I have to say I really enjoyed this new novel by J E Taylor. If you are familiar with her work you will expect this novel to be brutal reading, because it’s a Steve Williams installment.
But it’s not. Oh yes, there’s murder, and lots of it, but this time Taylor has a strong thriller where every single character has reasonable doubt and motive flashing like a neon sign hanging over them, and right from the beginning you are trying to guess whodunnit.
I loved this. Every time you think you know who it is, someone new becomes a suspect in your head, even when she doesn’t directly say so, the evidence starts mounting up. And god bless her for giving these novels a strong relationship angle. You love these men as much as you hate them. So many times I was jumpy, gripped to the pages and compelled to keep reading because I just HAD TO KNOW if it was him – and you sway like a pendulum, yes no yes no.
Oh there are characters in here you will just love to hate, Trent being the strongest. Taylor manages to introduce each character so well they all leave an indelible impression and truly add to this rich tapestry of crime and serial killing.
This I honestly think is one of her better works. Her writing style is changing slightly, and I found the metaphors delicious and wonderful! When she described Steve’s eyes when he’s using his ability, wow! There were quite a few moments when I literally stopped reading to think, wow, that was so beautifully written.
BUT, let me tell you work got in the way, and this novel gnawed at me, where I was even reading in bed in the dark on my phone because i didn’t want to stop reading. Unfortunately life happens and we can’t while away our days reading, but if left to my own devices I would have shelved the world just to curl up with Randy, Carolyn and Steve.
It was truly gripping! Crime whodunnits don’t get any better. I apologize to the classics, I’ve read the crime classics, I grew up on Agatha Christie, but they don’t hold a pinprick of light to this one. I LOVED IT! And it’s the kind of book where you want to read it again to see what you missed the first time. And please please please let there be another one after this! I’m an addict and the gaps between fixes are excruciating to endure once you get caught by this author’s incredible style, attention to detail, and strong characterization. Her plots are magnificent!
