 |
| This is my actual copy. |
Already frustrated in their attempts to capture serial murderer Jack the Ripper, the detectives of Scotland Yard are suddenly confronted with a new monster, dubbed the Torso Killer for his habit of leaving behind neatly wrapped parcels of his victims’ body parts, minus the heads. With the terrible increase in mutilated corpses to examine, the highly regarded police surgeon Dr. Thomas Bond has lost the ability to sleep. True, a growing dependency on opium affords him some solace in his loneliest and most desperate hours, but he also fears the grip of the drug.
During Dr. Bond’s nightly tours of London’s underbelly in search of pharmaceutical respite from the horrors that plague him by day, he encounters a mysterious Jesuit priest scouring the opium dens himself, clearly in search of someone—or something. The doctor at first rejects the strange priest’s unnatural theories about the Torso Killer as an affront to scientific thought. But over time Dr. Bond’s opium-addled mind begins to crumble under the growing impression that there might be some awful truth to the Jesuit’s ideas.
As the police struggle to capture two serial killers, the troubled forensics expert begins to suspect that he may actually know the Torso Killer personally. If he is right, Dr. Bond will need all the strength he can muster to save his small circle of loved ones from falling victim to the bloody depravities of this twisted creature.
- Hardcover: 400 pages
- Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books (January 14, 2014)
- ISBN: 9781623650865
AUTHOR BIO
Sarah Pinborough was once a teacher, but now writes full-time. She is developing an original horror screenplay, Cracked, and her supernatural crime series, The Dog-Faced Gods, for TV. She lives in West London.
REVIEW
Historical fiction is not my usual genre. Usually the author uses a dialect I am just not into, it puts me off, then I just stick to horror or young adult. Then I come across a book like this one, and am thankful for the few times I read historical fiction.
This story is fast-paced, intensely intriguing and I mean intense, and full of mystery and suspense.
I appreciated the familiarity of the Jack the Ripper thing, but appreciated more this new killer, the Torso Killer. He felt real. I was scared shitless at night when I was home alone.... and that is good reading to me! Especially since I don't scare easy.
So very well written. I just love how the ending falls into place too. All the pieces fit so nicely together.
Definitely recommended reading!
4/5
AND NOW THE GIVEAWAY
Fill in the Rafflecopter form to enter.
Open to Us & Canada
Read terms at the bottom of form for full rules & eligibility.
You make me actually want to read this. I don't scary easy either, so i'm intrigued :)
ReplyDeleteI love historical fiction and I love to be scared so I will read this one for sure!
ReplyDeleteSounds great and the cover on the finished book is excellent. Are you giving away the finished book or your ARC Freda? I'm easily confused.
ReplyDeleteThe publicist is sending the copy and it may not be as shown. I just wanted you to see my cover. It is different than the ones I have seen on the net.
DeleteSounds suspenseful
ReplyDeleteI'm super excited to read this. Historical thrillers are my favourite genre and also one of the hardest to find although there seems to be more of them lately. I'm also a fan of Sarah Pinborough. I really enjoyed her previous novel, Tower Hill.
ReplyDeleteYay! scary historical fiction. I need to win this book.
ReplyDeleteHow marvelous! I love mysteries in historical settings.
ReplyDelete******************
{in the contest I am Margot Core on the Rafflecopter}