On February 22, 2021, Publishers Weekly will feature a review of Wrath Child, the supernatural thriller I published on December 18, 2020. The review is chock full of goodness, and I am very grateful to the Publishers Weekly reviewer who penned it.

Here's the review:

Vick (The Bloodletter Chronicles) weaves a suspenseful web of gore and horror in this supernatural thriller. Special Agent Gavin Gregory of the FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit is about to take an extended vacation to rebuild his marriage when a notorious serial killer known as The Smith resurfaces from a killing-spree hiatus. Gavin knows this killer well and is put on the case, but quickly discovers he’s in over his head. Enter Deborah Esteves, a psychiatrist who treated The Smith in 2014 and has developed some surprising theories about the eerie psychic phenomena that may have complicated her past work with violent patients. With Deborah’s help, Gavin must catch the killer before the killer catches another victim.

Vick masters the balance between external and internal stakes as an abundance of characters bring this gritty murder suspense to life. The events unfold along three timelines—2004, 2014, and the present—with the narrative gracefully crossing between them while delving deep into The Smith’s psychological unraveling. Some readers might find keeping track of the large cast frustrating, especially with the regular point-of-view shifts, but the skillfully crafted internal struggles of key characters create an emotional and sympathetic connection that will keep fans engaged and flipping the pages. Foreboding hints of the supernatural loom from start to finish, certain to delight both horror and thriller enthusiasts.

Vick is a seasoned writer who doesn’t hold back. His opening line (“The alley stank of garbage and human waste and blood and imminent death”) demonstrates his ability to evoke the senses and paint a visceral scene -- and alerts readers that the story to come contains a fair amount of gore and disturbing images. The well-crafted plot, memorable characters, and decidedly wicked villain will linger long after the last page is turned. Those looking for an engrossing supernatural thriller containing high stakes will find much to enjoy.

The reviewer goes on to recommend the book to fans of John Connolly's A Book of Bones and Vaughn C. Hardacker's Wendigo.

Now, I'm used to seeing other horror authors at the end of that sentence and must admit I'm stoked seeing two hard-hitting thriller authors there instead 🙂

Check out Wrath Child on Amazon: https://ehv4.us/4wrathchild

Thanks for reading!