He Started It

Beth and her siblings, in an attempt to collect their inheritance from the grandfather, must relive a prior “road trip” he’d taken them on 20 years prior.

Samantha Downing has returned with her sophomore effort, He Started It. Although her latest doesn’t quite reach her debut masterpiece, He started it deftly avoids a slump. 

Downing writes thrillers with dysfunctional family relationships and she does this as well as anyone I’ve read. Beth is a great narrator for the story and her perspective keeps the pages flowing. There’s always a bit more of a carrot dangling in front of the reader as the chapters conclude. As with her previous effort, it appears Downing has no problem sticking the landings and the book ends in a satisfying way.

I also enjoyed the prose in this book, Downings style is highly readable, and in a genre that has a lot of options, that’s always a plus to stick out from the pack.

Fans of My Lovely Wife will enjoy this one, and I believe those who either haven’t read that, or didn’t care for it will still find a lot to love here. I’m all in on whatever Samantha Downing writes

4/5 Stars

The Devil’s List review

The Devil's List, by Terry M. West is a brutal, pull no punches novella.

Chuck believes himself to be possessed by a demon. A demon that compels him to murder. Whether or Chuck is possessed, or his own mind is rotten, one thing is for sure, you don't want to cross path's with him.

I enjoyed this take on a serial killer, one that was inspired by true events. West puts you right there in the drivers seat with Chuck. He does an excellent job putting you in Chuck's brain, a place that you don't want to be to begin with. The kills are quick and brutal and also help expose you to Chuck's fragile mind. I wasn't sure how this one was going to play out, but by the time I was finished, I was left satisfied, but yearning for more. I find that a testament to the writing on display, not a knock on the length of the book.

I devoured this short book in one reading session and would recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in serial killers, both real, and fictional. I'll be on the lookout for more books by Terry M. West