Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: psychological thriller

Three Spine-Tingling Reads that Will Get Your Heart Racing

Three spine-tingling, psychological thriller novels reviewed by Chanticleer Reviews. (Warning: Each one of these novels was assigned to more than two reviewers due to their intensity.)

Check the locks and turn on the lights when you read these selections:

Poe: Nevermore by Rachel Martens

Be warned; Poe: Nevermore is not a cozy mystery. Ms. Martens succeeds at painting dark, suspenseful, sometimes horrific pictures. It is the type of psychological horror that locking the doors and windows and reading with the lights on will not keep out.

I highly recommend this book for my fellow edge-of-our-seat junkies—those of us who are constantly seeking the book we ever so briefly fear picking up, then can’t put it down in the relentless pursuit of discovering whatever comes next! Martens’ Poe: Nevermore deliciously feeds these cravings along with satisfying those with classical literary interests. – Chanticleer Reviews

The Grave Blogger by Donna Fontenot

The Grave Blogger is a murder mystery that is not for the faint-hearted. The horrors of the torturings and killings detailed within its pages are definitely not for those who prefer their mysteries to be the cozy kind. This story, complete with a psychotic psychiatrist, takes place in the Deep South where a special kind of macabre is required to send chills up your spine….Fontenot’s style allows the reader to see through the eyes of the main characters, which is especially chilling from the killer’s perspective. Readers’ hearts will be racing as the story twists and turns and the suspense rapidly intensifies in this creepy “OMG-this could really happen” page-turner. Prepare to devour this fast-paced thriller in one sitting with the lights on and the doors locked. – Chanticleer Reviews

Anonymous by Christine Benedict

“No one suspected the things her mother had done,” but Debra Hamilton knows full well what skeletons lurk in her past, and she’s spent a lifetime putting distance between herself and the crimes of her schizophrenic mother.”

With a new plot twist around every corner, the author delivers a complex story of obsession and jealousy that will keep the reader turning page after satisfying page of this psychological thriller….As to the genesis of the anonymous stalker, his history will leave readers wondering about things that go bump in the night. It’s chilling to know that all the letters in the novel are from the man who stalked the author, Christine Benedict, twenty-plus years ago, and he still remains anonymous as of today.

You’ve been warned….

October 27, 2015
THE SEARCH OF GRACE by James Gottesman, a suspenseful women’s fiction novel

In November 1972, the sisters of St. Joseph’s Orphanage in Missoula, Montana were stunned to find that a small child, approximately two years old, had been left on their doorstep in the middle of the night. Though she appeared to be in good health and had clearly been well cared for, she carried no identification. After six weeks of attempts by the orphanage and the police to discover who she was, the sisters decided to name her Grace Helena Pine, and to give her a birth date of January 1st.

This incident was the first of several that led Grace to believe—as many orphaned children do—that no one would ever truly want her. Her biological parents, an absent yet silently malevolent force in her life, had never wanted her; potential adoptive parents who loved her were forced to give her back to the orphanage. And once she turned eighteen, even the orphanage asked her to leave.

Through luck and no small amount of determination, Grace eventually meets and marries a young doctor, has children, and achieves her own professional success as a professor in linguistics. Years of counseling and hard work have paid off in terms of a reasonably normal life with a family she deeply loves. Nonetheless, she remains haunted by the traumas of her childhood, many of which are similar to those suffered by children in her circumstances. Deep down, she understands that she will never be completely whole until she knows where she came from.

Through serendipity, her daughter and her nephew both see a woman on the news who looks so much like Grace that both children think she is Grace. The woman even has the same unique mannerisms. Grace decides to investigate, and as she slowly unravels the truth about her past, she unknowingly threatens the lives of others as well as her own. Someone very powerful doesn’t want the truth revealed.

A former oncologist, James Gottesman uses his extensive medical knowledge as well as detailed research into the psychology of abandoned children to craft a fascinating suspense novel. He accurately portrays the plight of illegitimate children in the late twentieth century, institutionalized by wealthy and powerful families afraid of the potential stain on their good name. Gottesman also shows how such an emotionally fraught situation can cause the biological family members to react with denial and suspicion, making it difficult for the child to ever develop a meaningful relationship with them. However, as Dr. Gottesman reminds us: genetics are irrefutable and will almost always cause the truth to come out.
Gottesman’s characters are engaging and well-developed; his story builds on itself as the tension heightens and the suspense builds. Highly recommended for those who enjoy women’s fiction novels with literary complexity, but that are still page turners. The Search of Grace is a riveting and satisfying read.

September 16, 2015
GOD FACTOR SAGA SERIES by J. Nell Brown, a historical paranormal series

NOTE ABOUT REVIEWS: While Chanticleer typically does one book review post per book, we chose to have reviews for these short stories and book in this series all together on one webpage. We felt they all complement each other and deserve to be read together to give a greater perspective to the series. All reviews were written by K. Patterson.

Review of FROZEN PRAYERS by J. Nell Brown: Book 1 of the God Factor Saga

Readers can expect a superb blend of genres in J. Nell Brown’s Frozen Prayers: Book 1 of the God Factor Saga. This novel is a suspenseful biblical fantasy that weaves love and the paranormal into the lives of two individuals. This is not only a perfect read for someone wanting an enduring love story, but for anyone wanting to explore profound ideas about spirituality and God.

In 1977, Cillian Finn is born of his mother Mary Finn, entering the world in a dank, dark shack on a remote island off the Antrim Coast of Ireland. He is the child of rape and unwanted by his mother. That same year, Daniela Cavanaugh is born to missionary parents Austin and Jeanette, in a hospital in Gainesville, Florida. Though she is deeply loved and wanted by her parents, she is a black child growing up in the South, during a time of rampant discrimination. Growing up thousands of miles apart, Daniela and Cillian’s lives will nevertheless become deeply intertwined.

Shy, young Daniela dreams of a normal life, her days spent playing with a best friend and kindred spirit rather than dealing with the cruelty of reality. However, Daniela possesses a gift—the ability to see far into the past and into the future when she dreams. Her prayers, encouraged by her father, have the power to unlock the mysteries of the world, to bring about wars, and to protect the life of the lonely boy Cillian, living an ocean away in Manchester, England. If Daniela quits dreaming and praying about her kindred spirit, Cillian, what will be the impact on his life?

At its simplest, this is a novel combining spiritual and paranormal elements in a love story about a young girl who possesses the power of prophecy. It is also the tale of an epic battle between mortals and immortals and of unlocking the mysteries God intended for the world.

However, J. Nell Brown uses this story to reveal deeper questions about spirituality and how we conduct our lives. Exactly what can one accomplish through the power of prayer? And if you knew how your life would end, would you choose to live it differently? In this deeply spiritual first novel in the God Factor Saga, J. Nell Brown has crafted a heartwarming, sometimes heart-wrenching, and always suspenseful novel that is sure to linger in the minds of readers long after they read the final pages.

Review of HOUSE GUEST by J. Nell Brown, a prequel short story to the God Factor Saga series

A prequel short story to J. Nell Brown’s God Factor Saga series, House Guest, is an excellent read for anyone who loves a story that immerses a historical setting into the realm of the paranormal. Readers of the God Factor Saga will also be thrilled for this new addition to the spiritual and heart- wrenching series.

House Guest tells the tale of the demon Nomed, sent out of the underworld to accomplish a mission for Lucifer in return for a greatly desired job promotion. Nomed’s assignment is to kill two eight-year-old children, Cillian Finn and Daniela Cavanaugh. Lucifer considers these children to be agents of his enemy, Elohim, who must be stopped before they can achieve their destinies.

Set in the early days of World War II, House Guest blends rich historical detail with spiritual, paranormal, and horror elements, providing a gripping and entertaining read.

Review of A GENERATION OF LIGHTED EVERGREENS by J. Nell Brown: First Novella in The God Factor Saga series

The first novella in the God Factor Saga, A Generation of Lighted Evergreens brings readers of the series more spiritual journeys and deeper connections with its minor characters.

This is the story of Austin Cavanaugh, ten years prior the birth of his daughter Daniela. Austin toils away in the sugar cane fields of South Florida, drowning out the harsh, grinding reality of his life by dreaming of the day when he will meet and marry his kindred spirit. He dreams of a future in which his little girl will lead the life he always envisioned for himself.

Will Austin’s deep spirituality and belief in God bring him through the trials of his life, to a time in which he will see his dreams realized? As with all of the God Factor Saga stories, J. Nell Brown spins a tale of spirituality that asks important questions about the power of religion and prayer, and enlightens readers with ideas that go beyond the natural world.

September 15, 2015
ANONYMOUS by Christine Benedict, a psychological thriller

“No one suspected the things her mother had done,” but Debra Hamilton knows full well what skeletons lurk in her past, and she’s spent a lifetime putting distance between herself and the crimes of her schizophrenic mother.

With the potential of mental illness lodged like a genetic time bomb in every cell of her body, Debra lives in constant fear that she’ll follow in her mother’s footsteps. So when things go missing and Debra starts hearing noises in the 100 year-old fixer-upper that she and her husband Greg bought, she’s terrified that her mind, like her mother’s, is beginning to crack.

Debra’s pragmatic neighbor, Julie, delivers her own brand of common sense in dealing with the “events” that continue to occur in the old farmhouse. Julie’s skepticism turns to concern and then fear as she experiences, first-hand, the otherworldly presence plaguing Debra’s life. Then Julie’s fears mount when she starts receiving graphic, sexually-charged letters from an anonymous stalker. As the intent of the letters becomes darker and more menacing, Debra’s and Julie’s worlds collide in ways they’ve never imagined.

Part ghost story, part psychological thriller, Christine Benedict’s Anonymous illuminates the bond forged between two women, both survivors of a traumatic past, who become unlikely allies in the fight for their lives.

In Anonymous, author Christine Benedict has created a world rich in character. Through the use of flashbacks she invites the reader to learn more about the two main characters, Debra Hamilton and Julie Zourenger, allowing the reader to identify with each of the women. The author also breathes life into the subsidiary characters. Debra’s supportive and loving husband, Greg, is skillfully counter-balanced by Julie’s angry, verbally abusive husband, Kyle.

As to the genesis of the anonymous stalker, his history will leave readers wondering about things that go bump in the night. It’s chilling to know that all the letters in the novel are from the man who stalked the author twenty-plus years ago, and he still remains anonymous as of today.

With a new plot twist around every corner, the author delivers a complex story of obsession and jealousy that will keep the reader turning page after satisfying page. Since its release, Christine Benedict’s novel Anonymous has received stunning accolades and was shortlisted for a variety of literary awards. Fans of literary heavyweights A.M. Homes (“The End of Alice”) and Robert Clark (“Mr. White’s Confession”) will find that Christine Benedict’s Anonymous hits all the marks for an engrossing, edge-of-your-seat read.

Reviewer’s note: This book contains graphic violence and adult content.

August 17, 2015
The CLUE AWARDS for Suspense/ Thriller Novels 2014 Official Finalist Listing
The CLUE Awards writing competition recognizes emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Suspense/Thriller Novels. The CLUE Awards is a division of the Chanticleer Awards International Writing Competitions.

We are pleased to announce the CLUE Awards Official Finalists List for 2014 Entries, otherwise known as the “Short List.” The Official Finalists Listing is comprised of entries that have passed the first three rounds of judging from the entire field of entrants. To pass the first three rounds of judging, more than sixty pages of the works below have been read and have deemed worthy by the CBR judges of continuing in competition for the CLUE FIRST IN CATEGORY positions and their prize packages.

Congratulations to the CLUE AWARDS 2014 FINALISTS:
- Rachel B. Ledge for The Red Ribbon
- Jay Rund for Fatal Feast
- Lawrence Verigin for Dark Seed
- Pamela Beason for Shaken and The Only Clue
- Michelle Daniel for The Red Circle
- Rebecca Nolen for Deadly Thyme
- Ricardo M. Fleshman for The Dying Dance
- R. H. Yocum for Darkest Hour: A Tony Allison Thriller
- Mimi Barbour for Special Agent Francesca
- Nancy Adair for Soon Coming
- Martha Everhart Braniff for Broken Moon
- Charles Kowalski for Mind Virus
- Bob LiVolsi for Public Offerings Book 1: Birthright
- Deborah Stevens for The Serpent’s Disciple
- James Gilliam for The SADM Project
- Lynn Kennedy for Deadly Provenance
- Brandon Jett for Thanatos: Cheating the Ferryman
- Jeff A. Clements for Aphilion
- Gayle Nix Jackson for Orville Nix: The Missing JFK Assassination Film
- Wendy Dewar Hughes for The Glass Dolphin
- Richard Mann for Film Shot
- Ian Bull for The Pictures Kill
- S.L. Schultz for Little Shadow
- Keith Dixon for The Bleak
- Jode Susan Millman for The Midnight Call
- Janet K. Shawgo for Find Me Again
- Alan Brenham for Cornered
- JoAnn Bassett for I’m Kona Love You Forever
- Karen Musser Nortman for The Lady of the Lake
- Sara Stamey for Islands
- Fred Shackelford for The Ticket
- Marilyn Larew for Spider Catchers
- Jessi Hersey for Changing the Bloodline
- M.K. Graff for The Scarlet Wench
- J. Gunnar Grey for Trophies
- Kaylin McFarren for Buried Threads
- Michael Hicks Thompson for The Parchman Redeemer
- James Edwards for The Deadening
- D. J. Adamson for Admit to Mayhem
- Leona DeRosa Bodie & G E Gardiner for Glimpse of Sunlight
- Roni Teson for Twist
- Corey Lynn Fayman for Border Field Blues
Good luck to all the CLUE Awards Finalists who made the Short List as they compete for the First In Category Positions!

More than $30,000 dollars in cash and prizes will be awarded to Chanticleer International Blue Ribbon Awards Winners annually.

The CLUE First in Category award winners will compete for the CLUE Grand Prize Award for Best Suspense/Thriller Book 2014. Grand Prize winners, blue ribbons, and prizes will be announced and awarded on September 29th at the Chanticleer Authors Conference and Awards Gala, Bellingham, Wash.

The First In Category award winners will receive an award package including a complimentary book review, digital award badges, shelf talkers, book stickers, and more.

We are now accepting entries into the 2015 CLUE Awards. The deadline is September 30, 2015. Click here for more information or to enter.

More than $30,000 worth of cash and prizes will be awarded to the 2015 Chanticleer Novel Writing Competition winners! Ten genres to enter your novels and compete on an international level.

Who will take home the $1,000 purse this September at the Chanticleer Awards Gala and Banquet?

Last year’s Chanticleer Grand Prize winner was Michael Hurley for The Prodigal.

Last year’s CLUE GRAND PRIZE Award winner was Clyde Curley for Raggedy Man.
August 12, 2015
The WHEELS of CHANGE by Sandy Appleyard

Wheels of Change, the latest in a trilogy of suspense novels by author Sandy Appleyard, opens with the fatal stabbing of a supposedly perfectly ordinary bank employee, investigated by two police detectives.

Jake Campbell’s fellow employees have nothing bad to say about him, and the detectives uncover nothing in the bachelor’s background that would serve as a motive for murder. However, Jake is not who he appears to be at first glance, and through his misbehaviors, he caught the attention of a killer.

From there, Appleyard interweaves the stories of a host of characters, most of whom have made bad choices in their lives, choices that have consequences. The main character, Simon Cross, a womanizing advertising executive, frequently acts with callous disregard toward others. His mother, a co-dependent drug addict, has problems of her own. Clara, an alcoholic and a cheating wife, is married to Max, a construction worker who has no qualms about attempting to murder Simon for sleeping with his spouse.

As the cops investigate further, they shift their focus to Max, Clara’s husband. Before they can arrest him, Chase McCann, a noted sports journalist, is murdered, and Max goes on the run. They locate and arrest Max, but while he is in custody, a third murder of a prominent character occurs.

Are the cops dealing with a serial killer? And if so, what ties the murders of these people together? How does the killer select his victims?

Appleyard expertly draws together these disparate stories, seen primarily through the eyes of investigating detectives and Simon Cross, who struggles to recover from a debilitating car accident, hold his business together, and put his life back together.

In a surprising twist, as Simon works to change and become a better person, he will face his greatest challenge yet, for the killer is closing in on his next victim.

Wheels of Change grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go until the very last, leaving you gasping as you read the surprise ending. Appleyard proves that she has the talent to keep you guessing, and to teach some life lessons along the way.

April 9, 2015
An Editorial Review of “Cornered” by Alan Brenham

Detective Matt Brady of the Temple City police is up to his eyeballs with work. He has too many kidnapped women, no leads, and the chief of police is breathing down his neck with reminders of how the last time he worked a case like this, a woman died. As the kidnappers are always ten steps ahead, it’s looking like the time has come to hand the case off to the FBI, which would end Brady’s chance at redemption. So begins Alan Brenham’s detective novel, Cornered.

Burt Smith and his henchmen, Weaver and Chiles, appear to be more than a match for Detective Brady at the start of the novel. The villains are loose-cannons, capable of anything, but they still have their own personal lives to deal with. Smith is attempting to escape an unhappy marriage, hounded left and right by his ex-wife, while Weaver and Chiles are cons trying to put their lives back together. It would be easy for the reader to feel sympathetic for them, if they didn’t spend their spare time committing heinous criminal acts. The focus on all the characters, not just the protagonists, is what sets Brenham’s story apart.

The development of characters who would usually go unnoticed in other stories adds dimension to the novel. Brenham gives the reader an opportunity to connect with a little old woman yelling at Chiles and Weaver as they speed by her house, and to join Brady in reviling his least favorite detective who never shuts up. In giving the story that extra bit of depth though, Detective Brady and his romantic interest, a veterinarian named Tracy Rogers, lose a bit of the development they could have received in exchange for a fast and furious read.

Since the reader knows from the get go who the villains are, the overriding theme is how far is too far for the detective to use his position to thwart the villains’ next attempt and what the reasons are for the kidnappings. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking; Brady’s ex-girlfriend has gone all “Fatal Attraction” on him; and anyone involved in any way with the kidnappings—innocents, hit men, criminals, good guys, or opportunists are all in the crosshairs.

The switch between so many characters, whom the reader knows decently, keeps the excitement burning in the ever present question of what happens next. Moments where the reader expects to loathe the antagonists can elicit sympathy, where other scenes show their irredeemable qualities in vicious detail. The question of who will be saved and who will die, who will cut a deal and who will stick it out to the end, drives the story keeping the pages rapidly turning.

Cornered is definitely a story that moves against the grain. The reader spends equal time with villains and heroes, making the story focus more on the people than the criminal acts being committed. The tension Brenham builds through the switching of viewpoints creates a novel that commands the reader’s interest, along with giving unique perspectives of the individuals involved.

Cornered, Alan Brenham’s thriller novel is a winner and we look forward to reading more from this criminal law attorney and former law enforcement officer turned author.

October 3, 2014
An Editorial Review of “Fathers House” by C. Edward Baldwin

Fathers House by C. Edward Baldwin is written for an uncommon reader: the thoughtful thrill-seeker. Often times the grotesque scenes are juxtaposed with people simply living life, dealing with paperwork, or stuck on a stagnate case they don’t understand. The villain’s motivations of power and control are clearly presented, and the number one antagonist holds at least one insanity card in his hand. The push and pull of villains in the shadows gives the reader a sense that the main characters lack free will and are rudderless. All these elements make this an engrossing novel, but some may find the horrific-ness of some of the scenes difficult to read.

Fathers House centers on the dealings of a crime syndicate and its infiltration at all levels of what seems like a pleasant, law-abiding city in the South. The reader is quickly introduced to Fathers House, a halfway home for delinquent and orphaned youth in Duraleigh, N.C.

Baldwin introduces a large cast of characters who will weave the plot twists and turns in his opening chapters. Reading the first few chapters that set-up the story may be daunting, but do read on. However, once the reader pushes through, the story picks up pace while the tension ratchets up at breakneck speed.

Our protagonist is Ben Lovison, an assistant district attorney who is touted as a community role model, in part due to his humble beginnings as an orphan in Fathers House and a shining example of Mayo Fathers’ community work. Lovison, who was abandoned by his father, is now an expecting father of twins. The reader receives brief flashes of what Lovision tries to expect parenthood to be like without the benefit of parents to emulate except for Mayo Fathers. Fatherhood in one way or another is a central theme throughout the work.

The plot initially focuses on Lovison’s investigation of Cain Simmons, a teenage rapper at Fathers House indicted in the murder of another young man. Lovison is half detective, half lawyer, and more than competent at his job. But after Cain’s apparent suicide, Lovison begins wandering without direction, unsure now that he has no one to prosecute.

The narrative slides between adults working for Fathers Disciples, adults supposedly working for the good of society, adults working for the law, and finally the children who are at their mercy. Each character is trapped in a world where no one is trustworthy once their illusions are shattered.

Ben Lovison’s world is crushed as he discovers the dark truth behind his boyhood foster home, his mother’s murder, and the disappearance of his own father. As the novel continues, it becomes clear that it is not about any one character, but the effects the Fathers Disciples have on those whose lives they try to control and wield power over.

The Fathers Disciples’ development as a crime syndicate works well. The disciples decide which youths they will use for the syndicate and which are the ones who will go out into the world as Lovison did, thereby, keeping up the façade for Mayo Fathers, the owner of the house and its hidden torture chamber. Lovison somehow stays on the Fathers Disciples’ radar as a potential threat, but they deem Lovison as just a fly on the wall.

The twists and turns of Fathers House will satisfy readers who find non-obvious connections connecting devilishly amusing. Juxtaposition of the bribery, murders, and power plays against Baldwin’s subliminal questioning of free will and what really drives all of our lives is not highlighted in an initial reading, but in the undercurrent subtext. This is yet another example of how Baldwin’s story engages the reader in unexpected ways. Parts like the end, which will not satisfy all readers (blink and you will miss it), are balanced by a well thought-out story arc, and the slow reveal of the darkness everyone is capable of holding in their secret heart.

Fathers House is a bloody and suspenseful debut thriller by C. Edward Baldwin that deals with the brutal undercurrents of crime in modern society.

April 28, 2014
The Official List of The CLUE Awards 2013 Finalists
The CLUE Awards recognize emerging new talent and outstanding works in the genre of Thriller, Suspense, and Mystery Fiction.

Finalists will compete for 1st Place Category positions. First Place Category winners will compete for The CLUE Awards Overall Best Book 2013.

The CLUE Awards 2013 for Thriller/Suspense/Mystery Fiction is a division of Chanticleer Blue Ribbon Awards Writing Competitions.

These Finalists have made it through the first 3 rounds of competition. The first sixty to ninety pages of these works have been read; they are presently making the next series of rounds. From here on out, each round is increasingly more competitive as the judges determine if the works will move forward to best of category.

We are honored to announce the Finalists of the CLUE Awards 2013.

CBR Official List of Titles & Authors Finalists for the CLUE Awards 2013 are:
- Small Town Storm by Elise K. Ackers
- An Accusing Finger by Richard E. Gower
- Death Over Easy by Toby Speed
- Forevermore by JimMusgrave
- Disappearance by Jim Musgrave
- Stray Cats by Geoffrey Mehl
- Guarding Shakespeare by Quintin Peterson
- Without Consent by Bev Irwin
- The Space Between by Sydney T. Blake
- Firetrap by Richard Mann
- Beyond the Bridge by Tom MacDonald
- Connections by Sandra Olson
- Deadly Recall by Donnell Ann Bell
- Parchman Preacher by Michael Hicks Thompson
- Don’t Cry Over Killed Milk by Stephen Kaminski
- Raggedy Man by Clyde Curley
- The Grave Blogger by Donna D. Fontenot
- Grind His Bones by Richard Newell Smith
- Buried Threads by Kaylin McFarren
- Poe, Nevermore by Rachel M.Martens
- The Last Dance by Lonna Enox
- Auditory Viewpoint by Lillian R. Melendez
- Eleven by Carolyn Arnold
- Trophies by J. Gunnar Grey
- Spiked by Sharron Gold
- Fyre & Ice by Barbie Ray
- Third Eye Witness by Kathy Bjorkman
- Too Many Violins by Mark Reutlinger
- The Politician’s Daughter by Marion Leigh
- Blue Coyote by Karen Musser Nortman
- Peete and Repeat by Karen Musser Nortman
- Blue Coyote Hotel by Dianne Harman
- Blue Coyote in Provence by Dianne Harman
Now this is something to CROW about!

Congratulations to the CLUE Awards 2013 Finalists!
- Good luck to all in the next competitive rounds for 1st Place Categories!
- 1st Place Category winners will be announced in approximately two months.
We are now accepting entries into the Clue Awards for 2014. Click here for more info.
March 3, 2014
An Editorial Review of “Without Consent” by Bev Irwin

Bev Irwin immediately introduces her serial killer in Without Consent by having him carve out the kidney of a conscious woman. Irwin deftly interlaces Doctor Claire Valincourt, Detective Gerry Rosko, the numerous victims, and the killer himself in this descriptive medical-thriller.

Dr. Claire Valincourt’s world changes after she finds the first body of a spree of killings, and she struggles to face death and horror outside of the sanitized environment of hospitals. Heading up the investigation is Detective Rosko, the surprisingly clement police officer who sparks with Valincourt from the moment they first shake hands. Their growing relationship is dogged by death and danger.

Irwin presents a wide cast of memorable characters in Without Consent. From a charismatic sketch artist, to reporters that just don’t know when to quit, Irwin organizes the plot so that not a strand is out of place, and most everything dovetails. The terror of Rosko and Doctor Valincourt surrounded by suspects, one of whom is a brutal murderer, gives their lives a level of tension that could be cut with a scalpel.

Suspense devotees will appreciate the details revealed about the killer’s inner workings. The foreshadowing at the beginning also points to Rosko and Valincourt being thrown together, and with each missing kidney, their romance blossoms against recent personal wounds and professional instinct. The effect could be considered comical if it was not for the constant threat of a brutal death looming over their shoulders.

The story takes on even more of a sense of urgency as Rosko realizes the athletic brunettes who are piling up, sans one kidney, look suspiciously like Valincourt. The murders begin to be personal and move closer to home as they slide into the social circle of both characters. They fight and scrape to stay alive while closing in on the killer.

Without Consent’s strengths are highlighted in its multifaceted characters. Valincourt, despite severe trauma in her past, rarely is a damsel in distress, and Rosko isn’t just a stereotypical detective, but has a gentle side and a solid presence that serves as a sea of calm in all the chaos.

The journey into the killer’s mind always leaves the reader feeling unclean. Each point of progression fits logically when presented by a deranged, methodical man. Occasionally, the extra knowledge held by the reader sends shivers down the spine as the police cannot manage to see or prevent disaster before it happens.

With each kidney the killer takes, he becomes more confident and certain that his path is the right one, while Rosko and Valincourt become more determined to discover any information on how to stop him.

Despite some heavy foreshadowing, Without Consent will have you reading to the end. And, as in this case, knowing increases the pleasure of each tiny reveal that is carved out with Irwin’s razor sharp writing…like finding the perfect kidney at the end of a long day.

January 14, 2014