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Midge (525 KP) rated The Playing Card Killer in Books
Feb 19, 2019
A Fantastic, Creepy Thriller!
Well, I have to say that I enjoyed every minute of this cracking crime/thriller!
I loved that, straight-away, Russell James introduces Brian Sheridan, who is currently on medication for anxiety-related problems. Brian decides to stop taking his medication as he thinks that he is living life through fog and haze which he hates. As a result, he is tormented by dreams of women being strangled, then left with a playing card tucked in their corpse. When he sees an apparent victim on the news, dead, Brian fears he may be the unwitting killer. Detective Eric Weissbard thinks the same thing and starts to build a case to get Brian convicted. But there's so much more to these murders…
Brian discovers that he has a brother, Tyler, with a penchant for murder. Tyler is willing to frame Brian for the crimes unless Brian wants to join Team Playing Card Killer.
Russell James’ sympathetic portrayal of the immensely likeable Brian was wonderful to read as his neuroses and delusions were laid bare and there was no hidden side to him. Brian is a troubled young man with an adoptive family with whom he barely has any sort of relationship. His girlfriend, Daniela, by contrast, is confident, and self -assured and she delivers Brian an ultimatum - either he continues with his medication or she will leave him.
I also liked Russell James’ fantastic character portrayal of Detective Weissbard who is talented, analytical and operates mostly and very successfully on gut instinct. However, he is disrespected by his colleagues and is assigned to chasing all the non-eventful leads and red herrings. That is until a jittery young guy arrives at the station, claiming to have detailed knowledge of the investigation that hasn’t been revealed.
For me, THE PLAYING CARD KILLER explores some freaky imaginings and is full of creepy vibes. It's a fantastic thriller that surprised me with a mystery that borders on a grim horror novel. I was never quite sure exactly how far off the rails Brian had gone or where the author was going next with this disturbing but exciting story. The suspense was so great that I was on the edge of my seat because I was so absorbed with Brian and Detective Weissbard.
THE PLAYING CARD KILLER held my interest from start to finish and the way in which Russell James brought everything to a conclusion was just fabulous. I loved it and it has left me eager to read more from this author. I would recommend THE PLAYING CARD KILLER to anyone who likes this genre.
[Thank you to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press and Russell James for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.]
I loved that, straight-away, Russell James introduces Brian Sheridan, who is currently on medication for anxiety-related problems. Brian decides to stop taking his medication as he thinks that he is living life through fog and haze which he hates. As a result, he is tormented by dreams of women being strangled, then left with a playing card tucked in their corpse. When he sees an apparent victim on the news, dead, Brian fears he may be the unwitting killer. Detective Eric Weissbard thinks the same thing and starts to build a case to get Brian convicted. But there's so much more to these murders…
Brian discovers that he has a brother, Tyler, with a penchant for murder. Tyler is willing to frame Brian for the crimes unless Brian wants to join Team Playing Card Killer.
Russell James’ sympathetic portrayal of the immensely likeable Brian was wonderful to read as his neuroses and delusions were laid bare and there was no hidden side to him. Brian is a troubled young man with an adoptive family with whom he barely has any sort of relationship. His girlfriend, Daniela, by contrast, is confident, and self -assured and she delivers Brian an ultimatum - either he continues with his medication or she will leave him.
I also liked Russell James’ fantastic character portrayal of Detective Weissbard who is talented, analytical and operates mostly and very successfully on gut instinct. However, he is disrespected by his colleagues and is assigned to chasing all the non-eventful leads and red herrings. That is until a jittery young guy arrives at the station, claiming to have detailed knowledge of the investigation that hasn’t been revealed.
For me, THE PLAYING CARD KILLER explores some freaky imaginings and is full of creepy vibes. It's a fantastic thriller that surprised me with a mystery that borders on a grim horror novel. I was never quite sure exactly how far off the rails Brian had gone or where the author was going next with this disturbing but exciting story. The suspense was so great that I was on the edge of my seat because I was so absorbed with Brian and Detective Weissbard.
THE PLAYING CARD KILLER held my interest from start to finish and the way in which Russell James brought everything to a conclusion was just fabulous. I loved it and it has left me eager to read more from this author. I would recommend THE PLAYING CARD KILLER to anyone who likes this genre.
[Thank you to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press and Russell James for a free ARC of this book in exchange for a voluntary, honest review.]
Billie Wichkan (118 KP) rated Will Haunt You in Books
Mar 15, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press and Brian Kirk for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!!
Will Haunt You is a novel about a disturbing book that, if read, a mysterious figure will subject you to a world of personalized terror.
And the chances are, that on reading this, it will happen to you too.
There are some things I felt were excellent about this book and some that I feel could have maybe been shorter or just omitted completely. Some may find halfway through the book that things become confusing but stay with it as it does come together. The writer really had some gems of unnerving bits in the book that I enjoyed immensely. The book has a very dark and menacing tone to it and is very surreal which makes it all the more spooky.
There are some bizarre scenes which could be described as almost hallucinogenic dreams at times. I feel that this is intentional as to make you think what is real and what isn't. I think the writing style of this author could be compared to Clive Barker so prepare yourself for the bizarre and the dark.
The book does start off rally strong and the ending is just dynamite. This is a novel that true horror fans will enjoy and devour!
Thank you to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press and Brian Kirk for the ARC; this is my honest review and opinion.
Will Haunt You is a novel about a disturbing book that, if read, a mysterious figure will subject you to a world of personalized terror.
And the chances are, that on reading this, it will happen to you too.
There are some things I felt were excellent about this book and some that I feel could have maybe been shorter or just omitted completely. Some may find halfway through the book that things become confusing but stay with it as it does come together. The writer really had some gems of unnerving bits in the book that I enjoyed immensely. The book has a very dark and menacing tone to it and is very surreal which makes it all the more spooky.
There are some bizarre scenes which could be described as almost hallucinogenic dreams at times. I feel that this is intentional as to make you think what is real and what isn't. I think the writing style of this author could be compared to Clive Barker so prepare yourself for the bizarre and the dark.
The book does start off rally strong and the ending is just dynamite. This is a novel that true horror fans will enjoy and devour!
Thank you to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press and Brian Kirk for the ARC; this is my honest review and opinion.