When they found the first body, no one batted an eye.
That was par for the course in Skid Row. But something with these deaths was off. They were made to look like ritualistic suicides, like something supernatural. But I knew better. Besides, I don’t believe in magic.
My name is Rick Danvers and I’m an undercover detective with Robbery Homicide. I’ve been embedded in this slum for a week now, and before the night is over, I’m gonna get to the bottom of the Skid Row Suicides.
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When they found the first body, no one batted an eye. That was par for the course in Skid Row. But something with these deaths was off. They were made to look like ritualistic suicides, like something supernatural. But I knew better. Besides, I don’t believe in magic. My name is Rick Danvers and I’m […]
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Reviewer: Angel for Bookangel.
Rick Danvers is an undercover cop, currently on assignment amongst the down and outs of Skid Row. There is a killer on the loose and five murders of the forgotten people of society mean little. But when someone more affluent is killed in the same ritualistic way, then people notice, stories are generated by the press and the police have to react. Little is known other than each victim was disembowelled, a chicken is sacrificed nearby, and several occult symbols are marked in the ground. So when one of the local down and outs, Kerry, is caught stealing a chicken, the rest turn on him and Danvers has to step in before Kerry is killed. In the ensuing scuffle, the local police force arrives and arrest several people, including Danvers to cover his tracks. While discussing it with his superiors out of sight, the believe they have identified the killer, local voodoo priest Tanner, who not only has the knowledge, but access to everything needed to carry out such acts, including the chicken that was just stolen from him. As a result, the police move on the buildings Tanner is known to frequent to arrest, and hopefully bring to a close, this set of gruesome murders.
This may be a short horror mystery, but it reads like a story twice its length with all the detail packed into it. You are dropped straight into the situation with a pressing time schedule and as much knowledge as the protagonist leaving you as confused and bewildered as he is and desperate to find out more. Half the intrigue of the story is trying to piece together what clues are scattered through out and make sense of them. The author does a fine job of setting the scene and the misery and life on Skid Row while weaving through the threads of the murders and how it affects their every day lives. The characters which come and go, may be sketched out but when dealing with people who have little in the way of a history, this only adds to the tension being slowly ratcheted up during the story.
As for the horror components in the tale, they are well woven in and while it may have an ending that has been done before, it is well plotted and makes sense given everything that has occurred. Going back to look for clues or insights in the text shows show well this has been put together. In general the book is well formatted and is neatly broken up from scene to scene apart from one instance. Spelling and grammar are fine through out, at least nothing obvious ruined my enjoyment of the story. It is also easy to read in a single sitting, although it may pass for more than just one coffee break, but still worth re-reading to catch the clues laid throughout.
Overall, a short, compact, horror mystery that is worth picking up for fans of both genres. This may be a standalone short, but there links to other works of the author if you find the style to your liking.
Rating: TBCQuicklink to this review
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