What do you think?
Rate this book
Confession: A Novel
Evan Dicks is a brilliant journalist and writer, with a screenplay optioned by Netflix. He is also a serial killer. This memoir details the inner workings of his mind, his dark, his psyche, and the possible genesis of his actions. Evan Dicks can be charming, giving, and loving but the account of his life is chilling, frightening, and unnerving.
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2022
9 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 28, 2022
Philip Schulman brings life to the characters as they struggle to find out the most devilish villain in their city. Such an erotic, scary, and heart-gripping book to read about romance and murder. It’s perfect for crime and thriller buffs.
Evan Dicks, an eighteen-year-old boy, is a student in Beaumont, MA. He kills anyone that gets attracted to him by slicing their throat and then carving a strange symbol in their chest and leaving their dead bodies from Massachusettes, all the way to New York. Captain Captree, a detective from the 6th precinct, and Detective Saunders became partners in solving each case of the innocent victims. They must find the killer and stop him before another gruesome murder is administered.
This book has a lot of trigger warnings. It contains child abuse, gruesome depiction of murders, graphic violence, and profanity. If these things don’t bother you at all, then this book is for you. It will leave you satisfied and wanting more at the same time. Philip has done a great job in creating such a vicious villain that is beyond your mind to fathom. The insanity, and the cruelty, are on the next level. Nothing like it that I’ve read for a long time. It’s something that you would want to take your time reading to savor all the intriguing and disturbing experiences of Evan Dicks.
Evan Dicks, an eighteen-year-old boy, is a student in Beaumont, MA. He kills anyone that gets attracted to him by slicing their throat and then carving a strange symbol in their chest and leaving their dead bodies from Massachusettes, all the way to New York. Captain Captree, a detective from the 6th precinct, and Detective Saunders became partners in solving each case of the innocent victims. They must find the killer and stop him before another gruesome murder is administered.
This book has a lot of trigger warnings. It contains child abuse, gruesome depiction of murders, graphic violence, and profanity. If these things don’t bother you at all, then this book is for you. It will leave you satisfied and wanting more at the same time. Philip has done a great job in creating such a vicious villain that is beyond your mind to fathom. The insanity, and the cruelty, are on the next level. Nothing like it that I’ve read for a long time. It’s something that you would want to take your time reading to savor all the intriguing and disturbing experiences of Evan Dicks.
September 28, 2022
Philip Schulman writes in a mesmerizing style that keeps the readers’ eyes glued to the pages, and their souls bonded with the characters. Perhaps, the fact that this book is written with passion and skills, is one of the highlights of the book. The realistic approach of the author in recounting Evan’s story has made him a more real and tangible character.
I was deeply fascinated by Evan’s character. Philip gives us a glimpse of what could be inside the mind of serial killers. Though written in fiction, the scenes depict real-life scenarios of crime. Interestingly, this book explains why serial killers appear normal at times and yet can commit horrific acts. The most exciting part for me was the ending, especially his conversations with Maria. I believe that with this book, Philip had a message he wanted to tell to his readers and he did it in such a beautifully artistic way. Not only that this novel a way to leisurely pass the time, but it is also actually a work of art that gives insights into why crimes like these are committed. With that being said, parenting, open communication, respect, and love within the family must be realized. With great plot twists and well-drawn characters, this one is hard to put down. Readers will find it easy to follow the storyline that is backed by psychology. I couldn’t recommend this book enough.
I was deeply fascinated by Evan’s character. Philip gives us a glimpse of what could be inside the mind of serial killers. Though written in fiction, the scenes depict real-life scenarios of crime. Interestingly, this book explains why serial killers appear normal at times and yet can commit horrific acts. The most exciting part for me was the ending, especially his conversations with Maria. I believe that with this book, Philip had a message he wanted to tell to his readers and he did it in such a beautifully artistic way. Not only that this novel a way to leisurely pass the time, but it is also actually a work of art that gives insights into why crimes like these are committed. With that being said, parenting, open communication, respect, and love within the family must be realized. With great plot twists and well-drawn characters, this one is hard to put down. Readers will find it easy to follow the storyline that is backed by psychology. I couldn’t recommend this book enough.
September 29, 2022
A page-turner with both mind and muscle. Its thrills and intrigue are offered up with an equal dose of psychology heft. It carries you along as it makes you reconsider the well-worn facts about serial killers and psychopathy you thought you understood.
One villain, two detectives and I had the blast reading the story of their lives as they give us highlights of the story. The author’s attention to the tiniest details of the imagery and plot make the whole novel easy to picture in the mind’s eye that it feels like watching a film. Philip did his homework on the history of his subject. The book will take you to the twisted life of Evan Dicks. Ruined by his father, the abuses somewhat turned to create Evan into a serial killer.
Overall, every chapter is an experience itself, and it goes from erotic to dark in seconds that you don’t quite expect but should see coming. Furthermore, it’s compounded with a sense of dark and brutal murders that gets worse as the story progresses. The only thing that I didn’t like about it was that everything came at you fast and hard, not giving you a chance to sit with it in the end. There was only so much you could do with the major stakes of the book, only so much that you could take in at a time. As such, it didn’t quite stick the landing, despite a spectacular attempt to do so.
One villain, two detectives and I had the blast reading the story of their lives as they give us highlights of the story. The author’s attention to the tiniest details of the imagery and plot make the whole novel easy to picture in the mind’s eye that it feels like watching a film. Philip did his homework on the history of his subject. The book will take you to the twisted life of Evan Dicks. Ruined by his father, the abuses somewhat turned to create Evan into a serial killer.
Overall, every chapter is an experience itself, and it goes from erotic to dark in seconds that you don’t quite expect but should see coming. Furthermore, it’s compounded with a sense of dark and brutal murders that gets worse as the story progresses. The only thing that I didn’t like about it was that everything came at you fast and hard, not giving you a chance to sit with it in the end. There was only so much you could do with the major stakes of the book, only so much that you could take in at a time. As such, it didn’t quite stick the landing, despite a spectacular attempt to do so.
September 29, 2022
The best thing about books, especially novels, is that they bring the readers to a completely different place and time without having to leave the comfort of their reading area. Philip Schulman’s Confession is no exception. I truly enjoyed every bit of it. Philip successfully captivates his readers with his knowledge of writing making Evan a great screenplay writer for Netflix. The part where he tried to pursue his passion as a writer in New York was encouraging despite the disapproval of his father. Though Evan Dicks was the serial killer, believe me, you would somewhat feel pity and sympathy for him despite his devilish intents. Thanks to the very well-written point-of-view. Philip is rich in his language in every conversation, and the description of the setting is intricately detailed. His words could simply be called artistic in a way that just pulls the readers right in. Right from the start, I was on board. The climactic moments and scenes of the story are further emphasized and dramatized with the magical way Philip chooses and weaves his words. He also imparts his wisdom very intelligently in the epilogue and there is something to be learned from every situation in the story. Never take this book lightly, it’s not for the faint of heart.
September 30, 2022
One thing that I truly loved about this book is that the building of the plot is quite amazing. The most exciting part is that the twists and turns of the plot look very real and believable. This is because this book is backdropped by Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis’ study of serial killer psychology. It was quite a story, to be honest, and not for the readers who lack the courage to face something gruesome and inhumane.
Captree’s wife was murdered in cold blood. Another similar murder happened in Beaumont, MA, but this time, the victim is Emily O’Connell, the class valedictorian. Right after that, another murder happened in New York by the name Peg Myrtle and the same kind of murder - lacerated and throat sliced while being raped according to the police records. Evan Dick is the murderer, but the question is, how many more murders and souls are to be sacrificed first before the police get their lead?
This book is truly terrifying and completely engaging. The narrative was written in an especially intriguing mix of factual and artistic. The author is truly a passionate writer. You could tell that he poured out his whole heart while narrating this book. I highly recommend this book to the right audience.
Captree’s wife was murdered in cold blood. Another similar murder happened in Beaumont, MA, but this time, the victim is Emily O’Connell, the class valedictorian. Right after that, another murder happened in New York by the name Peg Myrtle and the same kind of murder - lacerated and throat sliced while being raped according to the police records. Evan Dick is the murderer, but the question is, how many more murders and souls are to be sacrificed first before the police get their lead?
This book is truly terrifying and completely engaging. The narrative was written in an especially intriguing mix of factual and artistic. The author is truly a passionate writer. You could tell that he poured out his whole heart while narrating this book. I highly recommend this book to the right audience.
September 28, 2022
Don’t take confession lightly, this one is not for the faint of heart.
The book gives us a glimpse into the mind of a psychopath and serial killer. Here, we witnessed how Evan Dicks turned to be a monster, killing women after sex. Evan is a child who missed the love of a father. As a result, he slices his victims' throats as an outlet for his anger and pain. Police can’t do anything about it. Gruesome murders had the police chasing dust. And just when you think you’ve got the end in your mind, Philip throws in unexpected twists and turns like crazy. In the end, one thing I wasn’t prepared for was the fate of Evan Dicks. Although, I extremely felt vexation in what he was doing to his victims, somehow, seeing him ditch cops and get away with murders is satisfying. All in all, there was nothing that I disliked about the book. With themes this heavy, one would expect anger and painful recounting of a complicated and tragic plot that evokes pain and pity. Philp did not disappoint me and even exceeded my expectations with this heart-stopping novel that filled me with excitement, and thrill. A great read.
The book gives us a glimpse into the mind of a psychopath and serial killer. Here, we witnessed how Evan Dicks turned to be a monster, killing women after sex. Evan is a child who missed the love of a father. As a result, he slices his victims' throats as an outlet for his anger and pain. Police can’t do anything about it. Gruesome murders had the police chasing dust. And just when you think you’ve got the end in your mind, Philip throws in unexpected twists and turns like crazy. In the end, one thing I wasn’t prepared for was the fate of Evan Dicks. Although, I extremely felt vexation in what he was doing to his victims, somehow, seeing him ditch cops and get away with murders is satisfying. All in all, there was nothing that I disliked about the book. With themes this heavy, one would expect anger and painful recounting of a complicated and tragic plot that evokes pain and pity. Philp did not disappoint me and even exceeded my expectations with this heart-stopping novel that filled me with excitement, and thrill. A great read.
September 29, 2022
A book with just the right amount of drama, thrill, romance, and shocking moments that keep me captivated and entertained without being overbearing. I’ve got to admit, I was utterly impressed.
Evan’s character is karma to abusive parents. It’s fascinating for me to see how normal Evan’s life could be then suddenly turned beyond normal. The author is talented in bringing us into the mind of eighteen-year-old Evan, exposing all his thoughts and feelings. The mentally challenging life of Evan Dicks would have you at the edge of your seat wanting to learn more about what’s going to happen next. This is his story that exposes his thoughts before, during, and after committing a horrific act. I could say that this book is a movement. For one, it educates the readers, especially those who have witnessed the abuse of abusive parents. It’s crazy to think that the serial killer in this novel appears to be normal, thinks normal, and acts normal only to find out later that another murder has been committed. Extremely frightening, and completely disturbing, Confession by Philip Schulman is one of a kind. Highly recommended!
Evan’s character is karma to abusive parents. It’s fascinating for me to see how normal Evan’s life could be then suddenly turned beyond normal. The author is talented in bringing us into the mind of eighteen-year-old Evan, exposing all his thoughts and feelings. The mentally challenging life of Evan Dicks would have you at the edge of your seat wanting to learn more about what’s going to happen next. This is his story that exposes his thoughts before, during, and after committing a horrific act. I could say that this book is a movement. For one, it educates the readers, especially those who have witnessed the abuse of abusive parents. It’s crazy to think that the serial killer in this novel appears to be normal, thinks normal, and acts normal only to find out later that another murder has been committed. Extremely frightening, and completely disturbing, Confession by Philip Schulman is one of a kind. Highly recommended!
September 30, 2022
Philip Schulman takes us on a journey into the mind of Evan Dicks whose life got twisted at a very young age. And now, he is out in the city to prey on innocent victims as an outlet for his anger and agitation. Confession is a novel that fulfills both its entertainment and psychological aspects, especially in studying what’s inside of a criminal’s mind. Philip portrays a real serial killer’s life extremely well, and I often found myself engrossed and curious in every chapter.
Raised by an abusive father, Evan Dicks decided to pursue his passion for writing and confront his father about his abuses. However, it was too late for a change. The abuses were already instilled in Evan’s mind somehow creating him into a serial killer. The tragic fate of the Dicks brought tears to my eyes. I pity his parents, Evan, and especially little Jimmy.
Overall, reading this novel is a true time well spent, and the realizations from the wise ponderings in the epilogue of this book that were induced were nothing short of extraordinary. Philip is indeed a talented author who fascinates his readers with his boldness, skills, and passion.
Raised by an abusive father, Evan Dicks decided to pursue his passion for writing and confront his father about his abuses. However, it was too late for a change. The abuses were already instilled in Evan’s mind somehow creating him into a serial killer. The tragic fate of the Dicks brought tears to my eyes. I pity his parents, Evan, and especially little Jimmy.
Overall, reading this novel is a true time well spent, and the realizations from the wise ponderings in the epilogue of this book that were induced were nothing short of extraordinary. Philip is indeed a talented author who fascinates his readers with his boldness, skills, and passion.
September 28, 2022
If you are looking for a book that can tear your heart apart and won’t let you go until the end, then look no further. Right from the beginning, the prologue will draw you right away into the main events and characters of the story. The author has depicted such a perfectly insane, ruthless character from an innocent young soul. Watch out for its TW. It’s going to rip up your heart and soul, leaving you with scenes full of intense, romantic, and shocking moments. The twists and turns, especially in the ending, won’t leave you hanging.
The book focused on the life of Evan Dicks, a freshman in college who has a passion for writing. The scenes with his abusive father would unfold the secrets behind his mysterious urge to kill. The goodness and love of his mother give us an inside look at Evan's guilt and remorse. They were very well portrayed in the book. If you enjoy unfolding puzzles from the mind of psychopaths and serial killers, then this book is not going to fail you with such entertainment.
The book focused on the life of Evan Dicks, a freshman in college who has a passion for writing. The scenes with his abusive father would unfold the secrets behind his mysterious urge to kill. The goodness and love of his mother give us an inside look at Evan's guilt and remorse. They were very well portrayed in the book. If you enjoy unfolding puzzles from the mind of psychopaths and serial killers, then this book is not going to fail you with such entertainment.
September 28, 2022
I was quite intrigued by the author’s talent for storytelling in this book. You can tell that Philip is a passionate and talented writer. The conversations in the story looked real and believable. The prologue was perfectly thrilling and frightening, pulling me right into the scene and into the plot that introduced detective Captree and our very own serial killer in this novel. Each chapter brings beautifully disturbing scenes that have the power to make you sit the whole duration of the reading. It’s hard to put down.
Evan Dicks missed the love of a father. Physically and verbally abused by his father, the outlet of his anger causes death to anyone that becomes attached to him. He lacerates his victims while engaging in sexual intercourse. You’d be compelled to know what could be Evan is thinking. Aside from gruesome murders, I also enjoyed the part where Detective Captree and the rest of the cops were trying to solve the pieces together based on the clues left by Evans. Terrifying and I love it.
Evan Dicks missed the love of a father. Physically and verbally abused by his father, the outlet of his anger causes death to anyone that becomes attached to him. He lacerates his victims while engaging in sexual intercourse. You’d be compelled to know what could be Evan is thinking. Aside from gruesome murders, I also enjoyed the part where Detective Captree and the rest of the cops were trying to solve the pieces together based on the clues left by Evans. Terrifying and I love it.
September 29, 2022
I was heavily impressed at how well this book was written. Indeed Philip Schulman once again proved his ingenuity with this insane masterpiece. An extremely moving story of a teenager and a group of detectives as they unfold the gruesome murders and killings happening in their city. Most of the victims are women in their mid-twenties. Headed by Capt. Captree as they tried to unfold the mystery and understand the motives of the killing, it was just so much fun to witness every clue that they unravel. Finally, when they did solve the mystery and discovered the serial killer, it was too late for them to act.
The only qualm I have for this book is its hundred-plus pages. I wish the author could have lengthened the plot because I was sad that it came to an end so abruptly. The realistic scenes make the storyline extremely powerful. You can truly grasp the mysteriousness of ruthless killings that may be happening in the real world. Evan’s mother is an inspiration to me. Without a doubt, this book is a masterpiece.
The only qualm I have for this book is its hundred-plus pages. I wish the author could have lengthened the plot because I was sad that it came to an end so abruptly. The realistic scenes make the storyline extremely powerful. You can truly grasp the mysteriousness of ruthless killings that may be happening in the real world. Evan’s mother is an inspiration to me. Without a doubt, this book is a masterpiece.
September 29, 2022
It was such great fun reading Confession by Philip Schulman. The way he describes the appearance of a setting in such a detailed way creates an incredibly clear image that it feels like I’m watching a movie as I read. The dialogues and body languages of the characters depict each character’s personality very well with no hint of discrepancy.
The story begins with a gruesome murder and ended with a murder. Evan Dicks is a Beaumont graduate and is looking for a better future between Boston and New York. While his mind is preoccupied with his passion for writing, studies, and a part-time job, he can’t get away with the urge to kill, to find an outlet for his nightmares. His victims are women in their mid-twenties and are usually the ones that he meets at random places. In other words, Evan is addicted to murders. I found myself engrossed in every page as I continued to turn it one after another. This novel by Philip is a literary work of art that is a perfect reflection of this author’s pride, passion, and talent.
The story begins with a gruesome murder and ended with a murder. Evan Dicks is a Beaumont graduate and is looking for a better future between Boston and New York. While his mind is preoccupied with his passion for writing, studies, and a part-time job, he can’t get away with the urge to kill, to find an outlet for his nightmares. His victims are women in their mid-twenties and are usually the ones that he meets at random places. In other words, Evan is addicted to murders. I found myself engrossed in every page as I continued to turn it one after another. This novel by Philip is a literary work of art that is a perfect reflection of this author’s pride, passion, and talent.
September 30, 2022
An engaging, fast-paced crime and suspense novel from a talented author. Will Captain Captree find justice for the murder of his wife?
The Cross Killer is Evan Dicks. Evan knew that what he did was wrong and that he needed professional help, albeit, the surge, the adrenaline rush, the joy, and the fun that he gets from killing satisfies his disturbed well-being. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Evan Dicks mind to be able to exactly pinpoint the motive and reason for his horrific acts. In this novel, you will witness a different kind of main character that appears normal at times and yet able to commit horrific acts. This book is based on Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis’ research which studied serial killers that’s why the scenes in this book were based on reality.
Overall, I was so engrossed in every line of the book that time passed by without my knowledge, and I just couldn’t stop reading once started.
The Cross Killer is Evan Dicks. Evan knew that what he did was wrong and that he needed professional help, albeit, the surge, the adrenaline rush, the joy, and the fun that he gets from killing satisfies his disturbed well-being. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Evan Dicks mind to be able to exactly pinpoint the motive and reason for his horrific acts. In this novel, you will witness a different kind of main character that appears normal at times and yet able to commit horrific acts. This book is based on Dr. Dorothy Otnow Lewis’ research which studied serial killers that’s why the scenes in this book were based on reality.
Overall, I was so engrossed in every line of the book that time passed by without my knowledge, and I just couldn’t stop reading once started.
September 30, 2022
The intensity of this book is immeasurable! It’s a perfect portrayal of a crime and drama novel. The storyline is unpredictable and filled with excitement.
Evan’s harsh and full of abused childhood experiences played a great role in his psychopathy and devilish characteristics. While the love of his mother is imminent, it wasn’t enough to save him from his hellish path. Though appeared to be normal, Evan is a disguised serial killer who finds joy and fulfillment by killing women through decapitation and laceration.
Read with an open mind. This book contains trigger warnings that may be disturbing to some such as gruesome murders, rape, child abuse, and excessive swearings. Despite its tenterhook experience, this book is an inspiration because it portrays a mother’s love. I strongly recommend this one.
Evan’s harsh and full of abused childhood experiences played a great role in his psychopathy and devilish characteristics. While the love of his mother is imminent, it wasn’t enough to save him from his hellish path. Though appeared to be normal, Evan is a disguised serial killer who finds joy and fulfillment by killing women through decapitation and laceration.
Read with an open mind. This book contains trigger warnings that may be disturbing to some such as gruesome murders, rape, child abuse, and excessive swearings. Despite its tenterhook experience, this book is an inspiration because it portrays a mother’s love. I strongly recommend this one.
September 30, 2022
Captivating, suspenseful, scary, and erotic. These are the few adjectives that I could describe Confession by Philip Schulman.
The characters were sharp and well-developed. Evan’s childhood experiences molded him into a completely disguised psychopath, killing women as a way to let go of his pain and agitation. Every murder he commits has his signature mark on the chest making the police and detective Captree conclude that there is only one serial killer on the loose. When will Evan be satisfied with his kills? Will the cops and detective Captree catch him before he could commit another crime? What could be the motives behind all these murders? I’m not going to spoil anything to the readers. I’ll let them read and discover for themselves.
The characters were sharp and well-developed. Evan’s childhood experiences molded him into a completely disguised psychopath, killing women as a way to let go of his pain and agitation. Every murder he commits has his signature mark on the chest making the police and detective Captree conclude that there is only one serial killer on the loose. When will Evan be satisfied with his kills? Will the cops and detective Captree catch him before he could commit another crime? What could be the motives behind all these murders? I’m not going to spoil anything to the readers. I’ll let them read and discover for themselves.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews