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Sinner
As a direct descendant of the 19th century vigilante gang, the Bald Knobbers, Ezekiel Woods, Jr. has been indoctrinated into a world ruled by violence and a literal interpretation of the bible his entire life. Now, over a hundred years later, Zeke continues his ancestors’ crusade, spending his days camouflaged as an aloof middle-aged grocery store sacker and his nights in a farmhouse cellar, preparing captives’ souls for their ultimate destiny: redemption or death. His latest abductee, an indomitable Texan working her way through a third-life crisis, chooses another option: escape. Zeke must recapture this lost sheep or face a consequence far worse than any worldly fate: that God has forsaken him.
- GenresHorror
314 pages, Paperback
Published April 5, 2018
About the author
Christopher Graves
1 book13 followersChristopher Graves is an actor, award-winning screenwriter and author living in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 21, 2018
In 2018, I read my first horror book and probably my last. This is not at the discredit of the author, who did a fine job of invading my dreams and turning them into nightmares. I haven’t been this freaked out since Season 4 of Dexter and the Trinity Killer: holy moly my senses are on overdrive; paranoia being the top dog here. By the way, thanks a lot John Lithgow, you have officially ruined my fond memories of Harry and the Henderson’s.
Let me give you a little background here, I promise to be quick. In the early 90’s when I was just a tween I watched Nightmare on Elm Street; my mom told me not to, and I didn’t listen, and I have been paying for it ever since. Fast-forward to my late 30’s and I still cannot go in my basement (and its finished) if my husband is not home. Freddie, or some other creep, is down there waiting to catch me off guard and I am one step ahead of them…I am not walking into their trap. Laundry will just have to wait, oh well.
So now that we established that horror is not my jam, hopefully my ratings do justice to this book for horror fans. As much as I do not like to be scared, author Christopher Graves’ story was very creative and did what it set out to do: scare you senseless.
It’s a scariness derived in how realistic the story line is, as it could happen (and I sure as sh*t hope it doesn’t, good grief!). There are no monsters, aliens and the like: there is a super creepy, angry evangelist who has it out for all single women really (essentially, they are all whores and the root of sin, so if they piss him off…well you can imagine the rest). There is one victim who escapes his basement lair – and all the snakes (a major source of my nightmares) – but, will she find safety? I could go on, but than that would be telling you the story and that is not my MO. You will have to read to see for yourself.
If you commute like I do, you may not be able to scream on the train, subway or bus, but you can certainly yelp, hold your breath, or make the odd face here and there (and you will…I am thinking of one scene in general that felt like I held my breath the whole chapter). There is not necessarily a lot of gore (Freddie Krueger gore being my benchmark), but it does leave you a bit queasy at times. Overall, I could not stop talking about this book to whomever would listen (my husband, my boss, colleagues, a business contact) as I was on edge and needed to get to the ending. I think I need to watch an old school Disney movie tonight, hopefully Mary Poppins will be the diversion I need.
A huge thank you to Smith Publicity for sending me an advanced reader’s copy of Sinner.
Are you a fan of Horror? Have any embarrassing stories like myself that you would care to share so I feel better about sharing mine (it would be much appreciated!)? 😊
To read my book reviews visit: www.saturdaynitereader.com
April 5, 2018
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
I think that Sinner by Christopher Graves might actually be my very first horror novel, and I would definitely call this horror.
The Sinner focuses on a man named Zeke who is a direct descendant of what I could call a religious cult, although the blurb calls it a vigilante group. He is obsessed with ridding the world of "whores" which is basically every unmarried woman he sees.
Reading this book, to me, was like watching an episode of Criminal Minds, except you are in the killers and victim's shoes the ENTIRE time. My heart was racing pretty much this entire book, and it is definitely action packed. I think another reason that this book is so scary is because it seems so REAL. It actually reminded me of the Manson family cult, although maybe just because it's about a strongly religious person killing innocent people and calling it God's will.
Final Thought: If you like horror and are interested in religious cults then I would definitely recommend reading this one. It was a terrifying book so just be prepared to possibly have nightmares plus some paranoia! I will just say I could never watch this in movie form or I WOULD have nightmares, luckily none for me from reading it. There are also some graphic scenes so be warned!
The Sinner in 3-ish words: Disturbing, Engaging & Unforgettable
I think that Sinner by Christopher Graves might actually be my very first horror novel, and I would definitely call this horror.
The Sinner focuses on a man named Zeke who is a direct descendant of what I could call a religious cult, although the blurb calls it a vigilante group. He is obsessed with ridding the world of "whores" which is basically every unmarried woman he sees.
Reading this book, to me, was like watching an episode of Criminal Minds, except you are in the killers and victim's shoes the ENTIRE time. My heart was racing pretty much this entire book, and it is definitely action packed. I think another reason that this book is so scary is because it seems so REAL. It actually reminded me of the Manson family cult, although maybe just because it's about a strongly religious person killing innocent people and calling it God's will.
Final Thought: If you like horror and are interested in religious cults then I would definitely recommend reading this one. It was a terrifying book so just be prepared to possibly have nightmares plus some paranoia! I will just say I could never watch this in movie form or I WOULD have nightmares, luckily none for me from reading it. There are also some graphic scenes so be warned!
The Sinner in 3-ish words: Disturbing, Engaging & Unforgettable
December 19, 2017
I'm so the first person reviewing this, I even had to create a listing for it with the cover photo. Yey, look at me contributing to promotion of new authors world(or at least goodreads)wide. Christopher Graves' fiction debut Sinner was/is a screenplay, a some award winning on e too. Not sure what came first, probably screenplay, but either way this book sort of reads like one. It's a movie of a book, fast paced, action driven. The plot is your basic serial killer thriller, in this case religious fanaticism is the propellant. The narrative splits between the past and present, the former being absolutely horrific enough to produce the latter, psyche isn't strong enough to survive such terrors as a child and become a well adjusted adult. Throw in a strong female lead, the sort the reader can cheer for to survive and it's a regular by numbers thrill machine. Took me a while to get into (though this might be because I started it late at night and barely awake), but then there was enough going on to draw me in. Whatever the book occasionally lacked in sophistication of narrative and style, it tended to make up for in relentless pacing and realistic descriptions, dialogues and situations. It's definitely an actioneer, in fact maybe slightly too much so for my taste, but was plenty entertaining and for the first fiction effort that's pretty good. Thanks Netgalley.
April 23, 2018
RTC. This was purrrdy good for what it was!
April 5, 2018
Big thank you to Smith Publicity for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
Two genres I'll never say no to, horror and thrillers. Well, SINNER by Christopher Graves, is a great melding of the two! I wasn't entirely sure what to expect going into this one - I saw the title and the genres and decided to go for it. Oh man, if you're a fan of religious cults, then this is one you need to pick up right away.
Ezekiel Woods Jr., also known as Zeke, is a direct descendant of the Bald Knobbers. This was a group that acted as vigilantes that lived by the literal interpretation of the Bible. Zeke is now carrying on the traditions of the Bald Knobbers by enacting God's retribution on women he deems wicked and sinful. He kidnaps and tortures women in the basement of his farmhouse. One of his captives manages to escape the cellar, and he must now recapture her before she gets away for good.
This book will definitely have you on edge. What I think made this so creepy is the fact that this can happen, and could very well be happening somewhere. There aren't any monsters in this story, but the evil inside some people is terrifying enough. Religious cults have always fascinated me in what they will get their members to commit, and all in the name of their religion. Zeke genuinely thinks he doing good and that by capturing these women he is preparing them for either redemption or for death.
I don't want to continue too much more into the story, but needless to say, I will definitely be picking up more from Graves in the future! If you want a creepy and eerie story that brings the horror into your every day life, then look no further, pick up SINNER!
I give this a solid 4/5 stars!
Two genres I'll never say no to, horror and thrillers. Well, SINNER by Christopher Graves, is a great melding of the two! I wasn't entirely sure what to expect going into this one - I saw the title and the genres and decided to go for it. Oh man, if you're a fan of religious cults, then this is one you need to pick up right away.
