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ONE: A chilling psychological thriller that poses an impossible question
A serial killer is operating in California. One like no other before.The Bureau of Investigation has no clues to the killer’s identity. The victims appear chosen at random.Yet one investigator is convinced there’s a connection to the Bureau itself.Could the killer be one of their own?
98 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 6, 2021
3 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Eric J. Gates
28 books153 followersAward-winning author Eric J. Gates has had a curious life filled with the stuff of thriller novels. Writing Operating Systems for Supercomputers, cracking cryptographic codes under extreme pressure using only paper and pen and teaching cyberwarfare to spies are just a few of the moments he’s willing to recall. He is an ex-International Consultant who has travelled extensively worldwide, speaks several languages, and has had articles and papers published in six different countries, as well as radio and TV spots. His specialty, Information Technology Security, has brought him into contact with the Military and Intelligence communities on numerous occasions. He is also an expert martial artist, holding 14 black belt degrees in distinct disciplines. He has taught his skills to Police and Military personnel, as well as to the public.
He now writes thriller novels, drawing on his experiences with the confidential and secret worlds that surround us.
He now writes thriller novels, drawing on his experiences with the confidential and secret worlds that surround us.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 15, 2021
What a clever thriller. “One” is a super-fast, unusual read full of not just hints and clues, but also puzzles. What monster has been killing women in California – and in unusual ways that even highly trained police can’t figure? Special Investigation Team Erin Carter and Special Agent Jim Brandt are up against a serial killer who seems to be toying with them. Known to them only as “X,” he is hard to profile beyond “white male, mid to late thirties, and loner.” He leaves no forensic traces; his victims are all different in age and background, and he attacks at intervals of roughly a month apart in far flung, unpredictable California locations. Alternating, first-person POV chapters spoken by the killer add to the scare factor.
Author Gates knows his subject well, and his characters are likable, dedicated officers struggling through personal problems as well as figuring this seemingly insoluble case. Do they succeed? I didn’t guess the ending, but loved the book. Well done! Five stars!
Author Gates knows his subject well, and his characters are likable, dedicated officers struggling through personal problems as well as figuring this seemingly insoluble case. Do they succeed? I didn’t guess the ending, but loved the book. Well done! Five stars!
June 27, 2021
“The game is never incidental. It’s the vehicle of life and death.”
Female corpses are showing up in body bags, and the unhelpful standard serial killer profile – white, male, late thirties – isn’t helping much. With a dash of ‘Psycho’ and ‘Silence of the Lambs’ thrown in for good measure, ‘One’ is a fast-moving psychological thriller. I read it in one sitting.
"There is beauty to behold in the moves, deceit, hidden traps, direct attacks, distractions."
Highly recommended.
Female corpses are showing up in body bags, and the unhelpful standard serial killer profile – white, male, late thirties – isn’t helping much. With a dash of ‘Psycho’ and ‘Silence of the Lambs’ thrown in for good measure, ‘One’ is a fast-moving psychological thriller. I read it in one sitting.
"There is beauty to behold in the moves, deceit, hidden traps, direct attacks, distractions."
Highly recommended.
September 11, 2021
A Spine-Tingling Psychological Thriller
“One” by Eric J. Gates offers terrifying, engaging suspense filled with unexpected twists and turns. The story begins with the discovery of a body, the fourth known victim of a serial killer, referred to as “X”. As the body is retrieved near a buoy in Lake Tahoe, the perpetrator is watching.
Special agent Jim Brandt and his partner Erin Carter are assigned to the case and find themselves searching for a devious murderer who stuffs his victims in body bags, strikes once a month, and leaves no forensic evidence behind. All of his known victims are females with different backgrounds and ages. It appears they have been randomly selected, but the investigators are convinced that there has to be some kind of connection between the female victims.
Dwelling deeper into searching for a connection, the investigators piece together a clue that leads them to believe the serial killer is targeting one of them. The closer they get to finding the killer’s identity, the frequency of murders increases. How many more women will perish before the case is solved?
This is a well-crafted, unique thriller. The author has cleverly threaded the personal struggles of the investigators into this page-turning, edge-of-your-seat story. I discovered Eric Gates’ work when both of us were invited to take part in Her Silent Shadow, a boxed set. Since then, I became a great fan of his writing.
“One” by Eric J. Gates offers terrifying, engaging suspense filled with unexpected twists and turns. The story begins with the discovery of a body, the fourth known victim of a serial killer, referred to as “X”. As the body is retrieved near a buoy in Lake Tahoe, the perpetrator is watching.
Special agent Jim Brandt and his partner Erin Carter are assigned to the case and find themselves searching for a devious murderer who stuffs his victims in body bags, strikes once a month, and leaves no forensic evidence behind. All of his known victims are females with different backgrounds and ages. It appears they have been randomly selected, but the investigators are convinced that there has to be some kind of connection between the female victims.
Dwelling deeper into searching for a connection, the investigators piece together a clue that leads them to believe the serial killer is targeting one of them. The closer they get to finding the killer’s identity, the frequency of murders increases. How many more women will perish before the case is solved?
This is a well-crafted, unique thriller. The author has cleverly threaded the personal struggles of the investigators into this page-turning, edge-of-your-seat story. I discovered Eric Gates’ work when both of us were invited to take part in Her Silent Shadow, a boxed set. Since then, I became a great fan of his writing.
August 1, 2021
Another well-planned story, with strong, very human Special Agents and Special Investigators trying to solve a set of serial murders with very few clues to guide them. This story grabbed me right away and didn’t let go until I had to finish it in one sitting. Mr. Gates expertly took me on a twisting, turning ride that kept me guessing right through the end. I will definitely be reading more books by this outstanding writer.
December 22, 2021
A serial killer called X. An investigator that was a conjoined twin. Clues with the bodies have the investigators guessing, numbers and letters. A race to find a missing investigator. The ending has you guessing how it should end. The conclusion is left open for your imagination.
October 25, 2021
Bad ending
It was an interesting fast read, with a novel plot, but the final chapter ruined the book. It added nothing to the story, and was just s gratuitous postscript.
It was an interesting fast read, with a novel plot, but the final chapter ruined the book. It added nothing to the story, and was just s gratuitous postscript.
November 2, 2021
Thrilling novel about the search for a serial killer.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews