Seeing Evil is a book about the evil human beings inflict on one another. It's more thriller than horror but has a few disturbing scenes that fall more into the horror realm.
Michael was tragically orphaned as a young boy. Now he's a teen living with foster parents and dealing with the typical cruelties and horrors of high school. He's quiet, keeps his head down and minds his own business but one day he finds himself the target of one of the biggest bullies in the school. This scene is horrifying and too well written, if you ask me. I felt like I was in that bathroom stall with unfortunate Michael and, eww, I did not want to be there! Later Michael has a dark and dire vision that eventually comes true. He confides in his police detective friend, Samantha, and she later uses this information to guide her in an investigation.
And this is where I had a problem. The writing is good and the teen characters are amazingly well drawn. You really feel for them. But I would be lying if I didn't admit that Samantha using Michael, pretty much without his ok, to help her catch a killer bothered the hell out of me. This poor kid had already lived through hell and here she was forcing him to see things he should never have to see. Once? Okay, I get it. But again and again, after he tells her he doesn't want to do it? Well, that is completely awful no matter her motives.
I listened to this book as an unabridged audio but I'd suggest you read it as a paperback. I felt the female narrator gave a flat performance and didn't do justice to the material and it took me way too long to warm up to her voice.
Those two things aside, the book was a creepy and disturbing read with characters you will care about. The story gets a four, the narration a three so I guess I'm ending with a 3 ½..
Michael was tragically orphaned as a young boy. Now he's a teen living with foster parents and dealing with the typical cruelties and horrors of high school. He's quiet, keeps his head down and minds his own business but one day he finds himself the target of one of the biggest bullies in the school. This scene is horrifying and too well written, if you ask me. I felt like I was in that bathroom stall with unfortunate Michael and, eww, I did not want to be there! Later Michael has a dark and dire vision that eventually comes true. He confides in his police detective friend, Samantha, and she later uses this information to guide her in an investigation.
And this is where I had a problem. The writing is good and the teen characters are amazingly well drawn. You really feel for them. But I would be lying if I didn't admit that Samantha using Michael, pretty much without his ok, to help her catch a killer bothered the hell out of me. This poor kid had already lived through hell and here she was forcing him to see things he should never have to see. Once? Okay, I get it. But again and again, after he tells her he doesn't want to do it? Well, that is completely awful no matter her motives.
I listened to this book as an unabridged audio but I'd suggest you read it as a paperback. I felt the female narrator gave a flat performance and didn't do justice to the material and it took me way too long to warm up to her voice.
Those two things aside, the book was a creepy and disturbing read with characters you will care about. The story gets a four, the narration a three so I guess I'm ending with a 3 ½..
First of all, many thanks to NetGalley / the Author / Red Adept Publishing, LLC for furnishing this e-book to be read and reviewed with an honest, unbiased opinion.
I have to say I don't like paranormal ... zombies, shape-shifters, end of the world dystopian, alternate worlds stuff. I do like psychics, though .. those that can see what the future holds or what has happened in old abandoned mansions, etc. This book combines both a psychic and a serial murderer and a female detective ... all my favorites rolled into one.
Major Crimes Detective Samantha (Sam) Reilly has been looking out for 14-year-old Michael since he was three and witnessed the murder/suicide of his parents. He's now living with foster parents who seem to care for him.
Michael has been having some problems with the school bullies and one day he passes out and finds himself somewhere else. When he comes to, he realizes that he has had a vision ... and he isn't very happy. He tells his school counselor.. he tells his foster parents ... he even tells Sam and no one believes him. When his vision happens exactly as he described, people look at him with new eyes.
Sam is on a case concerning a missing wife. They have found her car immersed in a nearby lake, but there is no sign of the woman. Sam picks up Michael and takes him with her to interview the husband. Michael accidentally touches him and has another vision ... his wife is in the basement and being horribly tortured.
I will stop here ... for one thing, I needed to suspend belief (more so then usual) because I know of no detective who would take a young teenager along while interviewing someone believed to have killed his wife.
The story continues as Michael crosses paths with Tessa .. and he sees her killing her father. No spoilers, but things go terribly wrong when Sam also gets involved. Is Tessa a murderer .. or a victim? Is her father a serial killer? Or is he just an abusive, controlling father?
Although this is mainly a murder mystery, the teenage psychic takes the biggest role. I loved the plot. Characters were well developed. This was a new aithor to me, and I'd follow him anywhere.
I have to say I don't like paranormal ... zombies, shape-shifters, end of the world dystopian, alternate worlds stuff. I do like psychics, though .. those that can see what the future holds or what has happened in old abandoned mansions, etc. This book combines both a psychic and a serial murderer and a female detective ... all my favorites rolled into one.
Major Crimes Detective Samantha (Sam) Reilly has been looking out for 14-year-old Michael since he was three and witnessed the murder/suicide of his parents. He's now living with foster parents who seem to care for him.
Michael has been having some problems with the school bullies and one day he passes out and finds himself somewhere else. When he comes to, he realizes that he has had a vision ... and he isn't very happy. He tells his school counselor.. he tells his foster parents ... he even tells Sam and no one believes him. When his vision happens exactly as he described, people look at him with new eyes.
Sam is on a case concerning a missing wife. They have found her car immersed in a nearby lake, but there is no sign of the woman. Sam picks up Michael and takes him with her to interview the husband. Michael accidentally touches him and has another vision ... his wife is in the basement and being horribly tortured.
I will stop here ... for one thing, I needed to suspend belief (more so then usual) because I know of no detective who would take a young teenager along while interviewing someone believed to have killed his wife.
The story continues as Michael crosses paths with Tessa .. and he sees her killing her father. No spoilers, but things go terribly wrong when Sam also gets involved. Is Tessa a murderer .. or a victim? Is her father a serial killer? Or is he just an abusive, controlling father?
Although this is mainly a murder mystery, the teenage psychic takes the biggest role. I loved the plot. Characters were well developed. This was a new aithor to me, and I'd follow him anywhere.