Ezekiel Woods Jr., also known as Zeke, is a direct descendant of the Bald Knobbers. This was a group that acted as vigilantes that lived by the literal interpretation of the Bible. Zeke is now carrying on the traditions of the Bald Knobbers by enacting God's retribution on women he deems wicked and sinful. He kidnaps and tortures women in the basement of his farmhouse. One of his captives manages to escape the cellar, and he must now recapture her before she gets away for good.
This book will definitely have you on edge. What I think made this so creepy is the fact that this can happen, and could very well be happening somewhere. There aren't any monsters in this story, but the evil inside some people is terrifying enough. Religious cults have always fascinated me in what they will get their members to commit, and all in the name of their religion. Zeke genuinely thinks he doing good and that by capturing these women he is preparing them for either redemption or for death.
I don't want to continue too much more into the story, but needless to say, I will definitely be picking up more from Graves in the future! If you want a creepy and eerie story that brings the horror into your every day life, then look no further, pick up SINNER!
I give this a solid 4/5 stars!
April 7, 2018
The Bald Knobbers were a 19th century vigilante gang who followed and enforced a literal interpretation of the bible. They wore masks painted with horrifying faces and seemingly glowing orange eyes. The hood resembles horns, protruding several inches from the head.
Ezekial Woods, Zeke for short, is a direct descendant of the gang and honors their duty. By day, he is a grocery store bagger. By night, he tortures sinning women; to him, his nightly crusades are a series of baptisms. To say he is a religious extremist is an understatement.
MY THOUGHTS:
-The story is certifiably action-packed.
-The flashbacks of Zeke's childhood and his abusive mother are not only interesting, but also help readers understand how his serial killing ways manifested.
-From glass coffins to hundreds of snakes, the story introduces every nightmare imaginable.
-The abductions and torture repulsively drag on. Dani's abduction in particular drags on for the entire second half of the book. While thrilling, it was seemingly never ending (& not in a good way).
-While I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers, this one leaned toward the horror genre... not my personal favorite.
-Zeke is level 10 creepy and will keep you nauseously reading until the end.
Ezekial Woods, Zeke for short, is a direct descendant of the gang and honors their duty. By day, he is a grocery store bagger. By night, he tortures sinning women; to him, his nightly crusades are a series of baptisms. To say he is a religious extremist is an understatement.
MY THOUGHTS:
-The story is certifiably action-packed.
-The flashbacks of Zeke's childhood and his abusive mother are not only interesting, but also help readers understand how his serial killing ways manifested.
-From glass coffins to hundreds of snakes, the story introduces every nightmare imaginable.
-The abductions and torture repulsively drag on. Dani's abduction in particular drags on for the entire second half of the book. While thrilling, it was seemingly never ending (& not in a good way).
-While I am a huge fan of psychological thrillers, this one leaned toward the horror genre... not my personal favorite.
-Zeke is level 10 creepy and will keep you nauseously reading until the end.
Read
April 5, 2018
I have somewhat mixed feelings about Sinner . On the one hand, the premise behind the story is a good one and interesting. On the other hand, it doesn’t feel like it was completely cohesive. There were parts of the story that felt like they just would never end and others where there wasn’t nearly enough information. For instance, the Bald Knobbers are mentioned, but the author really doesn’t tell much about who they are, so unless you take the time to look them up yourself, you have minimal details on them.
Zeke is an easily detestable character. He is a religious fanatic, which creates an interesting premise for his crimes, but it is hard to believe he has been able to function in a normal society with his behaviors. He has obviously suffered extensive trauma in his life and while some of it is explained to a degree, I don’t think the author went far enough into explaining why his mother was as abusive as she was towards him. Sylvia seems like she will be a somewhat likable character until after we find out what is going on with Zeke. We go from her wedding day to her being an abusive mother in a flash. There was no transition there.
Dani has a fun sense of humor and is obviously meant to be a strong woman, which is good, but I swear it felt like her situation went on forever. I just wanted it to be over with already. Either die or don’t but at least get on with it. I liked her as a character though.
I wasn’t entirely happy with the ending. I felt it didn’t give closure to the story but instead opened it up for a potential second book, which I’m not sure I would read.
Overall, I can’t say Sinner was a bad book. I mean, I voluntarily finished it without having to force myself. I really did want to find out what would happen next. I can’t say I loved it though either. It may appeal to others more than it did to me.
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This review was originally posted on Fang-Freakin-Tastic Reviews
April 9, 2018
One of the things that a horror story is supposed to do is make the reader feel uncomfortable...sometimes. If you don't mind that feeling while reading an entire book, Sinner is a book you might want to check out. The story involves serial killer, Zeke, who is a descendant of a vigilante gang who targeted immoral women in the 19th century. He has been raised with sick religious ideals and seeks out women who he attempts to "save" from what he perceives as loose morals.
I'll be honest, I didn't like this story. I usually like horror and don't mind being made to feel uncomfortable to a point. This book made me REALLY uncomfortable the entire time I was reading it. In the end, I just don't think it was for me. There are a number of scenes that could be "triggering" for some readers. They involve rape, child molestation/rape and incest. They almost went a bit too far in detail for the sake of being gross.
I liked the story idea. I just didn't like the execution. There are, at times, flashbacks within flashbacks. I got confused a couple of times because the scenes abruptly changed. We are given the background of how the killer grew up, so as to have an understanding of how he became that way. In a way, it was almost like I was being asked to find sympathy for him. He had a sick childhood, so is it any wonder he became a killer? The ending was kind of a cliche and one I was expecting.
As I said, I think this story just wasn't for me. I think fans of extreme psychological horror will want to check this one out. Give it a try and see for yourself.
I'll be honest, I didn't like this story. I usually like horror and don't mind being made to feel uncomfortable to a point. This book made me REALLY uncomfortable the entire time I was reading it. In the end, I just don't think it was for me. There are a number of scenes that could be "triggering" for some readers. They involve rape, child molestation/rape and incest. They almost went a bit too far in detail for the sake of being gross.
I liked the story idea. I just didn't like the execution. There are, at times, flashbacks within flashbacks. I got confused a couple of times because the scenes abruptly changed. We are given the background of how the killer grew up, so as to have an understanding of how he became that way. In a way, it was almost like I was being asked to find sympathy for him. He had a sick childhood, so is it any wonder he became a killer? The ending was kind of a cliche and one I was expecting.
As I said, I think this story just wasn't for me. I think fans of extreme psychological horror will want to check this one out. Give it a try and see for yourself.
March 28, 2018
I'm a huge fan of Mystery/Thrillers but I'd never read one with a religious theme quite like this one. And I must say, I really enjoyed it. Christopher Graves did a great job of writing both an extremely creative story and one that will keep you up at night--both because you don't want to put it down and because you're terrified. I'd never heard of the Bald Knobbers before reading this book but, I really enjoyed that there was a historical connection (although this added an additionally frightening element).
One thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the alternating narrators--the chapters alternated between past and present as well as between different character which I thought was the perfect way to develop the storyline and characters while also giving multiple perspectives. Additionally, Zeke, our religious vigilante, speaks primarily in bible verses throughout the novel. Although a few times I had to read and re-read verses in order to fully comprehend what was going on, I thought that was a unique (and equally horrifying) twists on Zeke's character and Graves did a great job of tying in the bible verses to the storyline.
Closer to the middle/end, there were a few points where it got a little confusing. But overall, the book was filled with truly terrifying plot twists and I couldn't put it down. SINNER was definitely a page-turner. I would recommend this book to anyone who really enjoys thrillers or someone looking for something a little different than the typical suspense novel!
Note: I received an advanced copy of SINNER by Christopher Graves from Smith Publicity in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
One thing that I really enjoyed about this book was the alternating narrators--the chapters alternated between past and present as well as between different character which I thought was the perfect way to develop the storyline and characters while also giving multiple perspectives. Additionally, Zeke, our religious vigilante, speaks primarily in bible verses throughout the novel. Although a few times I had to read and re-read verses in order to fully comprehend what was going on, I thought that was a unique (and equally horrifying) twists on Zeke's character and Graves did a great job of tying in the bible verses to the storyline.
Closer to the middle/end, there were a few points where it got a little confusing. But overall, the book was filled with truly terrifying plot twists and I couldn't put it down. SINNER was definitely a page-turner. I would recommend this book to anyone who really enjoys thrillers or someone looking for something a little different than the typical suspense novel!
Note: I received an advanced copy of SINNER by Christopher Graves from Smith Publicity in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
April 16, 2018
Thank you so much Smith Publicity for providing my free copy of THE SINNER - all opinions are my own.
This book is wicked, unsettling, and downright terrifying, but in the best way. The story centers around Ezekiel Woods Jr., also known as Zeke, who is a direct descendent of a 19th century vigilante group called the Bald Knobbers. In God’s name, they try to rid the world of women who they deem sinful, by kidnapping and torturing them. However, one woman manages to escape and now Zeke is on the hunt to find her.
Grave’s book is a perfect blend of horror and thriller. It is an action-packed, edge-of-your-seat book that will make you gasp. And what makes this book so terrifying is its realism; think Manson family realistic. Cults have always interested me because I am fascinated by human behavior and there is a lot of psychology behind both the cult leader and his followers’ actions. It’s just so crazy how a person can perform evil acts blindly in the name of religion. Which is exactly how Zeke behaves in this book. He truly believes he is preparing these women for their ultimate fate, redemption or death.
I highly recommend THE SINNER to anyone who loves reading horror and dark thrillers. If you enjoy reading about religious cults in a story that leaves you with a creepy and horrifying feeling then THE SINNER is definitely for you! I will undoubtedly be reading more from this author!
This book is wicked, unsettling, and downright terrifying, but in the best way. The story centers around Ezekiel Woods Jr., also known as Zeke, who is a direct descendent of a 19th century vigilante group called the Bald Knobbers. In God’s name, they try to rid the world of women who they deem sinful, by kidnapping and torturing them. However, one woman manages to escape and now Zeke is on the hunt to find her.
Grave’s book is a perfect blend of horror and thriller. It is an action-packed, edge-of-your-seat book that will make you gasp. And what makes this book so terrifying is its realism; think Manson family realistic. Cults have always interested me because I am fascinated by human behavior and there is a lot of psychology behind both the cult leader and his followers’ actions. It’s just so crazy how a person can perform evil acts blindly in the name of religion. Which is exactly how Zeke behaves in this book. He truly believes he is preparing these women for their ultimate fate, redemption or death.
I highly recommend THE SINNER to anyone who loves reading horror and dark thrillers. If you enjoy reading about religious cults in a story that leaves you with a creepy and horrifying feeling then THE SINNER is definitely for you! I will undoubtedly be reading more from this author!
June 10, 2018
This was such a fast read! Once I started I felt like I couldn't stop....I just had to keep reading to see how things ended. In fact I was so enthralled by this book I almost missed my stop on the train coming home from work. Zeke was such a messed up and disturbed character but reading from his point of view was interesting. On the other hand Dani was a great heroine and I found myself hoping she would survive. This book is definitely disturbing and I felt unsettled many times while reading but I still enjoyed it anyways. I believe this was the author's first book and I hope he writes more.
April 6, 2018
I finished SINNER by Christopher Graves yesterday. Which, I know, may not seem like much of a feat for me since it is just a book and that’s what readers do: we finish books.
HOWEVER, SINNER was my first horror read ever! Two months ago, I promised myself that in the spirit of the New Year I was going to try new things and change my reading habits: I vowed to explore book genres and read a little everyday. Historically, I would have NEVER touched a horror novel, never mind read one in its entirety. The last time I experienced any horror was five years ago when I watched my first and last horror movie. I don’t remember the name, but the plot line still keeps me up at night every once in a while.
So despite the fact that I’m clearly a scaredy cat (for lack of a better term), I told Smith Publicity to send this ARC along and forced myself to try new things. As luck would have it, Nikki (whose bookstagram handle is @saturday_nite_reader) reached out to me after receiving the same book, and we did a buddy read! With my determination and a buddy, I was going to finish this psychological thriller whether I liked it or not.
And to my surprise, I did! And I know what you’re thinking:
So let me explain: it wasn’t that I expected the author and the book to be terrible. On the contrary, Graves is an incredible writer that really knows how to weave a story. SINNER is originally an award winning screenplay written by the same person, so I expected it to be well written. What surprised me was that I actually liked reading horror.
Here is the plot of the book, as told by the blurb on the back cover:
“As a direct descendant of the 19th Century vigilante gang, the Bald Knobbers, Ezekiel Woods, Jr. has been indoctrinated into a world ruled by violence and a literal interpretation of the bible his entire life. Now, over a hundred years later, Zeke continues his ancestors’ crusade, spending his days camouflaged as an aloof middle-aged grocery store sacker and his nights in a farmhouse cellar, preparing captives’ souls for their ultimate destiny: redemption or death. Zeke must recapture this lost sheep or face a consequence far worse than any worldly fate: that God has forsaken him.”
Overall, I gave this psychological thriller a 5: VERY scary for me! The book follows Zeke, a serial killer who essentially kills in the name of God. I love that Graves set up a framework where we would meet characters and see them interact in their own element before weaving them into the plot; I also love that the book considers multiple perspectives from each of the characters. It was pretty gore-y for me, which is probably a good thing- I hate needles I’m claustrophobic, and I’m DEATHLY afraid of snakes which made this read super difficult for me (No spoilers though, you’ll have to read it for yourself!) It was also surprisingly (and uncomfortably) relatable. Many of the characters are like me: young females who live alone in a relatively new area. I did wish that we spent more time learning about Zeke’s relationship with his family (I was super fascinated by his and Sylvia’s relationship). However, it was overall a pretty great read, even for a scaredy cat like me. After reading this novel, I was afraid to walk outside alone at night! Definitely nightmare worthy!
HOWEVER, SINNER was my first horror read ever! Two months ago, I promised myself that in the spirit of the New Year I was going to try new things and change my reading habits: I vowed to explore book genres and read a little everyday. Historically, I would have NEVER touched a horror novel, never mind read one in its entirety. The last time I experienced any horror was five years ago when I watched my first and last horror movie. I don’t remember the name, but the plot line still keeps me up at night every once in a while.
So despite the fact that I’m clearly a scaredy cat (for lack of a better term), I told Smith Publicity to send this ARC along and forced myself to try new things. As luck would have it, Nikki (whose bookstagram handle is @saturday_nite_reader) reached out to me after receiving the same book, and we did a buddy read! With my determination and a buddy, I was going to finish this psychological thriller whether I liked it or not.
And to my surprise, I did! And I know what you’re thinking:
So let me explain: it wasn’t that I expected the author and the book to be terrible. On the contrary, Graves is an incredible writer that really knows how to weave a story. SINNER is originally an award winning screenplay written by the same person, so I expected it to be well written. What surprised me was that I actually liked reading horror.
Here is the plot of the book, as told by the blurb on the back cover:
“As a direct descendant of the 19th Century vigilante gang, the Bald Knobbers, Ezekiel Woods, Jr. has been indoctrinated into a world ruled by violence and a literal interpretation of the bible his entire life. Now, over a hundred years later, Zeke continues his ancestors’ crusade, spending his days camouflaged as an aloof middle-aged grocery store sacker and his nights in a farmhouse cellar, preparing captives’ souls for their ultimate destiny: redemption or death. Zeke must recapture this lost sheep or face a consequence far worse than any worldly fate: that God has forsaken him.”
Overall, I gave this psychological thriller a 5: VERY scary for me! The book follows Zeke, a serial killer who essentially kills in the name of God. I love that Graves set up a framework where we would meet characters and see them interact in their own element before weaving them into the plot; I also love that the book considers multiple perspectives from each of the characters. It was pretty gore-y for me, which is probably a good thing- I hate needles I’m claustrophobic, and I’m DEATHLY afraid of snakes which made this read super difficult for me (No spoilers though, you’ll have to read it for yourself!) It was also surprisingly (and uncomfortably) relatable. Many of the characters are like me: young females who live alone in a relatively new area. I did wish that we spent more time learning about Zeke’s relationship with his family (I was super fascinated by his and Sylvia’s relationship). However, it was overall a pretty great read, even for a scaredy cat like me. After reading this novel, I was afraid to walk outside alone at night! Definitely nightmare worthy!
March 4, 2018
I received a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Sinner is told from many different narratives throughout the chapters. The only constant is that of Zeke who is a direct descendant of The Bald Knobbers and is continuing their reign of terror by selecting unsuspecting women and holding them captive in the cellar of his home.
Zeke is described as an outcast, someone who is constantly picked on by his fellow employees and usually keeps to himself. He is strange, unsettling and constantly speaks in bible verses. He works at a grocery store as a bagging clerk and notices all of his coworkers and customer’s sins. Through his perspective, we see both past and present and get a glimpse into his childhood and see why he is the way he is today. He experienced a lot of abuse and violence as a child and it was all justified by his parent’s version of religion. Where the book failed for me was in the pacing and world building. I did not like the constant change in narratives. I think if it could just be Zeke and Dani as the only narrators it would have made a world of difference. As far as the world building, I just wish that there were more explanations given for the history of the Bald Knobbers. How were they founded? When did they disband? Why is Zeke the only member when in the past, it seemed as though they did all of their work as a group? How are their victims chosen? This was the question that kept coming to mind as Zeke chose his victims because all of the woman didn’t seem to do anything to provoke him and he didn’t know any of them personally so how did he know they were sinners? Anyway a very compelling concept, absorbing story that had me chilled in all the right ways.
Sinner is told from many different narratives throughout the chapters. The only constant is that of Zeke who is a direct descendant of The Bald Knobbers and is continuing their reign of terror by selecting unsuspecting women and holding them captive in the cellar of his home.
Zeke is described as an outcast, someone who is constantly picked on by his fellow employees and usually keeps to himself. He is strange, unsettling and constantly speaks in bible verses. He works at a grocery store as a bagging clerk and notices all of his coworkers and customer’s sins. Through his perspective, we see both past and present and get a glimpse into his childhood and see why he is the way he is today. He experienced a lot of abuse and violence as a child and it was all justified by his parent’s version of religion. Where the book failed for me was in the pacing and world building. I did not like the constant change in narratives. I think if it could just be Zeke and Dani as the only narrators it would have made a world of difference. As far as the world building, I just wish that there were more explanations given for the history of the Bald Knobbers. How were they founded? When did they disband? Why is Zeke the only member when in the past, it seemed as though they did all of their work as a group? How are their victims chosen? This was the question that kept coming to mind as Zeke chose his victims because all of the woman didn’t seem to do anything to provoke him and he didn’t know any of them personally so how did he know they were sinners? Anyway a very compelling concept, absorbing story that had me chilled in all the right ways.
February 7, 2018
Zeke is a religious fanatic from a long line of murderous child abusing nut jobs who seem to think they are on a mission from God to dole out retribution. With an affinity for torture and murder that could only be surpassed by Leatherface, Zeke is racking up the body count as he rids the world of "sinners" who of course are women. Not all women are so easily dispatched as Zeke finds out the hard way when one in particular refuses to be his victim in a highly suspenseful heart stopping conclusion.
I received an advance copy for review
I received an advance copy for review
August 1, 2018
So,
I'll preface this review by disclosing the fact that I've read a lot of thrillers.
I've also read some horror. And I've read some twisted psychological novels that left me feeling dirty and shaking my head like ... "what in the actual hell?"
But then, I read Sinner.
Do I call it horror? Do I call it a thriller? I don't know.
What I do know, is that I can call it distinctly bone-chilling.
And I know I can call it terrifying. Seriously. This book lingered on the periphery my brain for weeks after I read it. I began to subconsciously check behind me every time I was walking through a parking lot alone. I started to give my grocery store baggers a suspicious side-eye. If a man made eye contact with me in a pizza place, I decided that the pizza just wasn't worth eating and got the hell out of there. And if you knew how much I worshipped pizza, you'd know what a big deal that is.
This book made me afraid to go out to the country to visit my grandpa, because isn't that where all the crazy religious zealots live? In their little houses and in their little communes, all breeding with one another and producing monsters? And forget Missouri. I'm never going there again. Branson can suck it.
Okay, I took it a little too far.
But okay, this book. Y'all, it freaked me out on so many levels. There was the one particular scene with snakes that had me crawling in my own skin, making terrible nasty grimaces that had my husband shaking his head at me and reminding me that he wouldn't come near that book with a 10-foot pole.
My husband doesn't do scary. Let's be real. Frankenweenie gave him nightmares.
No, I'm not kidding.
But I digress ...
Ezekiel Woods Jr. didn't enter this world with the purity he deserved. His mother was a sinner - of that fact there has never been any doubt in his mind. No matter how she tried to raise him or what she ended up being in his life as an adult, Zeke never could look at Sylvia with any respect.
Not that she felt she deserved it anyway. She knew what she was, and she knew how she got there. As a member of the Apostolic Church of Christ (a religious organization... because cult is such a nasty word, isn't it?) she had her place set in society from the day she was born. Sylvia was to be seen and never heard. Her duty was solely to take care of her husband and of her male elders. She was meant to never talk back and to never, ever question anything. Women just weren't made to be thinkers. But they were made, as it were - to sin.
The one time she did ask a question - the one time she dared to put a toe out of line - she felt the wrath of the Brotherhood come raining down upon her like a Southern hail storm in winter.
The Brotherhood. The Bald Knobbers. A terrifying clan of men wrecking havoc through the Missouri hills and countryside, like so many avenging angels spreading the wrath of God down upon those who were unworthy to walk the earth. And Sylvia's father was one of them.
Now her son is carrying on the family tradition. A son that was created from rape. From incest. From cruelty. He is the product of his dark environment. Nature and nurture combined into one. A predator sent from the deepest bowels of Hell.
Zeke readily accepts that his life's mission is to rid the world of sinners. And there are no greater sinners to be found than the female sex. He wants nothing more than to complete his missions one by one and do his part for God. It is an obsession tailored with the singular high he gets upon completion. It is woven with the threads of tradition and hate.
He will find these women and prepare them for their redemption. Through their deaths he will lead them to glory and Heaven. He will baptize them in the essence of their own sin ... in their own blood. In doing this, he is doing them the ultimate favor.
The kills are easy. Zeke watches them and analyzes them; he decides what they need to become pure. The woman that sat across from him in the pizza parlor was obviously a simple woman. She was average in looks and in ambition. He could tell that all she really wanted to do was spend her night curled up in bed with a romance novel, maybe a glass of cheap red wine nearby. She'd stopped in the pizza place for dinner, doing her best to stick to a salad so she can rid herself of those few extra pounds that seem to cling to her like a cheap fur coat. When he came over and began to talk, it was to give her a chance to prove him wrong. She allowed herself to feign interest just for a little bit. After all, it wasn't often that a man took the time to notice her. It was flattering, but there was something about him that was off ... something that made the hair on the back of her neck stand at attention. It was then that he knew his gut instinct had been correct - that woman deserved death. And death blooms from Zeke's hands like so many flowers in a spring garden.
But Dani, now ... she was harder.
Out on a blind date, Dani thought she'd been stood up. It was taking him too long to show, and she was starting to get nervous. When Eric finally entered the restaurant, he was full of smiles and genuine apologies. She was grateful, and he was handsome. The breakup with her ex-boyfriend had left Dani feeling sharp and bitter, and she was ready to move on with someone new. Blind dates can always be a bit tricky, but Eric fit the bill. She had hope for the first time in a long time.
Stopping by the store that night, she just meant to run in for a carton of ice cream. Something sweet to end the night with, since she was going home alone (by choice, mind you ... it didn't do to appear too eager, even when the date was a smash hit). But there was something creeping up Dani's spine, something cold and icy ... and it wasn't the Ben and Jerry's. She felt like she was being watched ... like there were eyes on her from the shadows of the parking lot, from around the corner of the aisle in the store. It made her anxious to get in her car and get back to the safety of home.
But unfortunately for Dani, Zeke had other plans. And unfortunately for Zeke ... Dani didn't plan on going down without a fight.
Sinner is the debut novel by Manhattanite Christopher Graves. The novel is based upon his award-winning screenplay of the same name. Also worth mentioning is a web-series that Graves both writes and stars in, With Friends Like These. I found the juxtaposition of the web-series versus the Sinner novel very interesting. Sinner is absolute to-the-max horror and Friends is refreshingly funny and very charming. It's important to me as a reader that the authors I follow have range (Colleen Hoover and Verity, anyone?).
