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In My Father's Basement
A must-read psychological thriller for anyone who's fascinated by serial killers.
A 60-year old handyman goes on a murder-spree, abducting and torturing people with hand-tools.
After he's caught, the media wants to hear his story. What made this old man snap? Why did he do the horrible things he did? What really happened down there in his basement? The public fascination in The Handyman swells.
But he'll only tell his gruesome story to one person - his estranged son.
Full of dark twists and turns, In My Father's Basement is a father-son story like no other.
A 60-year old handyman goes on a murder-spree, abducting and torturing people with hand-tools.
After he's caught, the media wants to hear his story. What made this old man snap? Why did he do the horrible things he did? What really happened down there in his basement? The public fascination in The Handyman swells.
But he'll only tell his gruesome story to one person - his estranged son.
Full of dark twists and turns, In My Father's Basement is a father-son story like no other.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2018
1855 people are currently reading
8199 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Payne
3 books861 followersT.J. Payne is the author of:
IN MY FATHER'S BASEMENT: A serial killer novel
INTERCEPTS: A horror novel
THE VENUE: A wedding novel
T.J. Payne writes primarily in the horror and thriller genres. His writing style relies on a light touch, using lean, smooth prose to build and maintain the story's intensity. Through this style, Payne weaves in deeper themes and questions about human nature, particularly the subtle line between Good and Evil. Traditional Hero and Villain archetypes are often flipped in Payne's work. His characters may not always be likable, but their faults and sins are profoundly human.
Humans are the only species on Earth with the capability to create both great beauty and unspeakable acts of cruelty. The exploration of that duality has always been central to Payne's work.
Despite his gritty, dark work, Payne lives a very happy, non-murderous life. He married his high school sweetheart and together they enjoy exploring National Parks with their dog Frank (on leash and with plenty of poop bags, of course; he’s not a sociopath).
IN MY FATHER'S BASEMENT: A serial killer novel
INTERCEPTS: A horror novel
THE VENUE: A wedding novel
T.J. Payne writes primarily in the horror and thriller genres. His writing style relies on a light touch, using lean, smooth prose to build and maintain the story's intensity. Through this style, Payne weaves in deeper themes and questions about human nature, particularly the subtle line between Good and Evil. Traditional Hero and Villain archetypes are often flipped in Payne's work. His characters may not always be likable, but their faults and sins are profoundly human.
Humans are the only species on Earth with the capability to create both great beauty and unspeakable acts of cruelty. The exploration of that duality has always been central to Payne's work.
Despite his gritty, dark work, Payne lives a very happy, non-murderous life. He married his high school sweetheart and together they enjoy exploring National Parks with their dog Frank (on leash and with plenty of poop bags, of course; he’s not a sociopath).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 430 reviews
June 9, 2020
What can make a sixty year old man snap and go on a killing spree in a dorm?
Hmmm...
Could it possibly be those damn kids listening to that damn hippidy-hop too loud?
Or perhaps because of their attitude...
or disrespect...
or apathy...
or lack of work ethic...
or ungratefulness...
or a donut?
Look, this book is very well written, but it won't be for everybody.
This story has less to do with the gory torture and killing of a serial killer than the question: WHY?
And what makes this one so realistic and true to life is the fact that there are multiple things the killer claims, some of them true and some of them lies, but the reader must decide for themselves which they want to believe and which they want to ignore.
Personally, I loved most of this book to bits. This author has some serious skills.
Highly recommended to fans of psychology of serial killers.
Hmmm...
Could it possibly be those damn kids listening to that damn hippidy-hop too loud?
Or perhaps because of their attitude...
or disrespect...
or apathy...
or lack of work ethic...
or ungratefulness...
or a donut?
Look, this book is very well written, but it won't be for everybody.
This story has less to do with the gory torture and killing of a serial killer than the question: WHY?
And what makes this one so realistic and true to life is the fact that there are multiple things the killer claims, some of them true and some of them lies, but the reader must decide for themselves which they want to believe and which they want to ignore.
Personally, I loved most of this book to bits. This author has some serious skills.
Highly recommended to fans of psychology of serial killers.
June 8, 2023
This one almost got a 5 star rating from me. Almost.
But somewhere along the way, it lost its magic. It started getting bland and uninteresting. I mean, this kind of book is my thing, alright. I live for the genre and I could read about serial killers and dark crimes on a gloomy day and I'd be fine. Unfortunately, it didn't move the needle for me.
To be fair, the opening was a winner. I felt like watching a home made video as the officer at the crime scene was describing the horror in front of him and we also got to know the backgrounds of the victims, how the killer looked so normal and a complete contrast from the monster that he really is. Totally dig that.
I guess, what went wrong in the end for me was I wanted to be blown away by an unexpected twist and it didn't come or maybe I was simply thinking of a different outcome and when it didn't materialise, I felt disconnected with the story.
Still, I liked this, it was up to scratch. Not something I'd read again but it'll do.
But somewhere along the way, it lost its magic. It started getting bland and uninteresting. I mean, this kind of book is my thing, alright. I live for the genre and I could read about serial killers and dark crimes on a gloomy day and I'd be fine. Unfortunately, it didn't move the needle for me.
To be fair, the opening was a winner. I felt like watching a home made video as the officer at the crime scene was describing the horror in front of him and we also got to know the backgrounds of the victims, how the killer looked so normal and a complete contrast from the monster that he really is. Totally dig that.
I guess, what went wrong in the end for me was I wanted to be blown away by an unexpected twist and it didn't come or maybe I was simply thinking of a different outcome and when it didn't materialise, I felt disconnected with the story.
Still, I liked this, it was up to scratch. Not something I'd read again but it'll do.
May 21, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
You know that feeling you get when somebody you really love lets you down? That’s me. That’s how I felt with this book.
I absolutely loved every minute I spent with this book for like 250 pages. I was devouring it like a ravenous wanderer does grilled meat (presumably). It was hitting all the right notes; grizzly, gruesome, disgusting, disturbing, interesting. I was pulled into the story and couldn’t read it fast enough. This was poised to be one of the best books I’ve read recently.
But then something happened in the last 40 pages that tainted the entire experience for me. That’s the loved one letting me down. And for no reason. I mean, what did I ever do to them? Especially after that one time I helped them out of that bind with the moose and a peanut butter sandwich. Sorry, I got really specific there. Moving on.
Let’s just say the ending left much to be desired. No answers. No twist. No revelations. Just disappointment.
You know that feeling you get when somebody you really love lets you down? That’s me. That’s how I felt with this book.
I absolutely loved every minute I spent with this book for like 250 pages. I was devouring it like a ravenous wanderer does grilled meat (presumably). It was hitting all the right notes; grizzly, gruesome, disgusting, disturbing, interesting. I was pulled into the story and couldn’t read it fast enough. This was poised to be one of the best books I’ve read recently.
But then something happened in the last 40 pages that tainted the entire experience for me. That’s the loved one letting me down. And for no reason. I mean, what did I ever do to them? Especially after that one time I helped them out of that bind with the moose and a peanut butter sandwich. Sorry, I got really specific there. Moving on.
Let’s just say the ending left much to be desired. No answers. No twist. No revelations. Just disappointment.
August 9, 2019
Audio - 4.5 stars
Story - 4 stars
Story - 4 stars
June 26, 2023
“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍 𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒕."
𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒃
In My Father’s Basement follows Isaac Luce, son of the 60-year-old handyman who goes on a murder spree. Now that his father is on death row, he’ll only tell his gruesome story to his estranged son..
𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
After loving Intercepts, I was really looking forward to T. J. Payne’s other books and decided to give this a go! 𝗔 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿? Why not!😁
And this started so good! That first chapter was amazing🤩 gruesome and graphic, super intense and it 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 for the book aptly. I looved how the author mentioned the victims and their stories, connecting us to them, only for them to die horribly.
As we move on, Isaac is introduced and his father is arrested. We see him struggling to survive in the society, living as a serial killer’s son.. it was sad to see the measures he had to go in order to survive because that’s the reality. We judge the children based on what their parent’s did😕
Even though there was a little depth to his character, I was very invested in his story.. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 because.. uhh.. serial killers👀 and gradually, the gruesome details crept in. Tbh, there were a few moments that affected me😰 but overall, there was 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 that I have not seen in serial killer documentaries.
But yeah, those crazy people who fantasize and idolize serial killers, and go to any extent for their horny and weird fetishes, 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴! And to know that there are people like that in real life is just😵💫
But still, the 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲, not disclosing what exactly is happening.. why his father did what he did? or how his father did whatever he did? whether Isaac has those serial killer genes? There were many questions to be asked 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱🤷🏻♀️ and I wanted more, more clarity about what is happening!
After reading through all of it, you may feel like the plot is building up for that mindblowing ending but.. poof.. nothing. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 and I'm disappointed that a story involving serial killers could be so flat!
𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏
Overall, it was an okayish mystery/suspense that involves going through the mind of a serial killer. With some intense mysterious vibes, this gives you horrific & vivid descriptions that might be too much for some. It captured the creepiness of serial killers wonderfully but couldn’t deliver any thrill.
Follow For More: Blog • Bookstagram • Goodreads
𝑩𝒍𝒖𝒓𝒃
In My Father’s Basement follows Isaac Luce, son of the 60-year-old handyman who goes on a murder spree. Now that his father is on death row, he’ll only tell his gruesome story to his estranged son..
𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔
After loving Intercepts, I was really looking forward to T. J. Payne’s other books and decided to give this a go! 𝗔 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿? Why not!😁
And this started so good! That first chapter was amazing🤩 gruesome and graphic, super intense and it 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 for the book aptly. I looved how the author mentioned the victims and their stories, connecting us to them, only for them to die horribly.
As we move on, Isaac is introduced and his father is arrested. We see him struggling to survive in the society, living as a serial killer’s son.. it was sad to see the measures he had to go in order to survive because that’s the reality. We judge the children based on what their parent’s did😕
Even though there was a little depth to his character, I was very invested in his story.. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 because.. uhh.. serial killers👀 and gradually, the gruesome details crept in. Tbh, there were a few moments that affected me😰 but overall, there was 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗲𝘄 that I have not seen in serial killer documentaries.
But yeah, those crazy people who fantasize and idolize serial killers, and go to any extent for their horny and weird fetishes, 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗴! And to know that there are people like that in real life is just😵💫
But still, the 𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲, not disclosing what exactly is happening.. why his father did what he did? or how his father did whatever he did? whether Isaac has those serial killer genes? There were many questions to be asked 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘀𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱🤷🏻♀️ and I wanted more, more clarity about what is happening!
After reading through all of it, you may feel like the plot is building up for that mindblowing ending but.. poof.. nothing. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝘀𝗼 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 and I'm disappointed that a story involving serial killers could be so flat!
𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒍𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏
Overall, it was an okayish mystery/suspense that involves going through the mind of a serial killer. With some intense mysterious vibes, this gives you horrific & vivid descriptions that might be too much for some. It captured the creepiness of serial killers wonderfully but couldn’t deliver any thrill.
Follow For More: Blog • Bookstagram • Goodreads
September 24, 2021
Story 5/5
Narration 5/5
Narration 5/5
October 30, 2018
Isaac Luce is the son of one of the most well known serial killers, The Handyman. The Handyman bludgeoned local college students with a hand tool in their dorm late at night before he was caught by the police. Since then and all throughout his trial he spoke nothing about his killing spree and let the courts decide his fate. Now sitting on death row, his son Isaac is having a hard time finding a job because of his infamous father and resorts to desperate means to make some needed cash. The media is in a frenzy competing for exclusive rights to the Handyman’s story, but the Handyman remains quiet. The only person he will tell his story to is Isaac. Will Isaac have the courage to speak to his father and find out what made him finally snap?
There is so much to love about this story. I have always been fascinated by serial killers since I was a teenager. Although, it might sound creepy, but I would just love to watch an interview with a serial killer. I want to know what makes them tick...what makes them commit unspeakable crimes. In a way, I kind of get that opportunity with the Handyman’s story. On the flip side of the coin you also get to experience what life is like for family members of a serial killer. That must be one tough pill to swallow knowing your parent is a serial killer and in turn wondering if you are destined to the same fate. Which for the most part, ran across Isaac’s mind a time or two.
Isaac is not always an easy character to like. I can feel sympathetic to what he is going through because that must be tough growing up under the shadow of a serial killer. But, Isaac is not always a good person.. He is selfish and at times only thinks of himself and his needs. He never really had a close relationship with his father. The only thing they had in common was sports. So, when he first agrees to speak to his father I wondered if they would talk about their issues, which they did, but the story is full of twists and half truths. During this time you can see Isaac slowly starting to spiral. Just imagine talking to a serial killer who is also your father and you start to wonder “how could you have missed this part of him.”
The Handyman weaves a frightening and creepy story that just grips you as soon as he tells his story. What I most appreciated during this time was how T.J Payne didn't try humanize The Handyman. I once watched an interview with Ted Bundy and I couldn't help but notice similarities between Bundy and The handyman, even though he is just a fictional character. I think a big part of this has to do with Payne as you can see from his writing that he does tend to sensationalize Bundy in some small way.
If you are a fan of serial killer stories, then you definitely want to pick up a copy of this book. I found it highly fascinating getting into the mind of a serial killer.
There is so much to love about this story. I have always been fascinated by serial killers since I was a teenager. Although, it might sound creepy, but I would just love to watch an interview with a serial killer. I want to know what makes them tick...what makes them commit unspeakable crimes. In a way, I kind of get that opportunity with the Handyman’s story. On the flip side of the coin you also get to experience what life is like for family members of a serial killer. That must be one tough pill to swallow knowing your parent is a serial killer and in turn wondering if you are destined to the same fate. Which for the most part, ran across Isaac’s mind a time or two.
Isaac is not always an easy character to like. I can feel sympathetic to what he is going through because that must be tough growing up under the shadow of a serial killer. But, Isaac is not always a good person.. He is selfish and at times only thinks of himself and his needs. He never really had a close relationship with his father. The only thing they had in common was sports. So, when he first agrees to speak to his father I wondered if they would talk about their issues, which they did, but the story is full of twists and half truths. During this time you can see Isaac slowly starting to spiral. Just imagine talking to a serial killer who is also your father and you start to wonder “how could you have missed this part of him.”
The Handyman weaves a frightening and creepy story that just grips you as soon as he tells his story. What I most appreciated during this time was how T.J Payne didn't try humanize The Handyman. I once watched an interview with Ted Bundy and I couldn't help but notice similarities between Bundy and The handyman, even though he is just a fictional character. I think a big part of this has to do with Payne as you can see from his writing that he does tend to sensationalize Bundy in some small way.
If you are a fan of serial killer stories, then you definitely want to pick up a copy of this book. I found it highly fascinating getting into the mind of a serial killer.
September 18, 2021
Great read, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. But I was left wanting more. I really enjoyed the writing style and I look forward to reading T.J Payne’s other novels.
July 20, 2020
A MUST READ!! Well if your into serial killers and the like. This book was right down my wheel house. I loved the way it was written. It was fast, smooth, and just down right good. The jacket states we will find out what made this serial killer tick. I think people always want to know. What can make a brother or a family member or a friend be such a monster?
So the book gets right to the point bringing you to a college where our killer Walter Luce is busy hammering at students - remember Walt - eye on the nail er head. I was confused though. I was thinking is this not about a serial killer because I am reading about a rampage killer. I am fascinated by killers and especially rampage killers - such pure explosive hate that you are usually going to off yourself after the deed. Truly sick.
The book though has Walter being caught by a young officer who actually believes he may have been arresting the wrong person - the Handyman - and when the officer says this to the media the name "Handyman" sticks and Walter Luce becomes a national phenomenon. Ps Walter is 60, frailer, and with a beard - he could be your grandfather. It's also discovered that Walter had 7 guests in his basement chained up there and they were tortured and later killed so that legitimizes the serial killer in Walter.
So Walter gets sentenced to death and is on death row. Walter has never spoken to anyone about why he did what he did. His son Isaac who was 18 when Walter lost it has always been confused and never visited his dad. His sons life is ruined and his existence is paid for by selling tools owned by his father to serial killer fans and we know how many of those there sadly are.
Walters son is then approached by a security guard from the prison - Teddy. Teddy has been offered 60K to have Walter interviewed by his son so as to get to the story behind all of Walters killings. The plan is to tape the conversation. The buyer is a lawyer turned movie producer who wants an exclusive.
There is so so much to get into here, too much. So the interviews take place. Two in a private room and the last in the common viewing area which is a no no. Teddy set it all up as he is in charge of the viewing for a few days.
The book alludes that before the third and final interview something big will occur and man does it ever.
So the book does answer the question of why Walter lost it. But the author has you wondering whether what Walter said is true. I like the answer that the author TJ Payne gives towards the end of the book which is does it really matter what triggers these psychos? Maybe in a way it would be nice but really could we ever find them out and jail them before it happens. Society doesn't work that way!
So mayhem brakes out in the third interview and the ending really gets fun. Murder is supposed to be about perfection. Well thought out, well executed but the author invites us into a picture of things derailing and its really fun. Our guests, Isaac, Teddy, Teddy's daughter Lauren, the new movie producer Joan all get entangled in what becomes a very messy, messy affair.
What I also liked about this book was the fact that though the author gets into the public fascination with serial killers he nails the law enforcement part of it to a T. Law enforcement even if fascinated by the killer would never give the ahole the satisfaction of knowing he got their interest (other than feigning that interest/admiration in the interview stage and it may not even be faked). Funny I read this book after Unsub 2 which took a diametrically opposed point of view and an extremely wrong one which is why I didn't buy into its premise.
To me this was such a fun insightful book with such a good story with all kinds of twists and turns especially at the end. The second last paragraph is written in the first person by Isaac which really spoke to a lot of what happened.
This book is by no means a classic but I enjoyed it so much I am rating it a five. Thanks to my friend Farrah for puting me on to Payne. I already have his novel Intercepts and will read that in short order.
If you are a fan in anyway of this genre you have to read this one!!
So the book gets right to the point bringing you to a college where our killer Walter Luce is busy hammering at students - remember Walt - eye on the nail er head. I was confused though. I was thinking is this not about a serial killer because I am reading about a rampage killer. I am fascinated by killers and especially rampage killers - such pure explosive hate that you are usually going to off yourself after the deed. Truly sick.
The book though has Walter being caught by a young officer who actually believes he may have been arresting the wrong person - the Handyman - and when the officer says this to the media the name "Handyman" sticks and Walter Luce becomes a national phenomenon. Ps Walter is 60, frailer, and with a beard - he could be your grandfather. It's also discovered that Walter had 7 guests in his basement chained up there and they were tortured and later killed so that legitimizes the serial killer in Walter.
So Walter gets sentenced to death and is on death row. Walter has never spoken to anyone about why he did what he did. His son Isaac who was 18 when Walter lost it has always been confused and never visited his dad. His sons life is ruined and his existence is paid for by selling tools owned by his father to serial killer fans and we know how many of those there sadly are.
Walters son is then approached by a security guard from the prison - Teddy. Teddy has been offered 60K to have Walter interviewed by his son so as to get to the story behind all of Walters killings. The plan is to tape the conversation. The buyer is a lawyer turned movie producer who wants an exclusive.
There is so so much to get into here, too much. So the interviews take place. Two in a private room and the last in the common viewing area which is a no no. Teddy set it all up as he is in charge of the viewing for a few days.
The book alludes that before the third and final interview something big will occur and man does it ever.
So the book does answer the question of why Walter lost it. But the author has you wondering whether what Walter said is true. I like the answer that the author TJ Payne gives towards the end of the book which is does it really matter what triggers these psychos? Maybe in a way it would be nice but really could we ever find them out and jail them before it happens. Society doesn't work that way!
So mayhem brakes out in the third interview and the ending really gets fun. Murder is supposed to be about perfection. Well thought out, well executed but the author invites us into a picture of things derailing and its really fun. Our guests, Isaac, Teddy, Teddy's daughter Lauren, the new movie producer Joan all get entangled in what becomes a very messy, messy affair.
What I also liked about this book was the fact that though the author gets into the public fascination with serial killers he nails the law enforcement part of it to a T. Law enforcement even if fascinated by the killer would never give the ahole the satisfaction of knowing he got their interest (other than feigning that interest/admiration in the interview stage and it may not even be faked). Funny I read this book after Unsub 2 which took a diametrically opposed point of view and an extremely wrong one which is why I didn't buy into its premise.
To me this was such a fun insightful book with such a good story with all kinds of twists and turns especially at the end. The second last paragraph is written in the first person by Isaac which really spoke to a lot of what happened.
This book is by no means a classic but I enjoyed it so much I am rating it a five. Thanks to my friend Farrah for puting me on to Payne. I already have his novel Intercepts and will read that in short order.
If you are a fan in anyway of this genre you have to read this one!!
January 20, 2020
If you had told me before I started reading that I would absolutely be held hostage to a book about a rather neurotic, dysfunctional man who just so happened to be the son of a serial killer, I may well have laughed (or at the very least scoffed). This book, however, grabbed me from the beginning with its incredible, almost poetic language, as well as its matter-of-fact treatment of the abhorrent acts of a depraved serial killer. I raced through each page, unable to turn out the lights before I finished, then unable to turn them off because I HAD.
Devouring the book in its entirety was, I must admit, a rather exhausting exercise in one’s ability to separate fact from fiction, as Walter relates the story of his descent into madness to his son, Isaac. Just as the reader is certain that Isaac has finally discovered the truth of what happened those many years ago, Walter’s entire narrative is reduced to ashes, and the reader is forced to start over in developing a trust that in the end must simply be blind faith that is repeatedly robbed. Over and over again, Walter weaves tales of the catalyst to his horrifying acts of depravity, seemingly enjoying the deception even as he systematically destroys his son in the process. As Isaac faces long hidden truths about his father, he is taken on a rollercoaster ride that leaves him keeled over and vomiting in its wake. Though while Walter has been telling tall tales, Isaac has a few secrets of his own, and whilst the sins of the father continue to be exacted on the son, Isaac’s own meager and unstable life is deconstructed one episode at a time until the destruction of both father and son is complete.
Themes of loyalty to family, greed and nature vs. nuture are all hidden within the chapters, teased out into the open by a story so disturbing that the reader will be left contemplating his own darkness and the seemingly endless capacity of man’s cruelty to man. Read it for the plot or read it as a cautionary tale, read it for the story at its surface or the implications that lie between the lines of text. Whichever you choose, just do it with a healthy amount of skepticism and at a time where you don’t need to put it down for even a second.
Devouring the book in its entirety was, I must admit, a rather exhausting exercise in one’s ability to separate fact from fiction, as Walter relates the story of his descent into madness to his son, Isaac. Just as the reader is certain that Isaac has finally discovered the truth of what happened those many years ago, Walter’s entire narrative is reduced to ashes, and the reader is forced to start over in developing a trust that in the end must simply be blind faith that is repeatedly robbed. Over and over again, Walter weaves tales of the catalyst to his horrifying acts of depravity, seemingly enjoying the deception even as he systematically destroys his son in the process. As Isaac faces long hidden truths about his father, he is taken on a rollercoaster ride that leaves him keeled over and vomiting in its wake. Though while Walter has been telling tall tales, Isaac has a few secrets of his own, and whilst the sins of the father continue to be exacted on the son, Isaac’s own meager and unstable life is deconstructed one episode at a time until the destruction of both father and son is complete.
Themes of loyalty to family, greed and nature vs. nuture are all hidden within the chapters, teased out into the open by a story so disturbing that the reader will be left contemplating his own darkness and the seemingly endless capacity of man’s cruelty to man. Read it for the plot or read it as a cautionary tale, read it for the story at its surface or the implications that lie between the lines of text. Whichever you choose, just do it with a healthy amount of skepticism and at a time where you don’t need to put it down for even a second.
August 11, 2019
This book was good. I was up too late, turning pages wanting to find out what was next. There was a perfect amount of gore with a great story to go along with it. Until the ending. I gotta admit, I was disappointed with the ending. But other than that, it's a good read
July 31, 2021
I really wanted to enjoy this novel, but I just couldn’t. The characters were uninteresting and flat with little to no progression. The graphic violence (which does not offend me in the least when done right) seemed to be put in as nothing more than an attempt to add a sort of “gross out” factor. There seemed to be no reason for the violence other than an opportunity to showcase depravity. I’m working my way through Payne’s works, and I highly recommend “Intercepts” over this novel. It should’ve been titled “Unfulfilled Potential”.
September 27, 2022
If you just watched the new Dahmer docuseries and you want a book that’s similar: grab this one! It’s a really quick read, it hooks you from the beginning and its got twists and turns throughout!
September 17, 2020
This proved to be a clever and expertly planned dark thriller, built upon a strong storyline, great characters and which contained lots of unforeseen twists and turns along the way. For horror fans, there is plenty of 'bloody' action and detailed gruesomeness to satisfy, as you would only expect from a 'serial killer' story, but, although disturbing by default, it was also wonderfully written in an intelligent and thought-provoking way, without ever being disturbing, offensive or overly extreme.
So to the story - An unassuming 'Handyman' goes on the rampage, whilst also indulging in another pleasurable 'torturous and sadistic' sideline back in his basement back at home but is thankfully caught by law enforcement officers after carrying out an evil and despicable act of mass murder at a local college. Isaac, his son, after discovering the unfortunate identity of the killer sets out to get some answers to his questions before trying to move forward and getting on with the rest of his life.
Who?, why?, when? and how? - who better for Isaac to ask but non-other than the 'Handyman' himself - yes, Walter...Isaac's father...who happens to be currently sitting on death row.
But just what is Walter willing to reveal?
A thoroughly enjoyable read which I would highly recommend to anyone that enjoys a good horror story disguised as a psychological thriller. Rating: 4.7 stars.
So to the story - An unassuming 'Handyman' goes on the rampage, whilst also indulging in another pleasurable 'torturous and sadistic' sideline back in his basement back at home but is thankfully caught by law enforcement officers after carrying out an evil and despicable act of mass murder at a local college. Isaac, his son, after discovering the unfortunate identity of the killer sets out to get some answers to his questions before trying to move forward and getting on with the rest of his life.
Who?, why?, when? and how? - who better for Isaac to ask but non-other than the 'Handyman' himself - yes, Walter...Isaac's father...who happens to be currently sitting on death row.
But just what is Walter willing to reveal?
A thoroughly enjoyable read which I would highly recommend to anyone that enjoys a good horror story disguised as a psychological thriller. Rating: 4.7 stars.
January 16, 2021
This is a book about a serial killer and his grown son. It has several laugh out loud moments which is unusual for a book of this genre. There are also moments of sadness and regret. What makes an older man in his 60's decided to start killing people?! Maybe it's a slow burn of the let downs in life and maybe its because he is a sadistic killer who doesn't give a care about anyone else. The book is smartly written and moves along quickly, although the ending like so many other books felt just a bit rushed. One of my complaints about so very many books is added material / words / storylines that could have been deleted completely did not exist in this novel and I loved that. So if you interested in what makes an older man start killing people then this book is for you.
September 9, 2023
I read INTERCEPTS prior to reading this and absolutely loved it. Thinking that this would be gritty and somewhat similar, I chose to read In My Father's Basement. This took a long time to get through and felt like it was just dragging on. I'm not entirely sure how this book is considered horror, if anything it would be a loose TRUE CRIME or Fiction - Crime novel. None of the characters really spoke to me and quite often this book was putting me to sleep. I finished it up in hopes to get started onto something else. This book wasn't a cohesive story like Intercepts, there were pieces and nothing really fit right. Even the epilogue was lack lustre. I will defo try reading THE VENUE to close out my TJ Payne books but I am going to take a break as this book was meh. I don't even like writing that but it is what it is.
August 8, 2019
4 stars audio and story!!!
September 17, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and the way it was written. As the story unfolds we hear about the kidnappings/murders of the Handyman which is good fun for anyone who likes a bit of gore and violence and then simultaneously we also have the story of Isaac, his son.
Isaac is quite an underachiever, his life blighted by what his dad has done and so he struggles with relationships and finding work. It is such a shame and I really felt for him, he’s actually a really nice character and I found myself willing him to do well, or perhaps take over from his dad’s ‘work’ if all else failed.
That’s the basis of the story; what is Isaac going to do with his life and can we get to the bottom of what really happened and why with the Handyman murders.
I liked the story of Walter (the Handyman) explaining what and why he did what he did and at times I would almost forget this is a work of fiction.
There is some mystery in this book and some gore too (as we are talking about a mass murderer this is to be expected) and it kept a decent pace throughout, not a rollercoaster ride, but a decent page turner.
My only complaint is that towards the very end I could see what was happening and so it wasn’t exactly a big surprise but the journey through the whole book to get there was fascinating in itself.
I would like to say thank you to the author Mr Payne for writing this book, it was a really engaging read and we should always be appreciative.
Not perfect but I found it hard to put down at times, I think this is worthy of a 4.5*/5 but shall round up to 5*/5, well done Mr Payne you have done it again, I will be looking out for more of his books.
Isaac is quite an underachiever, his life blighted by what his dad has done and so he struggles with relationships and finding work. It is such a shame and I really felt for him, he’s actually a really nice character and I found myself willing him to do well, or perhaps take over from his dad’s ‘work’ if all else failed.
That’s the basis of the story; what is Isaac going to do with his life and can we get to the bottom of what really happened and why with the Handyman murders.
I liked the story of Walter (the Handyman) explaining what and why he did what he did and at times I would almost forget this is a work of fiction.
There is some mystery in this book and some gore too (as we are talking about a mass murderer this is to be expected) and it kept a decent pace throughout, not a rollercoaster ride, but a decent page turner.
My only complaint is that towards the very end I could see what was happening and so it wasn’t exactly a big surprise but the journey through the whole book to get there was fascinating in itself.
I would like to say thank you to the author Mr Payne for writing this book, it was a really engaging read and we should always be appreciative.
Not perfect but I found it hard to put down at times, I think this is worthy of a 4.5*/5 but shall round up to 5*/5, well done Mr Payne you have done it again, I will be looking out for more of his books.
June 1, 2022
How can a book be so morbidly harrowing yet eminently hilarious? Or maybe it's just my deranged sense of humour.
• Walter smiled wide. “There are so many liars out there who swear that such thoughts would never cross their minds. They’re too ‘pure.’ They’re too ‘good.’ But in my experience, only one thing on this Earth separates good from evil.”
“And what’s that?”
“Restraint.”
One of the things that I often wonder about every time I read about serial killers is, how the people related to them must be navigating through daily life. Do they feel the shame everytime someone on the road recognises them for being related to a cold hearted killer? Or do they relish in the popularity that their family is fucking legend of some sort. Or do they keep wondering about how they have the same DNA running through them and what if they turn out the same, for the rest of their lives? Guess i'll never know.
• Walter smiled wide. “There are so many liars out there who swear that such thoughts would never cross their minds. They’re too ‘pure.’ They’re too ‘good.’ But in my experience, only one thing on this Earth separates good from evil.”
“And what’s that?”
“Restraint.”
One of the things that I often wonder about every time I read about serial killers is, how the people related to them must be navigating through daily life. Do they feel the shame everytime someone on the road recognises them for being related to a cold hearted killer? Or do they relish in the popularity that their family is fucking legend of some sort. Or do they keep wondering about how they have the same DNA running through them and what if they turn out the same, for the rest of their lives? Guess i'll never know.
February 10, 2023
It was the racist name calling for no reason. Completely unnecessary and irrelevant to the story. Kinda cringe.
July 10, 2023
I deeply enjoyed this story, starting with the first page. The author did an incredible job with setting the scenery and really describing the series of event that unfolded and created "The Handyman". It was very well written and absolutely fun to read.
However, the end honestly felt rushed? I was expecting a grand finale that would tell us more about the college killings or something more about what happened to Isaac. Definitely not mad, though. It was still an awesome read and something I would reread to do a deeper analysis in the future!
DO recommend: Those who love serial killers, books that leave you questioning why, horror that is close to feeling good but still gives that uneasy feeling of something being off.
Do NOT recommend: Those who are triggered by kidnap, elderly old men who are sexist, racist and ageist, possibility of SA and definitely murder.
However, the end honestly felt rushed? I was expecting a grand finale that would tell us more about the college killings or something more about what happened to Isaac. Definitely not mad, though. It was still an awesome read and something I would reread to do a deeper analysis in the future!
DO recommend: Those who love serial killers, books that leave you questioning why, horror that is close to feeling good but still gives that uneasy feeling of something being off.
Do NOT recommend: Those who are triggered by kidnap, elderly old men who are sexist, racist and ageist, possibility of SA and definitely murder.
September 4, 2022
Another banger that I wasn't expecting to read!
The story starts with the killings of some college kids by the Handyman. Nobody knows why he did it. Nobody knows what triggered this kind looking old man to snap like that. Nobody knows because he won't talk to anyone. Not about why he did what he did. Not a word about what happened. Not a word at all actually. Well maybe.. except to his one and only son, Isaac.
The way the story started off with the killings is by letting the reader know the victims first. Mind you there's like 10 people, which all of them that we got a glimpses of their lives. It wasn't done in a way that was too overwhelming or dragging. It was brief and consice, written in a way that makes the characters feel like actual victims being in the wrong place at the wrong time - the kind friends that didn't look their room so their drunk mates could crash in for a night, a girl who was just trying to help a distress friend, their major, who they are etc. makes the killings (as messed up as it is to say this) all the more brutal. I rarely see killing scenes written like this so I was pleasantly surprised.
But what surprised me the most is Isaac. Reading the first few chapters, you couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor guy. A nobody who's life got indefinitely screwed up by his psycho dad overnight. At that point you kind of understand the morally questionable choices that he made afterwards just to get by in life. In other words, I just thought he was an average Joe and he is but not the kind who I thought he was (not gonna say anything much because spoilers). In a way, he really was his father's son.
His relationship with his dad was somwhat estranged but fascinating. Speaking of his Dad, the Handyman is the most interesting part of this story. It's interesting not in a way you'll find the story of the usual serial killers are like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer etc. - a recollection of past abuse that turned into them into messed up people (which is my first expectation going into this)What's fascinating the most is the way the Handyman decided to 'present' his story and it's even more interesting the fact that Isaac knows his Dad wasn't telling the truth. From the very beginning until the end you'll end up questioning which is the truth and which isn't, what's the true motivatio of the Handyman? what makes this old man suddenly turned?
Or it may be as Isaac said,
"Maybe he was just a fucking psychopath. A loser. A hateful, pathetic loser.
And maybe he’s not worth analyzing beyond that."
No true answer. No clear cut. Just like how most of these things end in real life.
Also love the fact the author presented the very messed up side and the morally questionable acts of the true crime community as well as the exploitation and the profiting of true crime tragedies. That's something I rarely see thriller books do.
This book is now one of favs thrillers.
The story starts with the killings of some college kids by the Handyman. Nobody knows why he did it. Nobody knows what triggered this kind looking old man to snap like that. Nobody knows because he won't talk to anyone. Not about why he did what he did. Not a word about what happened. Not a word at all actually. Well maybe.. except to his one and only son, Isaac.
The way the story started off with the killings is by letting the reader know the victims first. Mind you there's like 10 people, which all of them that we got a glimpses of their lives. It wasn't done in a way that was too overwhelming or dragging. It was brief and consice, written in a way that makes the characters feel like actual victims being in the wrong place at the wrong time - the kind friends that didn't look their room so their drunk mates could crash in for a night, a girl who was just trying to help a distress friend, their major, who they are etc. makes the killings (as messed up as it is to say this) all the more brutal. I rarely see killing scenes written like this so I was pleasantly surprised.
But what surprised me the most is Isaac. Reading the first few chapters, you couldn't help but feel sorry for the poor guy. A nobody who's life got indefinitely screwed up by his psycho dad overnight. At that point you kind of understand the morally questionable choices that he made afterwards just to get by in life. In other words, I just thought he was an average Joe and he is but not the kind who I thought he was (not gonna say anything much because spoilers). In a way, he really was his father's son.
His relationship with his dad was somwhat estranged but fascinating. Speaking of his Dad, the Handyman is the most interesting part of this story. It's interesting not in a way you'll find the story of the usual serial killers are like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer etc. - a recollection of past abuse that turned into them into messed up people (which is my first expectation going into this)What's fascinating the most is the way the Handyman decided to 'present' his story and it's even more interesting the fact that Isaac knows his Dad wasn't telling the truth. From the very beginning until the end you'll end up questioning which is the truth and which isn't, what's the true motivatio of the Handyman? what makes this old man suddenly turned?
Or it may be as Isaac said,
"Maybe he was just a fucking psychopath. A loser. A hateful, pathetic loser.
And maybe he’s not worth analyzing beyond that."
No true answer. No clear cut. Just like how most of these things end in real life.
Also love the fact the author presented the very messed up side and the morally questionable acts of the true crime community as well as the exploitation and the profiting of true crime tragedies. That's something I rarely see thriller books do.
This book is now one of favs thrillers.
September 8, 2021
T. J. Payne is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I read Intercepts, loved that, so finally got around to reading this one. And read it in almost record-breaking time. For serial killer fans, I think you'll enjoy this one. The premise is simple; a father explains to his son from Death Row why he went on a murder spree, but there are still a few little twists at the end although this focuses more on the psychological aspect of what turned The Handyman into a savage killer. Brutal and thought-provoking...
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 15, 2022
I was reading and enjoying a series by another author, when a review stated that the book I was reading was a knockoff of this one. So I bought this to see if its true. Its not the same book, not even close. Not even the same genre, to be honest.
This struggled to keep my attention, and I found it predictable and a tad boring.
This struggled to keep my attention, and I found it predictable and a tad boring.
May 24, 2022
Very interesting concept and sounded very promising but I feel like the writer just couldn't think of ways to expand on the main story so it just got a bit dead. Couldn't finish.
January 31, 2024
An unfulfilled potential . 😟
June 6, 2024
it’s just serial killer idolisation
September 1, 2023
Wow! This one started off with a bang! I loved the plot. The author did a great job with the descriptions to pull us in, especially at the very beginning of the book. I felt like I was walking with the author. This book is filled with twist and turns that I never saw coming especially towards the end. It did slow down some in the middle where Isaac visits his father in prison trying to get him to answer the question Why? You have to read between the lines to determine what’s true and what’s false. The ending did feel rushed and I would have loved to find out what exactly happened to Isaac.
July 16, 2024
3.5*
It's a story about a serial killer, so it's pretty gruesome and I found myself grimacing quite often.
The opening scene is so descriptive that it feels like you're watching it play out on screen. Actually most of the book is like that. It's very clear that Walter is a terrible human, but I also liked how almost every character is kind of in the gray area for morality and their actions. It was also fun to learn about the lies, truths, and questionables throughout. Probably not a book for everyone since it is pretty dark subject matter, but I enjoyed reading it.
It's a story about a serial killer, so it's pretty gruesome and I found myself grimacing quite often.
The opening scene is so descriptive that it feels like you're watching it play out on screen. Actually most of the book is like that. It's very clear that Walter is a terrible human, but I also liked how almost every character is kind of in the gray area for morality and their actions. It was also fun to learn about the lies, truths, and questionables throughout. Probably not a book for everyone since it is pretty dark subject matter, but I enjoyed reading it.
August 4, 2024
3.5 stars 🌟
I wish I knew what happened to some of the other characters. It got exciting towards the end.
I wish I knew what happened to some of the other characters. It got exciting towards the end.
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