this was a great horror novel, the characters were interesting and it had the spooky atmosphere that I wanted in this book.

First, thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book to review! I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Whatever you do, before starting make sure you have a clear schedule because this book is 100% unputdownable! I was absolutely hooked from the beginning, I've read many thrillers/serial killer novels and this book was interestingly unique. Definitely got my blood pumping! The twists and turns had me hooked, I loved Birgitte's writing. I can't wait to read more books from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of The Pvritan!!

I love a good police procedural. This filled all the requirements for me. A fast paced, well written book, without giving anything away, I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of this category of book. Great characters and a great mystery.

I like the way the author writes the detective partners, Marti Zucco and Neil Cavaghn, as opposites of one another in their ways of thinking so that way it helps them to solve the case. The weaving in of history and the intricacies of the clues left behind made it very difficult to figure out "whodunit" before it was revealed. Once I made my way through the history and the old english in the beginning chapter which was hard for me the story captured me more which made it easier when I came to the other little bits of old English and history throughout the book. This was a suspense filled and intriguing story. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reviewers copy of this book thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author.

A decent murder mystery with a solid plot and interesting characters. The detectives in this are written as in depth people. Even better the murderer is written as an person with depth too. I appreciate that the murderer in this was not just left as insane, but the full forming of his mentality was explained.

This is a solid, well written detective /serial killer novel. The book follows two detectives on the hunt for a serial killer who is murdering seemingly unconnected people in very disturbing ways. The chapters alternate between present day and the 1600s Salem witch trials which was really interesting but I wanted more from the past stories. I kept wondering how these would intersect with the modern story but it was more of a scene setter rather than a part of the puzzle. The pace is good but there did seem to be some threads of the story unexplained or not relevant which didn't detract from the book but just a general observation. It's an enjoyable book but doesn't really bring anything new to the genre.

A solid detective/serial killer scenario, with some interesting twists in store! Good job on the "creative" crimes, would have even liked a bit more back story on the killer since the scenario was rather intense. Overall a good read - I would even have liked it to be a bit more fleshed out since the characters were interesting, to know more about them - maybe in the next book?

I love a good horror/thriller, so I was really excited to get to read The Pvritan. It was a great serial killer murder mystery with roots in the Salem Witch Trial era of history. My only complaint is that I wish that there was more of the ties back to history. I enjoyed the present day story on its own, and it moved pretty quickly. I would definitely recommend this book to others who like creepy mysteries.

The Pvritan follows a pair of detectives who are hunting down a sadistic serial killer who draws inspiration from the Protestant Geneva Bible. The premise of this book is very interesting and I read it immediately once I received it. However, I found it extremely difficult to relate to the main character Detective Marti Zucco. Her character development seemed choppy and I just honestly did not like her.
I really enjoyed the story and the idea behind the murders but I wasn't sure if it all came together properly. I read a lot of police procedurals and thrillers so maybe my standards are just too high. It was a good book, just not a favorite.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers.

Thanks to Net Galley for the advance copy of this book to review.

This book had SO much promise. The essential story was fantastic but random short chapters dealing with Purutan punishments and then an unsatisfying ending just did me in. I loved the main character of Marti. She is your typical female detective, no nonsense yet a soft side. The killer is definitely unique and I love that he is explored separately from his killings. The timeline seems to skip forward tremendously with no real hint at the time line doing so that much until a final paragraph in the end hinting that it had been months instead of what felt like weeks. While I would definitely check out another book by Birgette Märgen it would be in the hopes that the next one lives up to the promise that this book had.

Firstly, I want to thank Netgalley, Birgitte Märgen, and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles for giving me a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Before reading this book, I just want to put trigger warnings for gore, death, violence towards animals, sexual topics and other dark details.

A MAN'S BODY is found hanging in the Boston Common, his eyes missing and skin mutilated beyond recognition, transforming him into a winged demon. Weeks later, a young girl's body is discovered under a layer of ice, her skin carved into angel wings.

Boston Homicide Detective Marti Zucco and her partner, Detective Neil Cavanaugh, are in a race against time to stop the wing-maker, a twisted psychopath who has left a trail of complex clues. A gang-ridden path that will take them through the gates of Hell and into an underground world of sexual perversion. For Marti, her faith will be tested as more bodies continue to mount and she walks among the ghosts, following in the footprints of the killer known as the Puritan. Can. He. Be. Stopped? Or has the soul of his next victim already taken flight?

I'm going to talk about the characters first; Marti Zucco is a very observant character, which you will expect from other female leads from other thriller books. But what Marti makes a special and unique character is that despite being a serious detective, you can tell Marti that she also have sympathy for others. Through her observations she can really tell that anybody has a burden or going through some issues. While Marti is being the serious one, Neil Cavanaugh is the opposite. He likes to jokes around stuff or making the things to lighten up a bit, but sometimes that personality of his is kinda annoying. It's just when they are investigating I just don't like the way that he will suddenly joke about a certain detail in their investigation (just for me I can't see his professionalism). While the personality of Marti is a little serious and all about professionalism, Neil is like the one who likes to lighten up things (but not in a way that you will hate his character). Their dynamics are good and balanced. I was a little disappointed though that they are not together, that they are just some "good friends" and "coworkers", because I really ship them from the beginning of the book.

