Die Laughing

by Benjamin Oneal

On a warm summer night in central Indiana, a surprisingly well-adjusted serial killer with a successful career as a stand-up comedian and a cherished collection of fingertips has come out to play, and there’s really nothing funny about it.In the 108,000-word thriller Die Laughing, The Cowboy, aka comedian Robbie Lester, suffers blackouts that seem to be growing in duration. The Darkness, as he calls it, does things, bad things Robbie has no recollection of. While The Cowboy is plagued with The Darkness that haunts him, a vile, deranged Killer announces his coming-out party when a body, missing nine of his ten fingertips, is placed on crude display at the site of a former auto-lighting manufacturer. Beside the body of Bobby Jordan is a cooler that contains a baggy of nine fingertips, pieces of nine other individuals, The Killer’s loud and clear announcement to the world that he has murdered at least ten people. With his next display and another baggy full of trophies, he will show them all that he is just warming up.FBI Agent Benjamin Kroh, of the Behavioral Analysis Unit, has been sent to a town a stone’s throw away from where he spent his childhood. With the help of his team and the local authorities, the case moves in some unforeseen directions. As The Killer continues his spree, cruelly destroying individuals who have angered him in one way or another and collecting trophies from each, Kroh’s gut feeling tells him that they are finally close to stopping the man who has left bodies in nine states, all with the same signature. The Fingertip Killer becomes his own personal quest, one he must hurry to conquer before more fingers and lives are lost, including those of his family.

345 pages, Paperback

Published March 9, 2020

Reviews

[Keli Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

READ THIS BOOK NOW!!!!! I happened upon this author at my mall where he had his books set out. Such a great guy, but I was hesitant as he’s not extremely well known but his descriptions of the books got me. I just finished this one and I just can’t. He does an amazing job of twisting the plot and making it all connect in the end. So excited for the next book. Best suspense book I’ve read in a very long time.

[Wayne Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Please support Local Authors

Ben Oneal - He has a series of FBI Detective novels with the main character being Benjamin Kroh.
Die Laughing is the first of these ongoing series

Majority of the novel occurs in Indy, Anderson, Cincy with a trip to Vegas.
There are a series of deaths that seem to follow A comedian known as the Cowboy who is prone to have blackouts. The serial killer leaves a very unique calling card....macabre staged crime scene with a cooler filled with finger tips - and they are not the victims....

FBI Agent Kohl is a local native of Indy and is part of the FBI - his hunches seem to work.....and he has a hunch that there is more than to the murders.....

Enjoyable read...not to difficult to follow.

I enjoyed the local references...as I am a native of Indy.

It can be cliche but understand the reason. The dialogue can be campy - Romance, Jail, Work Competition,

I like that the chapters are broken into several Acts related to Comedy Stage Show.

There are plot twists; however, they were not as a big surprise for me. It was subtle - not to spoil it for others who want to read...but it was subtle.

The ending is not quite for me....but it fits what most folks would expect and most likely enjoy....yet for me it didn't work.....

Please give it a try

[Mickey Tompkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about a serial killer on the loose in the state of Indiana. The FBI is called called in and so is Agent Benjamin Kroh who life is dedicated to tracking down serial killers.

This is an action packed thrill ride with not one but 3 plot twists that I did not see coming. I enjoyed all the characters in this book, however the reason I gave this a 4/5 is because of the dialogue in the agents day to day life and possible live interest, it was a bit hokey for me, and it took me out of the story. I really enjoyed the stand up comedian aspect of this film though and the landmarks in my home state.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hesitant about this book since many reviewers mentioned that this one is another episode of Criminal Minds. But I'm so glad I picked this one up! Yes, this does remind me of a Criminal Minds episode, but it's so much more! I do love a gory, twisty suspenseful thriller and this one hit all the right spots. I really loved all the characters in this book and eagerly look forward to the next one in this series.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and Ben Oneal for an ARC.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Local central Indiana author. Well written detective novel. Relatable characters. The killer is seriously evil.

[Meg Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book by a local author I am interviewing for the podcast. If you like Serial Thriller Killers be sure to check it out.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hesitant about this book since many reviewers mentioned that this one is another episode of Criminal Minds. But I'm so glad I picked this one up! Yes, this does remind me of a Criminal Minds episode, but it's so much more! I do love a gory, twisty suspenseful thriller and this one hit all the right spots. I really loved all the characters in this book and eagerly look forward to the next one in this series.
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and Ben Oneal for an ARC.