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The Playing Card Killer
Brian Sheridan may be losing his mind. It’s getting hard to know what’s real.
He’s plagued by dreams of women strangled with a red velvet rope, their corpses left with a signature playing card. And while awake, he’s hallucinating a strange man who appears to be stalking him. Brian hopes all this is driven by his sudden withdrawal from a lifetime of anti-anxiety medications.
Then the victim from one of his nightmares shows up on the news. She’s been murdered and Brian immediately fears he may be the unwitting killer.
Detective Eric Weissbard thinks the same thing, and starts to build a case to get Brian behind bars and stop the string of horrific murders by the man the press have dubbed The Playing Card Killer.
Can being proven innocent be worse than being found guilty? That may be the case as the truth about The Playing Card Killer sucks Brian into a whirlpool of kidnapping, torture, and death.
And Weissbard is starting to have second thoughts about the evidence, and sees it may be pointing to someone else. It’s up to him to work outside the system to find the real killer before another victim dies. And that victim may be Brian.
He’s plagued by dreams of women strangled with a red velvet rope, their corpses left with a signature playing card. And while awake, he’s hallucinating a strange man who appears to be stalking him. Brian hopes all this is driven by his sudden withdrawal from a lifetime of anti-anxiety medications.
Then the victim from one of his nightmares shows up on the news. She’s been murdered and Brian immediately fears he may be the unwitting killer.
Detective Eric Weissbard thinks the same thing, and starts to build a case to get Brian behind bars and stop the string of horrific murders by the man the press have dubbed The Playing Card Killer.
Can being proven innocent be worse than being found guilty? That may be the case as the truth about The Playing Card Killer sucks Brian into a whirlpool of kidnapping, torture, and death.
And Weissbard is starting to have second thoughts about the evidence, and sees it may be pointing to someone else. It’s up to him to work outside the system to find the real killer before another victim dies. And that victim may be Brian.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
6 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
About the author
Russell James
49 books217 followersRussell R. James was raised on Long Island, New York and spent too much time watching Chiller, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and Dark Shadows, despite his parents’ warnings. Bookshelves full of Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe didn’t make things better. He graduated from Cornell University and the University of Central Florida.
After a tour flying helicopters with the U.S. Army, he now spins twisted tales best read in daylight.
His wife reads what he writes, rolls her eyes, and says “There is something seriously wrong with you.”
He has published the novels DARK INSPIRATION, SACRIFICE, BLACK MAGIC and DARK VENGEANCE, the compilations OUT OF TIME and TALES FROM BEYOND, as well as numerous short stories. He founded the Minnows Literary Group.
He and his wife share their home in sunny Florida with two cats.
Drop by the website to kill some time with some short stories.
After a tour flying helicopters with the U.S. Army, he now spins twisted tales best read in daylight.
His wife reads what he writes, rolls her eyes, and says “There is something seriously wrong with you.”
He has published the novels DARK INSPIRATION, SACRIFICE, BLACK MAGIC and DARK VENGEANCE, the compilations OUT OF TIME and TALES FROM BEYOND, as well as numerous short stories. He founded the Minnows Literary Group.
He and his wife share their home in sunny Florida with two cats.
Drop by the website to kill some time with some short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
February 19, 2019
THE PLAYING CARD KILLER was one twisty-turny thriller of a ride!
Brian is tired of taking anxiety meds as he's been taking them his entire life. He decides to quit them cold turkey and see what life is really like. Unfortunately, his panic and anxiety attacks return and they seem worse than ever. Also, he can't sleep without having terrible nightmares wherein he's strangling people. When Brian learns that the victims he's seeing in his dreams are actually being killed, his anxiety ramps up to a previously unknown level. Is he murdering people while he's asleep in some kind of sleepwalking trance? How could he do such a thing? You'll have to read this book to find out!
It's hard to talk about this story without spoilers, but I'll give it my best shot. While I don't think this tale added anything new to the thriller genre, I do think it gave an unflinching look at anxiety and panic attacks. In fact, it personified them in the form of Mr. Jitters and that WAS new. To be honest, Mr. Jitters freaked me out. I've had personal, close up experience of what panic and anxiety attacks can do to a person and I've seen what the meds can do as well. There's nothing good about any of it and this book addresses those facts head on.
I loved the characterization in this book, especially that of Brian and Detective Weissbard. They came across as real to me, with real life concerns and problems. I could understand why Brian wanted to be off of his meds and why it was so important to him. The only problems I really had with this story was that Weissbard's boss was a caricature of a "bad cop" and I thought that came across as a bit silly, even though I did hate the guy. Also, the real antagonist of this story didn't seem quite real to me at first, but as the tale progressed, I warmed up to him and I could see where he was coming from.
Overall, this fast paced story flew by and I enjoyed it. I think fans of psychological horror, serial killer stories and police procedurals would enjoy THE PLAYING CARD KILLER as well!
Recommended!
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2EipCDL
*Thank you to Flame Tree Press for the paperback copy in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*
Brian is tired of taking anxiety meds as he's been taking them his entire life. He decides to quit them cold turkey and see what life is really like. Unfortunately, his panic and anxiety attacks return and they seem worse than ever. Also, he can't sleep without having terrible nightmares wherein he's strangling people. When Brian learns that the victims he's seeing in his dreams are actually being killed, his anxiety ramps up to a previously unknown level. Is he murdering people while he's asleep in some kind of sleepwalking trance? How could he do such a thing? You'll have to read this book to find out!
It's hard to talk about this story without spoilers, but I'll give it my best shot. While I don't think this tale added anything new to the thriller genre, I do think it gave an unflinching look at anxiety and panic attacks. In fact, it personified them in the form of Mr. Jitters and that WAS new. To be honest, Mr. Jitters freaked me out. I've had personal, close up experience of what panic and anxiety attacks can do to a person and I've seen what the meds can do as well. There's nothing good about any of it and this book addresses those facts head on.
I loved the characterization in this book, especially that of Brian and Detective Weissbard. They came across as real to me, with real life concerns and problems. I could understand why Brian wanted to be off of his meds and why it was so important to him. The only problems I really had with this story was that Weissbard's boss was a caricature of a "bad cop" and I thought that came across as a bit silly, even though I did hate the guy. Also, the real antagonist of this story didn't seem quite real to me at first, but as the tale progressed, I warmed up to him and I could see where he was coming from.
Overall, this fast paced story flew by and I enjoyed it. I think fans of psychological horror, serial killer stories and police procedurals would enjoy THE PLAYING CARD KILLER as well!
Recommended!
