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A Santero and Rein Thriller #1
The Thief of All Light
“Schaffer is the real deal. His writing will knock you out.”
—J.A. Konrath
WHEN EVIL KNOWS YOUR NAME
Nothing fascinates rookie cop Carrie Santero more than serial killers. Now she’s hunting down the sickest, most twisted psychopath she’s ever faced—an “omnikiller.” Unpredictable, unrelenting. A death machine beyond all evil.
As the body count rises, Carrie enlists the help of Jacob Rein, a brilliant, embittered former detective who has gone to the darkest corners of the killing mind. What he knows—what he can never unknow—could lead Carrie to the point of no return. The place she can no longer avoid. The place that has never stopped calling her . . .
“A killer who sets a new standard for lethal danger.”—Lisa Scottoline
“A stylish, attention-getting thriller. . . the most engaging pair of detectives I’ve seen in a long while.” —David Morrell
“Gruesome and honest. Readers will find themselves fascinated.” —Booklist
“Schaffer’s knowledge of detective work is evident.” —Library Journal
—J.A. Konrath
WHEN EVIL KNOWS YOUR NAME
Nothing fascinates rookie cop Carrie Santero more than serial killers. Now she’s hunting down the sickest, most twisted psychopath she’s ever faced—an “omnikiller.” Unpredictable, unrelenting. A death machine beyond all evil.
As the body count rises, Carrie enlists the help of Jacob Rein, a brilliant, embittered former detective who has gone to the darkest corners of the killing mind. What he knows—what he can never unknow—could lead Carrie to the point of no return. The place she can no longer avoid. The place that has never stopped calling her . . .
“A killer who sets a new standard for lethal danger.”—Lisa Scottoline
“A stylish, attention-getting thriller. . . the most engaging pair of detectives I’ve seen in a long while.” —David Morrell
“Gruesome and honest. Readers will find themselves fascinated.” —Booklist
“Schaffer’s knowledge of detective work is evident.” —Library Journal
Kindle Edition
First published July 31, 2018
71 people are currently reading
1655 people want to read
About the author
Bernard Schaffer
87 books282 followersBernard Schaffer is an author from the Philadelphia area.
His acclaimed Santero and Rein Thriller series features Carrie Santero and her mentor, the troubled Jacob Rein. The Thief of All Light, An Unsettled Grave, and Blood Angel, are available from Kensington Books.
His western trilogy debuted in 2021 as part of the Ralph Compton imprint with Berkley Books. All three titles, Face of a Snake, Snake's Fury, and Hell Snake, were selected as Walmart paperback exclusives.
His acclaimed Santero and Rein Thriller series features Carrie Santero and her mentor, the troubled Jacob Rein. The Thief of All Light, An Unsettled Grave, and Blood Angel, are available from Kensington Books.
His western trilogy debuted in 2021 as part of the Ralph Compton imprint with Berkley Books. All three titles, Face of a Snake, Snake's Fury, and Hell Snake, were selected as Walmart paperback exclusives.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
June 22, 2019
Unputdownable!
Veteran police detective and author Bernard Schaffer gives us a powerful new thriller in the 1st book of his Santero and Rein series, "The Thief Of All Light".
Rookie police officer Carrie Santero has always been fascinated by serial killers. In her small Pennsylvania town she had an encounter with a child murderer that haunts her to this day. Now on the force she finally has a chance to make a difference. She enlists the help of Jacob Rein, a brilliant but damaged former detective who has witnessed the very darkest evil possible.
They have to hunt down a psychopathic murderer who is inspired by the twisted minds of famous serial killers.
The author relies on his years of experience in law enforcement to make this novel both accurately descriptive and realistic.
An intense, suspenseful thriller!
I can hardly wait to read "An Unsettled Grave", the next book in the series.
Veteran police detective and author Bernard Schaffer gives us a powerful new thriller in the 1st book of his Santero and Rein series, "The Thief Of All Light".
Rookie police officer Carrie Santero has always been fascinated by serial killers. In her small Pennsylvania town she had an encounter with a child murderer that haunts her to this day. Now on the force she finally has a chance to make a difference. She enlists the help of Jacob Rein, a brilliant but damaged former detective who has witnessed the very darkest evil possible.
They have to hunt down a psychopathic murderer who is inspired by the twisted minds of famous serial killers.
The author relies on his years of experience in law enforcement to make this novel both accurately descriptive and realistic.
An intense, suspenseful thriller!
I can hardly wait to read "An Unsettled Grave", the next book in the series.
May 18, 2018
The rookie female cop teaming up with an older traumatized male detective to solve crimes is a formula done to death both in tv and books. The only thing setting these stories apart now is the quality. And here the quality is definitely present, mainly in form of a particular authenticity the author brings from his work as a police officer. Actually it’s quite impressive how many books he has written considering his occupation, but then again some manage their time more optimally than others. So this is your basic serial killer procedural thriller, not a mystery because you know the killer, but there is a certain amount of suspense as Santero and Rein are rushing to beat the clock and apprehend him. Not just any killer, an omnikiller, someone who tries to emulate other well known serial killers’ techniques. Santero is the rookie, Rein the gruff older former detective living his life as a way of serving out a penance for a crime he committed. She offers him a chance to redeem himself, he offers her his expertise. Voila. Crime solved. The setting is Podunk PA, because middle of nowhere is the best place for someone to hide their sociopathic tendencies, although apparently there’s still a library. What is it with killers and libraries? Hadn’t Se7en covered that territory? Santero and her kindly protective chief of police and her white trash bff alone weren’t compelling enough, but once Rein showed the book picked up significantly and from then on it moves along swimmingly, well paced, expertly detailed and with some very lively realistic dialogue. Nothing particularly stunning or original, just a formula done well, but that’s pretty good in and of itself and provided some seriously decent entertainment. Also seriously graphic at times too, so proceed with caution. Anyone in the mood for a cops chasing serial killer story would enjoy this. Decent introduction to what’s likely to be a new series. I’m not into series, so I’ll just think of this as a standalone, since technically book #1 nearly always is. Thanks Netgalley.
October 8, 2018
Police procedural crime thrillers are my favourite within the crime genre, their gritty authenticity elevating them far above the growing body of domestic noir thrillers that are saturating the market at present. The Thief of Light is top shelf crime fiction, a sophisticated combination of police procedural with psychological thriller. The author, Bernard Schaffer, is a police detective himself, and this shows in the realistic edge that permeates the entire narrative. Some things you just can’t replicate with research.
‘See, to get a confession sometimes means putting the well-being of the victims over your own mental health. Jacob used to always say that it felt like he was unlocking areas of his mind that weren’t meant to be unlocked. Going places that you never come all the way back from. A kind of darkness, was how he put it.’
Rookie cop and budding detective Carrie Santero, along with Chief Bill Waylon and his former partner, disgraced former detective Jacob Rein, are the main characters within this novel. I liked how Bernard spent time developing each of them, humanising them and exploring their inner motivations. It wasn’t all about the crime and solving it in this novel. Carrie is on the way into her career, Bill is on the way out, and Jacob gave it up; but for this case, hunting down an ‘omnikiller’, they are all on the same page. And this killer is frightening, diabolical and unstoppable. He is obscene in his violence and there is nothing he won’t match from his list of historical serial killers he is intent on copying.
‘For years, profilers have had a theory about a different type of offender. A chameleon, with no form. No pattern. No one’s ever been able to confirm their existence, because how could you? You’d have such a wide mix of victims from such a large area, all taken or murdered in such various methods, that it would never track. As far as anyone can prove, it’s just a theory.’
At times brutal, this novel digs deep into the personal sacrifices those in law enforcement make each time they do their job. The things they see, the people they interview, the cases they never solve, the people that remain missing, the ones they do find, alive or dead; the sheer trauma of living with the knowledge of how debased humans can become. It’s not light reading, but it’s good reading. Bernard writes beautifully, at times with a poetic flow that is rare in crime fiction. And he has a cracking sense of humour which served to punctuate the more heavy moments, balancing the narrative with the finesse of a seasoned writer.
‘Rein looked down at Carrie. She’d found him in the wasteland. He’d been wandering the barren desert of his own life for years until she’d convinced Bill Waylon to come for him. In return, he’d escorted her to the brink of the void, watching as she accepted it and let it crawl within her. Soon, it would begin to dissolve her own light.’
I am so pleased that The Thief of Light is the beginning of a new crime series because I enjoyed the dynamics between these three so much. I feel like there are big things on the horizon for Carrie’s career and Jacob is just too much of an incredible detective to simply fade away once more. I loved how Jacob couldn’t help but mentor Carrie from the outset. And that ending! Not quite a cliff-hanger but it certainly left me with a craving for more.
Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of The Thief of Light for review.
‘See, to get a confession sometimes means putting the well-being of the victims over your own mental health. Jacob used to always say that it felt like he was unlocking areas of his mind that weren’t meant to be unlocked. Going places that you never come all the way back from. A kind of darkness, was how he put it.’
Rookie cop and budding detective Carrie Santero, along with Chief Bill Waylon and his former partner, disgraced former detective Jacob Rein, are the main characters within this novel. I liked how Bernard spent time developing each of them, humanising them and exploring their inner motivations. It wasn’t all about the crime and solving it in this novel. Carrie is on the way into her career, Bill is on the way out, and Jacob gave it up; but for this case, hunting down an ‘omnikiller’, they are all on the same page. And this killer is frightening, diabolical and unstoppable. He is obscene in his violence and there is nothing he won’t match from his list of historical serial killers he is intent on copying.
‘For years, profilers have had a theory about a different type of offender. A chameleon, with no form. No pattern. No one’s ever been able to confirm their existence, because how could you? You’d have such a wide mix of victims from such a large area, all taken or murdered in such various methods, that it would never track. As far as anyone can prove, it’s just a theory.’
At times brutal, this novel digs deep into the personal sacrifices those in law enforcement make each time they do their job. The things they see, the people they interview, the cases they never solve, the people that remain missing, the ones they do find, alive or dead; the sheer trauma of living with the knowledge of how debased humans can become. It’s not light reading, but it’s good reading. Bernard writes beautifully, at times with a poetic flow that is rare in crime fiction. And he has a cracking sense of humour which served to punctuate the more heavy moments, balancing the narrative with the finesse of a seasoned writer.
‘Rein looked down at Carrie. She’d found him in the wasteland. He’d been wandering the barren desert of his own life for years until she’d convinced Bill Waylon to come for him. In return, he’d escorted her to the brink of the void, watching as she accepted it and let it crawl within her. Soon, it would begin to dissolve her own light.’
I am so pleased that The Thief of Light is the beginning of a new crime series because I enjoyed the dynamics between these three so much. I feel like there are big things on the horizon for Carrie’s career and Jacob is just too much of an incredible detective to simply fade away once more. I loved how Jacob couldn’t help but mentor Carrie from the outset. And that ending! Not quite a cliff-hanger but it certainly left me with a craving for more.
Thanks is extended to Penguin Random House Australia for providing me with a copy of The Thief of Light for review.
August 16, 2019
A story about detectives written by a detective. In this thrilling start to a new series by Bernard Schaffer, Carrie Santero is a rookie cop who has managed to become a detective in the small town of Pennsylvania where she lives. Carrie has always had a fascination with the criminal mind. When she was a teenager, she wrote a letter to Charles Manson. Now, she faces a killer that is much too much like Manson.
Carrie is facing a child murderer. She is training and has the help of a former detective Jacob Rein. He has had some very dark cases over his career, and although he is no longer a cop, proves to be invaluable with Carrie's first murder case. Carrie's boss, Chief Bill Waylon, is tough but dedicated. When they realize the murderer they are after embodies the worst criminal minds wrapped up in one, Jacob proves to be invaluable to them.
Reading books written by cops are hit or miss for me. In some cases they are far too gruesome. While this book was incredibly intense, with some scenes that will take me a while to forget, there is no doubt that Schaffer's experience shines brightly in his writing. I was definitely captured by the intelligent writing, the case, the mind of the psychopathic killer and the teamwork involved when it came to taking down a brutal killer.
I have the second book in this series, An Unsettled Grave, for review, so I felt impelled to read this title, The Thief of All Light, first. I wanted to get to know Carrie and Jacob Rein. It was good to see how such a young woman could become a detective. It was also good to see how strong and intelligent she is. I have already read the second book and will definitely be following this series.
Carrie is facing a child murderer. She is training and has the help of a former detective Jacob Rein. He has had some very dark cases over his career, and although he is no longer a cop, proves to be invaluable with Carrie's first murder case. Carrie's boss, Chief Bill Waylon, is tough but dedicated. When they realize the murderer they are after embodies the worst criminal minds wrapped up in one, Jacob proves to be invaluable to them.
Reading books written by cops are hit or miss for me. In some cases they are far too gruesome. While this book was incredibly intense, with some scenes that will take me a while to forget, there is no doubt that Schaffer's experience shines brightly in his writing. I was definitely captured by the intelligent writing, the case, the mind of the psychopathic killer and the teamwork involved when it came to taking down a brutal killer.
I have the second book in this series, An Unsettled Grave, for review, so I felt impelled to read this title, The Thief of All Light, first. I wanted to get to know Carrie and Jacob Rein. It was good to see how such a young woman could become a detective. It was also good to see how strong and intelligent she is. I have already read the second book and will definitely be following this series.
June 9, 2018
I always enjoy a good thriller, and this definitely is a good one. I peeled through the last hundred pages, desperate to know what would happen. It’s obvious that Schaffer has experience in law enforcement. His characters are multi-dimensional and complex. Their voices and struggles are vivid and clear. He depicts real life, even the unthinkable, and makes you endure it. Some of it was rough... real hard to read... I was reading through the slats of the fingers covering my eyes. But I had been hooked after only 3 pages so I couldn’t look away. The dialogue was great and the pacing was perfect. I wish it had been longer, really, to know what else happens with the characters (but maybe I smell a sequel?). Overall, great quick read, surprising and thrilling.
Trigger Warning for sexual assault.
Trigger Warning for sexual assault.
July 30, 2018
I just could not get into this book. It was extremely well written but the story was just average for me. I think the rookie cop and the seasoned professional storyline is a bit overdone now. I really thought this would be my kind of book- a killer that modelled himself on famous serial killers. But it just wasn't for me, although I see that plenty of people have enjoyed this book. Maybe just not the right time for me to read it.
thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
June 8, 2019
Wow! My first book by Bernard Schaffer but it certainly wont be my last. I love suspense/thrillers yet at times they can be so one dimensional, its like you are reading same books over and over again. I can honestly say with this book you get drawn into the storyline because the the incredible writting on the author and his first hand knowledge of police prodecures. He can bring an intensity to his books that most authors aren't able to do. I would definitely recommend this book to others.
June 26, 2019
This was my first read by this author. It was a fast paced crime thriller that kept me up late reading it. I love crime stories and this wasn't just another crime fiction read, It was fresh and suspenseful with twists that kept me on edge. Dark and twisted. I loved it. I'll be looking for more from this author.
Dawnny-Book Gypsy
Novels N Latte Review
Novels N Latte Book Club
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny-Book Gypsy
Novels N Latte Review
Novels N Latte Book Club
Hudson Valley NY
August 3, 2018
The Thief of All Light by Bernard Schaffer
Santero and Rein #1
Murder mysteries with serial killers are not uncommon but this one is uncommonly good. After starting to read I could not put it down. The Santero – Rein team had the rookie wannabe detective eventually teaming up with an older scarred detective no longer on the police force and the two together was one that I “got” and enjoyed watching. The serial killer was devoid of humanity and if there was anything that I might have liked to see more of it would have been his backstory but…sometimes it doesn’t really matter what the backstory is as no matter what it was it would not justify the deeds perpetrated.
The idea that evil is dark, might have a face, is alive, can see and pull on a person and that doors are involved to let it in or keep it out…not really personification…but the way it was presented here resonated with me. The fact that good people may have to access that evil to find and put away evil people and the impact it can have on the ones that capture such evil was also interesting and resonated.
Carrie Santero is relatively new on the job and her boss often sees her more as a daughter than a rookie cop. Her boss, Bill Waylon, is strong and fair and a great person to act as her leader. They get along well and seem to see eye to eye though sometimes he is more friend than boss. There are a few more interesting characters in the detective section that no doubt will appear again in future books…as will perhaps Thome – son of Rein who calls Waylon “uncle”. And then, there is Jacob Rein. Rein and Waylon were once partners who put away a heinous serial killer. Rein has dropped off the radar for a number of years but is pulled in again when a serial killer appears that takes Carries best friend Molly and Molly’s daughter captive. From that point on there is a race to the finish that may or may not be what the reader hopes for.
Did I like this book? Definitely
Would I like to read more in this series? Of course
Is this a new-to-me author I will read again? Without a doubt
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
Santero and Rein #1
Murder mysteries with serial killers are not uncommon but this one is uncommonly good. After starting to read I could not put it down. The Santero – Rein team had the rookie wannabe detective eventually teaming up with an older scarred detective no longer on the police force and the two together was one that I “got” and enjoyed watching. The serial killer was devoid of humanity and if there was anything that I might have liked to see more of it would have been his backstory but…sometimes it doesn’t really matter what the backstory is as no matter what it was it would not justify the deeds perpetrated.
The idea that evil is dark, might have a face, is alive, can see and pull on a person and that doors are involved to let it in or keep it out…not really personification…but the way it was presented here resonated with me. The fact that good people may have to access that evil to find and put away evil people and the impact it can have on the ones that capture such evil was also interesting and resonated.
Carrie Santero is relatively new on the job and her boss often sees her more as a daughter than a rookie cop. Her boss, Bill Waylon, is strong and fair and a great person to act as her leader. They get along well and seem to see eye to eye though sometimes he is more friend than boss. There are a few more interesting characters in the detective section that no doubt will appear again in future books…as will perhaps Thome – son of Rein who calls Waylon “uncle”. And then, there is Jacob Rein. Rein and Waylon were once partners who put away a heinous serial killer. Rein has dropped off the radar for a number of years but is pulled in again when a serial killer appears that takes Carries best friend Molly and Molly’s daughter captive. From that point on there is a race to the finish that may or may not be what the reader hopes for.
Did I like this book? Definitely
Would I like to read more in this series? Of course
Is this a new-to-me author I will read again? Without a doubt
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
June 17, 2019
All I can say is WOWZA!!! This is one heck of a roller coaster ride of a thriller. Bernard Schaffer knows how to grab you right from the beginning and keep you hooked right till the very end. I read this book in one sitting. This book has such a raw, realistic feel that is hard to find in a lot of your Psychological Thrillers. But Bernard’s law enforcement background brings this book to life with some gritty characters and such pure RAWNESS which will leave you thinking about this book long after you finish. I found myself holding my breath at times because your not just reading about your average serial killer here, we are talking about a cold, calculated,
psychopath. Bernard Schaffer holds nothing back!!!
Best thriller I have read in a very long time. You better believe I am looking forward to book 2, An Unsettled Grave, which will hit shelves in July.
Absolutely brilliant!!! Packs a serious punch!!!
Easy 5 stars!!! Kudos Bernard Schaffer!!!
psychopath. Bernard Schaffer holds nothing back!!!
Best thriller I have read in a very long time. You better believe I am looking forward to book 2, An Unsettled Grave, which will hit shelves in July.
Absolutely brilliant!!! Packs a serious punch!!!
Easy 5 stars!!! Kudos Bernard Schaffer!!!
June 13, 2023
I had such high hopes for this book but it fell very flat. The beginning I liked but it was so stupid and unrealistic. Why would they ever keep Carie as the head detective for her friends murder? Why do the officers think they can just barge into someone’s house and beat them up and search their things? Also Carrie put everyone at risk by going into that house. She should have waited… Also you can’t just kill bad guys because you think they deserve it…. What was up with the cops being obsessed with mutilating bad guys private parts? This book was awful. If detectives actually acted like this and just killed whoever they thought deserved it, we would live in a very scary place.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2019
The Thief of All Light (A Santero and Rein Thriller #1) by Bernard Schaffer. I used to read all the time, then life happened! This by far was my favorite read since my last John Grisham book. A few of us purchased the book, no words except I was addicted. I read the book front to back in 2 days. Every time I went to put it down, I wanted to know what happened next. Definitely a THRILLER! The author Bernard Schaffer is the real deal! A veteran police detective who I recently read solved a cold case from over 20 years ago.(Do I envision another best seller?) It is very apparent that his real life cases/experiences spilled over to this book. It brought all the characters alive, you felt like you knew them and what they stood for but, you just needed to know more...
Of course my favorite character was the aspiring Rookie cop Carrie Santero and her obsession with serial killers. In her teenage years, she went as far as to write a letter to Charles Manson while he was in jail and received a reply.
Carrie will now face the real life drama in this enthralling thriller. You feel like your growing up real fast alongside Carrie, from being this pretty little thing, a new cop trying to be a detective that has to not only do her job but constantly prove herself to others on the force. Although I do not feel as I am alone Bill Waylon, not only Carrie's boss but you can just tell he looks after her like a daughter. This is a glacial, calculated psychopath they are hunting, nothing they have ever seen before. Danger is uncalculated and everywhere. We will learn about Carrie's childhood and best friend Molly. Molly's daughter was taken and held captive by what seems like a serial killer. The author then introduces former cops, family members and others that we can hope will be in the sequel that have worked similar cases in the past. That alone intrigued me, this book goes much deeper than a suspenseful thriller of a serial killer but also dives to the down and dirty of what the life of a police officer is really like. Their personal life, their addictions, their habits and more. Just because they go home at night, their minds are constantly on overdrive. They see things that most individuals should never have to encounter especially with their lives on the line every day. TRUE HEROS'
DEFINITE DON'T MISS!! I am awaiting the next book which I pre-ordered on Amazon called An Unsettled Grave
Militarymom98
Of course my favorite character was the aspiring Rookie cop Carrie Santero and her obsession with serial killers. In her teenage years, she went as far as to write a letter to Charles Manson while he was in jail and received a reply.
Carrie will now face the real life drama in this enthralling thriller. You feel like your growing up real fast alongside Carrie, from being this pretty little thing, a new cop trying to be a detective that has to not only do her job but constantly prove herself to others on the force. Although I do not feel as I am alone Bill Waylon, not only Carrie's boss but you can just tell he looks after her like a daughter. This is a glacial, calculated psychopath they are hunting, nothing they have ever seen before. Danger is uncalculated and everywhere. We will learn about Carrie's childhood and best friend Molly. Molly's daughter was taken and held captive by what seems like a serial killer. The author then introduces former cops, family members and others that we can hope will be in the sequel that have worked similar cases in the past. That alone intrigued me, this book goes much deeper than a suspenseful thriller of a serial killer but also dives to the down and dirty of what the life of a police officer is really like. Their personal life, their addictions, their habits and more. Just because they go home at night, their minds are constantly on overdrive. They see things that most individuals should never have to encounter especially with their lives on the line every day. TRUE HEROS'
DEFINITE DON'T MISS!! I am awaiting the next book which I pre-ordered on Amazon called An Unsettled Grave
Militarymom98
June 7, 2019
The Thief of All Light by Bernard Schaffer is a terrific start to a new series. Once I started reading I could not put it down it is spellbinding with page turning suspense. The Thief of All Light can easily be read in an afternoon it is a very quick read. This book has all the twists and turns that will keep you guessing throughout. It is both terrifying and thrilling. I read book # 2 The Unsettled Grave first but it did not take anything away from this book. Both books can easily be read as standalones but I would suggest you read this book first to get more of the background. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to see what Bernard has in store for us next.
May 31, 2019
Fantastic! I devoured this book in a day and a half simply for the fact that I just couldn’t put it down. I felt invested in the characters and needed to know what was going to happen next. The authors knowledge of the police world is a huge asset to this story, it makes you feel like you are right there with them for the ride.
The killers m.o. was something I haven’t seen before in a story and it was fascinating. The final five chapters were a whirlwind of nerves and emotions and I feel it ended perfectly.
I absolutely loved the humor in this book between Santero, Rein and Waylon. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. Fair warning, there are a couple graphic scenes that could trigger some people, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get past if it was throughout the book but it was fine for me after the club scene. I get it.
Overall I loved The Thief of all Light and am happy to know there are two more to follow up in the future after this one.
The killers m.o. was something I haven’t seen before in a story and it was fascinating. The final five chapters were a whirlwind of nerves and emotions and I feel it ended perfectly.
I absolutely loved the humor in this book between Santero, Rein and Waylon. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. Fair warning, there are a couple graphic scenes that could trigger some people, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get past if it was throughout the book but it was fine for me after the club scene. I get it.
Overall I loved The Thief of all Light and am happy to know there are two more to follow up in the future after this one.
May 14, 2018
I highly recommend this book. Schaffer has written a gripping crime/mystery with a scary murderer, sympathetic victims, and police characters who are real people with inner lives--vs. righteous warriors for some idealistic abstract "justice." His real life experience as a detective captures the humanity and mundane aspects of being a cop, rendering his fictional cops as likable and identifiable. The writing is excellent, e.g., it's hard to beat a line like, "The best cop advice I ever got was treat everybody like a million dollars and have a plan to kill them."
May 10, 2018
Schaffer's latest offering is a brilliant page-turner from start to finish. I lost sleep over this book because I just couldn't put it down! The plot is compelling and had me worried for the good guys again and again. Schaffer develops his characters with depth, color, and intensity that show him a master of his craft. I can't wait for the next Santero & Rein! 10 out of 5 stars.
June 19, 2019
Having read The Unsettled Grave by Bernard Schaffer it was only right to read the first book in this series (although not required to understand the two separate stories). It was to get to know better the relationship between Santero and Rein. And again it did not disappoint.
Here we find out how they met and how fierce their commitment to catching the bad guys keeps them going. Again they are hunting down serial killers. This one is more personal for Santero because she knows the people abducted. But this team works well together.
And Santero gets more than she bargained for when going after this psychopath. This is definitely another page-turner and I would love to see a Book 3 after reading Book 1 and 2.
Here we find out how they met and how fierce their commitment to catching the bad guys keeps them going. Again they are hunting down serial killers. This one is more personal for Santero because she knows the people abducted. But this team works well together.
And Santero gets more than she bargained for when going after this psychopath. This is definitely another page-turner and I would love to see a Book 3 after reading Book 1 and 2.
January 16, 2020
The Santero and Rein characters made the book good. There could have been more included to make the Thriller angle more thrilling. It was just enough though.
I'd like to thank Netgalley for this free copy to read and review.
I'd like to thank Netgalley for this free copy to read and review.
October 10, 2022
Serial killer tracked by rookie cop who is not giving up the chase. Goodly gruesome!
June 9, 2019
The Thief of all Light by Bernard Schaffer is a grisly, gruesome tale of a young Detective who wants a big break. She wants a case that will be her big break. The thing that helps her reach detective. Coming with a right hook is an omnikiller, someone who is out to mimic some of the cruelest serial killers to date. Carrie, the young female detective, is a simplistic character at time. She is a bit bull headed, but talks too much. She also has a tendency to not stand up for herself, which is evident in the first part of the book. Although there is some growth visible, I am hoping to see more as Schaffer continues the series. Jacob Rein is a character that I really enjoy and want to see more from. He is loveable and honest, no matter the darkness that he brings. The book could use some more fleshing out of the inside of the brain of the killer, as he feels more like a secondary character when he should feel like the center. Some of the gruesome details seem to be thrown in for shock value verses adding to the story, but it does help shuffle the plot along.
June 19, 2019
The Thief of All Light is a fascinating read. This is not your typical police procedural thriller as the author with his own experience as a cop has given both the characters and the plot a realism you rarely find in fiction. The story follows Carrie Santero a rookie cop and aspiring detective. Carrie is a smart and well developed character with some personal baggage. Then there's Jacob Rein a former detective disgraced and living in a self imposed hell. As the two get together along with Carrie's mentor and police chief Bill Waylon to catch a serial killer the story becomes a race against the clock and much more thrilling. The author did a great job building the story and developing all of the characters.
The narrator in the audible version did an excellent job breathing life into the story and keeping me interested. I look forward to the next installment.
The narrator in the audible version did an excellent job breathing life into the story and keeping me interested. I look forward to the next installment.
October 17, 2018
Meet Carrie Santero -a hungry, young, female detective taken under the wing of an older, experienced Chief Bill Waylon. Now I know we can usually change the names and the story is the same. Not this time. Bernard Schaffer has been writing and indie-publishing for years. Honing his craft. Surrounding himself by the most respected writers today. He has also worked in law enforcement. Allowing himself to sit face to face with the worst of the worst. Society hears the carefully worded news reports so often we have become nearly immune to what defines true, pure, evil. But the officers, out there in the muck, following the sickening clues that lead to the bad guy, they have not become immune . . . They are affected. I would dare to almost go so far as to say infected by the demented cruelty the "subject" has inflicted upon their victims and the chaos left behind for the families. Schaffer has taken that knowledge, his understanding of a tortured officer and woven it, oh so carefully, into his character, Jacob Rein. Rein's has a history that only begins to unfold half-way through the book.
The first part of the book is dedicated to really getting to know Carrie. She's the definition of a daddy's girl. She loves her best friend Molly and her daughter, who they lovingly call Nubs. She and Molly have spats like high school girls from time to time because to put it in Molly's words - "she has needs." Carrie has an insatiable appetite for profiling. She's read every book she can get her hands on. Once, she even contacted Charles Mason. She endures a great deal of ribbing, nasty references to her female genitalia, and slimy utterings of how she earns promotions. But she often leaves her fellow officers gape-jawed with her own smart-assy retorts. (You go girl!) She works her fair share of blah-blah-boring incidents, then the bodies start piling up at the morgue.
Could there be more than one psychopath in their rural Pennsylvania town? Or is one subject recreating the crimes of history's most notorious serial killers? With clues that seem to lead nowhere, Chief Waylon knows exactly where they need to go. Making contact with Jacob Rein is one thing, getting him to help is another. Rein described as the best of the best, brilliant, and dedicated looked into the abyss once too often. The ugliness and evil got to him. Then he was involved in an auto accident that killed a young girl. Although he was not at fault, the Father was, Rein pled guilty and did a stint in prison. He is a tortured soul residing within the shell of a once well-respected detective. Now working day to day, living a homeless, rootless, solitary existence.
But, Carrie, on the brink of a meltdown, is not willing to take no for answer and doesn't allow Rein to simply walk away.
The second half of the book is filled with Carrie and Jacob searching for a killer or killers. The emotional attachment between Carrie and Molly adds a layer to the story that's often missing in suspense novels. Schaffer did an excellent job building that relationship, let us have fun and relax a little with those scenes. Because of the crimes, I hate to say that I enjoyed reading this book, but those who love suspense/thrillers, true crime, or TV shows and documentaries will understand exactly what I mean. Schaffer's characters are three-dimensional and filled with personality. Carrie is a strong female trying to claim her position in a predominately male environment. Reading about her is both interesting and fun. Chief Waylon is the father-figure type. Even-tempered (most of the time), knows his stuff and is willing to share his vast knowledge with an up-and-coming detective. Then there's Jacob Rein. While I like the fallen ex-detective aspect, the reasoning for his traumatized state and self-inflicted punishment is ludicrous. I really wish Schaffer had given Rein a different back-story. I felt this weakened Rein's credibility, intelligence, and strength as a character. Especially with the "poor me" repetition. On more than occasion, I just wanted to scream at him!
Scenes are written with pin-point description, There's no waste of words or fluffing. The author gives the reader just what we need to picture what is going on and keeps moving forward. Although the pacing feels relaxed, as I turned every three or four pages, I could feel it building, quickening, urging me to keep reading. The clues are carefully disguised, causing me to rethink what was happening. The ending, while everything comes together, forming a complete picture, it felt incomplete. Rushed maybe. It just didn't fit with the first half of the book. It felt as though a lot of heart was penned in the first 50-60% of the story. Then the remaining pages were hastily configured and stapled in.
At 276 pages The Thief of All Light is a fast read that can easily be devoured in one afternoon or evening. I enjoyed the author's voice and appreciate the real-world experience he threaded into the story. I, personally could have lived without the vulgarities, but there again, realism. The characters are interesting and the author has me invested in Carrie's life. I will most certainly read any follow up to this book.
Happy Reading,
The first part of the book is dedicated to really getting to know Carrie. She's the definition of a daddy's girl. She loves her best friend Molly and her daughter, who they lovingly call Nubs. She and Molly have spats like high school girls from time to time because to put it in Molly's words - "she has needs." Carrie has an insatiable appetite for profiling. She's read every book she can get her hands on. Once, she even contacted Charles Mason. She endures a great deal of ribbing, nasty references to her female genitalia, and slimy utterings of how she earns promotions. But she often leaves her fellow officers gape-jawed with her own smart-assy retorts. (You go girl!) She works her fair share of blah-blah-boring incidents, then the bodies start piling up at the morgue.
Could there be more than one psychopath in their rural Pennsylvania town? Or is one subject recreating the crimes of history's most notorious serial killers? With clues that seem to lead nowhere, Chief Waylon knows exactly where they need to go. Making contact with Jacob Rein is one thing, getting him to help is another. Rein described as the best of the best, brilliant, and dedicated looked into the abyss once too often. The ugliness and evil got to him. Then he was involved in an auto accident that killed a young girl. Although he was not at fault, the Father was, Rein pled guilty and did a stint in prison. He is a tortured soul residing within the shell of a once well-respected detective. Now working day to day, living a homeless, rootless, solitary existence.
But, Carrie, on the brink of a meltdown, is not willing to take no for answer and doesn't allow Rein to simply walk away.
The second half of the book is filled with Carrie and Jacob searching for a killer or killers. The emotional attachment between Carrie and Molly adds a layer to the story that's often missing in suspense novels. Schaffer did an excellent job building that relationship, let us have fun and relax a little with those scenes. Because of the crimes, I hate to say that I enjoyed reading this book, but those who love suspense/thrillers, true crime, or TV shows and documentaries will understand exactly what I mean. Schaffer's characters are three-dimensional and filled with personality. Carrie is a strong female trying to claim her position in a predominately male environment. Reading about her is both interesting and fun. Chief Waylon is the father-figure type. Even-tempered (most of the time), knows his stuff and is willing to share his vast knowledge with an up-and-coming detective. Then there's Jacob Rein. While I like the fallen ex-detective aspect, the reasoning for his traumatized state and self-inflicted punishment is ludicrous. I really wish Schaffer had given Rein a different back-story. I felt this weakened Rein's credibility, intelligence, and strength as a character. Especially with the "poor me" repetition. On more than occasion, I just wanted to scream at him!
Scenes are written with pin-point description, There's no waste of words or fluffing. The author gives the reader just what we need to picture what is going on and keeps moving forward. Although the pacing feels relaxed, as I turned every three or four pages, I could feel it building, quickening, urging me to keep reading. The clues are carefully disguised, causing me to rethink what was happening. The ending, while everything comes together, forming a complete picture, it felt incomplete. Rushed maybe. It just didn't fit with the first half of the book. It felt as though a lot of heart was penned in the first 50-60% of the story. Then the remaining pages were hastily configured and stapled in.
At 276 pages The Thief of All Light is a fast read that can easily be devoured in one afternoon or evening. I enjoyed the author's voice and appreciate the real-world experience he threaded into the story. I, personally could have lived without the vulgarities, but there again, realism. The characters are interesting and the author has me invested in Carrie's life. I will most certainly read any follow up to this book.
Happy Reading,
July 30, 2018
Meet Carrie Santero -a hungry, young, female detective taken under the wing of an older, experienced Chief Bill Waylon. Now I know we can usually change the names and the story is the same. Not this time. Bernard Schaffer has been writing and indie-publishing for years. Honing his craft. Surrounding himself by the most respected writers today. He has also worked in law enforcement. Allowing himself to sit face to face with the worst of the worst. Society hears the carefully worded news reports so often we have become nearly immune to what defines true, pure, evil. But the officers, out there in the muck, following the sickening clues that lead to the bad guy, they have not become immune . . . They are affected. I would dare to almost go so far as to say infected by the demented cruelty the "subject" has inflicted upon their victims and the chaos left behind for the families. Schaffer has taken that knowledge, his understanding of a tortured officer and woven it, oh so carefully, into his character, Jacob Rein. Rein's has a history that only begins to unfold half-way through the book.
The first part of the book is dedicated to really getting to know Carrie. She's the definition of a daddy's girl. She loves her best friend Molly and her daughter, who they lovingly call Nubs. She and Molly have spats like high school girls from time to time because to put it in Molly's words - "she has needs." Carrie has an insatiable appetite for profiling. She's read every book she can get her hands on. Once, she even contacted Charles Mason. She endures a great deal of ribbing, nasty references to her female genitalia, and slimy utterings of how she earns promotions. But she often leaves her fellow officers gape-jawed with her own smart-assy retorts. (You go girl!) She works her fair share of blah-blah-boring incidents, then the bodies start piling up at the morgue.
Could there be more than one psychopath in their rural Pennsylvania town? Or is one subject recreating the crimes of history's most notorious serial killers? With clues that seem to lead nowhere, Chief Waylon knows exactly where they need to go. Making contact with Jacob Rein is one thing, getting him to help is another. Rein described as the best of the best, brilliant, and dedicated looked into the abyss once too often. The ugliness and evil got to him. Then he was involved in an auto accident that killed a young girl. Although he was not at fault, the Father was, Rein pled guilty and did a stint in prison. He is a tortured soul residing within the shell of a once well-respected detective. Now working day to day, living a homeless, rootless, solitary existence.
But, Carrie, on the brink of a meltdown, is not willing to take no for answer and doesn't allow Rein to simply walk away.
The second half of the book is filled with Carrie and Jacob searching for a killer or killers. The emotional attachment between Carrie and Molly adds a layer to the story that's often missing in suspense novels. Schaffer did an excellent job building that relationship, let us have fun and relax a little with those scenes. Because of the crimes, I hate to say that I enjoyed reading this book, but those who love suspense/thrillers, true crime, or TV shows and documentaries will understand exactly what I mean. Schaffer's characters are three-dimensional and filled with personality. Carrie is a strong female trying to claim her position in a predominately male environment. Reading about her is both interesting and fun. Chief Waylon is the father-figure type. Even-tempered (most of the time), knows his stuff and is willing to share his vast knowledge with an up-and-coming detective. Then there's Jacob Rein. While I like the fallen ex-detective aspect, the reasoning for his traumatized state and self-inflicted punishment is ludicrous. I really wish Schaffer had given Rein a different back-story. I felt this weakened Rein's credibility, intelligence, and strength as a character. Especially with the "poor me" repetition. On more than occasion, I just wanted to scream at him!
Scenes are written with pin-point description, There's no waste of words or fluffing. The author gives the reader just what we need to picture what is going on and keeps moving forward. Although the pacing feels relaxed, as I turned every three or four pages, I could feel it building, quickening, urging me to keep reading. The clues are carefully disguised, causing me to rethink what was happening. The ending, while everything comes together, forming a complete picture, it felt incomplete. Rushed maybe. It just didn't fit with the first half of the book. It felt as though a lot of heart was penned in the first 50-60% of the story. Then the remaining pages were hastily configured and stapled in.
At 276 pages The Thief of All Light is a fast read that can easily be devoured in one afternoon or evening. I enjoyed the author's voice and appreciate the real-world experience he threaded into the story. I, personally could have lived without the vulgarities, but there again, realism. The characters are interesting and the author has me invested in Carrie's life. I will most certainly read any follow up to this book.
Happy Reading,
RJ
The first part of the book is dedicated to really getting to know Carrie. She's the definition of a daddy's girl. She loves her best friend Molly and her daughter, who they lovingly call Nubs. She and Molly have spats like high school girls from time to time because to put it in Molly's words - "she has needs." Carrie has an insatiable appetite for profiling. She's read every book she can get her hands on. Once, she even contacted Charles Mason. She endures a great deal of ribbing, nasty references to her female genitalia, and slimy utterings of how she earns promotions. But she often leaves her fellow officers gape-jawed with her own smart-assy retorts. (You go girl!) She works her fair share of blah-blah-boring incidents, then the bodies start piling up at the morgue.
Could there be more than one psychopath in their rural Pennsylvania town? Or is one subject recreating the crimes of history's most notorious serial killers? With clues that seem to lead nowhere, Chief Waylon knows exactly where they need to go. Making contact with Jacob Rein is one thing, getting him to help is another. Rein described as the best of the best, brilliant, and dedicated looked into the abyss once too often. The ugliness and evil got to him. Then he was involved in an auto accident that killed a young girl. Although he was not at fault, the Father was, Rein pled guilty and did a stint in prison. He is a tortured soul residing within the shell of a once well-respected detective. Now working day to day, living a homeless, rootless, solitary existence.
But, Carrie, on the brink of a meltdown, is not willing to take no for answer and doesn't allow Rein to simply walk away.
The second half of the book is filled with Carrie and Jacob searching for a killer or killers. The emotional attachment between Carrie and Molly adds a layer to the story that's often missing in suspense novels. Schaffer did an excellent job building that relationship, let us have fun and relax a little with those scenes. Because of the crimes, I hate to say that I enjoyed reading this book, but those who love suspense/thrillers, true crime, or TV shows and documentaries will understand exactly what I mean. Schaffer's characters are three-dimensional and filled with personality. Carrie is a strong female trying to claim her position in a predominately male environment. Reading about her is both interesting and fun. Chief Waylon is the father-figure type. Even-tempered (most of the time), knows his stuff and is willing to share his vast knowledge with an up-and-coming detective. Then there's Jacob Rein. While I like the fallen ex-detective aspect, the reasoning for his traumatized state and self-inflicted punishment is ludicrous. I really wish Schaffer had given Rein a different back-story. I felt this weakened Rein's credibility, intelligence, and strength as a character. Especially with the "poor me" repetition. On more than occasion, I just wanted to scream at him!
Scenes are written with pin-point description, There's no waste of words or fluffing. The author gives the reader just what we need to picture what is going on and keeps moving forward. Although the pacing feels relaxed, as I turned every three or four pages, I could feel it building, quickening, urging me to keep reading. The clues are carefully disguised, causing me to rethink what was happening. The ending, while everything comes together, forming a complete picture, it felt incomplete. Rushed maybe. It just didn't fit with the first half of the book. It felt as though a lot of heart was penned in the first 50-60% of the story. Then the remaining pages were hastily configured and stapled in.
At 276 pages The Thief of All Light is a fast read that can easily be devoured in one afternoon or evening. I enjoyed the author's voice and appreciate the real-world experience he threaded into the story. I, personally could have lived without the vulgarities, but there again, realism. The characters are interesting and the author has me invested in Carrie's life. I will most certainly read any follow up to this book.
Happy Reading,
RJ
August 28, 2018
Sadistic. Sadistic. Sadistic.
I can say it a thousand times but I'll say it thrice on here.
Approaching this book and thinking that the author has some keen desire to watch people suffer at the hands of a serial killer is foolish. In fact, the author clearly demonstrates the evil behind it. He somewhat shines a light at the mental illness and obsessive nature Americans have for serial killers or repeat violent offenders. Offenders from both sides of the law.
But what caught my attention the most was that the characters created; most of which are extremely believable are police officers at the edge of their careers and sanity. One, older and wiser is tired of his work and the other, younger, is broken by it. A sign of our times.
As they chase a menacing serial killer who is the ultimate copycat killer, the characters learn more about their own faults, failures, shortcomings all while chasing a madman who alters his modus operandi with each and every one of his victims.
How does one catch a serial killer if his killings are not serial? How does one follow a method if the method is volatile? The cops, the characters, the killer, the story come together ever so smoothly to demonstrate to us, the audience, that human beings are not as good and as pretty as we portray ourselves to be.
In fact, we all have the capacity and capability to commit acts of utmost violence and horror when the circumstances call for such behavior.
Loved it. On to the next!
I can say it a thousand times but I'll say it thrice on here.
Approaching this book and thinking that the author has some keen desire to watch people suffer at the hands of a serial killer is foolish. In fact, the author clearly demonstrates the evil behind it. He somewhat shines a light at the mental illness and obsessive nature Americans have for serial killers or repeat violent offenders. Offenders from both sides of the law.
But what caught my attention the most was that the characters created; most of which are extremely believable are police officers at the edge of their careers and sanity. One, older and wiser is tired of his work and the other, younger, is broken by it. A sign of our times.
As they chase a menacing serial killer who is the ultimate copycat killer, the characters learn more about their own faults, failures, shortcomings all while chasing a madman who alters his modus operandi with each and every one of his victims.
How does one catch a serial killer if his killings are not serial? How does one follow a method if the method is volatile? The cops, the characters, the killer, the story come together ever so smoothly to demonstrate to us, the audience, that human beings are not as good and as pretty as we portray ourselves to be.
In fact, we all have the capacity and capability to commit acts of utmost violence and horror when the circumstances call for such behavior.
Loved it. On to the next!
August 27, 2018
Rookie, wannabe-detective Carrie Santero teams up with veteran cops Bill Waylon and Jacob Rein to stop a copycat serial killer.
This edgy police procedural builds suspense through its rush to apprehend a serial killer before he strikes again. There’s no mystery about who’s who and who did what, but the tension builds as the police race to find a missing woman and child who may well be in the hands of a deranged killer who’s trying on different serial killer personas. At times, however, scenes are excessively graphic and filled with both cruelty and depravity.
Complex, well-developed characters populate the narrative, although there are times readers may cringe at the characters’ choices and actions. The author’s law enforcement experience is evident throughout the narrative and provides a particular authenticity to the police work. But the rough, vulgar language is certainly not the ordinary language of all police officers and its over-use here is likely to be off-putting for many readers.
This edgy police procedural builds suspense through its rush to apprehend a serial killer before he strikes again. There’s no mystery about who’s who and who did what, but the tension builds as the police race to find a missing woman and child who may well be in the hands of a deranged killer who’s trying on different serial killer personas. At times, however, scenes are excessively graphic and filled with both cruelty and depravity.
Complex, well-developed characters populate the narrative, although there are times readers may cringe at the characters’ choices and actions. The author’s law enforcement experience is evident throughout the narrative and provides a particular authenticity to the police work. But the rough, vulgar language is certainly not the ordinary language of all police officers and its over-use here is likely to be off-putting for many readers.
June 9, 2019
5 Stars to The Thief of All Light, which is the first book in the Santero and Rein Thriller Series. I love murder mysteries with serial killers! There are alot of them out there but none which I read that are this well written. The Santero-Reid characters are partners with the rookie wannabe detective teaming up with the older detective not even on the police force. The author perfectly crafted the characters for this detective team. The serial killer was dark with no humanity in his bones, which one would expect for a serial killer.
This author, who is also a detective knows his craft. At its core, this police procedural is authentic and organic. The writing flows and I was frantically flipping pages to the very end.
I emphatically enjoyed this book! If you loved this book as much as I did, definitely check out Book 2 in this series An Unsettled Grave which is due out 7/30/19.
This author, who is also a detective knows his craft. At its core, this police procedural is authentic and organic. The writing flows and I was frantically flipping pages to the very end.
I emphatically enjoyed this book! If you loved this book as much as I did, definitely check out Book 2 in this series An Unsettled Grave which is due out 7/30/19.
May 7, 2019
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A young police officer working her way towards her first investigation discovers a gruesome killer unlike anything the police world has seen before has made their way to her town, and only with the help of a seasoned yet haunted detective can she hope to stop the killer in author Bernard Schaffer’s incredible thriller “The Thief of All Light”. Here is the synopsis.
The Synopsis
"Tense, fast, and excellent--I loved this book."
--Lee Child
From veteran police detective Bernard Schaffer comes a powerful new thriller that crackles with authenticity, page-turning suspense, and spellbinding glimpses into the criminal mind . . .
"It was one thing to fantasize about evil, to reach into the darkness and play with it a little . . ."
Rookie cop Carrie Santero has always been fascinated by serial killers. As a teenager, she wrote a letter to Charles Manson in prison--and received a chilling reply. Then she came face to face with a child murderer in her small Pennsylvania town, an encounter that haunts her to this day. Now, as a detective in training, she finally has her chance to make a difference; to hunt down a psychopathic sadist who embodies the very nature of evil itself.
." . . but it was something different when it knew your name."
The killer draws inspiration from the most twisted minds in modern crime. Ted Bundy. John Wayne Gacy. Ed Gein. The Green River Killer. As the body count rises, Carrie and her boss, Chief Bill Waylon, realize they're dealing with an unpredictable "omnikiller" who cannot be profiled. Their only hope is to enlist the help of Jacob Rein, a brilliant but tarnished former detective who has plumbed the darkest recesses of the soul. Who has seen the heart of darkness. And whose insights on evil could lead Carrie to the point of no return.
The Review
What an incredible, heart-pounding read. The novel does a marvelous job of drawing the reader deeper and deeper not only into the investigation, but the lives and backgrounds of the protagonists of the story. Detective Santero is a strong police officer who faces the challenges any strong woman working her way into a male dominated field must deal with, and despite her inexperience shows a determination and strength that speaks of a realism not often captured in the genre.
What really shines through however is the attention to detail the author brings to the investigation, shedding the Hollywood cliches of police investigations with brutally honest interactions between officers and the reality of the crimes committed by horrendous offenders, all while providing an engaging plot that brings to life a haunting new killer. The investigation brings an emotional turn that readers will be shocked to discover, and will give the heroes of this tale a more invested role in the hunt for this illusive killer, a killer most other officers believe is nothing more than a myth.
The Verdict
The Thief of All Light is a must read introduction into a fantastic new thriller series. Between the author’s real life experiences as an investigator lending a realness to the plot and characters, and a cast of protagonists many can relate to and antagonists that haunt our nightmares, the best aspect of this story is exploring the dark depths investigators must delve into in order to find the criminals they are hunting, and the consequences of going to those dark places. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy of The Thief of All Light, the first in the Santero and Rein series, today!
A young police officer working her way towards her first investigation discovers a gruesome killer unlike anything the police world has seen before has made their way to her town, and only with the help of a seasoned yet haunted detective can she hope to stop the killer in author Bernard Schaffer’s incredible thriller “The Thief of All Light”. Here is the synopsis.
The Synopsis
"Tense, fast, and excellent--I loved this book."
--Lee Child
From veteran police detective Bernard Schaffer comes a powerful new thriller that crackles with authenticity, page-turning suspense, and spellbinding glimpses into the criminal mind . . .
"It was one thing to fantasize about evil, to reach into the darkness and play with it a little . . ."
Rookie cop Carrie Santero has always been fascinated by serial killers. As a teenager, she wrote a letter to Charles Manson in prison--and received a chilling reply. Then she came face to face with a child murderer in her small Pennsylvania town, an encounter that haunts her to this day. Now, as a detective in training, she finally has her chance to make a difference; to hunt down a psychopathic sadist who embodies the very nature of evil itself.
." . . but it was something different when it knew your name."
The killer draws inspiration from the most twisted minds in modern crime. Ted Bundy. John Wayne Gacy. Ed Gein. The Green River Killer. As the body count rises, Carrie and her boss, Chief Bill Waylon, realize they're dealing with an unpredictable "omnikiller" who cannot be profiled. Their only hope is to enlist the help of Jacob Rein, a brilliant but tarnished former detective who has plumbed the darkest recesses of the soul. Who has seen the heart of darkness. And whose insights on evil could lead Carrie to the point of no return.
The Review
What an incredible, heart-pounding read. The novel does a marvelous job of drawing the reader deeper and deeper not only into the investigation, but the lives and backgrounds of the protagonists of the story. Detective Santero is a strong police officer who faces the challenges any strong woman working her way into a male dominated field must deal with, and despite her inexperience shows a determination and strength that speaks of a realism not often captured in the genre.
What really shines through however is the attention to detail the author brings to the investigation, shedding the Hollywood cliches of police investigations with brutally honest interactions between officers and the reality of the crimes committed by horrendous offenders, all while providing an engaging plot that brings to life a haunting new killer. The investigation brings an emotional turn that readers will be shocked to discover, and will give the heroes of this tale a more invested role in the hunt for this illusive killer, a killer most other officers believe is nothing more than a myth.
The Verdict
The Thief of All Light is a must read introduction into a fantastic new thriller series. Between the author’s real life experiences as an investigator lending a realness to the plot and characters, and a cast of protagonists many can relate to and antagonists that haunt our nightmares, the best aspect of this story is exploring the dark depths investigators must delve into in order to find the criminals they are hunting, and the consequences of going to those dark places. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy of The Thief of All Light, the first in the Santero and Rein series, today!
June 9, 2019
A Thrilling Read !
Author Bernard Schaffer has written a book to keep you on the edge of your seat! Officer Carrie Santero is a rookie with the dream of becoming a detective one day. A young girl goes missing and Carrie feels there is nothing to it. Until her best friend Molly and six year old daughter, Nubs never come home from the park. After receiving a disturbing photo on her phone, Carrie and Chief of police, Bill Waylon seeks the help of his former partner, Jacob Rein. Rein is known as a master at solving homicides. With Reins help, Carrie discovers a serial killer known as the " omni killer". He can't be profiled because he changes his identities and murders to copy other serial killer's. Can Carrie and Rein bring the Omni killer to justice? Will it be too late for Molly and her daughter? Grab your copy of The Thief of All Light and be prepared for a wild ride!
Author Bernard Schaffer has written a book to keep you on the edge of your seat! Officer Carrie Santero is a rookie with the dream of becoming a detective one day. A young girl goes missing and Carrie feels there is nothing to it. Until her best friend Molly and six year old daughter, Nubs never come home from the park. After receiving a disturbing photo on her phone, Carrie and Chief of police, Bill Waylon seeks the help of his former partner, Jacob Rein. Rein is known as a master at solving homicides. With Reins help, Carrie discovers a serial killer known as the " omni killer". He can't be profiled because he changes his identities and murders to copy other serial killer's. Can Carrie and Rein bring the Omni killer to justice? Will it be too late for Molly and her daughter? Grab your copy of The Thief of All Light and be prepared for a wild ride!
June 9, 2019
The Thief Of All Light is a psychological Thriller/ police procedural.
Oh. My. Gosh! One of the best thrillers I've read this year! I knew I was hooked from the first sentence! It took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions! The ebb and flow of the authors writing is wonderful and keeps your attention..keeps you guessing...makes you yell at your book (lol). Yet he adds light moments to take off some of the rawness that will have you holding your breath! The plot is suspenseful. The characters are real and gritty, tough yet human. I loved them!
I can not wait for book 2, An Unsettled Grave, coming July 30th, 2019
This book gets a huge thumbs up and a 5 star rating! Wish I could go higher.
If you love to have a book thrill you, grab this one!
Oh. My. Gosh! One of the best thrillers I've read this year! I knew I was hooked from the first sentence! It took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions! The ebb and flow of the authors writing is wonderful and keeps your attention..keeps you guessing...makes you yell at your book (lol). Yet he adds light moments to take off some of the rawness that will have you holding your breath! The plot is suspenseful. The characters are real and gritty, tough yet human. I loved them!
I can not wait for book 2, An Unsettled Grave, coming July 30th, 2019
This book gets a huge thumbs up and a 5 star rating! Wish I could go higher.
If you love to have a book thrill you, grab this one!
June 21, 2019
Bernard Schaffer
The Thief of All Light (A Santero and Rein Thriller Book 1)
I am blown away with the entertaining, clever, and just-complex-enough storyline of The Thief of All Light . Wow what a start to a new series. From the opening page the author sucks you in to the story and as the book progresses the twist and shocking revelations keep you on the edge of your seat. This is so, so good!
I am now absolutely hooked on this series and can't wait for more books to come out. These books are absolutely hard to put down once you start. I finished reading this particular one in less than a day, it's that addictive. If you haven't read this book or any of his others, you definitely should. They are amazing !!!!!
The Thief of All Light (A Santero and Rein Thriller Book 1)
I am blown away with the entertaining, clever, and just-complex-enough storyline of The Thief of All Light . Wow what a start to a new series. From the opening page the author sucks you in to the story and as the book progresses the twist and shocking revelations keep you on the edge of your seat. This is so, so good!
I am now absolutely hooked on this series and can't wait for more books to come out. These books are absolutely hard to put down once you start. I finished reading this particular one in less than a day, it's that addictive. If you haven't read this book or any of his others, you definitely should. They are amazing !!!!!
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