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Morris Brick #3
Malicious
No one takes down deranged killers like L.A. detective Brick Morris. But a crazed maniac is savagely murdering Hollywood starlets and sending Morris grisly calling cards. And that’s just the first phase of a fiendish “death machine” the relentless killer plans to unleash on Los Angeles. Every move Morris makes triggers another step in the psychopath’s doomsday scenario. Morris has only one choice to stop the killings: the one the killer never expected . . .
Praise for DERANGED
“One of the most compelling, thrilling, and truth be told, at times look-away-from-page-frightening serial killer novels I've read in a long, long time.”
—Vincent Zandri
“A fascinating and exciting blend of misdirection, topsy-turvy, and violence.”
—Reed Farrel Coleman
“A dark and different serial killer novel that will haunt the reader long after the book is closed.”
—John Lutz
“Los Angeles has seldom seen such grisly fun. It’s James Ellroy meets Alfred Hitchcock on the psychotic side of the street.”
—Paul Levine
Praise for DERANGED
“One of the most compelling, thrilling, and truth be told, at times look-away-from-page-frightening serial killer novels I've read in a long, long time.”
—Vincent Zandri
“A fascinating and exciting blend of misdirection, topsy-turvy, and violence.”
—Reed Farrel Coleman
“A dark and different serial killer novel that will haunt the reader long after the book is closed.”
—John Lutz
“Los Angeles has seldom seen such grisly fun. It’s James Ellroy meets Alfred Hitchcock on the psychotic side of the street.”
—Paul Levine
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 27, 2018
22 people are currently reading
261 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 13, 2018
It took me almost one month to finish it. That doesn't necessarily mean that it was bad- had it been THAT bad, I would have given up long ago, I am not a patient person when I have to deal with books I don't enjoy. It was actually a book that one can describe as an easy and a quick read (well, I was an exception). I just couldn't say that it moved me in any way, I don't dislike it, but I also don't like it.
If you think that Jo Nesbo's mysteries are too gruesome and violent, you shouldn't read this one. The fantasy of THE KILLER (it is how he is named in this novel) is maliciously brutal and...it doesn't make sense at all. I prefer characters with more depth and background. Morris Brick, a serial killer hunter, is maybe a skilled detective, but very boring figure. All characters here appear somehow two-dimensional and flat. A book to read and forget.
***ARC provided kindly by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***
May 15, 2018
This review is also posted in my blog :
https://onewordtoomuch.wordpress.com/...
Thank you to Kensington Publishing Corporation and Net Galley for a free copy of this book in trade for an honest review
This is a crime story with a celebrity touch, a flair of drama, too good to be true team work between the police, private investigator and FBI and an engaging story line. I have to admit, I’m curious with who the killer is and his motives. Not until the middle of the book it’s revealed on the killer’s background. This is the reason I keep reading until the end.
The story started from the killer’s vantage point. He stalked his victim and killed her and staged her corpse especially for Brick Morris. Not to mention, leaving a calling card for Brick’s attention. All throughout the book, the killer is called “the killer”. No name mention, even though there’s an introduction on some schoolboy’s background life. I have to admit, this killer is a genius one with his scheme and planning. What is lack is the motive of the killer. It’s like he has some crazy idea that he’s an artist. It’s a real challenge for the police and Brick Morris to solve this case.
The characters are both smart and strong. No weak attitude there. There are some jokes being toss around that makes this story light and enjoyable to read. Although the situation is quite tense at some times, especially near the end, but having a good team work really helps. I like that there’s a dog that accompany Morris Brick. Parker as a dog with attitude is a great addition to the team and it’s a refreshing read. The killer’s character is unique as well. It’s really twisted in the way a psychopath could be described.
The end is quite shocking with a bit of action. I’m trying not to reveal too much her. Apparently the killer who thinks himself as an artist is obsessed with the Rube Goldberg machine and some movie is trying to make the machine creates a doomsday in LA. It took a good police and team work to close the case.
This happens to be the first Morris Brick book that I’ve read and reviewed. I would love to read more books from this series and review it here.
https://onewordtoomuch.wordpress.com/...
Thank you to Kensington Publishing Corporation and Net Galley for a free copy of this book in trade for an honest review
This is a crime story with a celebrity touch, a flair of drama, too good to be true team work between the police, private investigator and FBI and an engaging story line. I have to admit, I’m curious with who the killer is and his motives. Not until the middle of the book it’s revealed on the killer’s background. This is the reason I keep reading until the end.