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/2EipCDL
*Thank you to Flame Tree Press for the paperback copy in exchange for my honest feedback. This is it.*
Want to read
December 15, 2018This book is an ARC, uncorrected proof, due for publication February 2019.
November 8, 2025
Crime and horror fiction find themselves thrown together in this stunning psychological horror thriller. The antagonist is experiencing hallucinations, nightmares of a killer, but not taking medication is seen as the reason. But later as the story evolves you will see things are more complex and darker than originally thought. A sheer intense and sometimes claustrophobic read, will have you screaming in delight and horror…..
January 31, 2019
Well, I can only say that I enjoyed every page of this!
You have a solid mix of serial killer thriller with a bit of supernatural influence.
Our characters are damaged, but so engaging – even the one you love to hate.
And I’m happy to say that the author surprised me both with what was really going on and with a terrific ending!
Very happy to have read this one.
* ARC provided via Net Galley
You have a solid mix of serial killer thriller with a bit of supernatural influence.
Our characters are damaged, but so engaging – even the one you love to hate.
And I’m happy to say that the author surprised me both with what was really going on and with a terrific ending!
Very happy to have read this one.
* ARC provided via Net Galley
May 26, 2019
Brian Sheridan has been on medication for anxiety and ADHD for most of his young life. At the age of 20, he decides he's had enough of being drugged all the time. However, there are consequences.
First his girlfriend leaves him .. she's not willing to take care of him. Then the nightmares start. But are they really nightmares? He dreams of women being strangled ... he can see the women through the killer's eyes. Are they violent dreams ... or violent memories? He doesn't worry until he sees one of the victims on the television news.
He's goes to the police, which turns into a disaster. Now Brian is the number one suspect. So is he the killer? Or does he have a gift? And he can't forget about Mr. Jitters.
Detective Eric Weissbard thinks he has his man ... but does he? He's' starting to have second thoughts about the evidence .. and it points in an entirely different direction.
This is a psychological thriller mixed with a little paranormal, a little horror, and a dose of mental illness. There's lots of action, especially the further in to the book you get. It's in turn puzzling and horrifying.
Many thanks to the author / Flame Tree Press / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 5, 2019
My review of The Playing Card Killer can be found at High Fever Books.
The Playing Card Killer, Flame Tree Press’ latest release from the prolific Russell James, is a solid and engaging serial killer thriller with a supernatural twist.
Brian Sheridan suffers from a spate of mental disorders, including chronic anxiety and depression. He’s given up on the court-ordered therapy he’s been sentenced to until his 21st birthday, just a few weeks away, and has flushed the prescriptions that keep his head straight right down the toilet. Tormented by Mister Jitters, the hallucinatory form of his anxiety given shape, Brian begins seeing other, stranger things. His sleep is plagued by nightmares of women being murdered, strangled to death by a red velvet rope, a single playing card left with their bodies. This happens night after night, and then he sees the news reports. These are not merely dreams. He’s witnessing the murders through the eyes of a serial killer. Or…he could be the killer himself…
If you struggle from anxiety, I suspect you might find Sheridan pretty relatable. He just wants to be normal, but battles his mental health conditions on a daily basis. Being riddled with anxiety, his mind racing a million miles an hour from ADHD, is the normal state of affairs for him. Being on a number of prescriptions meant to balance him out makes him feel strange, slower, irregular — in short, the complete opposite of what they’re meant to do. Quitting the pills is easy, even if going cold turkey is a disastrous approach with some quite unexpected outcomes.
James does a wonderful job making Sheridan a sympathetic character, but also one who is highly unreliable. We’re never quite sure what direction the author might spin this story toward, or how far off the rails Sheridan may have gone. Given the number of mental health problems Sheridan presents, it’s entirely plausible that he could be the killer, just as the police suspect, or that being so heavily medicated dampened the natural higher-order powers of his brain that make him supernaturally gifted. That we spend much of the first half of the book guessing which way James will go kept me on my toes, looking for clues.
The downside is that The Playing Card Killer is ultimately a pretty standard serial killer story and James heavily relies on the tropes of this particular subgenre, which makes this read feel overly familiar. It hits all the expected beats, almost exactly right when you expect them to. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel or do anything particularly original or cunning with the material, it is an entertaining enough read overall, one that reminded me a bit of Dean Koontz during the latter years of his heyday (minus the cloyingly saccharine dog worship, thankfully).
Without spoiling anything, I will say that I was satisfied with the plot surrounding the serial killer even if I didn’t particularly care for the psychopath’s personality. For my tastes, he was too much of a frat-boy, but I did appreciate the way his good mood could stop on a dime and morph into something far more sinister. It’s clear there’s a lot of mental damage surrounding him, and James did a spectacular job of making me cringe during one particular instance of a captive’s torture late in the book. It may be a bit of a riff on the movie version of Misery, but was no less potent despite its familiarity.
Speaking of familiarity, I suspect that Spanish serial killer Alfredo Galán was influential on James during this story’s development. Galán, too, was known for his playing card signature, and like Brian he, too, worked as a security guard and suffered from anxiety and neurosis. That’s about where the similarities end I think, but it’s interesting to see some of the similarities and differences between the real-life Playing Card Killer and this highly fictionalized copycat killer.
The Playing Card Killer is a perfectly serviceable supernatural thriller, and James’ story was lively enough to keep me turning the pages even if I wasn’t particularly surprised by the various twists and turns the story took. It’s a solid bit of escapism, and this detour to Tampa, FL provided some welcome imaginings of sun and heat during a potent blast of Arctic cold in my region.
[Note: I received an advance copy of this title from the publisher, Flame Tree Press.]
The Playing Card Killer, Flame Tree Press’ latest release from the prolific Russell James, is a solid and engaging serial killer thriller with a supernatural twist.
Brian Sheridan suffers from a spate of mental disorders, including chronic anxiety and depression. He’s given up on the court-ordered therapy he’s been sentenced to until his 21st birthday, just a few weeks away, and has flushed the prescriptions that keep his head straight right down the toilet. Tormented by Mister Jitters, the hallucinatory form of his anxiety given shape, Brian begins seeing other, stranger things. His sleep is plagued by nightmares of women being murdered, strangled to death by a red velvet rope, a single playing card left with their bodies. This happens night after night, and then he sees the news reports. These are not merely dreams. He’s witnessing the murders through the eyes of a serial killer. Or…he could be the killer himself…
If you struggle from anxiety, I suspect you might find Sheridan pretty relatable. He just wants to be normal, but battles his mental health conditions on a daily basis. Being riddled with anxiety, his mind racing a million miles an hour from ADHD, is the normal state of affairs for him. Being on a number of prescriptions meant to balance him out makes him feel strange, slower, irregular — in short, the complete opposite of what they’re meant to do. Quitting the pills is easy, even if going cold turkey is a disastrous approach with some quite unexpected outcomes.
James does a wonderful job making Sheridan a sympathetic character, but also one who is highly unreliable. We’re never quite sure what direction the author might spin this story toward, or how far off the rails Sheridan may have gone. Given the number of mental health problems Sheridan presents, it’s entirely plausible that he could be the killer, just as the police suspect, or that being so heavily medicated dampened the natural higher-order powers of his brain that make him supernaturally gifted. That we spend much of the first half of the book guessing which way James will go kept me on my toes, looking for clues.
The downside is that The Playing Card Killer is ultimately a pretty standard serial killer story and James heavily relies on the tropes of this particular subgenre, which makes this read feel overly familiar. It hits all the expected beats, almost exactly right when you expect them to. While it doesn’t reinvent the wheel or do anything particularly original or cunning with the material, it is an entertaining enough read overall, one that reminded me a bit of Dean Koontz during the latter years of his heyday (minus the cloyingly saccharine dog worship, thankfully).
Without spoiling anything, I will say that I was satisfied with the plot surrounding the serial killer even if I didn’t particularly care for the psychopath’s personality. For my tastes, he was too much of a frat-boy, but I did appreciate the way his good mood could stop on a dime and morph into something far more sinister. It’s clear there’s a lot of mental damage surrounding him, and James did a spectacular job of making me cringe during one particular instance of a captive’s torture late in the book. It may be a bit of a riff on the movie version of Misery, but was no less potent despite its familiarity.
Speaking of familiarity, I suspect that Spanish serial killer Alfredo Galán was influential on James during this story’s development. Galán, too, was known for his playing card signature, and like Brian he, too, worked as a security guard and suffered from anxiety and neurosis. That’s about where the similarities end I think, but it’s interesting to see some of the similarities and differences between the real-life Playing Card Killer and this highly fictionalized copycat killer.
The Playing Card Killer is a perfectly serviceable supernatural thriller, and James’ story was lively enough to keep me turning the pages even if I wasn’t particularly surprised by the various twists and turns the story took. It’s a solid bit of escapism, and this detour to Tampa, FL provided some welcome imaginings of sun and heat during a potent blast of Arctic cold in my region.
[Note: I received an advance copy of this title from the publisher, Flame Tree Press.]
November 23, 2025
I don't know where my review went. The protagonist gets to see through the eyes of a killer. The mystery is the key to this novel, hence no spoilers. What I can say is that this goes in a different direction to what I previously thought that it would go. There's some very dark and thrilling scenes in this book, I'm convinced that you will enjoy it as much as I did. A full 5 stars. Excellent.
January 26, 2019
I really like this crime thriller and the characters. My review is posted here ---> https://wp.me/p5t5Tf-1LE
March 29, 2019
It's not easy to take the ol' serial killer story and make it new again, but James manages to do just that in The Playing Card Killer.
It's also not an easy story to read. When we meet the protagonist, Brian Sheridan has been beaten down by life, unloved by most, and is pretty much what one would describe as a "born loser." His life isn't a pleasant place to be. And then he decides to do what everyone around him thinks is a colossal mistake--go off the anxiety medication that's been keeping him on a somewhat-even keel for years.
Sheridan immediately starts experiencing vivid nightmares--nightmares that turn out to be terrible predictions. A killer is loose in Tampa, and Sheridan is forced to relive the crimes through his horrific visions. When he goes to the cops with what he knows, he inevitably becomes their number one suspect.
From a mundane, tortured existence, Sheridan's life becomes a wild ride, with several unexpected twists along the way. Once I hit the last third of the book, I couldn't put it down until I knew how everything turned out, and as usual, James nails it with the ending. Just don't do what I did and glance at the author's note at the back before you finish the book--it contains a spoiler.
Recommended.
It's also not an easy story to read. When we meet the protagonist, Brian Sheridan has been beaten down by life, unloved by most, and is pretty much what one would describe as a "born loser." His life isn't a pleasant place to be. And then he decides to do what everyone around him thinks is a colossal mistake--go off the anxiety medication that's been keeping him on a somewhat-even keel for years.
Sheridan immediately starts experiencing vivid nightmares--nightmares that turn out to be terrible predictions. A killer is loose in Tampa, and Sheridan is forced to relive the crimes through his horrific visions. When he goes to the cops with what he knows, he inevitably becomes their number one suspect.
From a mundane, tortured existence, Sheridan's life becomes a wild ride, with several unexpected twists along the way. Once I hit the last third of the book, I couldn't put it down until I knew how everything turned out, and as usual, James nails it with the ending. Just don't do what I did and glance at the author's note at the back before you finish the book--it contains a spoiler.
Recommended.
April 11, 2019
Review copy
Wow. First, read for a brand new author for me and I absolutely loved it. There truly is no greater thrill than finding a new writer whose work keeps you guessing from start to finish. OK, I can think of one or two greater thrills, but you get the point.
Brian is off his meds and having the most disturbing nightmares. He's seeing the murders being committed by a serial killer who's been dubbed the Playing Card Killer by the press. His girlfriend, Daniela, is less than happy he's gone med free, as a matter of fact, she's done unless he reconsiders his decision.
For a while, the reader is lead to believe, Brian is actually the killer and that's what the police believe when he shows up with what he's seen in his dreams.
That's enough. To tell you more would spoil all the surprises. Buy this book now and add it to your TBR pile. You can thank me later. And you will.
The story itself was rather simple, but the execution in writing took the tale to a higher level. A masterfully crafted, horrifically powerful story. Expect the unexpected in this deliciously twisted tale.
The playing card KIller is fast-paced and brilliantly plotted. And then there are my five favorite words in the entire book...
"It was time for revenge."
I whole-heartedly recommend this near-perfect thriller.
Published by Flame Tree Press, The Playing Card Killer is available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audio formats.
From the author's bio - Russell R. James was raised on Long Island, New York and spent too much time watching Chiller, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and Dark Shadows, despite his parents' warnings. Bookshelves full of Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe didn't make things better. He graduated from Cornell University and the University of Central Florida.
After flying helicopters with the U.S. Army, he now spins twisted tales, including horror thrillers Dark Inspiration, Q Island, and The Playing Card Killer. His Grant Coleman adventure series covers Cavern of the Damned, Monsters in the Clouds, and Curse of the Viper King. He resides in sunny Florida. His wife reads his work, rolls her eyes, and says "There is something seriously wrong with you."
Wow. First, read for a brand new author for me and I absolutely loved it. There truly is no greater thrill than finding a new writer whose work keeps you guessing from start to finish. OK, I can think of one or two greater thrills, but you get the point.
Brian is off his meds and having the most disturbing nightmares. He's seeing the murders being committed by a serial killer who's been dubbed the Playing Card Killer by the press. His girlfriend, Daniela, is less than happy he's gone med free, as a matter of fact, she's done unless he reconsiders his decision.
For a while, the reader is lead to believe, Brian is actually the killer and that's what the police believe when he shows up with what he's seen in his dreams.
That's enough. To tell you more would spoil all the surprises. Buy this book now and add it to your TBR pile. You can thank me later. And you will.
The story itself was rather simple, but the execution in writing took the tale to a higher level. A masterfully crafted, horrifically powerful story. Expect the unexpected in this deliciously twisted tale.
The playing card KIller is fast-paced and brilliantly plotted. And then there are my five favorite words in the entire book...
"It was time for revenge."
I whole-heartedly recommend this near-perfect thriller.
Published by Flame Tree Press, The Playing Card Killer is available in hardcover, paperback, e-book, and audio formats.
From the author's bio - Russell R. James was raised on Long Island, New York and spent too much time watching Chiller, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and Dark Shadows, despite his parents' warnings. Bookshelves full of Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe didn't make things better. He graduated from Cornell University and the University of Central Florida.
After flying helicopters with the U.S. Army, he now spins twisted tales, including horror thrillers Dark Inspiration, Q Island, and The Playing Card Killer. His Grant Coleman adventure series covers Cavern of the Damned, Monsters in the Clouds, and Curse of the Viper King. He resides in sunny Florida. His wife reads his work, rolls her eyes, and says "There is something seriously wrong with you."
February 18, 2019
Well, I have to say that I enjoyed every minute of this cracking crime/thriller!
I loved that, straight-away, Russell James introduces Brian Sheridan, who is currently on medication for anxiety-related problems. Brian decides to stop taking his medication as he thinks that he is living life through fog and haze which he hates. As a result, he is tormented by dreams of women being strangled, then left with a playing card tucked in their corpse. When he sees an apparent victim on the news, dead, Brian fears he may be the unwitting killer. Detective Eric Weissbard thinks the same thing and starts to build a case to get Brian convicted. But there's so much more to these murders…
Brian discovers that he has a brother, Tyler, with a penchant for murder. Tyler is willing to frame Brian for the crimes unless Brian wants to join Team Playing Card Killer.
Russell James’ sympathetic portrayal of the immensely likeable Brian was wonderful to read as his neuroses and delusions were laid bare and there was no hidden side to him. Brian is a troubled young man with an adoptive family with whom he barely has any sort of relationship. His girlfriend, Daniela, by contrast, is confident, and self -assured and she delivers Brian an ultimatum - either he continues with his medication or she will leave him.
I also liked Russell James’ fantastic character portrayal of Detective Weissbard who is talented, analytical and operates mostly and very successfully on gut instinct. However, he is disrespected by his colleagues and is assigned to chasing all the non-eventful leads and red herrings. That is until a jittery young guy arrives at the station, claiming to have detailed knowledge of the investigation that hasn't been revealed.
For me, THE PLAYING CARD KILLER explores some freaky imaginings and is full of creepy vibes. It's a fantastic thriller that surprised me with a mystery that borders on a grim horror novel. I was never quite sure exactly how far off the rails Brian had gone or where the author was going next with this disturbing but exciting story. The suspense was so great that I was on the edge of my seat because I was so absorbed with Brian and Detective Weissbard.
THE PLAYING CARD KILLER held my interest from start to finish and the way in which Russell James brought everything to a conclusion was just fabulous. I loved it and it has left me eager to read more from this author. I would recommend THE PLAYING CARD KILLER to anyone who likes this genre.
[Thank you to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press and Russell James for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.]
I loved that, straight-away, Russell James introduces Brian Sheridan, who is currently on medication for anxiety-related problems. Brian decides to stop taking his medication as he thinks that he is living life through fog and haze which he hates. As a result, he is tormented by dreams of women being strangled, then left with a playing card tucked in their corpse. When he sees an apparent victim on the news, dead, Brian fears he may be the unwitting killer. Detective Eric Weissbard thinks the same thing and starts to build a case to get Brian convicted. But there's so much more to these murders…
Brian discovers that he has a brother, Tyler, with a penchant for murder. Tyler is willing to frame Brian for the crimes unless Brian wants to join Team Playing Card Killer.
Russell James’ sympathetic portrayal of the immensely likeable Brian was wonderful to read as his neuroses and delusions were laid bare and there was no hidden side to him. Brian is a troubled young man with an adoptive family with whom he barely has any sort of relationship. His girlfriend, Daniela, by contrast, is confident, and self -assured and she delivers Brian an ultimatum - either he continues with his medication or she will leave him.
I also liked Russell James’ fantastic character portrayal of Detective Weissbard who is talented, analytical and operates mostly and very successfully on gut instinct. However, he is disrespected by his colleagues and is assigned to chasing all the non-eventful leads and red herrings. That is until a jittery young guy arrives at the station, claiming to have detailed knowledge of the investigation that hasn't been revealed.
For me, THE PLAYING CARD KILLER explores some freaky imaginings and is full of creepy vibes. It's a fantastic thriller that surprised me with a mystery that borders on a grim horror novel. I was never quite sure exactly how far off the rails Brian had gone or where the author was going next with this disturbing but exciting story. The suspense was so great that I was on the edge of my seat because I was so absorbed with Brian and Detective Weissbard.
THE PLAYING CARD KILLER held my interest from start to finish and the way in which Russell James brought everything to a conclusion was just fabulous. I loved it and it has left me eager to read more from this author. I would recommend THE PLAYING CARD KILLER to anyone who likes this genre.
[Thank you to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press and Russell James for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.]
October 14, 2022
Brian Sheridan may be losing his mind or is he?
I enjoyed this book, I found the content engaging and Brian was easy to like, sad and had depth. I especially enjoyed the interplay between Brian and Mr. Jitters, I felt the battle of his ADHD and anxiety within himself. He sees visions of killings after going off of his meds and doesn't know if maybe he could be the killer.
Overall this was a great crime thriller with a cleaver plot and great characters.
I enjoyed this book, I found the content engaging and Brian was easy to like, sad and had depth. I especially enjoyed the interplay between Brian and Mr. Jitters, I felt the battle of his ADHD and anxiety within himself. He sees visions of killings after going off of his meds and doesn't know if maybe he could be the killer.
Overall this was a great crime thriller with a cleaver plot and great characters.
February 21, 2019
I love Russell James's books. He covers horror in a variety of ways - sometimes with humour, with an Indiana Jones type adventure, sometimes black magic... Pretty much, you name it and Russell James has it nailed. Now, with The Playing Card Killer, we have an horrific series of killings. Someone has embarked on a murderous spree and Brian Sheridan can see through that deadly slaughterer's eyes. It's got so bad that he thinks he is going out of his mind. Certainly he is a man with a lot of psychological problems. So much so, that he is supposed to be on regular medication. But Brian stopped taking the stuff. He didn't like living life wrapped in a hazy cloud of drugs. So, maybe it;s withdrawal symptoms making the illusions so real?
And then the unthinkable happens, one of the women he has seen strangled in his nightmares, really is murdered.
Surely he must tell someone. But it's such a risk. Is anyone going to believe that with such apparent inside knowledge he isn't actually the killer?
Vivid, graphic, horrific and twisted, The Playing Card Killer wracks up the tension until the final climactic ending. It makes for powerful reading.
And then the unthinkable happens, one of the women he has seen strangled in his nightmares, really is murdered.
Surely he must tell someone. But it's such a risk. Is anyone going to believe that with such apparent inside knowledge he isn't actually the killer?
Vivid, graphic, horrific and twisted, The Playing Card Killer wracks up the tension until the final climactic ending. It makes for powerful reading.
September 2, 2019
Russell James plays a killer hand with this thriller that goes straight for the jugular and never lets up. The psychological interplay between Brian, his “Mr Jitters”, and the titular killer is reminiscent of genre favourites ‘Scanners’ and ‘Dexter’. Readers will feel the physicality of certain chapters until they wince and the novel’s endgame is as taut as a velvet rope.
December 18, 2018
I need to read more from this author. His breakneck pacing and character development are amazing and the twist in this one is fun as you see it develop. Going to find more from Mr. james to read!
February 19, 2019
Well, welcome to the cray cray for sure of Mr James! This book had me hooked from the start as we watch Brian trying to struggle with day to day life after coming off all his medication. The hallucinations he started to have were quite frankly mental and if I had been experiencing them, terrifying! I mean how would you cope if the “hallucinations” you were having were occurring in real life!
I mean to be visiting by Mr Jitters, erm no thank you, you can move along with that one thanks!! The description of Mr Jitters was something out a horror film, Slenderman with a face came to mind!
When we are not with Brian, going through withdrawal and the intense mind-boggling dreams, we are introduced to Detective Weissbard. Weissbard is a retired NYPD policeman, residing in Tampa and who was the lead on the Playing Card Killer case but his douche boss pulled rank.
So enough about the plot is this an author I would be happy to pick up and read again, hell yeah!!! The thrill of this book with the unsolved crimes with a dash of the supernatural is perfect for me! My first outing with Mr James has been an eye-opener for sure!
He has given a voice to some damaged and crazy people, but he has made them so arresting that you keep the pages turning to find out how it will all end. Mr James has also made Brian highly unreliable, I mean are these just dreams we are experiencing with him? Or could he be the Playing Card Killer? I mean he couldn’t be……….could he?
The writing style is an easy one to sit back in and devour the words. It draws you in a piece by piece and is extremely unwanting of letting you go.
Flame Tree Press is my go-to publisher at the moment, I have not read a book by them that has disappointed me yet. With their upcoming epic schedule of releases, I can not wait to get my grubby little mitts on the books!
February 19, 2019
The bond between twins is a fascinating thing, and not all aspects of it can be explained by science. In this gripping thriller, Russell James explores what happens when a pair of twins start out disadvantaged - by a mother who drank and took drugs while they were in the womb - and are then adopted separately. One of them, Brian, is the protagonist of the book and unaware that he ever had a twin. When he developed severe anxiety as a child, his adoptive parents took him to get help, and he’s been on medication ever since, medication which comes with significant side effects. Choosing to stop taking it just before he turns 21, Brian starts having vivid dreams of murdered women, dreams which feel terrifyingly real.
When real women start turning up dead in situations which exactly match his visions, Brian wonders if he’s genuinely insane, if he could even be a killer. The truth is far more sinister, and he can’t even begin to believe it’s true until he’s kidnapped… by his own evil twin who wants Brian to join him in a killing spree!
I really felt for Brian, battling his own internal demons as well as external pressures. Though his life hadn’t by any means been easy, he still had a strong moral compass and the will to do whatever he had to in order to stop his psychotic brother. Although at first the narrative feels a little disjointed, it’s an accurate representation of Brian’s mental state as he went cold turkey on his medication, and I felt it helped me really get into his perspective. As the story goes on, it gets more thrilling and faster paced, until by the final confrontation I was reading on the edge of my seat.
An excellent thriller with an intriguing premise, I’m giving this one five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley.
When real women start turning up dead in situations which exactly match his visions, Brian wonders if he’s genuinely insane, if he could even be a killer. The truth is far more sinister, and he can’t even begin to believe it’s true until he’s kidnapped… by his own evil twin who wants Brian to join him in a killing spree!
I really felt for Brian, battling his own internal demons as well as external pressures. Though his life hadn’t by any means been easy, he still had a strong moral compass and the will to do whatever he had to in order to stop his psychotic brother. Although at first the narrative feels a little disjointed, it’s an accurate representation of Brian’s mental state as he went cold turkey on his medication, and I felt it helped me really get into his perspective. As the story goes on, it gets more thrilling and faster paced, until by the final confrontation I was reading on the edge of my seat.
An excellent thriller with an intriguing premise, I’m giving this one five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley.
February 11, 2019
I would like the thank Flame Tree Press for a copy of The Playing Card Killer by Russell James in exchange for an honest review. The book has a release date of February 14.
A thriller involving a serial killer, kidnapping, a character called Mr. Jitters, and a hint of the supernatural - the perfect book for Valentine's Day right?! Well maybe not but The Playing Card Killer was an exciting thriller that gave me some anxiety at parts. I don't often read thrillers because sometimes they can be a bit over the top, as if the author was just trying to come up with the juiciest storyline even if that came at the expense of believability. There were no twists just for the sake of a twist; everything was calculated. And even a pretty big twist was revealed fairly early on leaving me to wonder, “well now what?!” Now what? Oh, don't worry. Plenty was yet to come. I really couldn't guess the outcome of the book; which is like to attribute to James storytelling rather than my powers (or lack thereof) of observation.
I loved how James wrote the main protagonist, Brian, so sweet, so likeable, yet unreliable. I love an unreliable narrator, it adds another layer of intrigue. Every character was well developed and all had very real personality traits. I would have liked to see Mr. Jitters play a bit of a larger role. He was very interesting to me.
And I will always enjoy author's notes following a book. I love the little glimpses into the writing (and thinking) process. It always gives the story more heart and makes the author more relatable.
A thriller involving a serial killer, kidnapping, a character called Mr. Jitters, and a hint of the supernatural - the perfect book for Valentine's Day right?! Well maybe not but The Playing Card Killer was an exciting thriller that gave me some anxiety at parts. I don't often read thrillers because sometimes they can be a bit over the top, as if the author was just trying to come up with the juiciest storyline even if that came at the expense of believability. There were no twists just for the sake of a twist; everything was calculated. And even a pretty big twist was revealed fairly early on leaving me to wonder, “well now what?!” Now what? Oh, don't worry. Plenty was yet to come. I really couldn't guess the outcome of the book; which is like to attribute to James storytelling rather than my powers (or lack thereof) of observation.
I loved how James wrote the main protagonist, Brian, so sweet, so likeable, yet unreliable. I love an unreliable narrator, it adds another layer of intrigue. Every character was well developed and all had very real personality traits. I would have liked to see Mr. Jitters play a bit of a larger role. He was very interesting to me.
And I will always enjoy author's notes following a book. I love the little glimpses into the writing (and thinking) process. It always gives the story more heart and makes the author more relatable.
November 27, 2018
This was quite an enjoyable book, the first I've ever read Russell James' book. I enjoyed his style of writing and the plot along with the twists and turns. I read this book in a couple of days and when I was not reading it I was thinking about it. I quite enjoyed it and I will look forward to more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for giving me the ARC in exchange of my honest review.
November 29, 2018
Serial killers and mental illiness? I'm in! This novel was a new offering from Flame Tree Press and I grabbed it, even setting aside other books that I was reading to jump in.
I wish the writing lived up to my expectations. The story itself was ok; but the writing was somewhat uneven. For those who haven't read many serial killer novels, you're sure to find this an enjoyable read.
I wish the writing lived up to my expectations. The story itself was ok; but the writing was somewhat uneven. For those who haven't read many serial killer novels, you're sure to find this an enjoyable read.
March 5, 2019
Stars: 3.5/5
Review coming soon.
Review coming soon.
December 20, 2018
This is a really well written crime/thriller. Reminded me of the style Robert Swartwood writes. It was fast paced when it needed to be and slower to allow for good character development when needed. There are some twists which I won't spoil. The main characters battle with ADHD and anxiety was well done. This seems very timely as it is an issue not well understood by anyone not dealing with any mental health issues of their own, hopefully it helps make people who aren't suffering something sympathize with those who are. This was a fast read for me so if you're looking for an interesting book that isn't too long I highly recommend it.
November 27, 2018
This was quite an enjoyable book, the first I've ever read Russell James' book. I enjoyed his style of writing and the plot along with the twists and turns. I read this book in a couple of days and when I was not reading it I was thinking about it. I quite enjoyed it and I will look forward to more from this author. Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for giving me the ARC in exchange of my honest review.
February 1, 2019
Well, this was a Flame Tree Press ARC that I didn't know anything about, but as soon as I started I was instantly hooked.
When Brian Sheridan decides to stop taking the cocktail of medication that controls his ADHD and anxiety, he thought life would lose the endless haze he hates. He expected withdrawals, but didn't think the frightening personification of his panic attacks--that manifests as a creature called Mr. Jitters--would return. Or that every time he went to sleep he would start witnessing the brutal murder of women he doesn't know.
But when one of the victims is on the news, he realises his hallucinations might be so much more.
Detective Eric Weissbard recently retired from New York to Florida, and has gone back to work. But he gets no respect and ends up chasing all the crappy leads. Until a nervous young man comes to the station and knows details about the investigation the police haven't revealed...
Wow. This book turned out to be an unexpected gem. Not only is the concept enough to grab the reader, but the story becomes addictive, and the characters are so true to life they keep you interested. In spite of their flaws and dysfunction, I couldn't put this book down!
Brian is a mentally-scarred young man with an adoptive family who barely tolerates him, a girlfriend determined to fix him, and has a long list of mental health issues. And he's such an excellent main character. He's jittery, neurotic and delusional enough to make everyone--including himself--doubt what's going on.
He's also a really likeable guy. I felt so bad for him. The ordeal he goes through is awful.
Detective Weissbard is an awesome and talented detective willing to analyse everything. He doesn't leave any stone unturned, has more skills than his superiors and becomes the most resented guy in the office. But he refuses to ignore his gut instinct and has a caring and supportive wife. I loved their marriage, enjoyed the hell out all of their scenes.
This book is full of creepy vibes and explores some freaky tropes: twin connections, broken characters, seemingly unreliable narrator. It's a fantastic thriller with a mystery that ventures into some grim horror territory.
The Playing Card Killer totally took me by surprise. I enjoyed every single tense moment. The suspense builds from the beginning of the book but during the last fifty pages, I was on the edge of my seat because I was so invested in Brian and Weissbard.
This book blew me away because it turned out to be SO awesome.
I think I need to read more from this author.
When Brian Sheridan decides to stop taking the cocktail of medication that controls his ADHD and anxiety, he thought life would lose the endless haze he hates. He expected withdrawals, but didn't think the frightening personification of his panic attacks--that manifests as a creature called Mr. Jitters--would return. Or that every time he went to sleep he would start witnessing the brutal murder of women he doesn't know.
But when one of the victims is on the news, he realises his hallucinations might be so much more.
Detective Eric Weissbard recently retired from New York to Florida, and has gone back to work. But he gets no respect and ends up chasing all the crappy leads. Until a nervous young man comes to the station and knows details about the investigation the police haven't revealed...
Wow. This book turned out to be an unexpected gem. Not only is the concept enough to grab the reader, but the story becomes addictive, and the characters are so true to life they keep you interested. In spite of their flaws and dysfunction, I couldn't put this book down!
Brian is a mentally-scarred young man with an adoptive family who barely tolerates him, a girlfriend determined to fix him, and has a long list of mental health issues. And he's such an excellent main character. He's jittery, neurotic and delusional enough to make everyone--including himself--doubt what's going on.
He's also a really likeable guy. I felt so bad for him. The ordeal he goes through is awful.
