Review: BLACK ROSE.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 19, 2014
Within the town of Parkersburg lurks a deranged serial killer who has been christened “The Butcher”.  Murdering in sadistically gory fashion, and leaving a black rose in the mouths of his victims as his calling card, the killer has taken an obsessive interest in Frank Cooper, the detective charged with solving his case.  Meanwhile, Frank’s sister, Laura, has finally moved on with her life following the untimely death of her husband and begun dating Mark Sams, a devoted, handsome young restaurateur who seems too perfect to be true.  Soon, however, both Frank and Laura will be discovering secrets that run deeper than either of them realize.J.T. Schaad is adept at weaving a multi-layered thriller with many unsettling undertones, each having the capacity to take the story in another direction.  Just when the existing clues are pieced together, a new wrinkle develops, pointing to yet another possible suspect, often one who had previously been the most unlikely candidate of all.  The more events progress, the more it becomes evident that each plot turn, no matter how insignificant it may seem at the time, may be the one that leads to the truth.The author also broadens his presentation by delving into the multiple perspectives of his leading characters, including that of the Butcher himself, whose motivations become clearer as the climax is approached.  Schaad cleverly peels back the layers of the killer’s mind to show us what makes him tick, but not in a way that reveals his identity before the proper moment arrives.Cleverly scripted and well-executed, BLACK ROSE is a story that is part mystery and part romance, with enough thought-provoking twists to keep the reader guessing.