So the novel ... it is 100% scary. Everything is pushed to the limits in this novel, and the pacing is appropriate. My only regrets are:
... I wish there was more character development for Dani. She seemed a little hollow, and I wanted more from her. I enjoyed the fact that she wasn't your typical damsel in distress, but that's exactly it - I wanted more of her personality to shine through and to get to know her better. It would have helped me be more invested. As this book was based upon a screenplay, I can see where the disconnect could easily happen.
... and the Bald Knobbers. I would have loved some history on this maniacal clan. We got little snippets of their destruction and their insane terror through the eyes of Sylvia, and I found myself much more interested in historical aspects of the novel than in the present-day scenes. There was something so sinister about their costumes and their purpose. I would have loved to hear more on their origin, and why Zeke felt so passionately about continuing on with the "work" considering we didn't get to see all of his growing up. Who mentored him? Who coached him? Where was his touchstone?
Other than that, this was a very solid horror novel. And please be advised that when I say horror ... I mean horror. It is not intended for readers under the age of 18, and it's definitely not meant to be read after dark.
I give Sinner four out of five stars, and recommend it to those who enjoy losing themselves in the truly demented, dark, and ultimately twisted minds of serial killers.
I'll preface this review by disclosing the fact that I've read a lot of thrillers.
I've also read some horror. And I've read some twisted psychological novels that left me feeling dirty and shaking my head like ... "what in the actual hell?"
But then, I read Sinner.
Do I call it horror? Do I call it a thriller? I don't know.
What I do know, is that I can call it distinctly bone-chilling.
And I know I can call it terrifying. Seriously. This book lingered on the periphery my brain for weeks after I read it. I began to subconsciously check behind me every time I was walking through a parking lot alone. I started to give my grocery store baggers a suspicious side-eye. If a man made eye contact with me in a pizza place, I decided that the pizza just wasn't worth eating and got the hell out of there. And if you knew how much I worshipped pizza, you'd know what a big deal that is.
This book made me afraid to go out to the country to visit my grandpa, because isn't that where all the crazy religious zealots live? In their little houses and in their little communes, all breeding with one another and producing monsters? And forget Missouri. I'm never going there again. Branson can suck it.
Okay, I took it a little too far.
But okay, this book. Y'all, it freaked me out on so many levels. There was the one particular scene with snakes that had me crawling in my own skin, making terrible nasty grimaces that had my husband shaking his head at me and reminding me that he wouldn't come near that book with a 10-foot pole.
My husband doesn't do scary. Let's be real. Frankenweenie gave him nightmares.
No, I'm not kidding.
But I digress ...
Ezekiel Woods Jr. didn't enter this world with the purity he deserved. His mother was a sinner - of that fact there has never been any doubt in his mind. No matter how she tried to raise him or what she ended up being in his life as an adult, Zeke never could look at Sylvia with any respect.
Not that she felt she deserved it anyway. She knew what she was, and she knew how she got there. As a member of the Apostolic Church of Christ (a religious organization... because cult is such a nasty word, isn't it?) she had her place set in society from the day she was born. Sylvia was to be seen and never heard. Her duty was solely to take care of her husband and of her male elders. She was meant to never talk back and to never, ever question anything. Women just weren't made to be thinkers. But they were made, as it were - to sin.
The one time she did ask a question - the one time she dared to put a toe out of line - she felt the wrath of the Brotherhood come raining down upon her like a Southern hail storm in winter.
The Brotherhood. The Bald Knobbers. A terrifying clan of men wrecking havoc through the Missouri hills and countryside, like so many avenging angels spreading the wrath of God down upon those who were unworthy to walk the earth. And Sylvia's father was one of them.
Now her son is carrying on the family tradition. A son that was created from rape. From incest. From cruelty. He is the product of his dark environment. Nature and nurture combined into one. A predator sent from the deepest bowels of Hell.
Zeke readily accepts that his life's mission is to rid the world of sinners. And there are no greater sinners to be found than the female sex. He wants nothing more than to complete his missions one by one and do his part for God. It is an obsession tailored with the singular high he gets upon completion. It is woven with the threads of tradition and hate.
He will find these women and prepare them for their redemption. Through their deaths he will lead them to glory and Heaven. He will baptize them in the essence of their own sin ... in their own blood. In doing this, he is doing them the ultimate favor.
The kills are easy. Zeke watches them and analyzes them; he decides what they need to become pure. The woman that sat across from him in the pizza parlor was obviously a simple woman. She was average in looks and in ambition. He could tell that all she really wanted to do was spend her night curled up in bed with a romance novel, maybe a glass of cheap red wine nearby. She'd stopped in the pizza place for dinner, doing her best to stick to a salad so she can rid herself of those few extra pounds that seem to cling to her like a cheap fur coat. When he came over and began to talk, it was to give her a chance to prove him wrong. She allowed herself to feign interest just for a little bit. After all, it wasn't often that a man took the time to notice her. It was flattering, but there was something about him that was off ... something that made the hair on the back of her neck stand at attention. It was then that he knew his gut instinct had been correct - that woman deserved death. And death blooms from Zeke's hands like so many flowers in a spring garden.
But Dani, now ... she was harder.
Out on a blind date, Dani thought she'd been stood up. It was taking him too long to show, and she was starting to get nervous. When Eric finally entered the restaurant, he was full of smiles and genuine apologies. She was grateful, and he was handsome. The breakup with her ex-boyfriend had left Dani feeling sharp and bitter, and she was ready to move on with someone new. Blind dates can always be a bit tricky, but Eric fit the bill. She had hope for the first time in a long time.
Stopping by the store that night, she just meant to run in for a carton of ice cream. Something sweet to end the night with, since she was going home alone (by choice, mind you ... it didn't do to appear too eager, even when the date was a smash hit). But there was something creeping up Dani's spine, something cold and icy ... and it wasn't the Ben and Jerry's. She felt like she was being watched ... like there were eyes on her from the shadows of the parking lot, from around the corner of the aisle in the store. It made her anxious to get in her car and get back to the safety of home.
But unfortunately for Dani, Zeke had other plans. And unfortunately for Zeke ... Dani didn't plan on going down without a fight.
Sinner is the debut novel by Manhattanite Christopher Graves. The novel is based upon his award-winning screenplay of the same name. Also worth mentioning is a web-series that Graves both writes and stars in, With Friends Like These. I found the juxtaposition of the web-series versus the Sinner novel very interesting. Sinner is absolute to-the-max horror and Friends is refreshingly funny and very charming. It's important to me as a reader that the authors I follow have range (Colleen Hoover and Verity, anyone?).
So the novel ... it is 100% scary. Everything is pushed to the limits in this novel, and the pacing is appropriate. My only regrets are:
... I wish there was more character development for Dani. She seemed a little hollow, and I wanted more from her. I enjoyed the fact that she wasn't your typical damsel in distress, but that's exactly it - I wanted more of her personality to shine through and to get to know her better. It would have helped me be more invested. As this book was based upon a screenplay, I can see where the disconnect could easily happen.
... and the Bald Knobbers. I would have loved some history on this maniacal clan. We got little snippets of their destruction and their insane terror through the eyes of Sylvia, and I found myself much more interested in historical aspects of the novel than in the present-day scenes. There was something so sinister about their costumes and their purpose. I would have loved to hear more on their origin, and why Zeke felt so passionately about continuing on with the "work" considering we didn't get to see all of his growing up. Who mentored him? Who coached him? Where was his touchstone?
Other than that, this was a very solid horror novel. And please be advised that when I say horror ... I mean horror. It is not intended for readers under the age of 18, and it's definitely not meant to be read after dark.
I give Sinner four out of five stars, and recommend it to those who enjoy losing themselves in the truly demented, dark, and ultimately twisted minds of serial killers.
April 5, 2018
If you’re afraid of something, Sinner probably has it.
“Sinner” opens with a flashback to 1887 Missouri, where madam Minerva Yates is murdered outside her brothel by a group of men in horned hoods. They are known as the Bald Knobbers, a group of men who are religious zealots who believe it is their God-given duty to punish sinners, particularly women. Flash forward to the modern era and a descendant of this religious cult.
