Author: Jen Williams
Published by: Crooked Lane Books
Released: June 8, 2021
Source: Electronic Review Copy Provided by Publisher through Netgalley
BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL: 3.7/5
Synopsis: When prodigal daughter Heather Evans returns to her family home after her mother's baffling suicide, she makes an alarming discovery--stacks and stacks of carefully preserved letters from notorious serial killer Michael Reave. The "Red Wolf," as he was dubbed by the press, has been in prison for over twenty years, serving a life sentence for the gruesome and ritualistic murders of several women across the country, although he has always protested his innocence. The police have had no reason to listen, yet Heather isn't the only one to have cause to re-examine the murders. The body of a young woman has just been found, dismembered and placed inside a tree, the corpse planted with flowers. Just as the Red Wolf once did.
What did Heather's mother know? Why did she kill herself? And with the monstrous Red Wolf safely locked inside a maximum security prison, who is stalking young women now? Teaming up with DI Ben Parker, Heather hopes to get some answers for herself and for the newest victims of this depraved murderer. Yet to do that, she must speak to Michael Reave herself, and expose herself to truths she may not be ready to face. Something dark is walking in the woods, and it knows her all too well. (Synopsis from Goodreads)
My Thoughts: *Contains: suicide, violence against women, sexual abuse involving a child, animal abuse, and murder*
I really enjoyed this thriller. I was interested from page one. The subject matter of this story was just very intriguing. The way it was put together felt like a puzzle. I needed to keep reading to see how everything was going to end up, and what the reveal was going to be. It's probably all been done before, but I was hooked.
Heather is our main character, she's brought back home after the suicide of her mother. A mother she didn't have the closest relationship with. She's back in her childhood home, having to go through all the things. She finds a box of letters written by a serial killer (Michael Reave) to her mother. This causes Heather to try to find out more about her mother's past. How does she know Michael Reave? Why did she write to him?
Heather was a character I didn't really have strong feelings for. She did have a tendency of keeping secrets, not reporting things to the police that she should have.
I enjoyed trying to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together. Some of the villains were obvious, but trying to figure out how they were all connected was fun.
There were a couple of disturbing scenes in here. There was some animal cruelty that was just very distressing to read.
This does have some back and forth timeline stuff. Even though Michael Reave is a sick and twisted soul, there were instances that I felt sorry for him. He didn't have a very fair go at life.
The ending definitely had some surprises, but I would have like a little more closure from all the build up, but I'm not disappointed in it. I think I would have liked a little more explanation in some areas too.
This is the first book I've read from Jen Williams and I'd definitely read more. I learned that they have some fantasy books that I might have to check out.
I really enjoyed this thriller. I was interested from page one. The subject matter of this story was just very intriguing. The way it was put together felt like a puzzle. I needed to keep reading to see how everything was going to end up, and what the reveal was going to be. It's probably all been done before, but I was hooked.
Heather is our main character, she's brought back home after the suicide of her mother. A mother she didn't have the closest relationship with. She's back in her childhood home, having to go through all the things. She finds a box of letters written by a serial killer (Michael Reave) to her mother. This causes Heather to try to find out more about her mother's past. How does she know Michael Reave? Why did she write to him?
Heather was a character I didn't really have strong feelings for. She did have a tendency of keeping secrets, not reporting things to the police that she should have.
I enjoyed trying to fit all the pieces of the puzzle together. Some of the villains were obvious, but trying to figure out how they were all connected was fun.
There were a couple of disturbing scenes in here. There was some animal cruelty that was just very distressing to read.
This does have some back and forth timeline stuff. Even though Michael Reave is a sick and twisted soul, there were instances that I felt sorry for him. He didn't have a very fair go at life.
The ending definitely had some surprises, but I would have like a little more closure from all the build up, but I'm not disappointed in it. I think I would have liked a little more explanation in some areas too.
This is the first book I've read from Jen Williams and I'd definitely read more. I learned that they have some fantasy books that I might have to check out.
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