Detective Weissbard is an awesome and talented detective willing to analyse everything. He doesn't leave any stone unturned, has more skills than his superiors and becomes the most resented guy in the office. But he refuses to ignore his gut instinct and has a caring and supportive wife. I loved their marriage, enjoyed the hell out all of their scenes.
This book is full of creepy vibes and explores some freaky tropes: twin connections, broken characters, seemingly unreliable narrator. It's a fantastic thriller with a mystery that ventures into some grim horror territory.
The Playing Card Killer totally took me by surprise. I enjoyed every single tense moment. The suspense builds from the beginning of the book but during the last fifty pages, I was on the edge of my seat because I was so invested in Brian and Weissbard.
This book blew me away because it turned out to be SO awesome.
I think I need to read more from this author.
February 11, 2019
Set in Tampa, Florida, THE PLAYING CARD KILLER is a twisty psychological thriller with a murder mystery entwined plus elements of the Paranormal. Poor Brian, adopted young, has always since early childhood suffered with anxiety disorders. Put on a court-appointed therapy and medication regime at thirteen, he is nearly twenty now. He has a decent, if unexciting, job, a new girlfriend, and an apartment. He also has occasional dinners with his adoptive family, which is enough to give even a person with anxiety disorder trouble. But Brian's real trouble begins when he decides to give up the medications, which make him fuzzy and out of touch. Then the nightmares start; then the daytime hallucinations; then the real trouble, as he has nightmares of being a horrible killer. Worse yet, he's targeted as the Playing Card Killer. Brian doesn't know what to think, and for quite a while, the reader is puzzled too because the real cause is something seldom, if ever, occurring. Plenty of twists and thrills in this mystery!
April 11, 2021
THE PLAYING CARD KILLER is a supernatural, serial killer, thriller.
I was a little off kilter at the beginning of this one, but once the story kicks into full gear, and Detective Weissbard is introduced, we are off to the races.
Good characterizations, solid plot, and a perfect ending. I find that a hard combination to beat.
Russell James delivers another good one!
Recommended!
I was a little off kilter at the beginning of this one, but once the story kicks into full gear, and Detective Weissbard is introduced, we are off to the races.
Good characterizations, solid plot, and a perfect ending. I find that a hard combination to beat.
Russell James delivers another good one!
Recommended!
January 5, 2024
Well done. Definitely not a "predictable" story line.
September 1, 2021
Do you know what I like about a good book? It takes you out of the world you are in and gives you a bit of release for a while. Most of the time, we are doing things that kind of suck. No one wants to sit around and figure out the grocery list. No one wants to go to work. No one wants to deal with screaming kids, a long airline flight, or sitting in the car for endless hours on a long road trip. Want a portable device which will handily save you from all of that? Try a book.
Yes, I can suggest my own books, but it is super fun to recommend other people’s work. Well, I just finished a book which will most certainly be in my list of books to recommend. The Playing Card Killer, by Russel James is a fun read which is guaranteed to suck you into a life of misplaced police investigations, a serial killer with a literal alter personality, and the physical embodiment of anxiety, Mr. Jitters.
Entering this world, we meet Mr. Brian Sheridan. He has, for many years, been fed a never-ending stream of drugs through his adoptive parents and big pharma. He wants out of this drug addled life, so he quits cold turkey. A move that costs him his closest relationship.
Meanwhile, he dreams the dreams that only the nightmares, or the twisted reality, of a serial killer who is busy plying their trade could produce. He does what any responsible person would do and shares what he knows with the cops. An act that puts him squarely into the crosshairs of the police.
Then… at twist I guarantee you won’t see coming.
When I read a book, I m pretty much attracted to really good, character driven, novels. The Playing Card Killer is one such book. You find yourself feeling what Brian Sheridan is feeling. The detective in the story is believable and you sympathize with the twists and turns in the case as he works his way through trusting his gut. The dialogue is believable and well-paced, all wrapped around a believable world to hold the characters together. I very much enjoyed this book and I think you will too.
This is, as I hinted at the beginning, a great book to pull you out of the doctor’s waiting room, a long plane flight, or anything else you really don’t want to be doing.
Not a long book, this one comes in at jus around 275 pages, it is printed by Flame Tree Press. You can find it on Flame tree Presses website or on Amazon.
I gave this book four stars because of one factor that didn’t come in until late in the game. Until then, it was a solid 5. So, if I were to be able to do such things, I would call this a 4 plus.
The thing that bothered me a little is that since I am a mystery author with a solid background in police procedures, the way the evidence fell out was too linear for my tastes. The clues showed up exactly when they needed to. But, let me assure you that this is my issue from my perspective. You may disagree with me and think it is a 5 star. And I would not blame you one bit.
On balance, I loved The Playing Card Killer, by Russel James. Well worth a read!
Yes, I can suggest my own books, but it is super fun to recommend other people’s work. Well, I just finished a book which will most certainly be in my list of books to recommend. The Playing Card Killer, by Russel James is a fun read which is guaranteed to suck you into a life of misplaced police investigations, a serial killer with a literal alter personality, and the physical embodiment of anxiety, Mr. Jitters.
Entering this world, we meet Mr. Brian Sheridan. He has, for many years, been fed a never-ending stream of drugs through his adoptive parents and big pharma. He wants out of this drug addled life, so he quits cold turkey. A move that costs him his closest relationship.
Meanwhile, he dreams the dreams that only the nightmares, or the twisted reality, of a serial killer who is busy plying their trade could produce. He does what any responsible person would do and shares what he knows with the cops. An act that puts him squarely into the crosshairs of the police.
Then… at twist I guarantee you won’t see coming.
When I read a book, I m pretty much attracted to really good, character driven, novels. The Playing Card Killer is one such book. You find yourself feeling what Brian Sheridan is feeling. The detective in the story is believable and you sympathize with the twists and turns in the case as he works his way through trusting his gut. The dialogue is believable and well-paced, all wrapped around a believable world to hold the characters together. I very much enjoyed this book and I think you will too.
This is, as I hinted at the beginning, a great book to pull you out of the doctor’s waiting room, a long plane flight, or anything else you really don’t want to be doing.
Not a long book, this one comes in at jus around 275 pages, it is printed by Flame Tree Press. You can find it on Flame tree Presses website or on Amazon.
I gave this book four stars because of one factor that didn’t come in until late in the game. Until then, it was a solid 5. So, if I were to be able to do such things, I would call this a 4 plus.
The thing that bothered me a little is that since I am a mystery author with a solid background in police procedures, the way the evidence fell out was too linear for my tastes. The clues showed up exactly when they needed to. But, let me assure you that this is my issue from my perspective. You may disagree with me and think it is a 5 star. And I would not blame you one bit.