“Sinner” is written by actor and award winner screen writer Christpher Graves and actually started as an award winning script. My biggest complaint about the novel is that some parts felt like they literally just changed the formatting from the script and if you changed it back you could print your sides* for the day.
Once I got into the groove of the writing I couldn’t put it down. Although you know who the serial killer is throughout the book, certain scenes are through his point of view, I still felt my heart pounding as I anticipated what would come next. I thought knowing who are antagonist was would give me less anxiety reading, but in fact it only added to my fears. One of my favorite parts about the story was the protagonist, a Texan woman who moved to New Jersey to find herself and gets more than she bargains for in her quest. She doesn’t back down and let fear overwhelm her, and I found myself relieved that her character isn’t a damsel in distress.
The book is written through several pov’s and flashbacks, ranging from at least two victims of the serial killer, as well as the serial killer himself and his mother at one point. I did feel like some of the scenes were definitely added to flesh out a movie. I would also warn that there are definitely horror aspects to this novel as it is a thriller based around a serial killer and his victims and what made him what he is; if rape, incest, torture or child abuse are strong triggers for you I would avoid reading this book altogether.
I would however highly recommend this book to those who like a good horror thriller, I read it in two sittings and had a hard time sleeping when I was finished. What the book lacked in style and narrative it made up for in pacing and dialogue and realistic plot, I felt like I could have been reading about these murders in a newspaper and that realism is what I feel makes a great thriller. The end of the book was perfect: not at all predictable and completely terrifying. I can’t wait to read more of Graves writing, but I’ll be skipping the movie- I don’t really want to have a face for my nightmares.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Smith Publicity. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. You can find more reviews like this one at ReviewbythePage.com
*sides are the daily pages of the script that are handed out to cast and crew on film sets.
You can find more reviews like this one on www.reviewbythepage.com
“Sinner” opens with a flashback to 1887 Missouri, where madam Minerva Yates is murdered outside her brothel by a group of men in horned hoods. They are known as the Bald Knobbers, a group of men who are religious zealots who believe it is their God-given duty to punish sinners, particularly women. Flash forward to the modern era and a descendant of this religious cult.
“Sinner” is written by actor and award winner screen writer Christpher Graves and actually started as an award winning script. My biggest complaint about the novel is that some parts felt like they literally just changed the formatting from the script and if you changed it back you could print your sides* for the day.
Once I got into the groove of the writing I couldn’t put it down. Although you know who the serial killer is throughout the book, certain scenes are through his point of view, I still felt my heart pounding as I anticipated what would come next. I thought knowing who are antagonist was would give me less anxiety reading, but in fact it only added to my fears. One of my favorite parts about the story was the protagonist, a Texan woman who moved to New Jersey to find herself and gets more than she bargains for in her quest. She doesn’t back down and let fear overwhelm her, and I found myself relieved that her character isn’t a damsel in distress.
The book is written through several pov’s and flashbacks, ranging from at least two victims of the serial killer, as well as the serial killer himself and his mother at one point. I did feel like some of the scenes were definitely added to flesh out a movie. I would also warn that there are definitely horror aspects to this novel as it is a thriller based around a serial killer and his victims and what made him what he is; if rape, incest, torture or child abuse are strong triggers for you I would avoid reading this book altogether.
I would however highly recommend this book to those who like a good horror thriller, I read it in two sittings and had a hard time sleeping when I was finished. What the book lacked in style and narrative it made up for in pacing and dialogue and realistic plot, I felt like I could have been reading about these murders in a newspaper and that realism is what I feel makes a great thriller. The end of the book was perfect: not at all predictable and completely terrifying. I can’t wait to read more of Graves writing, but I’ll be skipping the movie- I don’t really want to have a face for my nightmares.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Smith Publicity. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. You can find more reviews like this one at ReviewbythePage.com
*sides are the daily pages of the script that are handed out to cast and crew on film sets.
You can find more reviews like this one on www.reviewbythepage.com
June 21, 2018
In the 19th century there was a vigilante group known as the Bald Knobbers striking fear into the hearts of Missouri residents. The gang’s beliefs were deeply rooted in religion and a literal interpretation of the Bible, often leading to violent actions on women who were deemed impure. Ezekiel Woods, Jr. is a direct descendant from the Bald Knobbers and has decided it is time to carry on their mission. Known to those around him as Zeke, he is seen as the strange older man working at the grocery store, making no friends, and creepily staring down a younger woman he works with. It is at night that he embraces his ancestry.
In the darkness of night, Zeke transforms into a Bald Knobber, wearing a dark hoodie topped with horns and glowing orange eyes. He abducts women he has labelled as needing saving for various reasons, such as promiscuity. Once the women are secured in his farmhouse cellar he begins a set of rituals, which he believes will test their faith and ultimately decide whether the woman is worthy of redemption or will succumb to death. Zeke has just abducted a young, Texas transplate, Dani, who is not willing to be anyone’s victim after enduring recent heartache. Has Zeke finally met his match or will Dani meet her fate in his hands?
Christopher Graves certainly knows how to write a heart-pounding story! SINNER instantly drops the reader into the dark and twisted mind of Zeke. Graves simultaneously allows the reader to follow the women Zeke will abduct and take to his lair, which certainly plays at the heart strings of emotion. Woven throughout the present storyline is a trip into the past where the reader is exposed to the origins of the Bald Knobbers, the life of Zeke’s mother, and ultimately Zeke’s childhood and the events that lead him to be the man he is today. Zeke is a sinister character through and through, but what made him this way? One of my favorite elements to this story was learning his history and his mother’s history. Not to be overlooked is our main abductee, Dani. At first I wasn’t devoted to her backstory or drawn in to her as a character, but the more I rooted for her survival, the more I bonded with her. Tension is ever present throughout SINNER, as you aren’t sure what’s going to happen next, who will be attacked, and who will survive. SINNER is the perfect read for thriller fans looking for an interesting religious cult aspect driving the killer’s actions.
A special thank you to Smith Publicity for sending me a free copy in exchange for my honest review!
In the darkness of night, Zeke transforms into a Bald Knobber, wearing a dark hoodie topped with horns and glowing orange eyes. He abducts women he has labelled as needing saving for various reasons, such as promiscuity. Once the women are secured in his farmhouse cellar he begins a set of rituals, which he believes will test their faith and ultimately decide whether the woman is worthy of redemption or will succumb to death. Zeke has just abducted a young, Texas transplate, Dani, who is not willing to be anyone’s victim after enduring recent heartache. Has Zeke finally met his match or will Dani meet her fate in his hands?
Christopher Graves certainly knows how to write a heart-pounding story! SINNER instantly drops the reader into the dark and twisted mind of Zeke. Graves simultaneously allows the reader to follow the women Zeke will abduct and take to his lair, which certainly plays at the heart strings of emotion. Woven throughout the present storyline is a trip into the past where the reader is exposed to the origins of the Bald Knobbers, the life of Zeke’s mother, and ultimately Zeke’s childhood and the events that lead him to be the man he is today. Zeke is a sinister character through and through, but what made him this way? One of my favorite elements to this story was learning his history and his mother’s history. Not to be overlooked is our main abductee, Dani. At first I wasn’t devoted to her backstory or drawn in to her as a character, but the more I rooted for her survival, the more I bonded with her. Tension is ever present throughout SINNER, as you aren’t sure what’s going to happen next, who will be attacked, and who will survive. SINNER is the perfect read for thriller fans looking for an interesting religious cult aspect driving the killer’s actions.
A special thank you to Smith Publicity for sending me a free copy in exchange for my honest review!
March 30, 2018
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Told in flashbacks and present time, the story is about Ezekiel 'Zeke' and his religious mission, set out by his ancestors and members of a vigilante group called the Bald Knobbers, to punish the sinners. Dani, his most recent victim, is running low on time as she fights to survive and escape.
The full summary of the book had me right away. I'm not a religious person, but also not atheist, so it's always interesting reading a story about people taking everything in the bible too literally to the point of killing.
The beginning of the book is more development about Zeke's background and how he chooses his victims. Some events he witnessed as a child is highly disturbing. And his mother's story is more tragic than anything, especially considering how it affected her in the long run.
The middle of the book was a bit slow because there is so much detail involved when writing someone's escape. I liked Dani and even though it seemed like she was going to give up, she still finds strength to pull through.
