Review: Kept me guessing to the very end. Love this book.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 30, 2014
Before I begin, I should note that you can read this book as a standalone novel but you will get so much more out of it if you have read Art and Happy Ever After. The plots and characters from those books build the foundation that Tortured sits on. Plus, Art and Happy Ever After are masterpieces. Also within this ebook, you can find references to other Matt Shaw stories such as Smile and Evil Lurking Within but they do not really add to the plot. They are more like hidden Easter eggs you'd find on a dvd menu or website. As you read more and more of Matt's work, you can see this sinister world he has created. This book is the linchpin between Art and Happy Ever After. If you ever wondered what went on in the outside world after Vanessa disappeared or the side effects Art had on society, this book is for you.This book is part of Shaw's extreme series so it comes with the standard content warning on the front. Not as extreme as S*ck Bastards or Rotting Dead F*cks but I didn't mind at all. I do NOT buy a book to be grossed out or offended on multiple levels. I buy books for an entertaining story. Simply put, this book has that. It truly is an awesome story.This story answers the question, "How far would you go to protect your family?" Ryan's family has hit a rough patch. They had to move because of money problems. Now, they may have put themselves in the way of a demented killer that likes to torture young girls......girls like Ryan's daughter.This story is mainly told through Ryan and his family's eyes but every chapter or so, we get a sneak peek through the eyes of the torturer. This is where the gore factor comes in. This person does some awful things to his random victims but it only lasts for a couple of paragraphs each time. Then, we go back to the main family. Not being a gore fan, it was easy for me to deal with what was going on and then, go back to the story. It worked well to keep the story interesting and keep the tension high.But exactly who is the torturer? This question plagued me the entire novel. I thought I knew....then I changed my mind.....then I guess another person.....then i didn't know.....then I thought I knew for sure......and when I reached the conclusion, I realized that I was totally wrong. This novel truly was a thrill ride that had me guessing to the very end.Good job, Matt. This book might not be gory enough for some and too gory for others but I thought it had the perfect balance of both. I would firmly put it up on the shelf with your best work.