The story started from the killer’s vantage point. He stalked his victim and killed her and staged her corpse especially for Brick Morris. Not to mention, leaving a calling card for Brick’s attention. All throughout the book, the killer is called “the killer”. No name mention, even though there’s an introduction on some schoolboy’s background life. I have to admit, this killer is a genius one with his scheme and planning. What is lack is the motive of the killer. It’s like he has some crazy idea that he’s an artist. It’s a real challenge for the police and Brick Morris to solve this case.
The characters are both smart and strong. No weak attitude there. There are some jokes being toss around that makes this story light and enjoyable to read. Although the situation is quite tense at some times, especially near the end, but having a good team work really helps. I like that there’s a dog that accompany Morris Brick. Parker as a dog with attitude is a great addition to the team and it’s a refreshing read. The killer’s character is unique as well. It’s really twisted in the way a psychopath could be described.
The end is quite shocking with a bit of action. I’m trying not to reveal too much her. Apparently the killer who thinks himself as an artist is obsessed with the Rube Goldberg machine and some movie is trying to make the machine creates a doomsday in LA. It took a good police and team work to close the case.
This happens to be the first Morris Brick book that I’ve read and reviewed. I would love to read more books from this series and review it here.
Recommend for those who like story with a twisted criminal mind character, like a bit of drama and celebrity glamour, as well as an engaging storyline.
February 14, 2018
I would like to tank Goodreads, Kensington Publishing, Kindle and Foodreads for the opportunity to read this novel. It was a great winter read. It moved along quickly and kept my attention. I loved Parker. Thanks for a great read for a cold winter's day
March 22, 2018
I really enjoyed this story.. it really gets you guessing what is going on in the killers mind and if he has a personal vendetta against Morris Brick. Good suspense and writing. Will be looking for other books by this authos!
February 4, 2018
Malicious is a well written book. I enjoyed it immensely. It's amazing what someone can do with a Rube Goldberg machine.
April 4, 2018
I received a free copy of "Malicious" through Goodreads to read and review.
Four word review: Quickly read quickly forgotten.
Just to be fair, I will add a bit more. "Malicious" by one Jacob Stone ( a pen name) is yet another serial killer thriller and it hits all the required tropes.
It has the fiendishly clever killer, who calls himself R.G. Berg, who abducts beautiful young women, then tortures , kills them on video, poses them ( or their body parts, anyway)for horrified civilians and police to find.
It has the hunter, in this case Morris Brick, an ex-LAPD detective who along with a team of investigators is tireless in hunting down the killer, knowing full well that the killer is taunting the specialists searching for clues amidst the gore.
The victims are all movie actresses.
Also an attractive female FBI profiler, and the comic relief afforded by Brick's dog, Parker.
Add to the usual are some unusual themes such as the terrorist plot meant to climax the killing spree.
The book moves along at a fast pace and thankfully does not linger too much over the violence porn sometimes common in serial fiend books. Still, one does wonder why how likely it would be for the LAPD to employ a retired cop, Brick, and fellow employees at Brick's private security firm to investigate such a high profile crime.
Personally, I wonder why the author wastes my time telling me about every meal ordered and eaten. when he is so skimpy with other details about the scene building and character description. Brick is never really very interesting a character , but maybe that is because this book is number three in a series involving him, and we are suppose to know more of his past.
The chapters telling us why the killer is who he is and what makes him kill so awfully are short, but give some depth to the book. Without them, the rating would be zero stars.
Not much to recommend this one.
Four word review: Quickly read quickly forgotten.
Just to be fair, I will add a bit more. "Malicious" by one Jacob Stone ( a pen name) is yet another serial killer thriller and it hits all the required tropes.
It has the fiendishly clever killer, who calls himself R.G. Berg, who abducts beautiful young women, then tortures , kills them on video, poses them ( or their body parts, anyway)for horrified civilians and police to find.
It has the hunter, in this case Morris Brick, an ex-LAPD detective who along with a team of investigators is tireless in hunting down the killer, knowing full well that the killer is taunting the specialists searching for clues amidst the gore.
The victims are all movie actresses.
Also an attractive female FBI profiler, and the comic relief afforded by Brick's dog, Parker.
Add to the usual are some unusual themes such as the terrorist plot meant to climax the killing spree.
