Books with FBI agents should have their own sub-genre since so many mysteries and thrillers feature the FBI. In addition, FBI books seem to have their own sub-genres. A reader can find no frills crime stories, romantic suspense, paranormal, “profiler”, prepper FBI, criminal FBI agents, espionage FBI agent, undercover agent, trashy love stories, and now there is Hangman. Hangman deserves its own category.
This is going to be very hard to rate. Hangman was very well written with a great plot. Although I found parts of it a bit weak.
But the characters, oh the characters; I had a terribly hard time warming up to the main character, young, twisted Timothy Blake (Scary Timmy) who was an FBI consultant due to his incredible eye for detail. For example he could be brought to a money drop in a large parking lot and from the cars and people walking around and extrapolate the criminal picking up the money. When Blake explains how, it makes perfect sense.
Scary Timmy is brought in on a kidnapping case. He doesn’t do well with it and is stymied at every turn. At the same time, his life which isn’t much to begin with, begins to fall apart.
The director of Houston’s FBI office, Peter Luhzin, found Blake’s talents invaluable for solving cases with the FBI. Each knows the other’s secret and so have each other’s backs; or more accurately, over the barrel. While working on the case, Blake finds someone from his past, who also shared the misery of the foster system.
Scary Timmy was one of the hardest characters I have ever read. Ever. And yet, when he faces great adversity, I wanted him to overcome it; and at the end I was happy to see new employment opportunities for Blake (I’m sniggering here) and the vague niggling thought of “I wonder if there will be another book”.
Blake makes a charming, amusing, but revolting narrator. Hangman is a difficult book to read, not for those of delicate sensibilities; but I can’t say it isn’t orginal. Blake might stay with you for a long time. You should hope not.
The FBI gift shop keeps a small selection of mysteries and thrillers; I think I might suggest they include this one. I have also started suggesting it to agents. Heheheh.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

If you do not like gore, avoid this book. If you find cannibalism too awful to think about, skip this. This book is not for everyone, and may have difficulty finding an audience okay with the protagonist's impulses. I'm giving it 3 stars for this reason, that this will not appeal across the board as a civilian FBI consultant mystery likely would. For the audience it hopes for, the rating would be 5 stars for sure, but an average person picking this up I think might have problems with Scary Tim. i like horror and gore, and was able to connect with some of his actions, but certain images left me hoping that maybe Tim is caught after all. The obvious connection would be to liken him to Dexter Morgan, but while everyone can imagine the impulse to kill, not everyone will be able to connect to an impulse to eat human flesh.
I did like the hard look at poverty and the working poor the book takes. Tim isn't given an easy life after being placed in the foster care system, and many of his childhood friends in that system find similar results. Only the adopted one really finds her footing as an adult. It discusses the true struggles of full time work vs education, finding a job without a high school degree, using your intelligence not to solve puzzles but to find work that may not be legal. It talks about how the homeless are ignored, mistreated and seen as invisible. People don't deal drugs because they are bad but because they are desperate.
The mystery is pretty clever with plenty of red herrings and cases of mistaken identity, and the real kidnapper is plausible. The bit of romance, and the conclusion of that romance seemed a bit quick, and disappointing. I liked the addition of riddles instead of chapter titles, but missed an area where the answers were given if there was one. However they were a bit distracting since I was dedicated to solving the riddle, and not continuing the story.

Unfortunately I could not finish this. I am normally determined to finish books I start, and this has been lingering for weeks now. I went to pick it up and finish it, and realized it felt like work, so gave up.

Timothy Blake is NOT your average, everyday FBI consultant - and his story is NOT your average, everyday thriller... This is a helluva ride - the action is non-stop, the characterization is spot-on (in the creepiest and most darkly delightful of ways), the plot is well thought out with twists and turns that keep the reader on their toes without ever feeling overdone. Blake is a fantastic creation - but his "lifestyle" is not for the faint of heart or squeamish. The style is fast-paced without feeling like you're being sped through the reveals; the secrets unfold with surprising delicacy, given the subject matter and genre, and the reader is fed just enough detail along the way to keep you guessing without ever actually admitting to anything until the time is just right.
There are a lot of gruesome bits, sprinkled like his omnipresent salt throughout the tale and often found, like the salt, in the unlikeliest of places. It makes for a marvelously edgy read that always leaves you just a little off-kilter, wondering where the next tidbit (teehee - you'll laugh once you know Blake's secret) is coming from. The ending suggests this may be a first appearance, rather than a one-and-done - I truly hope so, because this is writing that I want more of, post haste.

This was the book I decided to read as a fun read after reading so many tear-jerkers lately. Yes, murder-crime books (or crime TV shows or movies) are considered a fun read for me. Hangman by Jack Heath did not disappoint. It is thrilling, creepy, funny, genuinely scary at certain points, and just really enjoyable. Let's not waste any more time and get right into the review!

Synopsis (From Goodreads):
A 14-year-old boy vanishes on his way home from school. His frantic mother receives a disturbing ransom call. It's only hours before the deadline, and the police have no leads.

Enter Timothy Blake, codename Hangman. Blake is a genius, known for solving impossible cases. He's also a sociopath - the FBI's last resort. But this time Blake might have met his match. The kidnapper is more cunning and ruthless than anyone he's faced before. And Blake has been assigned a new partner, a woman linked to the past he's so desperate to forget.

Timothy Blake has a secret, one so dark he will do anything to keep it hidden. And he also has a price. Every time he saves a life, he takes one…

The book starts off introducing us to Timothy Blake or usually just Blake to those who know him best. Or think they know him best. Only one person knows what he really is: his boss, the Director of the FBI, Peter Luhzin. Luzhin makes sure Blake gets what he needs and Blake is almost like the Sherlock Holmes of solving cases and finding people the FBI are looking for.  WARNING: from this point on I am going to talk about Blake's secret, so if you don't want to know, skip to the next paragraph. What is Blake's secret? He is a murderer and a cannibal (*gasp* I know!). Every time Blake solves a case, Luhzin gives him a body of a recently deceased death row inmate to have for dinner. Yes, I know what you're thinking. Eeeewwwwww. But the way Heath tells the story makes it easy to read. Don't get me wrong; the story doesn't make light of any of the darker subjects it covers. Blake knows he's a monster. But there are some genuinely funny parts (and interesting facts) during the scenes where Blake is eating someone. No spoilers but there is a scene where Blake is holding a leg that I laughed out loud at.

When Blake is working on cases, he is not doing so alone. Agent Reese Thistle is a take-no-nonsense FBI agent who rather not have to deal with Blake but unfortunately, it's part of her job. She soon learns to appreciate how ridiculously good he is at pointing out details that no one else seems to see. So, when 14-year-old Cameron hall goes missing, they work together to find out what happened to him. As their partnership progresses, it soon turns into something more. But because of Blake's secret...well, it's complicated (major understatement!) We also find out Reese and Blake have a history that they don't even realize at first (I am not spoiling this surprise because I want you to have the experience of being as stunned as I was.). Do you see why this would be an amazing TV show?!

Let's talk a little bit more about the secret. Blake and his secret are almost like another character in the story (I feel like I say this for a lot of the books I review. Oh well.). The secret hovers even in the scenes it's not directly addressed or shown. Blake dealing with his roommate? The secret is there in the background. Blake and Reese dealing with what they may or may not feel for each other? The secret is right at the forefront of Blake's mind. Blake figuring out what he's going to eat for dinner? The secret is right there with him. (I''m bad at keeping spoilers to myself.)

If it wasn't obvious before, let me make it perfectly clear. I had a great time reading this book! Out of 5 stars, I  give Hangman by Jack Heath 4 stars. It was a perfect read after the very sad books I have been reading recently. While it clearly covers a dark subject matter, it does so in a way where it never feels too dark or depressing. We are in Blake's head throughout the entire book and that helps the reader relate to what's happening in a way we might not if it was written from a different point of view. If you love mystery/thrillers or you enjoyed watching Dexter and/or Hannibal, I recommend picking up this book.

Hangman by Jack Heath comes out June 12, 2018.

Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin/Hanover Square Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thought I would dislike this book. In spite of my rants to let writers write about what they want, I’ve also excoriated the current trend of making book heroes so outlandish that their concept becomes totally unbelievable. Jack Heath, author of “Hangman,” said “up yours” and wrote about what he wanted with a protagonist as outlandish as any I’ve encountered. Guess what? I was okay with it.

Here we have a genius that has wormed his way inside the FBI to help solve impossible cases and who is a cannibal. And his boss knows it. Dumb and crazy, isn’t it? But, after tucking my misgivings aside, I read the book and enjoyed being somewhere I knew didn’t exist. I also fell in love with Reese Thistle, the comely black FBI agent with a gorgeous name, who came across as an old tapestry with an ancient, distressed quality; tired, but wonderful to look at. The story is nothing special but the background music is like an earworm with a comical lift.

So, who is Jack Heath? He’s an Australian writer of several best-selling children’s book and young adult novels and now has a book about a cannibal who eats people. He’s okay with that but it wasn’t easy. It took twelve years to write “Hangman.” He has a contract for a sequel so he’s going to have to step up his production because he also has to write six additional children’s books. If you can imagine being constantly engrossed with chasing criminals and finding human flesh to munch on while searching for fun ideas for the kiddies with no sex, drugs, or coarse language, then Jack Heath has a story for you.

Wow! I really liked this book! Timothy Blake is a consultant for the FBI but he is also something more dangerous and more disturbing. This book will not be for the squeamish or those with tender stomachs. That said, if you're looking for a book that grabs your attention, has a pretty good storyline and mystery and your looking for a twist that you didn't see coming, look no further this may be the one for you! Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC book and to the publisher, just for giving my honest opinion. Thank you to the author Jack Heath for such an interesting book, I will be reading more from this author!

If Dexter, Sherlock, and Hannibal Lecter had a baby, Blake would be it. This is a fast-paced, witty, and delightfully gory addition to the thriller genre. Will find many fans.

This debut thriller is dark, sick and twisted, and utterly enjoyable. Timothy Blake is an FBI consultant with a knack for solving impossible cases, but once the work is done he lives a separate life that few people know about. The first chapter draws you into Blake's world and sets a fast pace for the novel, a masterfully crafted thriller with a main character who is a perfect mix of Dexter and Hannibal Lecter. The plot is much more bizarre than you originally think, and I dare say it may not be for everyone.

Blake has an uncanny attention to detail. As the story unfolds he encounters a series of dead ends and can't make heads or tails of the different plot twists. Character development is key, casting suspicion on various characters throughout the novel. This keeps the suspense ratcheted up throughout, leading up to a truly shocking conclusion.

I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers and suspense. I received this as a free ARC from Harlequin - Hanover Square Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Timothy Blake didn’t have the best childhood. Orphaned as an infant. In and out of foster and group homes until he aged out. Lived on the streets. Survived by his wits. Has an online business where he solves puzzles and makes a little money at it, but not even enough for his rent. Now in his mid 30s, he consults with the Houston field office of the FBI mostly on kidnapping cases. Doesn’t get paid per se, but he does get a reward.

Blake has an almost supernatural ability to take seemingly minor clues and piece together the who, the what, and the why of a kidnapping. The local SAC knows Blake from way back and makes good use of Blake’s skill and then arranges the reward. Agent Reese Thistle, like most agents, is skeptical of Blake, but as she watches him at work, starts to gain some respect. And interest.

Cameron Hall has been kidnapped. Lives with his mom in a gated community. Money. Communication with the bad guy is strangely mechanical. Almost pre-recorded. When Blake finally finds the kid, he’s had a kidney removed. A few days later, Blake sees a ‘Have you seen this boy’ poster and the kid looks nearly identical to Hall. Is there a serial kidnapper in Houston?

Here’s the deal. Blake has a secret only he and the SAC know about. Almost all of Blake's actions are connected to keeping his secret. Has to do with his reward for finding the abducted kid alive. Imagine a character who is one part Dexter and one part Hannibal Lector. Yuck.

I have to say that when his particular affliction became apparent, I considered closing the book. But I stuck with it. Yes, there were some graphic passages that I skimmed, but the investigation into the multiple kidnappings was fascinating and worth staying focused on the developments of the case. As a procedural, this is first rate, but it is one creepy psychological study.

Publication date 12 Jan 2018.

ECD

Wow, what an amazing book! This is definitely not for anyone squeamish but is great for fans of creepy, dark, gritty, violent thrilling mysteries! The main character is an intelligent, intuitive puzzle solver who just happens to be a cannibal, that helps the FBI with cases in exchange for dead bodies. This book will take you through twists and turns you never saw coming and leave you reeling. It was really well written and developed at a fast pace that kept you on your toes. I enjoyed it immensely! Great debut!

Whoa…what did I just read? Before I start my blab, first things first. This is a well written & gripping crime/suspense story with a compelling MC. But…it’s not for the squeably. Seriously. Ok, we’re going in.

Timothy Blake is not your typical FBI consultant. He has little education, lives with a paranoid drug dealer & has about $5 to his name. Years ago he had a run-in with a cop named Peter Luzhin that left a lasting impression on both of them. Luzhin is now director of the FBI office in Houston & when a case can’t be cracked, he calls Blake. A successful resolution means Blake gets paid with the only kind of currency he wants.

It all begins with a missing teenage boy. There are plenty of red herrings & inconsistencies but eventually Blake is sure he’s got it sussed. Besides, he really needs to collect his fee. Unfortunately it’s not that simple & Blake is soon caught in a complex web designed by a devious & intelligent killer. Being partnered with a new handler is not helping. Special Agent Reese Thistle is not thrilled about her new assignment, either. She doesn’t understand why Luzhin has brought in this odd outsider who looks likes a homeless guy. But then she sees him work.

Blake is a master at solving puzzles. His sharp, analytical mind notices the tiny details everyone else has missed. Anything out of place, something missing & all the little facial tics & vocal tells that make up a lie. Initially you wonder how this brilliant guy ended up in such dire straits. But through flashbacks interspersed with the story we get the 411 on Blake’s childhood & begin to piece together how the little boy became this man.

The investigative aspect of the story is fast paced & layered, But what really kept me reading was Blake. And believe me, given his proclivities, that’s no small feat. He’s smart, complicated & dryly funny. His history & present circumstances are heartbreaking at times. Then reality would come crashing in & I’d be utterly repelled by his behaviour. No matter what you end up thinking about him, you have to be impressed by the author’s ability to make you feel such polarized emotions so keenly.

So there you have it. It won’t be for everyone & no doubt there will be lots of chatter about this one. My best advice if you’re thinking of cracking the cover is choose a brightly lit room, take your heart medication & maybe keep a wee beverage nearby. You’ll probably need it.

Superb thriller with a unique protagonist. Well recommended read!

Imagine Charlie Huston’s Joe Pitt vampire character crossed with Dexter Morgan then turned full on Hannibal Lecter and you might have an idea the tone of Hangman.

Timothy Blake, codename “Hangman,” is a multi-faceted anti-hero who is as endearing with his self-deprecating wit as he is disturbing with his craving for eating human flesh, indulged by the FBI as a sort of payment for services rendered. In this case, for his assistance in finding a missing boy. The abduction serves as a device through which Blake’s character is slowly revealed, while secondary characters, including the charming Agent Reese Thistle, are introduced.

Hangman is almost non-stop action-packed. From the missing kid to key clues to complicated dates with someone Blake may or may not want to eat, there is barely time for a reader to breathe. I admit my sleuth sense was off when it came to the real bad guy because the book moved so fast. I was so fascinated by Blake I just didn’t see the ending coming.

And his backstory… Oh boy… I don’t think I’ll get that image out of my head any time soon.

So why not five stars? Few books are flawless, though Hangman’s close. The beginning read as bumpy to me. I’d have rather started with the abduction than scenes from the death house, though I guess the information becomes relevant. I also think in a story about an abduction, there were a few too many people taken. Finally, Hangman is set in Texas, USA, involves the FBI, but is written by what I can only glean from his bio as is an Australian author. I thought I was reading British English for a bit, with spellings like “kerb” instead of “curb,” but what little I can dig up says it’s probably an Australian variety, more similar to British English than American. Is this a big issue? Not so much, but it is occasionally jarring and purely a matter of preference. I do read Australian and British authors, but this one caught me off guard. Overall, an excellent read with a captivating cast. A recommended read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jack Heath, and the publisher for providing an ARC of Hangman.

A guy that actually eats other people but works for the FBI to solve cases.

That is a stretch, if you can get past it though you will find a very detailed, often grisly story of a bad/good/psychotic/honest man who gets reminded that you can be evil yourself but you still must respect it. Good, weird read.

A stunning and shockingly gruesome suspense/thriller. Read on an empty stomach!

The first half was pretty good, but by the end the kidnapping plot was so convoluted that I wasn’t sure I knew what was happening and I realized I didn’t care.

I didn't care for this book at all. Good luck to the author as I'm sure others will.

*3.5 but rounding down*

Well this was a weird one that’s for sure!

“Hangman”’ is a mystery/thriller novel that follows a Sherlock type character, Blake, who is hired by the FBI to help solve some of their missing persons cases and in exchange he gets to feed his addiction that won’t spoil but its definitely not for the faint of heart!

What I thought was going to be your typical who done it quickly turned into something far bigger as the case developed and the list of potential suspects, their motives and the means to which Blake survived grew into something straight out of a nightmare. It was interesting to see how he saw everything as a puzzle to be solved, which paired nicely to the riddles that were featured as chapter headers, but to see how he managed to establish this twisted arrangement and how desperately he craved it was something completely unexpected.

The kidnapping and overall motive itself was a bit odd I guess to me it didn’t really make sense to go through all that trouble in order to reach the conclusion the guilty party was going for, it seems like someone with that kind of background would know of an easier and more manageable way to achieve their goals but I guess this was supposed to be more of a desperate times calls for desperate measures sort of thing? I’m not really sure.

Overall it’s not bad, the big sell is the main character and the rest is pretty average.

**thank you to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Timothy Blake is a civilian consultant for the FBI. He has a Sherlock Holmes-like ability to see the smallest clues and solve the most bizarre and difficult cases. In return for his services, the FBI let Blake have access to the worst criminals, the people sentenced to die for their crimes. What Blake does with those criminals, some more dead than others, is up to him. The Bureau looks the other way while Blake does his worst. And some of what he does is downright gruesome. Nothing is terribly graphic, but there’s enough to there to turn the stomach of the most jaded reader. I wanted to like this book more, I could have tolerated the violence if I could have felt some connection to Blake, but there just wasn’t enough information to form any kind of bond with the character