The state is cutting funding for long term mental health care by releasing patients that were intended to spend the rest of their lives in confinement. One of them is Tucker Pennington, who former Detective Jacob Rein and his former partner Bill Waylon caught years earlier, after he molested one victim, threw acid in the face of a second, and was about to light a third on fire before Waylon and Rein stopped him. Despite the opposition of doctors, lawyers, police, and victims, Pennington is released. And in short order, some of those very people are found dead, killed in horrific, ritualistic ways. Current County Detective Carrie Santero and Rein go to work to catch Pennington and stop the bloodshed, taking readers along for the ride!

This is the third novel in the Santero & Rein series by Author Bernard Schaffer, a real-life detective in suburban Philadelphia, Each book has been better than the last, and BLOOD ANGEL will satisfy the most selective thriller readers.

This was the third book and last book in the Santero and Rein series. It was a story of a young killer with religious overtones. As 15 years passed, this young man was released from the mental institute he was in and similar killings begin to happen. While the clues initially lead to him, Santero and Rein team up again to find out if it is really him or not. An excellent addition to this series. I am sad there will not be any more.

This is book #3 in the Santero/Rein Series and while it took me a while to really get into it, once I did it was hard to put it down.

This book is action-packed, but very, very graphic (which is fine by me), but some of you may have a hard time with it. There is a great cast of characters (even the really EVIL ones). I loved the twist even though I did figure it out before it was revealed.

If you love evil bad guys, good cops, lots of twists/turns, action-packed, unputdownable, than you really need to read this book. I actually recommend you read all three books.

#Evil #Torture #Graphic #Murder #Unputdownable #NetGalley #BloodAngel

Frightening! Realistical! Blood Angel by Bernard Schaffer scared me. I could see this story really happening. Two young men, one accused of a horrid crime, another criminally insane meet in juvenile detention and are sent to the same mental institution to serve their sentences. Fifteen years later, the crimes begin again. Oddly enough as soon as they are discharged. All the victims are connected to the earlier crimes except the earlier victims families are targeted now too. Who is doing the killings? One or both of the young men?

An action packed gore fest

What do psychiatric facilities do when they are running out of funds to operate? Why, they release their deranged patients back onto the streets, of course.

This is the third book in the Santero/Rein suspense thriller series and, for me, it was the best so far.

Author Schaffer is a full-time police detective on top of his writing talents and his experience shows in his books. This book was down dirty and gritty from the first page until the last.

A psychiatric patient that mutilated one woman and was about to set another on fire is up for release and both Santero and Rein know this is a huge mistake.

When desecrated bodies start showing up, they realize their fears were well founded.

I love these main characters. Santero is a county detective and Rein is still there helping her, though not on the county payroll.

The series is set in rural Pennsylvania but the setting wasn't as important for this third book. The events could happen anywhere, which makes it doubly frightening.

I hope the author continues with this series and this unique pairing of protagonists. I highly recommend this book for those who enjoy police procedurals, murder mysteries, or suspense thrillers. Be warned there are graphic scenes portrayed in it.

I received this book from Kensington Books through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

Blood Angel by Bernard Schaffer
A Santero and Rein Thriller #3

This is one crime fighting duo I do not want to say goodbye to BUT it seems this is the final installment of the Santero and Rein thriller series. I have to say that once I began reading, I could not put this book down. The introduction was intense and then the next section began fifteen years later with a suicide case that tied into that first mention of one crazy dude that was not gone or forgotten. How Rein would be brought into the case and what his part would be in the story intrigued me as I also wondered if he and Santero might have more than a working relationship eventually. This gripping story held my interest till the very end, and I have to say I am eager to read whatever Mr. Schaffer decides to write next.

What I liked:
* The plot, pace, and writing
* Santero: a strong intelligent detective dedicated to her job
* Rein: an intense man who hunts evil men and seems to understand them better than most
* The twists and turns throughout the story
* The dark, intense, gritty, and gripping way the story was presented
* Feeling I was there and wanting to shout out “beware” more than once in the story
* That I could feel the evil within The Master
* That evil did not win
* The relationship between the main characters
* That if felt “real” and believable

What I did not like:
* Knowing that there are sadists, murderers, psychopaths, and others in the world that enjoy killing
* Saying goodbye to Santero and Rein

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

I wasn’t sure what to think as the first page began with blood of a virgin and someone placing blood flakes in their mouth. I wasn’t sure I would like the story. The rest of the story was gritty and full of gruesome details. I now know for sure I do not want to be a homicide detective!

Having worked with federal law enforcement, I could recognize that the author had a background in law enforcement. This was confirmed when I reached the end of the story and came to the section about the author. The situations in his story were too realistic and the characters were too flawed to be a romanticized version of this industry. I definitely appreciated this perspective and the author’s voice.

Back to the story, the plot was not predictable as most stories are for me. The twist had enough ground work that I wasn’t shocked, but I also didn’t see it coming. There was one point in the unfolding that I felt the revelations were coming too fast and easily. That’s when the author began to reveal other layers to the story. Again, I was not surprised and surprised at the same time.

This is a great detective story and I look forward to reading more from this author.

There is one word that comes to my mind to de/scribe this authors way of writing about Criminals Masterminds....Brilliant!

A young man, 15 years ago, kidnapped a teenage girl. She was chosen for her innocence...and then punished for her beauty. The only reason The Master didn't get to purify her with fire, was the interruption by Detective Jacob Rein. The young man was sent to a psychiatric facility where he has been since.

The girl he attempted to purify has been found dead of an apparent suicide. When Detective Carrie Santero is called into investigate, she finds a letter to the deceased ...signed by The Master... promising to visit her.

About to be discharged from the hospital, The Master has a new list of potential victims ...all are related to or loved by Detective Santero. She knows the only chance she might have to stop him is to reach Jacob Rein ... who has since retired and is no longer associated with the police. Rein is unique in that he seems to crawl into the mind of this madman and following him to edges of insanity.

As this author is a police detective, I expected a certain degree of realism .. and I was not disappointed. Creepiness has been taken to a new level. The crimes are horrendous and the suspense is palpable. The plot is tightly woven around characters that are skillfully drawn. The ending was unexpected ... and explosive.

Many thanks to the author / Kensington Books / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

4.5 STARS

Blood Angel is the 3rd book in the thriller series team up of Santero and Rein, detective and investigator.I found this to be a great addition to the series. I suggest you read the prior two first. I don't think I would appreciate or understand all of the story if didn't have prior knowledge of events that took place in them. This is a great thriller and I suppose you could read as stand alone but think you would understand dynamics and story better if you have read others. Thank you to Net Galley, Bernard Shaffer and the publisher, Kensington for this ARC/ebook in exchange for my honest review.

What a fascinating and chilling premise! Nearly non-stop action, and enough twists and turns to guarantee a wild ride. Loved it, and highly recommend.

*My thanks to the author and publisher (via NetGalley) for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. It's greatly appreciated!*

I will leave a review on Amazon or B&N on May 26, 2020

Blood Angel is the 3rd book in the Santero and Rein Thriller series. As with the previous books this one was amazing, so well written. Schaffer's books are action packed, they pull you in and don't let you go. I read this book in a matter of hours. I definitely would recommend it to those that enjoy this genre.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of the book from NetGalley and the Publisher and this is my fair and honest review.

“Is it normal to have to manipulate the people in charge just to get anything done?”

Rein set the packet of papers on the floor behind Carrie’s seat. “To be a detective
means knowing what people want and using it to your advantage. If you read a person
correctly, you learn how to exploit them. It’s only natural.”

Rein leaned back and closed his eyes, resting while he could. “The only
people better at it than us are the maniacs we chase after.”
Bernard Schaffer, Blood Angel, Kindle Loc. 2958


A detective and a manhunter team up against a madman in this “tense, fast, and excellent” series by the veteran cop and author of An Unsettled Grave (Lee Child, bestselling author of the Jack Reacher series).

Fifteen years ago, a deranged young man abducted a teenage girl in a parking lot. He chose her for her innocence. Then he punished her for her beauty. Then he dowsed her with gasoline and tried to purify her with fire. Det. Jacob Rein managed to stop the lunatic before it was too late. But now the girl who survived that horrible ordeal has been found dead of an apparent suicide. Near her body is a letter from “The Master”—a blood-chilling promise to finish what he started.

About to be released from the mental facility, The Master has chosen new objects of his twisted desire—all of whom are dear to Det. Carrie Santero. Carrie reaches out to Jacob, the one man who understands the depths of The Master’s psychosis. He knows that the only way to anticipate The Master’s next move is to enter his delusions, indulge his obsessions, and follow his lead to the very edge of madness.
Amazon.com

Bernard Schaffer’s Santero and Rein Thriller series focuses on the crimes of those lost in criminal psychosis. For me, the book was hard to read because of the violence wrought on the victims, but there are fans of this genre who will love this series. Blood Angel is the third in this series released by Kensington Press on May 26.

What I do love about Schaffer’s series are his characterizations of the police detectives featured. Their unique personalities come through during the intense crime scenes they investigate. You will root for them, hoping they save the lives of targeted people, victims of the deranged.

Please welcome Bernard Schaffer back to WWK. Here’s a link to his first WWK interview. E. B. Davis

Reading your books is enough to make a normal person paranoid. What percentage of the population do your perpetrators comprise?
Thank you so much for having me back. I truly appreciate your site.
I'm not certain of the actual percentage of full-blown serial homicidal maniacs to the general population. I don't know if anyone actually knows that. It's much smaller than what you'd see on television or read about in fictional thrillers. You can't throw a rock without hitting some new kind of serial killer in those.

Waylon and Rein were partners fifteen years ago. They usually disagreed, yet they cover each other’s backs years later. Why would Waylon volunteer to be Rein’s partner when no one else wants to be? Why does Rein treat Waylon harshly? Do they balance each other?
I think anyone who's ever had a quirky friend or tumultuous relationship with someone difficult can understand that sometimes, you're just stuck with certain people. It's especially true in the police world, where you form deep, long-lasting bonds that go beyond friendship. You share things with a partner at work as a detective that no one else will ever understand.

Rein talks about two cases: Anton LaVey and Dean Corll. Are either cases true or did you make them up?
Both Anton LaVey and Dean Corll were real people. LaVey wasn't a case, necessarily. He was the founder of the Church of Satan and would routinely appear on talk shows and scare the bajeezus out of Middle America, but that's about it. Rein's comments in the book that mainstream Satanism is essentially an exercise in satire reflect my opinion of it as well.
Dean Corll is a different matter. He was a serial killer.

I thought all cop cars had disabled overhead lights. Don’t they?
There's no such thing as "all cop cars," unfortunately. They're all different models, brands, years, etc. When it comes to undercover cars, they're just regular cars that sometimes have a radio or rudimentary lighting installed.

Rein’s behavior can be outrageous. When interviewing a hysterical mother, whose child has been abducted, he shakes her. How does he get away with this behavior?
Because in that case, it was necessary. Rein's the kind to get a result now and deal with the consequences later. In that matter, he needed to find an abducted girl and the mother was in a state of hysteria. Obviously, he pays a big price for his behavior throughout the course of his life.

Tucker Pennington is a juvenile who maims and attempts to kill young women. He’s locked into a psychiatric hospital. Who is the female doctor with long black hair and green eyes with cat-eyed glasses? Is she his hallucination?
I think that's best left up to the reader to decide.
Note that when she speaks, there are no quotation marks.

In Blood Angel, psychiatric criminals are released from hospitals due to budget cuts. What do you think of prisoners being released due to the Covid-19 virus?
From what I can tell, they are careful in their selection of who is being released. At least in Pennsylvania, where I live. I can't speak to what's going on in any other parts of the country, but I know here they are taking steps to make sure no one is released who is a threat to the community.

What does “Civil Commitment” mean?
It's explained in the book, as far as what it means to the story. In real life, it's where a person is no longer serving a prison sentence, but they are too mentally ill to release to the general public.

Bubba and Zeke are gun dealers, who you portray as right-wing hicks. Carrie stops by their gun shop to ask directions. Bubba shows her a gun with a laser sight mounted underneath. She shies away from it, but then later produces a weapon very similar to it. Did she go back and buy it? (I would have knowing what she knows!)
Well, it's either that or she stole it, I guess. I'm pretty sure Carrie took a look at what they were up against and decided to go back and get herself some extra firepower. I agree with you. I would have too.

Two years ago, Carrie and a child were abducted. Waylon and Rein saved them, but in the process Waylon’s throat was cut, not enough to kill him, but enough to permanently disable him. How was he treated by his department? Is this typical?
My work is really just fiction. I don't base it on my career in law enforcement. There are no hidden messages about real-life incidents.

Most of the abusers/perpetrators were abused as children. Tucker Pennington is characterized as the son of a wealthy realtor. Was he abused? Parents or priest?
I subscribe to the Hemingway Iceberg Theory. It's what the author doesn't tell you that counts. Once a book is released it goes out into the world and everyone gets to come at it their own way. Some people will see different things in Tucker's backstory, and in their own way, each of them is correct.

How do Dr. Linda Shelley and Rein meet? Why is Rein there? What are their professional differences?
They meet in prison while Rein is serving his prison sentence for events that took place prior to The Thief of All Light.
Why does Linda hold Carrie responsible for what happened to Rein?
I'd hate to put words in Linda's mouth. She isn't shy about letting Carrie know.

Statistically, why is the most likely place for a serial killer to be found is lurking by a Walmart in Florida?
I don't think that's an actual statistic. Just more of a given. Walmarts tend to be associated with certain crimes just because they're usually open twenty-four hours, carry a wide variety of merchandise, and people can park their cars there for extended periods of time. It's probably a matter of convenience.
As far as Florida goes, well, if you had to pick a place for crazy to happen, and there was money on the line, you can't go wrong picking that state.

What were the experiments done on black soldiers at Tuskegee in WWII?
I'm no expert on what occurred there. I have only read the same material everyone else has. Essentially, the American government experimented on unwitting African American citizens for forty years.

Is there such a thing as volunteer police? Is that the situation that just happened in Georgia?
There are multiple agencies who use volunteer police to varying extents. I have no idea what happened in Georgia beyond what appeared on the news.

Are judges and DAs exempt from law suits but not cops?
In Pennsylvania that's the case. I'm not sure what laws they have in other states.

When deer bucks fight and get their antlers entangled, can they really pop each other’s heads off?
Sure. I think generally it's when one perishes during the fight but they are still stuck together and the other one has to choose between staying there and starving to death or finding a way to escape. There are photographs online if you really want to see. Tread carefully though.

How does particulate matter composed of flour and sugar cause a flash explosion?
I'm not sure about the exact formula and if I was, I wouldn't say. For all I know, I'm wrong about the percentage of serial killers out there and there is some homicidal baker just waiting for that info!

What’s next for Santero and Rein?
Well, Blood Angel is the third in the series and that will be out in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook on 5/31/20. It will come out in paperback in the summer of 2021.
At the moment I'm writing a western series for Berkley. The first one, Face Of A Snake, will be out next year and we have two more after that.
Honestly, Blood Angel may be my final thriller. I had a tremendous editor in Michaela Hamilton, and with her guidance, we created a series where each book improved on the other and was never in danger of repeating anything.
The Santero and Rein series says everything I ever needed to say about police work. It reveals the impact of a life spent dealing with the worst in humanity. It talks about sacrifice and redemption, and in the end, I think it talks about love.
I'm not sure I'll ever feel the need to come back and elaborate on what The Thief of All Light, An Unsettled Grave, and Blood Angel, offer. For now, I'm exploring the old west. After that, who knows? Maybe I'll write a cookbook or medieval poetry or something.

Those who read the first two books in this series will want to grab this immediately. If you haven't read Schaffer, also grab this immediately, because it's fine as a standalone AND then you will go back and read the first two books. Carrie Santero and Jacob Rein have dealt with heinous villains in the past. Rein has an unusual and strong ability to identify and tease out sociopaths. Tucker Pennington is one of them- he calls himself the Master. Carrie is a more traditional detective but she's oh so smart. How Rein and Carrie work together is a thing of beauty. The dialogue is sharp and the relationship well developed (as are their characters). While this might fall into the serial killer/sociopath genre, it's also a procedural- Shaffer's law enforcement background shines through. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to the next one.

Why have I not heard of this author before now. This book was amazing. Jacob Rein and Carrie Santero are working together to solve a crime that started With the arrest of a nut job years ago. Rein is a mind hunter he sees things others don’t. He has a unorthodox way of solving crime. The characters are well developed and the pages fly by and before you know it your at the end.
This is crime fiction at its best and it may be the first book I’ve read by this author but it will definitely not be the last.

The third installment of @bernardschaffer #santeroandrein series. I fell into this storyline on page one and could not wait to see how The Masters path of evil destruction played out. If you haven’t already read #thethiefofalllight & #anunsettledgrave yet, you have plenty of time before this book releases on 5.26.20 @kensingtonbooks

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For the Love of Books, a look at what's new and exciting in the world of reading

For the Love of Books, a look at what's new and exciting in the world of reading
Posted on March 26, 2020
Blood Angel by Bernard Schaffer. Published by Kensington

Fifteen years ago, Detective Jacob Rein managed to save a teenage girl after a psychopath kidnapped her, Jacob saved her just as “The Master” was about to burn her alive. Now that same girl has been found dead of what appears to be suicide with a letter from The Master, promising that he will come back to finish what he started, near her body. The Master is about to be released from a psych facility and he has set his sights on Carrie and the people she loves. Carrie refuses to sit back and let this monster manipulate her, so she reaches out to Jacob, hoping his knowledge of the killer might give her an edge in a chess game with a psychopath
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As an avid reader, blogger and librarian, I will be posting reviews of the best new and upcoming books that are provided to me for review by the publishers View all posts by cayocosta72
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