Extreme Graphic Violence

July 2013, Manchester, UK. A murder investigation team, led by DCI Mark Gunn is assigned to probe into the brutal mutilations of four women found dead from various locations around the city centre. The evidence gathered from the scene of the crimes, and the extreme nature of the women's deaths indicate that the team are looking for a dangerous, deranged maniac. As the case unfolds, and the team finds itself buried deep within the seedy, sleazy underworld of the city, characteristics between the murders increase proportionally with the body count. The only thing that the team cannot find is motive.

BOUND by Andrew Lennon and Matt Hickman has extreme graphic violence, and I really wish this novella had come with a warning. I think some readers are going to struggle with the details, particularly in the first gruesome scene. This is not the first time I've read this type of story, but I feel too much emphasis is placed on the torture and not enough on the interactions between the investigative team. The dynamics seem severely off. The ending is abrupt and sloppy.

I've enjoyed Lennon's work in the past, but I've never heard of Hickman until I read this book, so I have no idea what the latter's writing style is usually like. However, this is definitely below Lennon's ability. I'm not sure if this is one author's influence over the other, or a poor collaboration between two authors, but this is not the quality writing I've come to expect from Andrew Lennon.

To be crystal clear, even if the violent scenes were less graphic or removed entirely, the crime drama aspect is not well-written. This is torture porn.

As always,
AstraDaemon

Picnic of Death

Dave is a middle aged waste of space. His days drip away in a haze of drinking, smoking and stealing from his mother. But one night the sound of screams disturbs Dave’s habitual living, and everything changes. Something evil is on the loose, snatching people from the comfort of their own homes. Dave’s neighbour’s, his family, his friends are suddenly vanishing. No one is safe. Unfortunately for Dave, it’s up to him to put a stop to it. Even if it kills him.

A LIFE TO WASTE by Andrew Lennon is another example of the author leading readers down a specific path, and then brutally shoving them off the path, straight into hell. I should have remembered Lennon never writes in a straight line, and every twist has a jagged edge to it.

Even though I had read the book's description first, I became so lost in the ruin of Dave's life, I forgot the story is about something other than Dave. As his personal drama unfolds, I wondered what it would take to undo the damage. Nothing could have prepared me for Dave's late night visitor. If I see an ice cream truck at night, I will likely crap myself.

As always,
AstraDaemon