Timothy Blake tells himself it is Just One Bite and rips a chunk out of the relatively recent murder victim he found in the woods. Timothy is there to pick up a crime boss’ latest victim. But how can he fit two large bodies in his ancient Corolla’s trunk. The problems that cannibals have in modern society...

He makes it home and throws the body in his chest freezer before his boss’ hengemen come to get him. Timothy manages to explain his reason for leaving before picking up the body. A hengeman drives him home where he has to shove another body in his freezer. He barely finishes before his former co-worker, FBI agent Reese Thistle, insists he help her with a missing person case. After seeing the victim’s photo, he knows where he is—in his freezer with a large bite mark on his arm.

If Hannibal Lector and Dexter spawned an offspring, it would be Timothy Blake. He’s a cannibal with a conscious. He tries to only eat the guilty. Unfortunately for him (but fortunately for the reader), he gets into absurd hilarious Serge Storm-level situations while doing it.

Despite the crazy premise, Just One Bite has believable characters that you want to succeed. This is the second in the series but can be read as a standalone. It does have many triggers like, uh, cannibalism, violence, and illusions to sexual assault. However, if you’re okay with that, I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a sense of humor and likes thrillers. 5 stars!

Thanks to Hanover Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Favorite Quotes:

The rent is surprisingly high for such a crummy place. Ideally I’d split it with someone, but I ate my last roommate. It’s safest for everyone if I live alone.

I’m too exhausted even to dream. A small mercy— my subconscious would have made Freud vomit.

The government was paying her to feed and clothe us, and she was making quite a lot of money, because she never bought any food or clothing.

Most people know that pigs feel stress and that cows grieve when their calves are taken away. They might feel guilty, but they still eat bacon and drink milk. So what use is the guilt?

It’s a dangerous meal, since I still don’t know how he died… Eating people is dangerous, anyway, because of bloodborne viruses. Doesn’t mean I can make myself stop. Don’t judge me. Heart disease is the number-one killer in the USA, but you still eat donuts. Your diet is killing you, too.

I drive just above the speed limit. Anything less is considered suspicious in Texas.

The field office director comes on the radio. “We’re pursuing several leads,” she says. “We urge anyone with information to come forward.” That’s code for: We’re shitting ourselves. The news anchor is back. “The victims’ names have yet to be released,” she says, barely managing to keep the glee from her voice, “but the details of the case have been described as ‘disturbing.’”


My Review:

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I delved into this stunningly crafted page-turner. Despite the disturbing issues, I was enthralled, mesmerized, and riveted to my kindle. I was on edge and biting my cuticles and more than a bit distressed about being so deeply invested in such a gruesome tale – what was wrong with me? But much similar to how the character in the book described his compulsion/hunger, I just couldn’t help myself. The writing was simply stellar while brilliantly paced, intriguing and unpredictable, action-packed, and unexpectedly laced with wry levity. It was also diabolically addictive; I couldn’t have stopped reading unless my kindle had been forcibly removed from my possession. Jack Heath is most certainly an evil genius; I would advise his family to keep him happy as well as to either sleep in shifts or with one eye open.

Just One Bite is the sequel to Hangman. Our favorite cannibal that we hate to love its back for a new adventure. The book picks up pretty much right after the events of the first book. This time around, Tim is working for a local crime lord in body disposal. While he is waiting for his latest body, he find another one. Turns out that person mifht have been murdered by a serial killer. One that the FBI calls Timothy back in to find.

I really liked this installment. The mystery was good and kept me guessing with some nice twists. I was on the edge of my seat most of the book, especially at the end. I loved the riddles that were included at the beginning of each of the chapters. What I loved the most about the book was Timothy. Yes, he eats people, but he is just so likable. He's incredibly smart and has a sense of humor. He also just wants to find love and acceptance. I hope that this is going to be a continuing series. I would love to read more about him in the future.

Timothy Blake is back and if you've read Hangman, you know his tastes run toward the macabre. In fact, this follow up is even more grisly than its predecessor. This one has quite the case for Blake to solve, and things seem to get dangerously close to convoluted for a while. In addition to that, Blake's quick wit and sharp intellect aren't on par with what I found in the first book, which was sorely missed this time around. That said, Heath does bring things together for a crazy, can't catch your breath conclusion that has me hoping Just One Bite is more than a sequel. That aside, we get more of Blake on a personal level as things heat up with Thistle and for me, that's where some of the real fun began. It's not easy to humanize a monster, particularly one like Timothy Blake, but Jack Heath not only managed it, he did it so well that I even found myself feeling sorry for Timothy. Not enough to ever want to be in his vicinity, but sorry for him nonetheless. Having read both Timothy Blake books, I would say that Just One Bite can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading Hangman first to get the full picture of this wonderfully twisted character.

I actually enjoyed this second mystery featuring the cannibal, Timothy Blake, more than book one, Hangman. Reading them back to back, perhaps I got used to the concept of our hero of sorts being a cannibal!

'Some would say a cannibal working for the FBI is far-fetched,' thinks Timothy. Yes, indeed! But once you put these concerns aside, it's a pretty entertaining read.

Blake nows works for the crime lord, Charlie Warner, doing body disposal. (Don't ask.) But he is called back to the Houston office of the FBI to help with the case of a missing professor...whose body he just happens to have in his freezer. Oh boy! Can he work for them while trying to misdirect their investigation? And if Charlie finds out he's working for the FBI again, he's a dead man.

But uppermost on his mind is the problem of trying to mend fences with Agent Reese Thistle, his love interest. Can he ever have a normal sexual relationship with her without wanting to take a bite, just one bite?

This story has an intriguing plot, action, humor, and romance. Who could ask for more?

I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. many thanks for the opportunity.

Deliciously dark and twisty! Timothy Blake may be the best antihero to come along since Joe in Caroline Kepnes's [book:You|22073005]. <b>Just One Bite</b> may be the second in a series but it reads perfectly well as a standalone. This was my first Jack Heath novel but I am thankful to Lia Ferrone from Hanover Square Press for sending this one my way. I cannot wait to read the next Timothy Blake book.

This book is both disturbing and fascinating. We are back following Timothy Blake on another case. We find out what happens after the last book. When a guy goes missing and Timothy stumbles upon him, it starts down a road Timothy doesn't want to go. We get to see Reece again. This book has two different bad guys and both need to be found soon. The ending of the book makes me wonder what is going to happen next for Timothy.



*I received a free copy of this book via the NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.*

Completely unexpected, but oddly satisfying, I enjoyed Just One Bite! I went into this with no expectations, and oh lawdy was I in for a surprise when I realized what Blake's hidden secret was. It is definitely cringe-worthy, and I did think for a minute that I might have to put the book down. However, I kept going, and what do you know, after a while, I found myself becoming endeared to Blake. He leads a double life of sorts, working for the FBI as a consultant and also working for a crime lord by night assisting with body disposals. Obviously, the two worlds are not meant to collide, and Blake has a conscience, so he struggles with this dual life he has found himself in.

This is the second book in a series, and I was not aware of this going in. I do feel I might have been better knowing this going in, perhaps benefitting a bit from having read the first book, but also I was able to keep up, I just think there might have been some background details I missed out on.

This was a delightful book as far as serial killer mysteries go, it starts off 'light', if you will, and gets deeper as more bodies start showing up. Blake is genuinely trying to help solve this case, all the while trying to keep his inadvertent involvement at arm's length, and the ways he tries to do so had me chuckling at times. I recommend this book, but do need to caveat / note trigger warnings for sexual abuse, murder, suicide, and other weird things with dead bodies.

Thank you to Hanover Square Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy to review. All opinions above are my own. This review is part of the blog tour for this book.

I should have had a clue. I didn't read the first book in the series, but this one sounded halfway decent, I thought it would be like Dexter. Unfortunately, I didn't read enough about the book to realize that the "Just one Bite" referred to the fact that the main character is a cannibal.
I just couldn't do it. I can deal with zombies eating brains of deceased people (iZombie) but this one...just not my thing. If you like this type of thriller, this might totally appeal (and based on the positive reviews, many people do)It just wasn't for me.

I love a good thriller and this one has such a unique take, I was hooked from the first chapter. Timothy Blake, former FBI civilian consultant and current body disposal expert for a local crime lord, has a disturbing secret. He’s a cannibal. I’m guessing you can figure out he disposes of his boss’s unfortunate victims. While waiting for a “pickup”, Timothy stumbles upon a body in the woods. It’s not the body he’s waiting for but he takes it home and stores it in his freezer. With his childhood friend, FBI agent Reese Thistle, Timothy must track down a serial killer wrecking havoc in Houston, keep his secrets from being revealed and make sure his boss doesn’t kill him. Full of dark, “biting” humor, JUST ONE BITE is a unique and fast paced read. Full of suspense and plenty of plots twits and unusual locales this is the perfect mystery for those looking for something a little different with a darker edge. I’m already looking forward to Mr. Heath’s next installment in the series. My heartfelt thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of the book and letting me participate in the blog tour for the book’s release. My opinions are my own.

Wow! What a dark, twisted tale! Loved this book and the crazy main character, Timothy Blake. Poor Blake has a major eating disorder, to put it mildly, and I wasn’t sure I could keep reading this because of his “habit.” By the end of the story, however, I loved this insane guy! I started to read this without realizing it was the second book in the series. After I was done with it, I immediately had to read the first one, titled Hangman. Although Just One Bite can be read as a stand alone, Hangman definitely filled in a lot of background info about Blake. It helped explain why he is the way he is. Needless to say, I can’t wait for the next one, which is nicely set up at the end of the story. This book is definitely not for everyone as it can be quite gruesome at times. If you were a fan of Dexter, then you would probably like this, too. It’s kind of like Dexter on steroids! Well written with a touch of humor. Anxiously awaiting the next adventure of Timothy, Mr. Heath! Any chance of having the answers to the riddles included?

Where to begin? Timothy Blake is perhaps the most unlikely hero of a crime novel series in recent memory. For one thing, he's really smart. For another, he's a cannibal. Yep. But he's also a cannibal who helps the FBI, although in this second book in the series, he's in less formal relationship with them and in a more important one as a body disposer for a bad guy. At least until he realizes that he's the only one who realizes there's a serial killer out there. I loved his back and forth with FBI SA Reese Thistle (what a name!). I did not read the first book which I regret because this was such a treat - and think you, like me, would be fine with it as a standalone. The plot gets a little crazy at time but it all pulls together in the end. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Be prepared for some gruesome details.

This book shocked me at the beginning! Really shocked me but I'm a sucker for serial killers! More importantly, I'm a sucker for people who are imperfect and this book is full of them. I loved this book. It made me laugh at jokes I wouldn't have thought I'd find funny and I'd recommend it to anyone!

Book Review: Just One Bite by Jack Heath

I really enjoyed this book.  Honestly, the pacing is so fast & I was engaged the whole time. Surprisingly, I am very familiar with the setting of Just One Bite. Many years ago, I briefly lived in Southeast Texas and part of Southwest Louisiana. When Jack Heath describes the setting, I feel as if I'm back in time in Lousiana.

Even though Just One Bite is part of the Timothy Blake series, I didn't read the first book, Hangman. Despite this, I am able to get into the story without feeling lost. Not to give too much away, but Jack Heath leaves readers with plenty more to tell. When the book ends, I'm already ready for the story to continue.

At times, this story is pretty intense. While the story is about a serial killer, the setting and descriptors are not grotesque. So even if you're squeamish, you'll likely do just fine with Just One Bite. The story is thrilling, binge-worthy & honestly, I think it's a lot of fun.

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into This book! If you enjoy mystery thrillers with a twist and turns, Just One Bite is a great book.  I highly recommend picking up Just One Bite up for a fun read.

Special thanks to Jack Heath, Hanover Square Press & NetGalley for providing our free copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Derek contributed this review to Really Into This

Just One More Bite is the follow up to Hangman. This crime thriller follows Timothy Blake who is at a crossroads of working as a consultant for the FBI and also taking on a job as body disposal for local crime lord. Will he able to keep his two worlds separate or will they come crashing down together? Wow...Jack Heath does it again! The plot in this book was insane and I liked it as much as I liked Hangman. I loved the author’s fast-paced, dark, and funny at times writing style. I liked how in this book we see how Timothy Blake’s character changes a bit and that we are introduced to new characters as well. I didn’t see any of the twists coming and loved how complex the crime they were solving was. However, I still couldn’t stomach in some of gory scenes which I wouldn’t be able to handle in any book. If you love crime thrillers, this series is definitely for you.

