Series: Standalone
Author: Graeme Cameron
Format: EGalley
Release Date: march 31, 2015 - Mira
Pages: 300 pages per Goodreads
"The truth is I hurt people. It's what I do. It's all I do. It's all I've ever done."
He lives in your community, in a nice house with a well-tended garden. He shops in your grocery store, bumping shoulders with you and apologizing with a smile. He drives beside you on the highway, politely waving you into the lane ahead of him.
What you don't know is that he has an elaborate cage built into a secret basement under his garage. And the food that he's carefully shopping for is to feed a young woman he's holding there against her will—one in a string of many, unaware of the fate that awaits her.
This is how it's been for a long time. It's normal... and it works. Perfectly.
Then he meets the checkout girl from the 24-hour grocery. And now the plan, the hunts, the room... the others. He doesn't need any of them anymore. He needs only her. But just as he decides to go straight, the police start to close in. He might be able to cover his tracks, except for one small problem—he still has someone trapped in his garage.
Discovering his humanity couldn't have come at a worse time.
Omg. I just had a total blogger fail moment. I requested this book a few months ago for review, then I read it, LOVED it, dished about it with my friends, and.... forgot to write my review. D'oh! Despite my brainfail, I think the upcoming spooky season is a great time to read this truly terrifying book.
First of all, the author does not name the main character. So I don't really know what to call him. How about SK for Serial Killer? Works for me. SK is a completely seemingly normal person. He could be the person you pass on the street, the guy in the cubicle next to you, or the man who delivers your mail. The thing is - you don't know. Maybe the hairs on your neck go up when you are around someone. Well, you'd better hope so. Because if it is SK, you aren't going to make it out alive.
SK pretty much thinks each of his kills through. He watches, he waits. But there are times where it's almost compulsory, and he does a snatch and grab...and maim and kill. You really get to get inside his head and see everything through his eyes. That was a bit unsettling, because you know he is the BAD GUY, but yet you find yourself laughing at the funny moments, exasperated at the prisoner he's got, and you feel bad when things don't always go his way. Don't worry - this is normal. There's that word again!
SK starts to develop a conscience meanwhile Erica, the girl in the cage, seems to be devolving a bit. It is really a beautiful switch in sociopaths. She is a very interesting character, and I would love to see her with her own book, maybe a prequel because she has a vivid history herself!
Sigh. I loved this book. It was clever and witty and funny and unexpected. Completely a five star read. And perfect for cuddling up with on those chilly autumn days. If you are into thrillers that really get into the mind of the main character, then definitely go for this book.
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