The story was not for really for me. It is a kind of psychological drama and it is written really well but I think that in order to really appreciate it you need to enjoy this genre.

Overall the story has a kind of 'Silence of the Lambs' feel to it, with Gabriel the serial killer telling his story to Christian the author. Christian is horrified by the number of murders that Gabriel has committed but at the same time he is attracted to Gabriel. Eventually the two men become close and have a sexual relationship.

Christian sometimes entertains thoughts that they might be able to make something of their relationship together but this would mean that Gabriel would have to stop murdering people, obviously. This angers Gabriel because he does not see himself as a wanton serial killer but rather as somebody who has kind of mission. Gabriel only kills people if he sees that they are surrounded by a mysterious bright light. Of course any relationship would have difficulties if one person in the relationship was a confessed serial killer.

I thought the writing was good but I didn't really like the characters. I do like mysteries and I do like thrillers but I always like the bad guys to get caught in the end and get their just deserts, so I think there is a part of me that is a bit outraged that Gabriel could be enjoying a relationship and seeking happiness despite murdering so many people. I do think that this is the kind of response the story is supposed to evoke because we are supposed to see the serial killer as a human being with human needs.

The biggest question for me has still not been answered, although I wont say what that is. The unanswered question might be enough encouragement to read the next two books in the series. I did think that this book was a bit long and repetitive because we get to see so many deaths and after a while it becomes a bit too predictable but it is good story and if you like psychological thrillers.

Copy provided by Nine Star Press via Netgalley.

I really enjoyed this book. Author Rodd Clark has written one of the best character studies (in human nature) I've read in a long time. I found this fictional encounter between serial killer and writer-- completely believable and thoroughly engaging. The desire to love and be love goes far beyond the stiff moral codes our society dictates. I thought it was fascinating. I most definitely hope Clark will re-release the two sequel books following Gabriel Church and his dark adventures.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a bit of a hard sell with the subject matter to begin with, but had it kept to a more "Silence of the Lambs" tone, I think it would have pulled it off. There is endless eroticism in the tension between life, death and those who test the limits of those boundaries, and many horror/suspense stories thrive on exploiting that. I liked the overall character of Gabriel Church, and maybe his other stories mentioned in the description will hold this tension better. It was a bit strange that such a sexual man who is drooled over by both sexes despite living out of a car could continue to avoid criminal detection by hoping to blend in. I also didn't get how Gabriel continued to have sex with Christian, despite beating up gay men, and seeming indifferent to Christian's advances in the first place. If the first time was just to break the tension, sure, but to continue to do so regularly? There would be greater tension if Christian continued to fear that he may end up as a victim but fell for this monster anyway, but nearly at the start, he is repeatedly assured that he will not, and while sex can play into Gabriel's kills, it totally won't with him. What? Also, the word lovemaking is a great euphemism, but not accurate to "let's just get sex out of the way because it's awkward". You cannot hold tension and then call it lovemaking.
I did like the ending, and the beginning bits where Christian is trying to use psychology and channel a "Silence of the Lambs" vibe are promising, but ultimately, the book should have stayed in a darker, suspenseful headspace instead of creating the happy relationship between writer and serial killer.

Thank you for sharing this book with me. I was curious to read it after looking at the description. It is a weird story of Church admitting to more than fourty random murders all over the US. Chris who's suppose to write a book about Church falls heavily in love with him. Well aware of the fiction of the book there are some of my questions not answered at the end. Entertaining and good to read one has to be in the mood for an abscure book like this