I understand why it ended the way it did, but it didn't feel like the best way to end.
I won't give away any spoilers. The plot was well developed. I enjoyed Christopher Graves writing style and the way he goes back and forth from past to present. This is a story that deals with sensitive subjects such as abuse - emotionally and physically. So if those subjects trigger anything, while this book isn't overly detailed, use caution.
Told in flashbacks and present time, the story is about Ezekiel 'Zeke' and his religious mission, set out by his ancestors and members of a vigilante group called the Bald Knobbers, to punish the sinners. Dani, his most recent victim, is running low on time as she fights to survive and escape.
The full summary of the book had me right away. I'm not a religious person, but also not atheist, so it's always interesting reading a story about people taking everything in the bible too literally to the point of killing.
The beginning of the book is more development about Zeke's background and how he chooses his victims. Some events he witnessed as a child is highly disturbing. And his mother's story is more tragic than anything, especially considering how it affected her in the long run.
The middle of the book was a bit slow because there is so much detail involved when writing someone's escape. I liked Dani and even though it seemed like she was going to give up, she still finds strength to pull through.
I understand why it ended the way it did, but it didn't feel like the best way to end.
I won't give away any spoilers. The plot was well developed. I enjoyed Christopher Graves writing style and the way he goes back and forth from past to present. This is a story that deals with sensitive subjects such as abuse - emotionally and physically. So if those subjects trigger anything, while this book isn't overly detailed, use caution.
May 20, 2018
3/5*
Full review here: https://www.allcharacterswanted.com/b...
I’m not a huge fan of thrillers, and besides the J.D Robb “In Death” series, I don’t often read mysteries. But when the publishers offered to send me this book, it sounded interesting so I was ready to give it a read. One of the things I noticed — and became very clear while reading — is that Sinner is an adapted screenplay. There are definitely elements of this book that still read as a movie, so while it’s still visual, there were some things that I’m sure translated better on screen then in text.
I was much more drawn to the flashbacks of Zekes life then to the parts of the novel that took place in present day. I was sincerely interested in the cult from the 1800s and I would have liked to have more about the Bald Knobbers. And reading about Sylvia’s history, how she became Zekes mother and what she does to Faith was traumatizing but really well done. I think I would have preferred for this to entirely take place in the past instead of jumping between past and present. I found the history of Zeke to be much creepier then his present and it would’ve been great to have more of it.
Overall, this was an interesting book but not one I would go out of my way to read again. I would like to watch the movie now (on a very bright day so I don't get nightmares) because I can really imagine how this would translate on a screen, but the book itself didn't grab me as much as I would have hoped.
Full review here: https://www.allcharacterswanted.com/b...
I’m not a huge fan of thrillers, and besides the J.D Robb “In Death” series, I don’t often read mysteries. But when the publishers offered to send me this book, it sounded interesting so I was ready to give it a read. One of the things I noticed — and became very clear while reading — is that Sinner is an adapted screenplay. There are definitely elements of this book that still read as a movie, so while it’s still visual, there were some things that I’m sure translated better on screen then in text.
I was much more drawn to the flashbacks of Zekes life then to the parts of the novel that took place in present day. I was sincerely interested in the cult from the 1800s and I would have liked to have more about the Bald Knobbers. And reading about Sylvia’s history, how she became Zekes mother and what she does to Faith was traumatizing but really well done. I think I would have preferred for this to entirely take place in the past instead of jumping between past and present. I found the history of Zeke to be much creepier then his present and it would’ve been great to have more of it.
Overall, this was an interesting book but not one I would go out of my way to read again. I would like to watch the movie now (on a very bright day so I don't get nightmares) because I can really imagine how this would translate on a screen, but the book itself didn't grab me as much as I would have hoped.
April 5, 2018
Dani is trying to find her way in life and move on from her cheating ex-boyfriend by going out on a nice dinner date.
The evening soon draws to a close and Dani is filled with a great sense of happiness.
Until the shadows in her room come to life and reveal a mysterious figure in a mask.
Before she realizes it, Dani is abducted by none other than The Rattlesnake Killer. At his mercy, Dani experiences a firsthand world of horror and the twisted ritual where his victims are forced to face death or redemption.
Against all odds, dare she try and find a way to escape?
Christopher Graves has a writing style very reminiscent to classic thriller and horror novels, such as "The Silence of the Lambs" by Thomas Harris, which enthralls readers from the very first page. I found that the plot never slowed down its high-speed narrative that: ‘unmasked’ characters and their origins, delved into Zeke’s terrifying form of psychological and physical torment, and unleashed gasp worthy passages that showed the strength of a person's survival instinct.
Christopher Graves infuses "Sinner" with so many descriptions that you don’t just read the book. You experience it. "Sinner" is a heart pounding, page turning, read through the night book, and all these elements combined make "Sinner" a rather, shall we say, horrifying read that makes its own mark in the thriller genre.
The evening soon draws to a close and Dani is filled with a great sense of happiness.
Until the shadows in her room come to life and reveal a mysterious figure in a mask.
Before she realizes it, Dani is abducted by none other than The Rattlesnake Killer. At his mercy, Dani experiences a firsthand world of horror and the twisted ritual where his victims are forced to face death or redemption.
Against all odds, dare she try and find a way to escape?
Christopher Graves has a writing style very reminiscent to classic thriller and horror novels, such as "The Silence of the Lambs" by Thomas Harris, which enthralls readers from the very first page. I found that the plot never slowed down its high-speed narrative that: ‘unmasked’ characters and their origins, delved into Zeke’s terrifying form of psychological and physical torment, and unleashed gasp worthy passages that showed the strength of a person's survival instinct.
Christopher Graves infuses "Sinner" with so many descriptions that you don’t just read the book. You experience it. "Sinner" is a heart pounding, page turning, read through the night book, and all these elements combined make "Sinner" a rather, shall we say, horrifying read that makes its own mark in the thriller genre.
April 12, 2018
I received a copy of this book from Smith Publishing for review - thank you so much!
3.5 Stars
This book was an action filled, fast paced psychological thriller. This definitely had my heart racing and I was pretty impressed with the writing, storytelling, and plot. However, I do wish the characters had more depth and diversity, and I wish the book was a little long in order to give more historical and character context to the story.
You can read my original blurb below as well as my full review on my blog!
https://amandasafterword.wordpress.co...
Original Blurb
I think 3.5-4 stars? I definitely enjoyed this but it could have benefited from more backstory on Zeke’s parents, Zeke becoming a bald knobber, the legal implication of the Bald Knobbers legal issues, and more backstory into our victims. Basically I just feel like I personally would have loved that from a societal/ psychological perspective, although that probably would have decreased the suspense. This was pretty realistic to me and just scary in general, which made it hard for me to read sometimes. And I feel like Zeke’s “choices” in victims could have been more thoroughly “explained” (not that you could explain such a thing).
This is not a comphresive review, but just my immediate thoughts. Full review to come shortly.
Triggers for violence, rape, sexual assault & content, abuse in all forms, religious extremism.
3.5 Stars
This book was an action filled, fast paced psychological thriller. This definitely had my heart racing and I was pretty impressed with the writing, storytelling, and plot. However, I do wish the characters had more depth and diversity, and I wish the book was a little long in order to give more historical and character context to the story.
You can read my original blurb below as well as my full review on my blog!
https://amandasafterword.wordpress.co...
Original Blurb
I think 3.5-4 stars? I definitely enjoyed this but it could have benefited from more backstory on Zeke’s parents, Zeke becoming a bald knobber, the legal implication of the Bald Knobbers legal issues, and more backstory into our victims. Basically I just feel like I personally would have loved that from a societal/ psychological perspective, although that probably would have decreased the suspense. This was pretty realistic to me and just scary in general, which made it hard for me to read sometimes. And I feel like Zeke’s “choices” in victims could have been more thoroughly “explained” (not that you could explain such a thing).
This is not a comphresive review, but just my immediate thoughts. Full review to come shortly.
Triggers for violence, rape, sexual assault & content, abuse in all forms, religious extremism.
July 25, 2018
If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers (Thomas Harris) and horror (Stephen King), add this page-turner to your reading list. Just don’t read it at bedtime, unless you enjoy insomnia and/or nightmares.
