Dark thriller that had you hooked from the off. The book was very well written. Great plot. Very exciting. Fast paced to get your heart racing. Loved this book

WOW 🤩 What a series this is turning out to be! A gripping storyline that keeps you guessing but for me the back story of the main character is what’s keeping me hooked and wanting to hurry up and read the next one !! Highly recommend

Another great novel in the Shepherd series. Tense and intriguing throughout. Thanks for the opportunity to read

I got a little way in before realising there was a previous book! Was very much enjoying it but feel I need to stop and go back. I have just purchased the box set for my kindle so reviews will follow!

Thank you to Netgalley, author and publisher for a copy of this book.

Excellent story and I must say that I like Francis Ackerman (what's wrong with me)?!

Anyway, this is a great serial killer thriller series to get stuck into.

The concept of a puppet master is a fascinating one and this book shows how such a relationship can add complexity to a really good mystery. At times, this book was a bit too graphic and gross in its descriptions for me but I can’t deny the author painted the picture skilfully. Fast paced and easy to read (apart from the more gruesome scenes) this is the sort of book which will engage you from page one.

Wow - an absolutely thrilling, gory, gruesome ,nail biting experience- Ethan Cross is an exciting new author for me and I look forward to reading more of his work. If you enjoy Chris Carter’s books then you will definitely enjoy this series of thrillers.
I’m not sure where to begin without spoilers so I’ll just say two serial killers on the prowl, religious cults, different law enforcements vying to solve the truth and capture the bad guys, police corruption and some emotional parts too - what more do you need in one book.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and well worth 5 stars.

A new author to me and I didn't realise this was one in a series, and I had not read the other books prior to this.

However after a little confusion, my own fault for not reading the earlier books first, I got into this book and was thoroughly hooked. This is a fantastic book, well written and a gripping storyline.

I shall now read the other books to fully appreciate this series. Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

This was really excellent, all you want from a thriller. 2 serial killers, a manipulative cult leader, surprise lineage and a far bit of violence, guns and chases. I have read the first book in this series and enjoyed it and this was not a weak sequel. These books are well written and also clearly the author has worked hard on planning the characters backstory so much so that I would challenge any reader to guess the twists. I would certainly read other books in the series and would recommend this to readers who love, angela Marston or val Mcdermid.

Intense, heart stopping action. DOJ Special Agent Marcus Williams is chasing down a serial killer, the Anarchist, whilst being stalked/helped by another killer Francis Ackerman who somehow has a connection to Marcus.
Marcus is under a lot of stress, not sleeping and on edge - worrying he is becoming like Ackerman.
Who can Marcus trust? He is wary of his colleagues, the police and the FBI’s - its hard to know at times who the bad guys/girls are.
I enjoyed the pace, writing style, twists and turns in the story although the different POV were a little confusing.
Some really good surprises throughout.
Characters are well written.
4 Stars.
Thanks to Netgalley andAries for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

I wasn't aware that this was part of a series when I requested it, so in the beginning I was slightly confused and had to get accustomed to the characters etc. But generally speaking I really enjoyed this one, I read it over the Halloween period and I feel that it was perfect for that particular season. Twisty, gripping and thrilling!

I AM FEAR by Ethan Cross
The Ackerman Thrillers #2

Once again, the story begins with Ackerman ready to play a game…a potentially deadly and very painful game. Francis Ackerman is a force to be reckoned with or so Marcus Williams and his team believe so. It seems that Francis is always one step ahead of Marcus, though, and as Marcus has a job to do he cannot focus his entire attention on Francis. No, this time he begins with one case and quickly is sent on to find The Anarchist and what a heinous serial killer The Anarchist is!

What I liked:
* Francis: I know, I know…how can I like a serial killer, you ask? Well, he has his own code of ethics, doesn’t seem totally unsalvageable and does care about at least one person on the earth. Sure, he doesn’t mind inflicting pain and death but in this book at least some of the time there seemed to be a purpose for it…well…sort of?
* Marcus: a good man that questions his goodness and wonders if there is a future for him other than the one his path has taken him on so far.
* Maggie: I think she has potential with Marcus…maybe? Time will tell as the series progresses although she seemed a wee bit jealous at times and perhaps not the stability Marcus needs but maybe she will grow on me?
* That the most heinous killers in the book had some redeemable qualities…sort of? At least I could relate to them and even though I couldn’t really like them I at times felt sorry for them…a bit.
* The pace, writing, intensity and all the rest
* Knowing that there will be another book to look forward to in the future.

What I didn’t like:
* The way some people are willing to manipulate others. More than one person manipulated, used, abused, tortured and killed in this book.
* Having to wait to find out what happens next.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely
Was the story dark? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries/Head of Zeus for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Francis Ackerman Jr is one of America's most prolific serial killers. Scared from their past battles, Special Agent Marcus Williams cannot shake Ackerman from his mind. But he must now focus on catching the Anarchist, a new killer who drugs and kidnaps women before burning them alive. But worse than this is an mysterious figure, unknown to the authorities, who controls the actions of the Anarchist. He is the Prophet and his plans are more terrible than even his disciples can imagine.

I did not know that this book was part of a series when I requested it. The characters are an interesting mix of of good and bad. In this book we get two different types of killer. There is some graphic violence detailed in the storyline. Marcus Willaims sole aim is to take down these killers any way he can. I quite liked the authors writing style. It's action packed but I was a little confused at the beginning.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AriaAndAries and the author #EthanCross for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After reading the first book in this series I Am Night I could not wait to get stuck in to his latest. Another read which blew me away. Packed with tension and suspense, two serial killers, a cult and a river of blood and gore. Of course we must not forget our intrepid hunter Marcus. If you like Chris Carter and his Robert Hunter series then this is the the series for you. Five stars are not enough and this series is a must read.
Thanks to Aria and Aries and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this edge of your seat book

so much action right from the first page that it was hard to put down...its hard to pinpoint at what point you are lost in a book but i have to say it was basically from that first page and it didnt stop right up until the last page

dont want to give to much away with spoilers but if you its action and blood and guts then this is the book for you

will be keeping an eye out for this author...he keeps you awake at night with his stories

This book just blew me away! It was fast paced, thrilling and I read it in a day as I couldn’t put it down!

Marcus Williams is a man looking for two known serial killers. He is a Shepherd which is part of a secret government agency. From the first page you are hooked into the plot and feel like you are in the race to catch them too.

I hadn’t realised this was a sequel so I’ll be going back to read the first and then carry on with the series. Just phenomenal.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Aria/Aries for a review copy of I Am Fear, the second novel to feature DOJ investigator Marcus Williams and serial killer Francis Ackerman.

A killer known as The Anarchist has suddenly become active again in Chicago so Marcus and his team are sent to stop him. Little does he know that The Anarchist is taking instruction from The Prophet and not only that, serial killer Francis Ackerman who feels an affinity with Marcus has decided to lend him a hand.

I enjoyed the plotting in I Am Fear, which was originally published as The Prophet, as it is imaginative and full of action and twists. I feel, however, that it was let down by a lack of tension and urgency until the final few pages so it failed to grip me. I don’t have the answer as to why but I think it’s a matter of logistics. There are too many points of view, each vying to have their say and as a result the reader’s attention is not focused enough on Marcus. I also think that too much time is spent on The Anarchist and his deeds. There are reasons for this, beyond serial killer 101, but any attempt to rehabilitate him is doomed in my eyes.

I liked the various plot twists, many of which came as a surprise to me. I’m quite good at guessing but they are well disguised so kudos to the author for the misdirection and obfuscation. I also liked that the good guys didn’t all come out of these encounters unscathed, too often they are superheroes able to stop a speeding bullet.

I Am Fear is an acceptable thriller that will while away a few hours. 3.5*

** spoiler alert ** This ticks the box on so many things I like in a thriller... a serial killer,a weird cult,agents with a past,a few nutters.

I haven't read the first book in the series,but I probably need to read them all now.
It was fast paced,plenty of tension and a few moments that made me wince without being overly graphic.

I'm definitely up for more... Especially ending on such a cliff hanger.