If the story includes one of the ultimate mysteries in history, Jack the Ripper, I am all in. This book was super creative and interesting for me. 5 psychos somehow join forces in a private chat on the dark web to discuss their hero, JTR. When two teens happen upon this chat and get involved the 5 decide they need to end them. Of course, in the style of Jack. It was very interesting to see an author create such a mindset of a person from history that we really know very little about. I enjoyed this so much

Five serial killers paying homage to Jack the Ripper going by the names of Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Easy . They are ever so careful on the Dark Web and think they are totally uncatchable. One day someone comes into their chatroom and they make it their mission to find this person in real life and get rid of them as they are afraid someone might find out who they are. Definitely a great read.

I think John Katzenbach is just not for me. I was really intrigued by the concept here, as I have been by his concepts in the past. Unfortunately, when I start reading the books, there is just no connection. I cannot seem to find my way into his writing, no matter the particularly story at hand. It is unfortunate indeed, as the premises always grab my attention (as do the covers!), but it has happened more than once and I think I may just have to accept that his books and my reading style just don't mesh...

This was a good serial killer thriller that took a twist after the first third that was both really interesting and something I hadn’t anticipated. But it also felt a bit too long - I would have enjoyed a shorter, tighter version of this novel even more.

There were too many spelling errors and plot wholes, and the formatting made it impossible to read. Normally, I try and at least give the book a shot even with errors, but was literally unreadable

I really wanted to like this book, I really did. But boy, was this a slog to get through. It felt like this was the never-ending story with the half thought out plot of adult, alpha-male power driven machismo versus teenage cockiness. The plot device of having five, well established serial killers meeting online to discuss their achievements and show off their prowess is great and i wish there was more of that, but when a teenager invades the chatroom, calls them bad names and won't leave when they say please they set off on a quest to hunt them down and kill them? really? Jack the Ripper hunted prostitutes in the fog of Whitechapel and these five hunted a teenager hiding behind a keyboard? Some parts of the story were so telegraphed that the foreshadowing was more like painting it black.

I appreciate the opportunity to get my hands on an ARC of this book, but I'm glad it was an advanced copy, because this is not one I would be satisfied having purchased.

This was definitely a fun one.

I really liked our teens and one of their families and had a lot of fun as our killers realized that they weren't quite the easy targets they thought they were.

I did think the first part of the book dragged just a bit - our killers weren't quite as interesting as they thought they were - but things soon picked up and it was a race to the finish for me.

I would definitely read the author again!

John Katzenbach is one of those rare authors who always hits it out of the ballpark. Jack's Boys is every bit as compelling and original as What Comes Next, The Dead Student, Red 1-2-3 Hart's War and so many others.. Like a lot of his more recent novels, Jack's Boys is quite gruesome. I don't generally like gruesome because it's so often just bloody purple prose, but Katzenbach is spare, precise and terrifying with his.
He can create a cast of the most devious and horrible characters and make them not only believable, but sympathetic. There are no minor characters in this novel: each person is like a musician in an orchestra, with their own story arc and unforeseen ending. The reader has many aha moments, making the novel a perfect symphony of page-turning terror, vengeance, and comeuppance. #Netgalley #BlackstonePublishing 5/5 stars

Cannot do it. Will not do it. Now I remember why I stopped reading this author. it's that unbearable verbosity. There are very few stories out there that need this many words to tell themselves, and this is certainly not one of them. From chapter one, the writing is so bland, simplistic, and pedestrian. Difficult to imagine it enticing anyone on a journey that long. Pass.

Jack's Boys by John Katzenbach was such a phenomenal thriller.
A suspenseful and taut page-turner that is impossible to put down! Jack's Boys captivated me with its twisty premise and left me spellbound by the memory of its richly-drawn characters.

Thank You NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

What’s better (for thriller fans) or worse (for intended victims) than a serial killer? How about five serial killers in one novel, all with the same target? That’s the premise of John Katzenbach’s fascinating new thriller, “Jack’s Boys.” The killers, known only as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Easy, don’t hang out in a secluded hideout like the Manson family. Instead, they live all over the United States and never meet each other, except through the Internet chat room where they correspond. The author has delved into the minds of individual serial killers before, but “Jack’s Boys” is his most ambitious novel yet. With the characters’ interior monologues dominating the narrative, the 500+ page novel sometimes drags. Still, the views inside some twisted psyches and well-staged action sequences will lift readers past a few dull moments.