On balance, I loved The Playing Card Killer, by Russel James. Well worth a read!
April 10, 2019
My previous experience of Flame Tree Press books have been of horror tales and ghost stories. The Playing Card Killer is a crime thriller, an engaging murder mystery story.
The principle protagonist is Brian Sheridan. He is going to experience some unpleasant and vivid dreams which will determine how events in The Playing Card Killer will play out. Unfortunately Brian does not know this so when we meet him at the start of the novel he is making the important (if misguided) decision to stop taking his medication. Brian’s girlfriend Daniela has made it clear to him that if he doesn’t take his meds then she will not stick around – but Brian knows best and wants the fog removed from his brain so he can think for himself. Yup all the warning signs are there and it is not too long before Brian’s decision comes back to haunt him.
Remember those dreams I mentioned? Brian is having very real dreams about murders. He hopes they are dreams. He is sure they are dreams. But how can he know so much about these deaths and visualise them so clearly when they are occurring in places he has never been yet can describe perfectly? When one of the deaths from Brian’s dream becomes a real news story Brian begins to question his sanity even further – could he be killing strangers in his sleep?
Russell James sets up the reader nicely for this solid detective thriller. Once it is clear there are real-life murders to be investigated the cops enter the tale. A great “good cop/bad cop” combo entertained me here. The two are not partnered, the good cop is exactly that – a determined and focused detective in pursuit of the truth (and a killer). The bad cop is a schmuck. He takes the easy route, steals credit for other people’s work and we know not to like him. The dynamic and the squad-room competitiveness added a nice layer of detail to the story.
To share too much more detail about Brian’s problems would be to share too many spoilers. So that isn’t going to happen. What I can share is that The Playing Card Killer was a fun read which I enjoyed over a couple of days. Russell James has a nice writing style which kept the pace of the story nipping along without any dips or excessive padding. Keep the story going and you will keep me happy while I read – job done!
The real test of a good story is to ask myself if I would pass the book to friends for them to enjoy…in this case I certainly would. And I know they would enjoy it.
The principle protagonist is Brian Sheridan. He is going to experience some unpleasant and vivid dreams which will determine how events in The Playing Card Killer will play out. Unfortunately Brian does not know this so when we meet him at the start of the novel he is making the important (if misguided) decision to stop taking his medication. Brian’s girlfriend Daniela has made it clear to him that if he doesn’t take his meds then she will not stick around – but Brian knows best and wants the fog removed from his brain so he can think for himself. Yup all the warning signs are there and it is not too long before Brian’s decision comes back to haunt him.
Remember those dreams I mentioned? Brian is having very real dreams about murders. He hopes they are dreams. He is sure they are dreams. But how can he know so much about these deaths and visualise them so clearly when they are occurring in places he has never been yet can describe perfectly? When one of the deaths from Brian’s dream becomes a real news story Brian begins to question his sanity even further – could he be killing strangers in his sleep?
Russell James sets up the reader nicely for this solid detective thriller. Once it is clear there are real-life murders to be investigated the cops enter the tale. A great “good cop/bad cop” combo entertained me here. The two are not partnered, the good cop is exactly that – a determined and focused detective in pursuit of the truth (and a killer). The bad cop is a schmuck. He takes the easy route, steals credit for other people’s work and we know not to like him. The dynamic and the squad-room competitiveness added a nice layer of detail to the story.
To share too much more detail about Brian’s problems would be to share too many spoilers. So that isn’t going to happen. What I can share is that The Playing Card Killer was a fun read which I enjoyed over a couple of days. Russell James has a nice writing style which kept the pace of the story nipping along without any dips or excessive padding. Keep the story going and you will keep me happy while I read – job done!
The real test of a good story is to ask myself if I would pass the book to friends for them to enjoy…in this case I certainly would. And I know they would enjoy it.
February 23, 2019
I’m really not sure where to start with this book, except to say that it was BRILLIANT! I adored it from the start, from the writing style, to Characters and plot, this was a wonderful story that kept me hooked throughout.
I adore Crime stories, but the ones that I love are the ones that have something different, a new perspective or way of grabbing the readers attention with new flair.
This had so many things going for it, if you enjoy Crime and Thrillers then you NEED to add this to your collection, then keep your eyes open for the Authors next book. After reading this masterpiece, I can’t wait to see what else the author comes up with!
The Characters... well. I can’t say too much because I don’t want to spoil the fun, but there was so much about them that was different. The main character is brilliantly believable, disturbingly relatable, and gorgeously human. Following his story was eerie at times, I could understand the logic that went on. Seeing the story develop, and being able to understand each persons choices and progression from one thing to another was decidedly uncomfortable to realise 😂 but in the best way possible!
This is a story that will twist and turn at every point, just when you think you know what is coming or what might happen next, the author drops a bombshell or whips the rug from under your feet and then does a gleeful happy dance. No seriously, the Author has every right to be gleeful, because I saw none of this coming!!
This was so much fun to read, and not only would I be happy to reread it but I have, and will continue to, recommend this to everyone I know who loves Crime. It’s so different to other approaches in the Genre, whilst at the same time having some good parallels to situations that have actually happened! To me, that shows some very clever insights to the world.
A wonderful story, creepy, fast paced, and full of surprises!
I adore Crime stories, but the ones that I love are the ones that have something different, a new perspective or way of grabbing the readers attention with new flair.
This had so many things going for it, if you enjoy Crime and Thrillers then you NEED to add this to your collection, then keep your eyes open for the Authors next book. After reading this masterpiece, I can’t wait to see what else the author comes up with!
The Characters... well. I can’t say too much because I don’t want to spoil the fun, but there was so much about them that was different. The main character is brilliantly believable, disturbingly relatable, and gorgeously human. Following his story was eerie at times, I could understand the logic that went on. Seeing the story develop, and being able to understand each persons choices and progression from one thing to another was decidedly uncomfortable to realise 😂 but in the best way possible!
This is a story that will twist and turn at every point, just when you think you know what is coming or what might happen next, the author drops a bombshell or whips the rug from under your feet and then does a gleeful happy dance. No seriously, the Author has every right to be gleeful, because I saw none of this coming!!
This was so much fun to read, and not only would I be happy to reread it but I have, and will continue to, recommend this to everyone I know who loves Crime. It’s so different to other approaches in the Genre, whilst at the same time having some good parallels to situations that have actually happened! To me, that shows some very clever insights to the world.
A wonderful story, creepy, fast paced, and full of surprises!
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