A Book A Week

Last year I stumbled upon Just One Bite by Jack Heath. That story about a cannibal turned FBI investigator was one of the most inventive and downright fun thrillers I read all year. It found a way to make me root for its serial killer with a strange moral compass Timothy Blake. Think a cross between Dexter and Hannibal Lecter and you'd have Blake. Add to it the fact that the mystery was downright addictive, and you have yourself the kind of page-turner that requires copious amounts of coffee and very little sleep! It wasn't until I finished the book that I realized it was actually a sequel. Never one to shy away from reading yet another book, I quickly added the original novel to my TBR list, and here we are today.

Hangman is an origin story of sorts. We learn of Blake's abusive childhood and how he came into some trouble with the law. Despite his troubles, Blake is super smart and has a photographic memory. A mind like that is a terrible thing to waste, so the authorities offer him a unique arrangement, one that will satisfy his mental curiosity and a primal hunger that he simply can't ignore. They put Blake to work as a consultant for the FBI. He mostly helps solve missing person cases. In exchange, he gets his pick of the freshly executed criminals from Huntsville Prison's death row.

When a 14-year-old kid disappears, Blake is brought in to investigate. He is used to working alone. I guess even the FBI is a bit wary of someone who eats people. But this case is different. He is paired with agent Reese Thistle, a take-no-prisoners kind of woman who is immediately bitter at the idea of working with a civilian. Blake isn't very enthused either. His hunger can overtake his better judgment sometimes, and the temptation sitting next to him is not going to help matters. Things in the case escalate in the twisted way you'd expect from a book like this. The two unlikely partners will have to rely on each other and deal with their own personal demons if they want to make it out of this alive.

Hangman is another great read from Jack Heath. After loving the sequel so much, I was worried that this first novel might not deliver the same thrill. I'm so happy that I was wrong! Take away the richly complex character for a moment, and let's talk about that plot. Heath has the ability to weave the twists and suspense like none other. I was glued to the story from start to finish. In Timothy Blake, Heath crafts a character that is reprehensible but also endearing. Yes, he eats people, but he's also this layered human who is dealing with the traumas of his past while also trying to better himself and the lives of the people he investigates. If you're going to root for a cannibal, you could do a lot worse than Timothy Blake. It should be a given that the subject matter might be difficult for some people to read, so if you're squeamish this might not be the one for you. I can't say enough great things about this book or this series. I really hope Heath is working on a third.

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2019, 38)