The Jack in “Jack’s Boys” is the infamous Whitechapel Ripper, the hero of the psychotic quintet. Years earlier, Alpha set up a highly encrypted chat room on the dark web called Jack’s Special Place, and the others later found their way to the site. The group formed a mutual admiration and aid society, passing helpful tips on eluding capture and sharing the documentation and enjoyment of their crimes with each other. Their sense of invincibility is shattered when high school senior Connor Mitchell somehow stumbles across the chat room and misinterprets their discussions as the sort of immature braggadocio that frequently shows up on these sites. Using the handle “Socgoal02,” Connor ridicules Jack’s Boys for being silly, childish, lying braggarts. Not surprisingly, Jack’s Boys don’t appreciate the putdown. They soon learn Connor’s identity and start plans for a gruesome revenge against Connor and his girlfriend, Niki.

“Jack’s Boys” has two elaborate action set pieces where Connor eventually encounters Jack’s Boys. But most of the book comprises the inner monologues or online chats of the various Boys. Readers never learn their real names or detailed information about them. However, the author reveals their twisted mental processes in great detail. Sometimes too much detail. The story shifts from one killer’s point of view to another to another, sometimes repeatedly in the same chapter. They reminisce about past killings, which differ in methodology and the choice of victims. However, the author covers only their planned attacks on Connor and his family in detail. Genre fans may develop a morbid fascination with seeing the various shadings of psychopathy that motivate the five individual killers and the warped group dynamic that has developed.

Readers who get further into “Jack’s Boys” will realize the killers are not trained assassins. They are just five outwardly normal-appearing men with a passion for murder who succeed because their intended victims don’t realize how twisted and dangerous they are until it’s too late. They have also learned to plan well and cover their tracks to avoid forensic detection. But while the killers lack special combat skills, at least one of their intended victims doesn’t. Connor has lived with his grandparents for years, ever since his parents died. His grandfather Ross is an ex-Marine with extensive combat experience in Vietnam and a sizable personal arsenal. Connor and Niki are both high school athletes in top physical condition. Their skill sets create suspense for readers about the outcome of their eventual showdown with the killers.

While the author devotes considerable time to exploring the psyche of the killers, he also gives readers insight into Connor, his grandparents, and Niki. They all have their own mental issues. Connor may have found the online location of Jack’s Special Place, but he and Niki still do some typically stupid teenage things later that land them in trouble. Ross is still dealing with trauma arising from his Vietnam service, while Connor hasn’t gotten over the death of his parents. Grandmother Kate is an emergency room nurse, and she encounters bloodshed and death daily. At first, I thought the discussions about Kate were superfluous to the main storyline, but the author brilliantly ties her into the action.

I’ve read many serial killer novels (including one by John Katzenbach) pitting serial killers against surprisingly resourceful would-be victims. But “Jack’s Boys” is the first book I’ve read that turns this cat-and-mouse game into a team sport. It’s the five Boys pitted against Connor’s family, with the outcome in doubt for much of the book. The author skillfully establishes the strengths and weaknesses of both “teams” to keep the action plausible within the confines of this genre. When the action starts, the book becomes incredibly suspenseful.

A 300-page version of “Jack’s Boys” would have been a superb thriller. However, this book is over 500 pages long, an incredible length for this type of story. Despite the author’s skill and extensive research into criminal psychology, the killers’ repeated inner monologues sometimes become tedious. The effect is like watching a documentary about an important football game in which the cameras spend more time covering every similar practice and training session during the week leading up to the game than the game itself.

Although “Jack’s Boys” could have benefitted from more judicious editing, the book has little, if any, poor material. Many of the insights into the Boys’ warped thought processes, such as their adoption of coded language in their chats (like calling all police “gestapo”), are creepily fascinating. In the book’s Acknowledgements, the author credits various psychiatrists he consulted during his research for the book. That effort was worthwhile; the Boys’ bizarre musings seemed authentic… and chilling. Even at its current length, “Jack’s Boys” is a superb suspense thriller. You wouldn’t want to meet any of Jack’s Boys, but you will want to curl up in bed with “Jack’s Boys” and the other colorful characters.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.

Thank you, John Katzenbach and NetGalley, for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!

This was a book completely different from any I've read so far this year. Even so, I had a hard time getting through it. I don't know if it was the writing style or what. It was just a drag in the beginning. Of course, the middle picks up, and just the fact this book has five different killers is truly amazing. They were all completely different from one another, yet their desire to kill was definitely united.

A boy stumbles somewhere he shouldn't in the dark web, angering five different men. Men who are very dangerous and willing to do terrible things. What's going to happen? Will our main character make it out alive? Read and find out.

As much as I wanted to enjoy this book, I had a very hard time getting through it. That's not to say others won't enjoy it.

Five serial killers encrypted in an online chat room was right up my alley. I thought this book was unique, creepy, and really well written. I really enjoyed the story line and the characters.

Good to have John Katzenbach writing again after many years. He always provides unusual stories with strong plot lines.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Present day, with most of the action near Boston, Massachusetts
Characters: Connor and Niki, high school senior sweethearts, their interestingly diverse families, a range of police and detectives, and the five despicable Jack’s Boys.
Overview: There is a dark web chat room named Jack’s Special Place where five psychopaths have found each other and share stories of their conquests, in the mode of their idol, Jack the Ripper. Connor, for specific, tragic reasons of his own, stumbles into the chat room, makes the mistake of interacting with Jack’s Boys, and becomes the victim of their revenge. From there, the suspenseful story takes off in several directions with payback the continuing themes.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: This book is not for everyone since many of the scenes are very dark, but the plot is intriguing, and the characters stand up throughout the story. Longer than most novels of this type, the story is fast-paced and the pages fly by with anticipation of what’s next.
Thanx to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to provide this candid review.

Thanks to the Blackstone publishing and Netgalley for this exciting and captivating eARC.

In the shadowy corners of the dark web, where anonymity breeds malevolence, a clandestine group thrives. They are Jack’s Boys, five serial killers connected through encrypted channels, their twisted camaraderie fueled by a shared obsession with the infamous Jack the Ripper. In homage to their ultimate model, they convene in a secure chat room, taunting police worldwide with cryptic clues and gruesome boasts.

But their arrogance blinds them. When two unsuspecting teenagers stumble upon their digital lair, mocking their murderous exploits, the game takes a chilling turn. Revenge simmers, and the killers decide to teach the insolent teens a lesson—one that will echo with blood and terror.

Caught in this web of death are the teenage boy’s grandparents: an ICU nurse with her own hidden history of violence and an ex-Marine haunted by the ghosts of Vietnam. As the five killers emerge from the shadows, this unlikely alliance of young and old must find a way to expose them, defeat them, or face their own demise.

John Katzenbach weaves a gripping tale that transcends mere thriller conventions. His prose is a symphony of suspense, each note resonating with tension and intrigue. The characters are vividly drawn, their flaws and secrets adding depth to the narrative. The pacing is relentless, propelling the reader through a labyrinth of twists and revelations.

Katzenbach masterfully constructs a world where darkness seeps through the digital cracks, where killers and innocents collide, and where the past’s echoes reverberate into the present.

Jack’s Boys is a psychological exploration of obsession, morality, and the thin line between predator and prey.

Katzenbach’s prose is a blade that cuts through complacency, leaving readers breathless and questioning their own shadows.

This novel defies conventions, grips your psyche and refuses to let go, leading you to venture into the twisted realm of Jack’s Boys; beware—the darkness here is contagious, and once you step in, there’s no turning back.

This author is a master when it comes to crafting taut and captivating thrillers, and this book is a standout!

“Think of ourselves as five generals on a battlefield, coordinating a multipronged attack.” ~ Alpha

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Easy are five serial killers who have come together on the dark web. Never having met in person, they meet online in an encrypted chat room, “Jack’s Special Place” named after their idol ‘Jack the Ripper.’ Conner and Nikki are a teenage couple who frequent the dark web for their own disturbing reasons. They inadvertently stumble into ‘Jack’s Special Place’ and taunt the killers, thinking they’re just wannabes and say as much. In true psychopathic narcissistic form, the five killers decide socgoal02 (Conner’s user ID) must suffer for his audacity. The vengeance must be swift, tortuous and deadly. No one messes with ‘Jack’s Boys’ and lives. Working together, they formulate and ultimately enact a vicious plan.

When I say I like dark crime fiction, THIS is what I’m talking about. In a clear cut game of cat and mouse, where the prey doesn’t know it’s being hunted, the suspense was nerve wracking and palpable. Along with getting to know Conner and Nikki, Connor’s grandparents are also in the mix. Little do the killers know that these folks all have their own struggles with darkness. As ‘Jack’s Boys’ confer and plan, it’s uncomfortable being in the minds of five different killers, each with their own set of proclivities, signatures and desires. Despite the subject matter and Jack’s Boys routinely drifting off into nasty fantasies, nothing is overly graphic. Still, there IS disturbing content so please check warnings.

JACK’S BOYS is a bit of a beast with 530 pages, yet it never felt like it and I flew through the pages! The length is quite necessary for the complexity. There is a lot of detailed planning that built tension and anxiety in the best way possible and when that action hit?! I could NOT. READ. FAST. ENOUGH! John Katzenbach is a phenomenal storyteller. Character development is off the charts. I felt connected to both teens AND the grandparents. My emotions were all over the place from disgust, amusement and empathy, to excitement and satisfaction. There are some truly heart pounding moments and the ending was perfection!
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Thank you Blackstone Publishing for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Scroll down for potential spoiler content warnings.























⚠️Content Warnings: depression, PTSD, Vietnam war flashbacks, suicidal ideation, language, sexual situations, murderous fantasies, stalking, violence, gun violence, death, mention of CSA

Thank you #NetGalley and #BlackstonePublishing for this ARC! #JacksBoys

This book was a true page-turner; even though it contained a lot of pages, I felt like I read it quite quickly. I thought the idea was really original, a lot of fun to read, and occasionally rather suspenseful. It was unnerving to follow Jack's Boys, but it was also an intriguing method to highlight the antagonists in a narrative. It was a bit disturbing at some arts but it was interesting to see a killer's POV.

Five psychopaths have somehow found each other and formed a private chat room known as Jack’s Special Place and themselves as Jack’s Boys. The names are in honour of the most famous serial killer of all time, Jack the Ripper. Their little meeting place is located on the Dark Web and should be impossible to access if not invited.

Connor and Nikki are a couple of teens in love who, for some reason, also like to prowl the Dark Web, exploring forbidden places as a bit of excitement. That’s when Connor stumbles into the Jack’s Boys chat room.

The presence of an intruder who breaks into their conversation, taunting them and disrespecting them creates anger that’s palpable. So much so the group as a collective decide they need to kill this interloper, but before killing him, they would make him suffer to teach him a lesson first.

Jack’s Boys are referred to as Alpha, Beta, Charlie, Delta and Easy and they each have perversions that would make the normal person shudder. And, as we get to know each of them while they plan their attack, we learn more about them and start to understand just how damaged each of them is.

What follows is a full on story involving the hunters and the prey. The five hunters are stalking Connor and his family and they’re not aware of the danger they’re in for a very long time. The suspense is built to almost unbearable levels, particularly as we’re continually fed the sick and twisted thoughts of each of the men doing the hunting.

John Katzenbach doesn’t just get inside the head of one serial killer, he provides us with deep insight into the thoughts and motivations of 5 of them. Each a little different from the others but no less depraved and the scary thing is, they’re all working together, getting their rocks off on the prospect of the next kill. I’ve got to say, it’s not a particularly comfortable place to be, inside the heads of 5 deranged killers, but it sure ramps up the suspense.

An interesting aspect of the story that even the “good guys” are not totally, one hundred percent pure. Connor is harbouring a dark plan for the future, one that he’s talked Nikki into backing. His grandfather and grandmother are also dealing with their own ghosts from the past that are constantly affecting their present.

All in all, this is a psychological quagmire that manages to hit you from all sides. You should definitely mentally prepare yourself for a frontal assault on your tolerance to hate, intolerance and narcissistic behaviour.

Jack’s Boys is a chilling thriller that moves with effortless fluidity, just like the hunters stalking their prey. Katzenbach’s ability to take you straight into his character’s minds helps to underline the peril the potential victims are in, ramping up the tension to extreme levels.

I got this for review on Netgally.

The ebook had a log if pages but it feelt like I read it super quick, it was a real page turner. I found the concept to be rather unique and very entertaining to read as well as being big on suspense at times. Following Jack's Boys was unsettling but an interesting way to showcase the bad guys in a story. With chat rooms, dark Web and their daily life

Whoa! This book was kind of disturbing and a bit messed up lol but it was an enjoyable read! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, a bit disturbing and a few crazy twists and turns! The storyline was crazy but interesting! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!
Five serial killers … Known only to each other as:, Alpha. Bravo. Charlie. Delta. Easy., Connected through a secure internet location, encrypted and concealed, a unique chat room they have named Jack’s Special Place in homage to their ultimate model, the one killer they hold in the highest esteem:!