Disclaimer: I received a free advanced digital copy of this book from Hanover Square Press in exchange for my honest opinion. This has no effect on my opinion, review or rating.

Just One Bite is the sequel to Jack Heath's Hangman where Timothy Blake is an FBI consultant who helps solves crimes in exchange for a fresh body from death row to fulfill his human flesh cravings. This sequel finds Blake working for a local crime boss in body disposal when the FBI gives him another call that'll tangle Blake up in another murder investigation. Will Blake be able to help Thistle without her figuring out his secret? Filled with the dark humor found in the first novel and once again there are puzzle sprinkled throughout. Highly recommended to readers who enjoyed the first in the series or to those looking for an original series for fans of Dexter.

This is a seriously twisted read in the best way possible! Honestly, I'm floored by what I just read this book took some wicked turns I couldn't have anticipated. I actually hadn't read the first book in the series but I definitely will go back and read it now. Just One Bite is an insanely fun read, perfect for fans of the Dexter series (book or television show). If you love pitch-black humor and dark, creepy storylines, then you won't be disappointed by this detective story.

sᎥᏟᏦ. ᏆᎳᎥsᏆᎬᎠ. ᎠᎬᏞᎥᏟᎥᎾus.

What the actual.... Jack Heath! This book? What! I seriously have not wrapped my head around what I just finished reading? This book was so sick, so twisted, so unique! This is the second book in the Timothy Blake series and I think I might have missed out on a little by not reading the previous book, but it stood well on its own. Timothy Blake was in the FBI in the previous book and is now working as a body disposer for a well-known gangster. When he happens across a body he was not meant to dispose he cannot help but take a bite. Yes that’s what I said... a bite, but it was just one! So what is a cannibal supposed to do with a body with evidence of his less than savory habbit? Stick it in the freezer... of course. Soon after Timothy discovers this body more and more bodies start stacking up and it looks as though Houston has a serial killer on its hands. And of course Timothy find himself in the middle of the investigation. This book was filled with unique characters, dark humor, and a fair amount of Gore. This is definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you have a stomach for gore and a twisted sense of humor this is a entertaining read, for sure!

I don’t even really know what else to say, I am a bit speechless. I’m not even sure what to think of myself because I liked this book so much? Timothy was simultaneously disturbing and likable. I could only imagine how his love interest Reese would feel when she found out she was dating a cannibal? Can you imagine knowing where those lips had been? Yuck! There are also some puzzles sprinkled into this book, puzzles that were really hard for me to solve? I was stumped! I was also stumped by who and what was going on in the city of Houston. I can’t wait for the next installment in this crazy series, but I’m assuming Timothy Blake will have change locations, just a hunch! Time to MoveOn!

Haven’t paired a book with a song in quite some time, but this one just was begging to be Heard!

😋I eat cannibal
Feed on animal
Your love is so edible to me
I eat cannibals
I eat cannibal
It's incredible
You bring out the animal in me
I eat cannibals
What can you do
You're in a stew
Hot pot cook it up
I'm never gonna stop
Fancy a bite
My appetite
Yum yum gee it's fun
Banging on a different drum
And I eat cannibal
Feed on animal
Your love is so edible to me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyiYC4Vy23o

*** Big thanks to harlequin for my invitation to the tour and copy of the book ***

Timothy Blake is a former FBI consultant who now is in the body disposal business - ironic given his other life/persona! He is lovable despite his BIG TIME flaws (gulp!!!). Agent Thistle needs his help again to find a missing person - who just happens to be in his freezer. Can he assist Agent Thistle without giving himself away?
This is the 2nd book in the Timothy Blake series - the first being Hangman. I had not read the first, but definitely will go back and read it! I really enjoyed the uniqueness of the story and enjoyed Blake's humor. This won't be the last Jack Heath book I'll read!
Thanks to Jack Heath, Hanover and NetGalley for the ARC of this great book!

I enjoyed the more unique premise of this book. I found the characters to be interesting and the storyline easy to follow. It did not truly pull me in and make me want to sit down to read all day like some tales do, but it was definitely worth the time. Thanks for the opportunity to read this!