D. A. Pupa

I was... underwhelmed by this one. I mean, it was a good story, don't get me wrong, but it feels like just about every other thriller I've read. For starters, this is one of those books that is interesting when you're reading it, but it's not something that you just can't put down. Additionally, after you put it down (for any amount of time), there's nothing that really makes you want to pick it back up.

I did like that it was partially based in NJ. That was part of the reason I picked it up when I was down in 'Squan this past summer. The whole number thing with the 2-1-2 thing was pretty cool too, but it seemed to fall together too easily for the FBI agents. I don't know. I really wanted to like this. I love supporting local authors, and sometimes you really find a gem. This looked like it could be, but as I said earlier, it felt like every other thriller I've ever picked up:

Serial killer with some sort of unknown past has a vendetta against the brilliant law enforcement person that is super clear to the reader and the killer, but not to the cop. The killer takes the life of someone close to said law enforcement official, leads them on a wild goose chase, and eventually squares up with them, mono e mono because someone else will die and it will directly be his/her fault if the killer wins (which is exactly how the killer wanted it to go in the first place). Then the serial killer mysteriously vanishes, & his charred or otherwise unidentify-able remains are found, somehow identified, and everyone goes home, shaken, but happy. Case closed, killer dead... or is he?

Seriously, stop me if you've heard this one before.

All in all though, if you're looking to support a local author, pick it up if you like thrillers. Overall, it wasn't a bad novel.… (mer)