As for some characters, I've noticed that they have their very own narrator voice. Like you will clearly tell whose character is talking. From their accents to the way their voice are being portrayed. The Puritan (killer) is so fascinating to read. I love how he questioned things that the society got used to. And the way he questioned some sins or morals are so thought provoking. Even though the author first wrote his scenes without being mentioned his real name or identity, he still has such a unique character. Sometimes I even want to have a conversation with him. Lol.

As for the pace of the book, I think it's in the middle. It's not fast-paced or slow-paced. Despite being a 300+ pages book you cannot tell that this is boring or too long. Chapters are short though and I love this kind of book. It also tells from two different time periods like the 1600s and the present day. It is so interesting because it provides the idea of what is happening or what inspired the motive of the killings.

I love that in just the first 2 chapters of the book I can already feel the dark atmosphere in it. I also love that the author put so much details for the plot or some just minor things (including the surroundings). It was just so detailed that you couldn't ask for more. While going further into the book it makes me uncomfortable but in a really good way. It was disturbing yet interesting. Like the gore details were so cringey that it is so fascinating for me yet so disturbing. And it keeps getting interesting as I pushed through it. The book was so addicting that I couldn't put it down!

Despite having this some really dark and gruesome parts, it doesn't lack from jokes and funny things. Like there are some scenes that you will laugh because of some lighter situations. It doesn't just give you chills but it will also give you a reason to lighten the things a little bit. And it doesn't make the book so very heavy to read.

What the book makes more interesting is that in the beginning of every chapter it has always some passages or verses from Geneva Bible, which is like the very first or oldest edition of the bible (that I didn't know that it actually existed in real life). And I am so amazed by that. It also has facts about religions and other stuff related to that topic. So, it is informative yet interesting. I also feel like this book has scenes that are "camera-ready", I feel like watching instead of reading it.

One thing I didn't liked in this book is that the author confuses me with which place the characters are in. I have to go further into the chapter to know where they are. But the way the author slowly detailed the surroundings you will finally understand where the characters are.

All in all I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars on Goodreads. This book was satisfactory and it is so unforgettable. I really enjoyed reading this one and I will absolutely recommend this to everyone!

Detective Marti Zucco and her partner, Detective Neil Cavanaugh, are called to a crime scene in a public park in Boston. Upon their arrival they find the body of a man hanging from a tree displayed in the form of an angel with his eyes removed. Only later discovering that the murderer left an extract from the bible within the victims eye socket. With the victim linked to local gangs, Marti and Neil are on the hunt to find his killer but when the body of a fifteen year old girl turns up they realise this is more than a turf war murder. With the balance of Marti’s strong belief system and the quirkiness of Neil’s sense of humour, the duo find themselves investigating satanic cults and religious sects. Can they find the murderer before it’s too late?

This book was fantastic. I loved the historical element to the story involving the puritans which I never really knew anything about. The characters were great together, Marti with her recurring nightmares, caring for her Nonna and her determined head and Neil, the loveable clown, cracking jokes and someone who clearly watched too many movies. Neil was definitely my favourite of the two, the line he uses after meeting the satanic cult “They’re like a vampiric Manson family” definitely shows his ability to try and bring an element of laughter to an otherwise awful situation! This book is available on @NetGalley until 10 December 2020 and is currently available on Kindle Unlimited and I would highly recommend any crime lovers to give this a go and share your thoughts. Definitely a 5 out of 5 book for me!

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Thanks to Netgalley and IBPA for letting my read this in exchange for a review.
I'm not sure about this one. There was a lot I liked about it. I read it pretty much straight through, staying up past midnight, even. It was an engaging, really well paced read. I did enjoy it, for the most part, but i think the thing is, it was pretty good, but it could have been very good, you know? I feel like it could have used one more edit.
The characters were moderatly well developed. Writing that makes me feel like I'm writing a report card, but bear with me. There was an attempt to give them backstory and a life and personality outside the police, but Marti's disastrous love life and possible just-acknowledged unrequited love for her married partner was such a trope and was completely unnecessary, as was the somewhat over-the-top scene with her long-distance boyfriend (who was cartoonishly horrible). I did appreciate that that was not all there was to her, though- it was nice that we got to see her as a family member, parishioner and, to a degree, neighbour.
Neil, on the other hand. Ouch. I realize that gallows humor is a cop staple (at least according to the fictional procedurals I love to read), but that was all the poor guy did- almost all of his lines were tasteless quips, or at least it seemed that way. He could have used at least one more dimension... And to repeat myself, the "work husband" relationship with his partner felt a little cheap. (It really would be nice to see more healthy platonic relationships in fiction...)
The writing was solid, although there were some strange phrasings and word choices that stuck out.
The story had so much potential. I love a good, gimmicky hook and this one was prime. Gruesome murders staged in an outrageous and very specific way, harkening back to the days of the Puritans. Awesome, right? But the way it played out, it was fine, it was entertaining, but boy, did it fizzle out in the end. The ending was rushed, abrupt and kind of... flat? It just sort of ended. I found myself checking to see if it was a glitch, or if maybe there was something wrong with my copy. There wasn't.
I may sound unduly harsh, but it's because I really do think that this could have been fantastic. As it is, it was good, and I will absolutely seek out more from the author, but I do feel a little let down.
Finally, kudos to the artist responsible for the cover. An absolutely stunning piece of design that suited the book perfectly.

This book is a predicted five star and OMG! Amazing! Marti is such a great character I remember the scene where she laid out three evidences for this man who confessed that he's responsible for the homicide. Fcking genius! She's absolutely the character you will fall in love with and even Neil! He's the detective partner of Marti and oh sh*t he's really witty all throughout this story. This book is well researched. You can't go wrong with a book that is well researched. I love it! I will put this on my favorite list! I hope I can get a physical copy of this very soon.

An intriguing procedural with lots of twists and turns, The Pvritan kept me reading late into the night. Detectives Marti and Neil are looking for a murderer who defiles his victims to give them wings. The killings are not only creepy but have religious undertones. Marti is a devout Catholic, so the case gets to her. The root of the case can be found in the past, but will they figure it out before it’s too late? I’m not sure I got exactly how the historical context tied in with the action in the present, but those parts were well written so that they didn’t distract me from the main plot. What I liked the most though, was Marti’s and Neil’s relationship. Their friendship is realistic and endearing.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles!

Geneva Bible was published in 1560, it was the first one to be translated into English, thus predating King James version by many decades. It was the Bible of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. And closer to the theme of this book, it was the Bible of pilgrims, the book they brought over with them to guide them through the New World. And with so many pilgrims being puritans (technically Separatists, but details details) there you have the book’s title and spelling and it’s titular killer’s motivations. Brought into a terrifyingly strict, somehow at the same time religious and murderous family, he eventually grows up to become a one man team of judge/jury/executioner with morbidly artistic leanings. So the mutilated bodies appear and an intrepid duo of detectives, an all too serious good catholic girl second generation cop Marti (short for Martina) and a socially adept charmer Neil. So there you have it, a pretty much by the book police procedural, a very decently done thriller, considering it was a fairly random Netgalley find, unknown (to me) author, small publisher, etc. I’m not actually a huge fan of procedurals, it’s one of my least favorite kinds of thrillers, but this was dark and disturbing enough to override some of my presets. Wasn’t a huge fan of Marti, she seemed much too straightlaced and at times downright prudish for an experienced metropolitan detective, as in don’t blush in a sex store, Marti, seriously, you’ve seen savagely brutalized dead bodies, you can do this. But at any rate, she managed to solve the crime, so there’s that. Would have liked to know more about the killer, the thing dark psychological thrillers so enjoy unraveling, but here what you know comes from third person perspectives, finds, etc. But again, the author managed to make his brief but striking killing spree memorable plenty, so much so the book positively veers into the horrific realm at times. It’s certainly dark enough in tone and mood. So yeah, a perfectly entertaining serial killer story, especially for fans of police procedurals. Reads very quickly too. Thanks Netgalley.

Two stories, several hundred years apart. The setting and the setting. Religion ties everything together. Death and penance. Boston, priests and detectives.

A bible some 700 years old, scriptures found. Bodies staged.

This was an off chance read, and it was well worth it. It was easy reading and flowed well. The historical parts were short, but gave insight to the main body of the story.

If your stuck for something to read, this should find its way onto your reading list.



Status: Completed

Rating: 4.7/5.0

Thanks NetGalley Publisher and Author for this great ebook!

The Pvritan is one great book.
The story this one told was simply amazing.
The wingman is on a killing spree....
I absolutely love books with serial killers!
Something about them.
And this one is great. The story, the plot, the characters, the ending!
I loved every bit of it.

Overall..... Great book!
Rating 4.5

The Pvritan is an excellent and atmospheric mystery! It’s fast paced and keeps you wanting to read more.

Marti and Neil are called to a bizarrely, unsettling scene. A murdered man, ‘displayed’ with wings made out of his own skin. At first the detectives think this may gang related; perhaps an initiation that went to far. While digging into this theory, another body shows up and they realize that theory no longer stands. The way these people are killed is both gruesome and without a specific pattern, although the murderer does have a certain M.O. The killer has been leaving them a unique paper trail; scrolled pages from the Geneva bible that have been placed inside each victim. They must figure out who this murderer is and fast. Marti and Neil soon find themselves pulled into some depraved situations, but nothing will prepare them for what’s going to happen next.

This book had my heart racing a few times. The only complaint I have is how abruptly the book ends...I was hoping there’d be an epilogue at the end or something more. Overall, the book is a great mystery and thriller, I definitely recommend!