I read this book in one day while my students watched a movie, which tells you how much I enjoyed it. At one point during study hall I actually looked up and said "WHAAAATTT??" because I was so shocked at the twist that I, to my delight, didn't see coming.

It is very difficult to find thrillers that don't feel tired, predictable, or complicated simply for the sake of being complicated. That's part of what makes this book so delightful. It's not a "fun" read, simply because of the violence, intensity, and death. It's a serial killer book for sure. But if that's your thing, it is a fun one.

The pace is quick but thorough, the main character likeable but flawed, and James' Judeo-Christian worldview comes out in such beautifully subtle ways. If you didn't know what you were looking at, you'd miss it. In particular, I loved how he explored the idea of sin - how shared humanity doesn't mean shared goodness, but shared brokenness. As a Christian who enjoys reading books that involve such wicked situations, I find myself thinking of this same thought often. What binds me to all other humans IS our value but also our incredible need and weakness and failure.

It didn't hurt that the book is set somewhere I know well, Asheville NC. It reminded me a lot of [b:Kiss the Girls|13148|Kiss the Girls (Alex Cross, #2)|James Patterson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390010470s/13148.jpg|881425] but I actually liked this book even better. Excellent work, Mr. James. This is a series I'm looking forward to devouring.