Book Review and Giveaway Link: Forgive Me, Alex by Lane Diamond

This is a gripping portrayal of a twisted serial killer and the man who hunts him.

Forgive Me Alex

by Lane Diamond

• File Size: 687 KB
• Print Length: 262 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1622539001
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Evolved Publishing (December 18, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B006NTNQP8

Genre: Psychological suspense thriller

My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0 

 

Book Description

Publication Date: December 18, 2011

Evolved Publishing presents an intimate look inside the mind of a killer, and of the man determined to end that killer, in "Forgive Me, Alex" by Lane Diamond. (Psychological Suspense Thriller)

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Tony Hooper stands in shadow across the street, one amongst many in the crowd of curiosity-hounds gathered to watch a monster's release. Seventeen years after Mitchell Norton, "the devil," terrorized Algonquin, Illinois on a spree of kidnapping, torture and murder, the authorities release the butcher from psychiatric prison.

Tony longs to charge across the street to destroy Norton—no remorse—as if stepping on a cockroach. Only sheer force of will prevents his doing so.

"The devil" walks the world again. What shall Tony do about it? Aye, what indeed.

After all, this is what Tony does. It's who he is. "The devil" himself long ago made Tony into this hunter of monsters. What a sweet twist of fate this is, that he may still, finally, administer justice.

Will FBI Special Agent Linda Monroe stop him? She owes him her life, so how can she possibly put an end to his?

Tony Hooper and Mitchell Norton battle for supremacy, with law enforcement always a step away, in this story of justice and vengeance, evil and redemption, fear and courage, love and loss.

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Review:
This is a psychological suspense thriller that is told from the views of two characters: the ‘monster’ serial killer, Mitchell Norton, and the man who longs to kill him, Tony Hooper.  The book rocks between these characters and between past events of 1978 and the present in 1995, showing the connections weaving these lives together. In the present Mitchell has been released after serving 17 years in prison for the murders he committed in 1978.  Those murders included people that 18 year old Tony knew and the loss and trauma created a huge impact on his Tony’s life and future.

All other characters are shown through the narratives of the two main protagonists. Tony in 1978 has a younger brother who is his heart, a girl friend he is reluctant to leave behind as he plans for college, an emotionally absent father and an adoptive grandfather who is his main support.  Tony met FBI Special Agent Linda Monroe in 1978 during the investigation of the multiple killings. She appears again in the present scenes as a friend and reminder of ‘the law’ which Tony may not want to be reminded of. After all, Linda isn’t likely to condone vigilante acts. But Mitchell’s actions in 1978 ‘corrupted’ Tony’s mind causing Tony to become a hunter of serial killers.  Now Tony is just waiting for the chance to eliminate this personal evil from the world.

I really liked the technique used by the author in sharing the past and present circumstances. Also Mr. Diamond does a great job in portraying the thoughts of the twisted, evil mind of the killer and the tortured emotions of Tony.  There are quotes at the beginnings of chapters that are intriguing and fitting.

The writing is straight forward with surprising spots of dark, melancholy prose. There is some gritty language and some gruesome killing.  The intensity of the story moved so well that neither of those elements bothered me.  I found the story gripping from beginning to end.  At times I held my breath and at other points I blinked back tears.

I highly recommend this book, especially if you like this genre and aren’t intimidated by the twisted evil of a monster.  You might ask yourself: what would you do if you came face to face with the evil monster who killed someone you loved? Would you seek to kill the killer? Then ask the question that Tony asks himself: ‘Which would be worse for the criminal: a quick death, or a lifetime of wallowing in misery behind bars without hope of parole, knowing that his life was already over but that he must suffer it all the same?’ Location 1622

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Consider the opening lines of Tony’s thoughts:

I never expected to be a killer.
Who does? Location 161.

Mitchell’s initial thoughts of “the Reaper”:

Who was he, and why did he pursue me? Beat all hell outta me, but I recognized his pure evil. He was capable of hideous, unspeakable acts–no hesitation, no pity, no remorse. Location 592.

A peek at Tony’s turmoil:

Emotions tore at my mind until I could barely think, or stand, or breathe. One crept out of my psyche to overhadow all the others: anger–persistent, pernicious, persecuting. Location 1614.

I received this book for tour participation through Novel Publicity.

More about the Author, Lane Diamond

I write fiction, long and short. My writings cross over many genres and focus on diverse subjects, ranging from the mysteries of the human mind, with its fragile psychological and emotional states, to the everyday joy and anguish of life on Earth. Ultimately, characters move me – as both a reader and an author. It’s all about the people. When not writing, I’m Publisher and Executive Editor at Evolved Publishing.

Connect with me on my website,  Facebook, Twitter, GoodReads, or via Evolved Publishing.

GIVEAWAY!

Novel Publicity Blog Tour Notes:

Wanna win a $50 gift card or an autographed copy of Forgive Me, Alex? Well, there are two ways to enter...

1. Leave a comment on my blog. One random commenter during this tour will win a $50 gift card. For the full list of participating blogs, visit the official Forgive Me, Alex tour page.
2. Enter the Rafflecopter contest! I've posted the contest form below, or you can enter on the tour page linked above.

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