Review: Engrossing Explicit Novella
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 2, 2013
First thing I would warn, if the synopsis is not enough, this is a very sexually and violently explicit novella. Definitely for mature audiences only, and for audiences that are not upset about explicit subject matter.This was a very quick read, but I could not put it down. I can't honestly say I liked it due to the brutal and disturbing nature, but it was most certainly very engrossing.I have read several reviews complaining about repetition, but I have to say that didn't bother me in the slightest during the read. I don't know how much of that is that it fit with the story and how much of that was just the train wreck quality of the story; you just cannot help but continue to read and watch the carnage unfold.As with all my favorite thrillers, it left many unanswered questions to the imagination. I would love to know more about Kathleen, and how truly similar to our staring killer she is. There are so many ways this story could go from the unfinished ending we were left with. I know other reviewers have complained about this as well; to me that is one of the things that draws me to psychological thrillers - I honestly do not like them to wrap everything up in a neat little bow in the last couple of paragraphs or pages.Overall, very well written, very engrossing and leaves much food for thought on many levels.Entering spoiler territory: [ I did not know what to think when "Knight" started dropping names to "Kathleen" - it bothered me with the first one, after I read the back story of Matt Cooper I found myself flipping back to find out just what he had told her about him. I could see that it could still perhaps be salvaged on some level as professional, but there was no way this super sharp FBI profiler is not going to look into that name whether out of personal or professional curiosity. When he drops his LOVES name as well, it seems he is determined for her to figure him out. Another question remaining with me about Kathleen herself - is she also a serial killer hiding behind her profession? This is something I found myself really, really wanting to know. Onto a more negative, I found myself extremely disappointed to find that his LOVE was never really his love, especially after the explicit way that he handles his victims. I guess it makes a deranged kind of sense in the way that any serial killer can make any deranged kind of sense, but I did find it a bit of a letdown. Which may make it brilliant within itself. (hide spoiler)]Final thoughts on this: I will definitely be looking for more from this author when looking for truly dark and twisted reads.