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Next Boy To Die
Blond teenage boys begin to disappear… who will be the next boy to die?
Three years ago. Dean, a senior criminology lecturer, lost his fiancée and ever since, his life has revolved around his work, which provides him an outlet from the harsh feelings of guilt around her death.
When a series of mysterious disappearances of teen boys take place, his close friend who is a police officer that has been assigned to the investigation, asks him for help.
Every few days, another boy disappears from his home, with the only common denominator being that they are all blond, blue-eyed, and around the age of fifteen.
As the bodies pile up, the authorities realize they are dealing with an extremely cruel serial killer.
Despite their efforts, the investigation bears no fruits and Dean realizes the responsibility for solving the murders lies solely on his shoulders.
If he fails to find the killer – it is only a matter of time until the next victim…
Three years ago. Dean, a senior criminology lecturer, lost his fiancée and ever since, his life has revolved around his work, which provides him an outlet from the harsh feelings of guilt around her death.
When a series of mysterious disappearances of teen boys take place, his close friend who is a police officer that has been assigned to the investigation, asks him for help.
Every few days, another boy disappears from his home, with the only common denominator being that they are all blond, blue-eyed, and around the age of fifteen.
As the bodies pile up, the authorities realize they are dealing with an extremely cruel serial killer.
Despite their efforts, the investigation bears no fruits and Dean realizes the responsibility for solving the murders lies solely on his shoulders.
If he fails to find the killer – it is only a matter of time until the next victim…
376 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 19, 2020
101 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 23, 2020
Dr. Dinstein is a professor in the Department of Criminology at an Israeli University and a noted expert on serial killers. When young men around 15 years old begin to disappear, the police call on Din to help them solve the mystery.
The boys are all blond with blue eyes and seemingly just disappear without any evidence of violence or kidnapping. Din is asked to use his expertise to try to figure out what is happening before another young man becomes the next victim.
Although this book is focused on the serial killer aspect, it is so much more than that. Most of the main characters suffer from some type of PTSD, whether from their military service, guilt over the loss of a cherished loved one, or as the aftereffects of a horrific rape. The author, Arnon Edelstein, does an excellent job of slowly telling their stories and making the reader feel like they actually know the characters.
The book is set in Israel and I also enjoyed the descriptions of the cuisine, culture and geography that the author used to make the story seem more realistic. This was a fast read for me as I raced to reach the conclusion. And, the conclusion was definitely different than I expected!
Although the book is about a serial killer's spree and part of the story focuses on gang rape, there was not much graphic detail or overt gore. Instead, it was a well-written psychological thriller in the style of "Criminal Minds". I will definitely look for more books by this author.
The boys are all blond with blue eyes and seemingly just disappear without any evidence of violence or kidnapping. Din is asked to use his expertise to try to figure out what is happening before another young man becomes the next victim.
Although this book is focused on the serial killer aspect, it is so much more than that. Most of the main characters suffer from some type of PTSD, whether from their military service, guilt over the loss of a cherished loved one, or as the aftereffects of a horrific rape. The author, Arnon Edelstein, does an excellent job of slowly telling their stories and making the reader feel like they actually know the characters.
The book is set in Israel and I also enjoyed the descriptions of the cuisine, culture and geography that the author used to make the story seem more realistic. This was a fast read for me as I raced to reach the conclusion. And, the conclusion was definitely different than I expected!
Although the book is about a serial killer's spree and part of the story focuses on gang rape, there was not much graphic detail or overt gore. Instead, it was a well-written psychological thriller in the style of "Criminal Minds". I will definitely look for more books by this author.
July 14, 2020
this cover is gorgeous.. thats what drew me to this... the plot was even more fun to read.. it was creepy and fast paced.. interesting and intriguing.. kept me curious to know what was going to happen next and who did what. i really liked the spook factor and it was well written.
June 28, 2020
First, I want to thank Arnon Edelstein for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
Next Boy To Die by Arnon Edelstein is a different kind of psychological/crime book that I am used to reading. It was a little out of my comfort zone as I am not familiar of the culture that was in the book. Arnon did however give some very good educational historical background references in the back of the book.
This book is dedicated to my beloved family, particularly to my daughter Shirley, who waited for every new page emerging from the printer, read it avidly, and gave me the stamina to keep going.
In all the books that I have read I was totally shocked at the individual who was abducting these boys and killing them. It literally blew my mind that the author would go this route.
I liked the smart ass remarks and jokes that went back and forth in the book.
Next Boy To Die by Arnon Edelstein is a different kind of psychological/crime book that I am used to reading. It was a little out of my comfort zone as I am not familiar of the culture that was in the book. Arnon did however give some very good educational historical background references in the back of the book.
This book is dedicated to my beloved family, particularly to my daughter Shirley, who waited for every new page emerging from the printer, read it avidly, and gave me the stamina to keep going.
In all the books that I have read I was totally shocked at the individual who was abducting these boys and killing them. It literally blew my mind that the author would go this route.
I liked the smart ass remarks and jokes that went back and forth in the book.
June 27, 2020
This was an interesting book to read. There is a lot to it. I liked how the author got into the head of the killer and how they showed her motives, thoughts, fears and other emotions. I liked how Dean helped out. I liked most of the characters and their dynamics. The author does a good job at keeping you reading with the twists and turns in the plot. It was an easy read. I have not read this author before but I am sure to again in the future. I would recommend this book to others.
March 4, 2022
Adrenaline driven beginning with a whimpering finish.
3.50 stars
As this story was set in Israel, the multitude of foreign names and words, which were not explained until the end of the book in the footnotes, proved a major distraction. I had limited knowledge of many of the places mentioned and NO idea of their physical location within Israel. As a result, I felt like an outsider throughout the story.
The early chapters provided the best of the plotlines. Character development was good, but not great. The majority of the excellent writing was focused on "the subject," a serial murderer brutally killing 15 year old boys with specific physical characteristics as a substitute for an earlier personal trauma "the subject" sustained.
From there, the plot bled out, becoming uninteresting, tiresome and disappointing. For unknown reasons, the author seems to have lost focus on the central plotline, instead veering into unneeded filler subplots, that at best, had minor effects on the tale.
This story could have been a devastating and tense thriller/mystery/ police versus antagonist novel, but unfortunately it pulled up lame instead. Such a shame.
3.50 stars
As this story was set in Israel, the multitude of foreign names and words, which were not explained until the end of the book in the footnotes, proved a major distraction. I had limited knowledge of many of the places mentioned and NO idea of their physical location within Israel. As a result, I felt like an outsider throughout the story.
The early chapters provided the best of the plotlines. Character development was good, but not great. The majority of the excellent writing was focused on "the subject," a serial murderer brutally killing 15 year old boys with specific physical characteristics as a substitute for an earlier personal trauma "the subject" sustained.
From there, the plot bled out, becoming uninteresting, tiresome and disappointing. For unknown reasons, the author seems to have lost focus on the central plotline, instead veering into unneeded filler subplots, that at best, had minor effects on the tale.
This story could have been a devastating and tense thriller/mystery/ police versus antagonist novel, but unfortunately it pulled up lame instead. Such a shame.
September 23, 2020
First time in reading this author with the title catching my eye. When then I seen it was a crime thriller,oh boy good for me. The character Dean whom is a senior criminology lecturer whom after his fiance is killed keeps to himself. But only for so long because his friend needs his help with catching a serial killer whom likes teenage blue eyed boys to kill. Thrills and chills abound as they go against a rising body count with us whom love a good thriller looking for those clues. There is not any walking away.. You are held in it until you see whom it is.
August 14, 2020
It was a great thriller with all types of twists and turns. The psychology and the thrill of the chase was a great motivation for wanting to read to the very end. And this thriller will have you turning pages til the very end.
They can not figure out why middle aged schooled boys are disappearing. It makes no rhyme or reason to Dr. Din. Then realizes a pattern blond hair blue eyes.. And if it's a woman that is rare. Can he help the police solve the crime before more bodies pile up?
They can not figure out why middle aged schooled boys are disappearing. It makes no rhyme or reason to Dr. Din. Then realizes a pattern blond hair blue eyes.. And if it's a woman that is rare. Can he help the police solve the crime before more bodies pile up?
September 22, 2020
IT HAD A LOT OF MESSAGES BOTH PSYCOHOLGICAL & RELIGIOUS AND AT TIMES SEEMED LIKE A CIGARETTE COMERCIAL. ALMOST PUT THIS ON THE DNF SHELF BECAUSE I REALLY DIDN'T LIKE IT. THE BOOK WAS LIKE READING SEVERAL INDIVIDUAL STORIES WITH CHARACTERS THAT DIDN'T FIT TOGETHER BUT DID. I WAS LEFT FEELING LIKE THE CHARACTERS STORIES WERE UNREAL. EVERYONE SEEMED TO BE PLAYING PSYCHIATRY WITH EACH OTHER. SOAPBOX LIKE IN PARTS AND THE ENDING, IT DID AND IT DIDN'T END RIGHT. TOO WORDY. :{
August 9, 2020
Surprising Ending
The author makes an unusual story by creating a monster woman and then turns her into someone to be pitied. It's a case that is truly more fiction due to the emotional twist of the perpetrator's life. The exclusion of a few unnecessary bad language would have scored a very top rated story.
The author makes an unusual story by creating a monster woman and then turns her into someone to be pitied. It's a case that is truly more fiction due to the emotional twist of the perpetrator's life. The exclusion of a few unnecessary bad language would have scored a very top rated story.
August 11, 2020
Suspenseful, never wanted to put this book down.
As one who was fortunate enough to travel to Israel I was able to picture the sights and sounds as I read through this suspenseful book. It was a well written, researched story engaging personal tragedies that brought me closer to each character’s personality and traits.
As one who was fortunate enough to travel to Israel I was able to picture the sights and sounds as I read through this suspenseful book. It was a well written, researched story engaging personal tragedies that brought me closer to each character’s personality and traits.
August 11, 2020
Off the track
I liked the story and I understand why it was done, but the story by Tal was way too long. I almost forgot the purpose of the book. While it tied up all the loose ends, the ending felt too pat. Was the protagonist really going to stop working on this case just as he found out her identity.
I liked the story and I understand why it was done, but the story by Tal was way too long. I almost forgot the purpose of the book. While it tied up all the loose ends, the ending felt too pat. Was the protagonist really going to stop working on this case just as he found out her identity.
December 18, 2020
Next Boy to Die
This was a very unusual serial killer storyline. When boys started disappearing but no bodies were found the police turn to a college professor to make a profile of the killer in a desperate attempt to stop the disappearances..
This was a very unusual serial killer storyline. When boys started disappearing but no bodies were found the police turn to a college professor to make a profile of the killer in a desperate attempt to stop the disappearances..
June 5, 2022
Great police thriller
This book kept you on your toes until the end. The tragic events that made her into a serial killer drew sympathetic feelings towards her. Glad that in the end she might be able to function as a somewhat normal person.
This book kept you on your toes until the end. The tragic events that made her into a serial killer drew sympathetic feelings towards her. Glad that in the end she might be able to function as a somewhat normal person.
July 28, 2020
Next Boy to Die
I really enjoyed this book, but had conflicting feelings towards the killer at the end of the book. Yet I have it 5 stars.
I really enjoyed this book, but had conflicting feelings towards the killer at the end of the book. Yet I have it 5 stars.
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July 28, 2020dnf. Made it about a 25% through the book. Didn't like the characters or the plot
December 12, 2020
fair read, to be honest I had trouble keeping interest in it, the characters and storyline just didn't keep my attention, but still fair read for you maybe.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews