ARC Book Review: Seeing Evil by Jason Parent
Seeing Evil
By Jason Parent
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Fate in plain sight.
Major Crimes Detective Samantha
Reilly prefers to work alone—she’s seen as a maverick, and she still struggles
privately with the death of her partner. The only person who ever sees her
softer side is Michael Turcotte, a teenager she’s known since she rescued him
eleven years ago from the aftermath of his parents’ murder-suicide.
Reilly prefers to work alone—she’s seen as a maverick, and she still struggles
privately with the death of her partner. The only person who ever sees her
softer side is Michael Turcotte, a teenager she’s known since she rescued him
eleven years ago from the aftermath of his parents’ murder-suicide.
In foster care since his parents’
death, Michael is a loner who tries to fly under the bullies’ radar, but a
violent assault triggers a disturbing ability to view people’s dark futures. No
one believes his first vision means anything, though—not even Sam Reilly. When
reality mimics his prediction, however, Sam isn’t the only one to take notice.
A strange girl named Tessa Masterson asks Michael about her future, and what he
sees sends him back to Sam—is Tessa victim or perpetrator?
death, Michael is a loner who tries to fly under the bullies’ radar, but a
violent assault triggers a disturbing ability to view people’s dark futures. No
one believes his first vision means anything, though—not even Sam Reilly. When
reality mimics his prediction, however, Sam isn’t the only one to take notice.
A strange girl named Tessa Masterson asks Michael about her future, and what he
sees sends him back to Sam—is Tessa victim or perpetrator?
Tessa’s tangled secrets draw
Michael and Sam inexorably into a deadly conflict. Sam relies on Michael, but
his only advantage is the visions he never asked for. As they track a cold and
calculating killer, one misstep could turn the hunters into prey.
Michael and Sam inexorably into a deadly conflict. Sam relies on Michael, but
his only advantage is the visions he never asked for. As they track a cold and
calculating killer, one misstep could turn the hunters into prey.
~Book Review~
Seeing Evil is the story of Michael, an orphan who witnessed the murder of his parents when he was just a child and now an eleven year old boy, a school bullying incident gives him the ability to see people’s futures. No one believes him when he predicts the death of a senior at the hands of his classmate but when his predictions start turning true, Detective Sam Reilly who has always had a soft spot for this boy she rescued from the horrible crime scene all those years ago, is forced to believe him. But the real test comes when a girl Tessa approaches Michael for help and a mysterious body washes up at the shore. Are these two incidents connected?
Is the frightening future Michael sees when he touches Tessa’s hand destined to come true?
I was intrigued by this book when I read the blurb that promised a crisp and tight plot full of suspense and mystery with the thrill of the supernatural. Then the title and cover are also quite unique and attracted me eye.
This is my first book by Jason Parent and I enjoyed his writing style. The plot is well conceived and executed admirably. The author is able to merge normal fiction with the supernatural future predicting angle beautifully and makes the readers believe everything. The scenes, emotions, people and incidents are beautifully developed and create a visual picture in our minds which is sometimes heart wrenching, sometimes frightening and sometimes so horrifying that at times I felt the need to wish to unread all that I had read about the evils described in some scenes.
The characters are believable and connectable. I was horrified by the villain and empathized with Tessa and Michael. Detective Sam is strong and a dedicated police officer and yet has a soft spot for Michael. The author does not delve much into Sam’s history and Michael’s parents’ murder and his life which is something I felt should have been covered in the book. I would have loved to read more about Sam’s history and Michael’s life before the incidents start happening.
Tessa’s history is also not detailed much and we don’t get to know how her life was when her mother was alive. Was the situation as horrible as it is today? Only bits are shared which don’t tell much. Also her father’s history would have helped me understand his present behaviour better. Was he ever any different? Did something happen to him to make him like this?
This book should be read with caution. It describes evils of all sorts present in society. There is child abuse, bullying and hazing by seniors in school and both psychological and physical aspects are described in great detail that sometimes had me so horrified that I just could not bear to read further. Some scenes had me wishing to unread and erase them from my memory. Still the story is engaging and had me continuing despite my dislike and repulsion of the scenarios the author describes illustrating the horrendous evil things people are capable of and the inadequate measures taken by the police and the other Government agencies to stop them because the rules have their hands tied.
The story moves at a fast pace and the mystery, suspense and the chase to catch the bad guy had me sitting at the edge of my seat throughout.
All in all, Seeing Evil is an engrossing, thrilling and suspenseful story that had me engaged right till the end. I enjoyed reading it and have become more informed of all the evil present out there. 4 out of 5 to it and recommended to all mystery, thriller and suspense lovers above the age of eighteen. It is not horror, per se, but can be kept in that category due to some of the incidents described in the book. I enjoyed the author’s writing style and will be checking out his other books too.
I received an ARC from the author and the tour organizers and I am very thankful to them. The above review is my honest and unbiased opinion and in no way influenced.
~Buying Links~
~Author Bio~
In his head, Jason Parent lives
in many places, but in the real world, he calls Southeastern Massachusetts his
home. The region offers an abundance of settings for his writing and many
wonderful places in which to write them. He currently resides with his cuddly
corgi, Calypso.
in many places, but in the real world, he calls Southeastern Massachusetts his
home. The region offers an abundance of settings for his writing and many
wonderful places in which to write them. He currently resides with his cuddly
corgi, Calypso.
In a prior life, Jason spent most
of his time in front of a judge… as a civil litigator. When he tired of Latin
phrases no one knew how to pronounce and explaining to people that real
lawsuits are not started, tried, and finalized within the 60-minute time-frame
they see on TV, he traded in his cheap suits for flip-flops and designer
stubble. The flops got repossessed the next day, and he’s back in the legal
field… sorta. But that’s another story.
of his time in front of a judge… as a civil litigator. When he tired of Latin
phrases no one knew how to pronounce and explaining to people that real
lawsuits are not started, tried, and finalized within the 60-minute time-frame
they see on TV, he traded in his cheap suits for flip-flops and designer
stubble. The flops got repossessed the next day, and he’s back in the legal
field… sorta. But that’s another story.
When he’s not working, Jason
likes to kayak, catch a movie, travel any place that will let him enter, and
play just about any sport (except for the one with that ball tied to the pole
thing where you basically just whack the ball until it twists in on knot or
takes somebody’s head off). And read and write, of course. He does that too
sometimes.
likes to kayak, catch a movie, travel any place that will let him enter, and
play just about any sport (except for the one with that ball tied to the pole
thing where you basically just whack the ball until it twists in on knot or
takes somebody’s head off). And read and write, of course. He does that too
sometimes.
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1LdbR7m
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorJasParent
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1J2Z4Td
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