Told in alternating perspective by the hunter (Zeke, serial-killin’ for the Lord) and the hunted (Dani, who just had her first decent date in years and is not about to go down like this), the story zips along from one disturbing sequence to the next. Snappy dialogue provides much needed comic relief; flashbacks give us glimpses of Zeke’s mommy issues/motivation to kill and Dani’s daddy issues/motivation to survive. Their final epic chase will leave you breathless.
Author Christopher Graves has a vivid imagination and a talent for plotlines, and he must have spent ages researching Bald Knobbers and Bible verses. He is not afraid to describe every element in minute detail. This ramps up the scare factor in violent scenes, but quieter moments get bogged down in adjectives. Nonetheless, Sinner is a worthy contribution to the genre. I hope it finds its way to the big screen.
Told in alternating perspective by the hunter (Zeke, serial-killin’ for the Lord) and the hunted (Dani, who just had her first decent date in years and is not about to go down like this), the story zips along from one disturbing sequence to the next. Snappy dialogue provides much needed comic relief; flashbacks give us glimpses of Zeke’s mommy issues/motivation to kill and Dani’s daddy issues/motivation to survive. Their final epic chase will leave you breathless.
Author Christopher Graves has a vivid imagination and a talent for plotlines, and he must have spent ages researching Bald Knobbers and Bible verses. He is not afraid to describe every element in minute detail. This ramps up the scare factor in violent scenes, but quieter moments get bogged down in adjectives. Nonetheless, Sinner is a worthy contribution to the genre. I hope it finds its way to the big screen.
February 16, 2018
I loved it. The plot of “SINNER” is gripping and never truly releases its grasp around your chest until you close the back cover. The end of each chapter is assurance you will turn the next page.
The characters are more than just “developed”. They are revealed in layers, peeled back, evolving throughout the book. I found myself conflicted regarding good and evil as linear characteristics. Sinner was compelling. Once I began, it was almost impossible to lay down. The tension, the excitement, the fear, and the realistic possibility made for a white knuckle ride and I loved every minute.
The characters are more than just “developed”. They are revealed in layers, peeled back, evolving throughout the book. I found myself conflicted regarding good and evil as linear characteristics. Sinner was compelling. Once I began, it was almost impossible to lay down. The tension, the excitement, the fear, and the realistic possibility made for a white knuckle ride and I loved every minute.
June 22, 2018
This is the first horror story I have ever read. I am not usually one to like to read or watch anything with the word horror in it. That being said, when I got the copy of this book to review I wasn’t aware that it is a horror story, I was quickly drawn in and then there was no turning back. There were so many dark and eerie parts that made me feel like I couldn’t read it before going to bed at night because it would take over my dreams. I really liked this book and found it hard to put down because I wanted to find out what happened next. I loved the detail in the author’s writing style. I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who enjoys a scary eerie story!
March 15, 2025
This was an excellent read. Dark story about a religious zealot. Loved it.
April 19, 2018
3.5/ 5
This book was creepy: like, don’t-read-when-you’re-home-alone creepy. This was another quick read that sucked me right in. I really liked how the plot moved back and forth between the present and Zeke’s past (which was seriously messed up). It kept the story moving while still giving the reader the backstory they needed to fully understand Zeke’s motivations/decisions. I’m still a little confused on what exactly happened to Zeke’s mother. When we first read about her she seems okay, but the next time we read about her she’s angry and violent and a different person.
I loved Dani. She was tough and I loved getting to be in her head so much. I went into this book thinking it would mostly be from Zeke’s point of view, so I enjoyed that I got so much of Dani throughout the book. It made her so much more than just a victim. I also really liked the secondary characters. They were all well thought out and each added an important part or plot point to the story.
I can see why this story won awards as a screenplay. It played out like a movie and I could picture everything so clearly. The ending was even creepier and this book definitely gave me the chills when I finished. I’ll never be able to look at goat horns the same after this (I’ll let you read the book to get that reference).
This book was creepy: like, don’t-read-when-you’re-home-alone creepy. This was another quick read that sucked me right in. I really liked how the plot moved back and forth between the present and Zeke’s past (which was seriously messed up). It kept the story moving while still giving the reader the backstory they needed to fully understand Zeke’s motivations/decisions. I’m still a little confused on what exactly happened to Zeke’s mother. When we first read about her she seems okay, but the next time we read about her she’s angry and violent and a different person.
I loved Dani. She was tough and I loved getting to be in her head so much. I went into this book thinking it would mostly be from Zeke’s point of view, so I enjoyed that I got so much of Dani throughout the book. It made her so much more than just a victim. I also really liked the secondary characters. They were all well thought out and each added an important part or plot point to the story.
I can see why this story won awards as a screenplay. It played out like a movie and I could picture everything so clearly. The ending was even creepier and this book definitely gave me the chills when I finished. I’ll never be able to look at goat horns the same after this (I’ll let you read the book to get that reference).
March 4, 2018
I was a little hesitant as I started reading this novel, as it is a not the usual thriller story line that I find myself drawn to. It didn't take long, however, for me to get sucked in and spending every free minute I could find reading this book.
Ezekiel, or Zeke, is a religious zealot who fancies himself to be a vigilante. He rids the earth of women who he deems filthy, immoral sinners.
The plot is mostly centralized around the experience of one of his victims as she is abducted, tortured, and attempts to break free and escape with her life. We also get a glimpse of another one of his victims, and some flashbacks onto Zeke's childhood, which help us understand how he came to be the man he is.
I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the story, all of the plot twists, and the unexpected ending. I highly recommend this book!
Ezekiel, or Zeke, is a religious zealot who fancies himself to be a vigilante. He rids the earth of women who he deems filthy, immoral sinners.
The plot is mostly centralized around the experience of one of his victims as she is abducted, tortured, and attempts to break free and escape with her life. We also get a glimpse of another one of his victims, and some flashbacks onto Zeke's childhood, which help us understand how he came to be the man he is.
I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the story, all of the plot twists, and the unexpected ending. I highly recommend this book!
April 5, 2018
Sinner is the last book I would ever recommend to anyone. It’s painful and amateurish. Graves writes like he is a novice trying to come across as an accomplished writer. I can almost imagine him flipping through a writer’s handbook, pointing at a literary device, and thinking yes, I’ll try that one. His depictions of rape and incest are flippant, disrespectful, and offensive. His female characters may be strong, but they’re empty. It is disorganized, lacks cohesion, riddled with grammar errors, completely devoid of any redeeming value, and reads like a bad high school first draft. Read my full review and even more honest review at https://bookishliaisons.wixsite.com/b...
May 20, 2019
5 stars
Extremely creepy, enough to keep you up at night. Like, this book was incredibly creepy and disgusting and eery. The writing was well done yet almost sounded like a screenplay at times. This book kept me engaged throughout the whole time, only taking breaks because it was too creepy to process it at all times.
Extremely creepy, enough to keep you up at night. Like, this book was incredibly creepy and disgusting and eery. The writing was well done yet almost sounded like a screenplay at times. This book kept me engaged throughout the whole time, only taking breaks because it was too creepy to process it at all times.
January 7, 2018
Graves introduces is to Zeke, the product of generations of religious zealots who feel it is God's will that they slay those that sinned. In the present, Zeke is labeled in the media as "The Rattlesnake Killer", due to some of the tools he uses to mete out God's justice. Through a series of flashbacks during the course of the tale, the reader discovers what his upbringing was like, and come to empathise, if not root for, Zeke.
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This is Christopher Graves' first novel, and I am impressed with his ability to create characters that you can not only visualize knowing in real life, but also people you can truly root for and hate at the same time. Graves' ability to create storylines with a nice pace, and twists that will keep the readers on their toes, is reminiscent of authors with much more writing experience. I'm expecting great things from Mr Graves in the future, and look forward to reading his next works.
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My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
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This is Christopher Graves' first novel, and I am impressed with his ability to create characters that you can not only visualize knowing in real life, but also people you can truly root for and hate at the same time. Graves' ability to create storylines with a nice pace, and twists that will keep the readers on their toes, is reminiscent of authors with much more writing experience. I'm expecting great things from Mr Graves in the future, and look forward to reading his next works.
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My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
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