Review: Revenge of Corey Brenson?
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 3, 2014
Divisive by John Tucker is a hardcore detective novel chronicling an episode in the career of Detective Frank Bostick as he and his partner Marcus Taylor investigate the suicide of Emily Connors. The author takes The Stepfather themes and motifs to the next level as we are introduced to Dennis Rask. He is a wealthy lottery winner who hides his riches in seeking out lonely women to manipulate and destroy in the spirit of his muse Iago of Shakespearean lore. His most recent victim is Carolyn Connors, a widow whose dysfunctional family appears ripe for the taking. Her lesbian daughter Elizabeth seems intent on unmasking Rask, but the calculating fraud remains one step ahead of everyone but the relentless Bostick.Tucker, as all his faithful fans know, has upped his game since his Splits in the Skin thriller of 2013. In a departure from the fanatical Moses Bailey, we find Dennis Rask’s encounter with Sharon and Steven Gainey tinged with religious fervor. Yet Rask’s Messiah complex is exacerbated by his nihilistic ‘scorched earth’ fantasies as he moves from train-wreck to train-wreck. Captain Leonard Nichols sics his dogs on Rask, but Bostick himself goes from heartache to heartache as he uncovers ever more disheartening evidence against the Connors. Carolyn proves to be a neurotic child abuser, while Elizabeth’s perversions enhance the darkness that might cause a child to take her own life. Bostick is in the process in tightening the noose around Rask’s neck, but the emergence of the vengeful Corey Brenson may prove to be a segue to an encore novel by the author.John Tucker is proving to be an indie author to watch for in 2014, demonstrating versatility with his fantasy Bemused and Bedeviled series being complemented by these high-tension thrillers. Divisive by John Tucker is a worthy addition to every suspense lover’s collection.