierce uses every resource at his disposal to find the killer.
Kill Them All is the second book in the Drexel Pierce mystery series set in modern Chicago with compelling characters and twists and turns. Fans of Michael Connelly, Ian Rankin, and Ross Macdonald will love the second installment to this mystery series.
An envelope lands on the desk of Detective Drexel Pierce. In it, hideous pictures of a dismembered woman displayed against a chalk pattern. As more envelopes arrive and the body count rises, a chance fingerprint points to one suspect while the victims are linked to another suspect. In a race to prevent more gruesome murders, Pierce uses every resource at his disposal to find the killer.
Kill Them All is the second book in the Drexel Pierce mystery series set in modern Chicago with compelling characters and twists and turns. Fans of Michael Connelly, Ian Rankin, and Ross Macdonald will love the second installment to this mystery series.
Unknown Binding
First published June 19, 2017
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About the author
Patrick Kanouse
17 books97 followersPatrick is a mystery author, poet, and technical writer. His poetry has appeared in many journals and websites.
He works for Pearson Education, an educational publisher with offices worldwide, as the director of solutions management and teaches technical communications at IUPUI. He lives with his wife, Gina, and a very spoiled Cavachon, Lorelai, in Westfield, a suburb north of Indianapolis.
He works for Pearson Education, an educational publisher with offices worldwide, as the director of solutions management and teaches technical communications at IUPUI. He lives with his wife, Gina, and a very spoiled Cavachon, Lorelai, in Westfield, a suburb north of Indianapolis.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 15, 2017
"Stick with the facts. Just the facts."
Written in the present tense and with great attention to detail - descriptions, clothes worn, food eaten and conversations - the book reads rather like an ongoing case file. This gives the reader the feeling of immediacy, of being present and actually involved in solving the case.
Set in Chicago, the homicide department receive a manilla envelope containing photographs of a woman, some showing her alive but the others revealing her elaborately posed and obviously dead. An address is attached, plus a note from 'Simon'. At the given location the police find the body. Obviously a ritualistic killing, Detective Drexel Pierce knows that their will be more to come.
The story follows the investigation, the hard slog of knocking on doors, the forensics, searching databases and taking statements. But it also looks at the tensions within the station force, Pierce's home life (he lives with his ex-junkie brother) and, also interwoven is the growing possibility that his wife, Zora, a photojournalist, dead now for almost two years, might have been murdered. It is all skillfully executed apart from occasional typos and silly spelling mistakes ('they're' instead of 'their', for example). Despite the bizarre nature of the crimes, there is a definite feeling of reality ever present.
I received my copy of Kill Them All as a freely given advanced reader copy. My thanks to the author for this. Before reading this book I was unaware of his work but will definitely be looking out for others by him and, especially his follow on to this one as, although complete and stand alone for this mystery, there are openings to pursue in a future book.
In summary, a good, involving detective mystery with life-like protagonists, good dialogue and a solid feel of reality. Recommended
Written in the present tense and with great attention to detail - descriptions, clothes worn, food eaten and conversations - the book reads rather like an ongoing case file. This gives the reader the feeling of immediacy, of being present and actually involved in solving the case.
Set in Chicago, the homicide department receive a manilla envelope containing photographs of a woman, some showing her alive but the others revealing her elaborately posed and obviously dead. An address is attached, plus a note from 'Simon'. At the given location the police find the body. Obviously a ritualistic killing, Detective Drexel Pierce knows that their will be more to come.
The story follows the investigation, the hard slog of knocking on doors, the forensics, searching databases and taking statements. But it also looks at the tensions within the station force, Pierce's home life (he lives with his ex-junkie brother) and, also interwoven is the growing possibility that his wife, Zora, a photojournalist, dead now for almost two years, might have been murdered. It is all skillfully executed apart from occasional typos and silly spelling mistakes ('they're' instead of 'their', for example). Despite the bizarre nature of the crimes, there is a definite feeling of reality ever present.
I received my copy of Kill Them All as a freely given advanced reader copy. My thanks to the author for this. Before reading this book I was unaware of his work but will definitely be looking out for others by him and, especially his follow on to this one as, although complete and stand alone for this mystery, there are openings to pursue in a future book.
In summary, a good, involving detective mystery with life-like protagonists, good dialogue and a solid feel of reality. Recommended
September 22, 2017
Kill Them All - a review by Rosemary Kenny
This book has several cleverly intertwined plots, all linked through Detective Drexel Pierce of Chicago PD, (in this ARC gifted book, for which I freely give this hones review).
Is there corruption - or even a serial killer - amongst Drexel's brother officers, or others working on the Simon the Butcher case?
In a separate case, will the police shooting of a black teenager go uninvestigated properly, as Dexter is forced to pass it to other officers to resolve?
Who can Drexel trust, when it seems there is more than one killer on the loose and mysterious Biblical quotations arrive almost daily on his desk - followed quickly by dismembered corpses ritualistically laid out inside chalked-out Gnostic symbols?
Can he clear his errant brother Ryan of old drug-dealing and possible homicide charges once and for all? [Thus saving himself from being 'blackmailed' away from doing his job properly, by his Commanding Officer].
With these issues always on his mind, Drexel also seeks proof that his [professional photographer], wife was murdered by the Mob, as evidence of police involvement and corruption is gradually revealed.
Meanwhile, potential killers turn out to be victims, con-artists or innocent bystanders, so the final denouement of this fantastically clever novel by experienced author, Patrick Kanouse, will leave you shell-shocked, when the truth...but maybe not all truths...is exposed in the shocking conclusion - miss it at your peril!
This book has several cleverly intertwined plots, all linked through Detective Drexel Pierce of Chicago PD, (in this ARC gifted book, for which I freely give this hones review).
Is there corruption - or even a serial killer - amongst Drexel's brother officers, or others working on the Simon the Butcher case?
In a separate case, will the police shooting of a black teenager go uninvestigated properly, as Dexter is forced to pass it to other officers to resolve?
Who can Drexel trust, when it seems there is more than one killer on the loose and mysterious Biblical quotations arrive almost daily on his desk - followed quickly by dismembered corpses ritualistically laid out inside chalked-out Gnostic symbols?
Can he clear his errant brother Ryan of old drug-dealing and possible homicide charges once and for all? [Thus saving himself from being 'blackmailed' away from doing his job properly, by his Commanding Officer].
With these issues always on his mind, Drexel also seeks proof that his [professional photographer], wife was murdered by the Mob, as evidence of police involvement and corruption is gradually revealed.
Meanwhile, potential killers turn out to be victims, con-artists or innocent bystanders, so the final denouement of this fantastically clever novel by experienced author, Patrick Kanouse, will leave you shell-shocked, when the truth...but maybe not all truths...is exposed in the shocking conclusion - miss it at your peril!
September 24, 2017
Just a good detective story about a regular guy with trouble. All the great characters around him just adds to me wanting to urge him and this motley crew on.
Drexel Pierce is detective in Chicago, working in homicide, when a grizzly homicide arrives on his desk from a guy named Simon. It comes in the form of a manila envelope with a cryptic note with photos and an address. The crime is real and as he searches for clues to Simon, more envelopes arrive. The religious tones of the notes leads to learning about the history of Christianity and those that chose to rid the world of those that drift apart from God .... in their eyes! I found it very interesting and not bogged down with too much detailed history, just enough to help you understand. I really enjoyed this and found the tension mounting and more intriguing. Did not want it to end, so glad another is coming this winter!
Drexel Pierce is detective in Chicago, working in homicide, when a grizzly homicide arrives on his desk from a guy named Simon. It comes in the form of a manila envelope with a cryptic note with photos and an address. The crime is real and as he searches for clues to Simon, more envelopes arrive. The religious tones of the notes leads to learning about the history of Christianity and those that chose to rid the world of those that drift apart from God .... in their eyes! I found it very interesting and not bogged down with too much detailed history, just enough to help you understand. I really enjoyed this and found the tension mounting and more intriguing. Did not want it to end, so glad another is coming this winter!
June 15, 2017
Kindle Unlimited, but got it as ARC so one of my here's a free book, hope you like it but regardless would be nice if you reviewed it but if ya don't ya don't.
In the second Drexel Pierce, there is an envelope of gruesome photos, a killer with a design, the possibility he may not be stoppable in time. Can he be stopped in time? More envelopes arrive, the body count rises, and a chance fingerprint points to one suspect while the victims are linked to a different one.
The Shattered Bull (Drexel Pierce #1)
Kill Them All (Drexel Pierce #2)
In the second Drexel Pierce, there is an envelope of gruesome photos, a killer with a design, the possibility he may not be stoppable in time. Can he be stopped in time? More envelopes arrive, the body count rises, and a chance fingerprint points to one suspect while the victims are linked to a different one.
The Shattered Bull (Drexel Pierce #1)
Kill Them All (Drexel Pierce #2)
September 12, 2017
Outstanding!
These characters are extremely real and multidimensional. They make me want to join their Homicide unit, and I'm not even in law enforcement. The story gripped my interest and wouldn't let go. Absolutely fascinating crime, and the author kept the identity of the culprits until the very end. Now THAT'S good writing!
These characters are extremely real and multidimensional. They make me want to join their Homicide unit, and I'm not even in law enforcement. The story gripped my interest and wouldn't let go. Absolutely fascinating crime, and the author kept the identity of the culprits until the very end. Now THAT'S good writing!
August 11, 2019
Good book lots of twist and turns. K.
November 12, 2019
Good, solid detective work
This story reminded me of a television show, BOSCH. In the background, the detective is
trying to solve his wife's death while working on a serial killer.
This story reminded me of a television show, BOSCH. In the background, the detective is
trying to solve his wife's death while working on a serial killer.
September 17, 2018
The story is built around a series of photographs, and alluding to religious significance, but not understood by the weary detectives trying to solve the case. Well conveyed, I was biting my knuckles trying to figure this one out. I had to wait until the end and be surprised, but it was worth waiting for!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews