Best Intentions:

by Charles Elliot

Journey into the sadistic mind of a cold-blooded murderer.

On the eve of his execution, a serial killer agrees to a final conversation. Angus is a monster and a
murderer, but with his hands in shackles and death staring him down, he claims he's willing to open up
about everything.

As a detective, Calum has seen it all ... but right now, he's shaken. He knows the blackness of the prisoner's soul and the heartless acts of horror he's enacted on his victims-yet Angus is calm, calculated, and completely unnerving.

Calum must delve into Angus's warped mind, peeling back the layers that made him a monster. He'll try to
comprehend the depths of evil that lead a man to commit multiple murders.

Although Angus's fate is sealed, he doesn't plan to go peacefully. He has secrets to reveal, ones that will call everything Calum knows into question.

For his last act, Angus is playing a twisted game-one he fully intends to win.

Genres: Psychological

34 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 28, 2022

Reviews

[Cath · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the prequel to The Yubitsume Principle series and the main characters are police detective Calum and death row prisoner and serial killer Angus. It is the eve of his execution and he has decided to tell all to Calum, in a final conversation Calum asked for and he agreed to. Angus may still be in shackles and with a guard standing against the wall, but he is definitely the calmer of the two at the table. He has lots of secrets to reveal to Calum and telling them will all be part of a sick and twisted final game he can play, using Calum as his pawn. Part of the story shows Calum and his partner pulling up at a gruesome crime scene, on a day that Calum wasn’t working as it was the anniversary of his father’s death, but his partner showed up to take him to it anyway. It was so gruesome, even other seasoned cops didn’t look well after entering the room where the man or should I say woman, was killed! Calum however, reacts quite differently and there are questions as to what he might himself be.
Questioning Angus and having to listen to all the gory details of the first of the serial killings, even after seeing the crime scenes themselves, is a lot more nerve wracking than he thought it would be. Angus is far too calm and collected as he recounts the details, whilst Calum has to use various counting techniques to calm himself down and try not to show reactions to some of what he is being told. Some of the details the killer is coming out with, weren’t known at all by the detectives investigating the crimes. There are also rumours, with proof according to Angus, of his own captain with one of the other victims, in a very compromising manner! He thinks he is asking details from a monster, but Angus actually believes that the people he killed were the monsters, hiding their true selves from the rest of society. We are supposed to be getting an insight into the mind of a serial killer, but really it is an account of a crime scene and the killer’s own recollection and feelings about what he did. I presume each short tale will tell us of another of the killer’s victims, but it might have been much better if it was longer or all put together in one book.
It took me a long time to wade through this book, especially considering it is only thirty three pages long and some of that is not part of the story itself. It may be the way only part of this story has been told that did it, as you have two clear settings, one with the killer’s own voice I presume, and the other Calum talking to Angus in the prison. It didn’t tell enough of what was going on or what Angus knows about Calum, as hinted at the end, to really keep my attention. I hope it will improve as the books continue, but they should each be able to be read over a meal, they are that short. It just didn’t feel like it. 2 ½ stars, but will give it three stars and hope it lives up to the hype. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Annemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This starts off being about a young detective still grieving the loss of his father then morphs into the same detective (presumably some years later) interviewing a serial killer on the eve of his execution. What, precisely is our detective after? Unfortunately this book ended just as it was starting to get interesting.

I received a free copy of Best Intentions: The Yubitsume Principal through StoryOrigin and have chosen to leave a review.

[Beth Shuler · Rating 5 out of 5]

just enough

And can’t wait for more….. but that’s what all good books are about, right? I mean it’s what gets me and this gas me hanging and wanting more…. So great job and can’t wait to find out the rest.. have a feeling it’s just beginning

[Tahnia Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calum is in a prison visiting room waiting to talk to Angus who is scheduled to be put to death tomorrow. Pretty much this whole short story is Angus talking about what he has done. An excellent story that is not for the faint-hearted. Highly recommended.

[karin whitehead · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC. This is my review. A short story, or as I have deduced a chapter by chapter book. Calum is listening to Angus' on his reasoning for the murder of the Mayor. Slow and dull. Don't think I'll read more of the episodes.

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's short -just introducing you to the cop and the killer. Execution is set for tomorrow.

Will the killer tell the truth about the reasons he killed his victims. Dark,

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Best Intentions, a prequel to the Yubitsume Principle, is an intriguing introduction to the series. It gives you just enough to want to keep on reading.

[Tom Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real eye opener to what looks a terrific and intriguing series. Well written and mind blown.
Looking forward to the next book.

[Hilda Baard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story is worth reading.