The Schwarzschild Radius

This book was a really good surprise package, it was far better than I thought it would be and took me to places I did not imagine in a million years. Very much a book that is a page turner and enjoyable yet disturbing all at the same time. I was not bored for a moment and was eager to get more of the story.

This book touches on the sheer evil in the human heart, I am a hard core crime/serial killer and horror reader and used to some distressing scenes and images but some in here? Literally made me squint and turn my head slightly. Not for the weak stomached crowd this one. But it's all part of a very interesting plot. So don't shy away just yet.

Rachel, an 18-year-old Columbia University student, descends into the netherworld of runaways and predators to find her sister, Olivia, who has suddenly disappeared.

After getting a job in a strip joint where Olivia worked, then doing private shows in the homes of rich clients, Rachel discovers that Olivia has been abducted by a killer who auctions the deaths of young girls in an eBay of agony.

When she finds Olivia, Rachel becomes the killer’s next target.

Imagine a room where online bidders (viewing online) can bid on a human life, not only bid on that life, but bid on how that life is extinguished. Not only how the life ends but what methods of torture and abuse are used prior. The highest bidder wins the prize and the show begins.

This is evil in it's purest form, men with hearts that are black with darkness, corruption, men that show no mercy and enjoy the sadism before their eyes. This, ladies and gentlemen is human suffering eBay. It's a truly unique book angle and it really does grab you and shake you around a bit.

Rachel is awesome, what a gritty character she is. Determined to find her sister who seems to have vanished into the underworld of private sex parties and rich clientele who pay for every inch of young flesh on offer. To do this, Rachel too enters this dark world, by golly that takes guts, she surrenders so much of herself because she loves her sister and wants to find her. It was riveting but so sad, this book really exposes some very dark sides of the billion dollar sex industry.

Private peep show rooms transition to private parties, but all with a purpose. Rachel thinks one of these clients knows where her sister is and she uses her clever use of technology, computers, hacking to get some answers. She's a smart cookie this one, with guts and lot of courage to go where she goes. If I had a sister, I would want one like Rachel.

There is a interesting sub-plot in this book that I won't mention as it's a massive spoiler, but it's really well written and runs parallel at times to the main story, and is important to the book overall. I really liked this element of the book a lot.

All of this puts her at massive risk. The police are also looking for Rachel, girls are turning up with horrendous torture marks on their bodies, bags of limbs are left behind, girls dismembered, and it looks like it was done whilst they are alive. The police realise Rachel has entered this dark world when she goes missing on the trail.

There is a fantastically paced plot, gritty and flawed characters, a unique story to be told and the writing is very good. This is a book with some oomph behind it. I found the whole thing fascinating but it's also disturbing, no doubt the majority of the fictional lines in this book DO happen somewhere in the world.

It broaches on horror with the torture and kill scenes, all filmed for posterity to the highest bidder. You will NOT imagine the things that the winning bidders come up with to be done. I thought I had read it all, apparently not. Seriously dark stuff. You would not wish it on your worst enemy.

The end scenes are dramatic and run at a cracking pace, you will be on the edge of your seat as the pages turn and the words jump from page to brain cells. I loved the rawness of this book, the way it doesn't hold back, doesn't recoil from the darkness, in fact, pushes it out on you, the reader until you feel slightly tainted by the journey.

The final outcome? Not all books have a happy ending, does this one? Not for me to tell. But I highly recommend this one. A surprising find and a brilliant debut novel. Easy five stars from me, could not stop reading it until the very last word.

Wow! This was a great story that held my attention from the first page to the last. I couldn't seem to turn the page fast enough. It was an amazing roller coaster ride.

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review via NETGALLEY.

This is an exciting and suspenseful book that is also very educational about two most ancient and persistent evils - child sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Mr. Florentin's novel has very well developed characters, despite their youth (late adolescence). The dialogue moves smoothly, and the plotting is thrilling enough to be a true page turner. And the bad guys are really nasty. Very good.

The most important point of this book is about the sexual exploitation of children (teenagers in this novel). This is an excellent way of educating people who would never have any contact with these sorts of situations. What better way to enlighten than through entertainment.

I have no criticisms of this novel. Very well done and timely.

Oh my.

What can I write in my review that's not already been said.

HUGE, big, ENORMOUS, Gigantic story.

I have to say I read a lot of it peeping through my fingers. The deaths were not good.

I just find it hard to explain what I have just read, its good, really good, but its stomach churning in places, so if you are easily put off.....

I text my book buddy after I read this, she had read it previously.

This is one unique read, I've not read one like this before, ever. Its dark, dingy, its captivating, its one you need to read until the end, but you curdle inside too. If you know what I mean.

I'm easily spooked, but I did enjoy it.

I received this from Curiosity Quills Press via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

In his second novel, The Schwarzschild Radius, Gustavo Florentin drags us at breakneck pace into the seedy underworld of paedophilia, prostitution and snuff films.

Olivia Wallen, an over-achieving 16 year old with Harvard in her sights, is in the hands of the "Webmaster", the latest object in his "eBay of agony". Her naked image is broadcast to bidders across the world who will determine which depraved tortures she will be subjected to, and then how she will die.

Rachel Wallen is 18 yrs old, a bright over-achiever and a Columbia student; she is also Olivia's sister.
"What can she do that the police can't do better?"
Rachel can think of at least two things... and so starts her journey into "the world that had swallowed Olivia". A world that, once it has a grip on her, just like with her sister, won't allow her to escape that easily - the Schwarzschild Radius.

The reader, just like Rachel, is left to wonder why a smart girl like Olivia, with a good life and great prospects ahead, would end up disappearing in New York, away from home, and tangled up in such a terrible business.
The author does provide a clear motivation for Rachel, and in part for Olivia, but I feel that it remains unclear why Olivia did not cut the ties and return to her normal life as soon as she had the opportunity (we are offered a very quick explanation, but it does not seem enough).

Florentin's writing style is fluid and he manages to make complex topics accessible to anyone. The story is full of suspence and I ended up reading the whole novel in one sitting - I simply had to turn the page to find out more!
The narration is made from the view points of the various characters that we meet and that end up merging in a breath-taking finale.

Although the subjects covered are very strong, they are approached sensitively and without any excessive or gratuitous gore. The story felt genuine and accurate, with just one minor gripe with regard to the lightening fast onset of ketoacidosis; the most imminent danger with type 1 diabetes is being too low (hypoglacemia) and swiftly ending up in a diabetic coma because you have been deprived of food or because you have injected too high a dose of insulin. Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) would only become life-threatening after weeks of abuse. If someone who is diabetic is unwell, as a first aid, please give them glucose (think Lucozade), not insulin! - ideally use their testing kit and find out what is happening!

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who is into thrillers and crime fiction (adult audience only).

I am now looking forward to reading Mr Florentin's first book, the award winning, In the Talons of the Condor.

[ARC received via Netgalley]