The book moves along at a fast pace and thankfully does not linger too much over the violence porn sometimes common in serial fiend books. Still, one does wonder why how likely it would be for the LAPD to employ a retired cop, Brick, and fellow employees at Brick's private security firm to investigate such a high profile crime.
Personally, I wonder why the author wastes my time telling me about every meal ordered and eaten. when he is so skimpy with other details about the scene building and character description. Brick is never really very interesting a character , but maybe that is because this book is number three in a series involving him, and we are suppose to know more of his past.
The chapters telling us why the killer is who he is and what makes him kill so awfully are short, but give some depth to the book. Without them, the rating would be zero stars.
Not much to recommend this one.
January 20, 2018
First time read.
This was a free book that I received. This author writes very well and makes you feel as if you are right in the story. Even though I have not read the other two books, l am now intrigued enough by his writing to see if the other two books are just as engaging. It was a bit predictable in that I figured out that they would catch the killer in the end. What left me hanging was whether or not the killer ever had a legitimate reason to hate the detective so much. Maybe I just missed that. This was a quick read for me. I finished it in a day. Maybe the next one will take longer to read.
This was a free book that I received. This author writes very well and makes you feel as if you are right in the story. Even though I have not read the other two books, l am now intrigued enough by his writing to see if the other two books are just as engaging. It was a bit predictable in that I figured out that they would catch the killer in the end. What left me hanging was whether or not the killer ever had a legitimate reason to hate the detective so much. Maybe I just missed that. This was a quick read for me. I finished it in a day. Maybe the next one will take longer to read.
February 18, 2018
From the first chapter I was hooked on this plot! well developed characters and a catchy plot kept me engaged. I appreciated the references to current culture and technology as well.
The primary reason I gave 4 stars was the ending. Adventure and mystery kept the story rolling up until the end where the pieces seemed to just fall together too fast. In future books I would like to see the climax developed more and leave the reader yearning for more - instead of wondering what happened to end it all so fast.
The primary reason I gave 4 stars was the ending. Adventure and mystery kept the story rolling up until the end where the pieces seemed to just fall together too fast. In future books I would like to see the climax developed more and leave the reader yearning for more - instead of wondering what happened to end it all so fast.
February 2, 2018
Reading this book makes me want to go back and read earlier books in the series. Morris Brick and his dog Parker make a good team. With a title like “Malicious” and a plot summary about a serial killer, I was anticipating something much more gruesome. Pleasant surprise - not too much gore, likable characters, and a passibly credible plot. Overall, a pretty good read.
February 15, 2018
Reading this book makes me want to go back and read earlier books in the series. Morris Brick and his dog Parker make a good team. With a title like “Malicious” and a plot summary about a serial killer, I was anticipating something much more gruesome. Pleasant surprise - not too much gore, likable characters, and a passibly credible plot. Overall, a pretty good read.
March 29, 2018
A book to remember. I enjoyed reading this book. The book takes you there and you can follow the events in this story in detail. This author really brings it to you in this book. Talk about twisted situations a killer and a detective. The story is predictable but one heck of a read. A must read for any any all book lovers everywhere.
March 2, 2021
Another great book. I can’t really say anything bad about this book or this series. What I will say is that I would love if the author gave more information about the MBI team. I don’t really know them at all. Just little bits of info here and there. What I do love is you get to read each Serial Killers back stories, I find them so interesting.
Loving this series.....and of course Parker.
Loving this series.....and of course Parker.
January 25, 2018
First time reading series
It is a well written book, but a little to easy by the middle of the book to guess what will be happening next an how the book will end. It is a slightly quick read.
It is a well written book, but a little to easy by the middle of the book to guess what will be happening next an how the book will end. It is a slightly quick read.
May 4, 2019
This was an okay book. The premise was creative and the main villain was pretty vividly drawn up. There was just a lot of extraneous details going on and dialogue frequently seemed kind of, I don't know, stilted in a way.
January 20, 2018
I won an Advance Readers Copy in KINDLE version in a GOODREADS giveaway sponsored by Kensington Books.
March 16, 2018
I received this arc from Netgalley.
An intense read. A solid, well written book with plenty of action. Fast paced. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
An intense read. A solid, well written book with plenty of action. Fast paced. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.
February 24, 2021
Quite enjoying the series still. Not repetitive and still keeps me on my toes
Want to read
January 24, 2018Placeholder
I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways.
I won this book via Goodreads Giveaways.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews