Review: Excruciating suspense leading to a blockbuster finish
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 7, 2014
Twenty-nine-year-old Calvin Court was a depressed, confused young man. He had a so-so job, no girlfriend, and he was a serious alcoholic. So when an attractive client came on to him, he was more than happy to accommodate her. Little did he know the horrors that would lead to, as Angela tricked him into joining her in her business, a violent enterprise that fed on the lowest depths of human depravity.The story included scenes of extreme violence and torture as Calvin carried out his grisly duties under Angela's tutelage. He argued with his inner voice over the cruel acts he was committing and wondered if he was doing it to please Angela or if this was the real Calvin. Eventually, offered a possible escape from the hopeless situation he was in, he undertook one last job, one where failure would certainly mean his own death. As usual with the author's novels, this one steadily ramped up the tension and excruciating suspense to the breaking point. But even after the blockbuster climax, there were some surprises still waiting for Calvin.After reading Jeff Menapace's earlier short stories and novelettes, I knew he was a very good writer. After reading the Bad Games trilogy, it was clear that he was a rising star in the horror and suspense genres. With this one, he's on top of his game. I'm looking forward to reading suspense thrillers from Jeff Menapace for a long time to come.