NC-17 Graphic murders, kidnap, torture, maiming, sex slavery. Then it morphs into science-fantasy.
Think you have a strong stomach? Here’s what the serial killer does to a victim, who is still alive. “Reaching out he twisted, pulled, wrenched, tearing flesh, ripping muscle, splintering bone.”
This psychopath takes his winter vacations in northern states. His POV chapters are creepy as he reconnoiters, stalks, and kidnaps women. He releases the women into snowy forests, gives them a head-start, tracks them, shoots to maim, patches them up, makes them run, shoots them again. You get the idea.
He’s being hunted by Carolyn Ryder, an ex-FBI agent who specialized in serial killers, and a skilled hunter/guide named Beau Hodges—6’6” 300 pounds of brawn and brains.
As the story progresses, the killer becomes stronger and faster with increasing endurance. Soon he’s a combination of CW Arrowverse’s Flash with some of Supergirl’s invincibility. That said, he later fights through unbelievable injuries. During one battle with Ryder and Hodges, I saw comic book storyboards in my mind. Hodges grabs the killer, swings him like a human pendulum, then smashes him on the ceramic sink, the refrigerator, granite countertop. It’s horrific . . . but a bit funny. Not strictly CW and not DC movies.
Then I remembered HULK SMASH, so I googled “The Avengers Hulk smash Loki.” It’s on YouTube: Hulk swinging Loki and smashing him into the concrete floor. Swing. Smash. Swing. Smash. Repeat. Hulk: “Puny god.”
In novels it’s never that easy or even amusing when protagonists fight deadly murderers. There’s a running battle—actually hard trudging through snow—with Ryder and rage-fueled Hodges pursuing the killer. For more, you can read the book.
2.5 stars