Review of eBook

A serial killer dubbed the Pastoral Predator brings FBI Chief Investigator Frank Palmer to Rhode Island. He’d been involved in the capture of Ted Bundy and many other killers, leaving him scarred, but this investigation forces him to face his inner demons.

Mentally challenged Maurice Lumen, who’s arrived in Rhode Island to work as an assistant groundskeeper at Bryant College, has left a difficult childhood behind and, at almost twenty-five years old, he’s frustrated by the Predator’s propensity to overshadow the Red Sox games as they head toward the World Series.

With a dozen young women known dead, the suspect list grows shorter; Mo wonders if he’s somehow involved. But it’s the secrets of the past that will lead to the one who is the monster.

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This psychological drama slowly unfolds, giving readers the opportunity to interact with the two central characters. Both are well-drawn and nuanced; Mo’s child-like demeanor elicits sympathy while Frank’s propensity to drink and pop pills makes the character far less sympathetic.

As the story evolves, Frank’s issues reveal the extent to which his long involvement with killers has marked him. And Mo’s backstory continues to elicit sympathy. The strong sense of place keeps the story anchored and often seems to take on the aspect of another character.

There are, however, a couple of disconnects. A college employee rooms with students? Students so cavalierly abusing the mentally challenged young man? Even in the New England of the 1970s this seems a bit over the top.

The plot twists and turns its way to a denouement that may surprise readers.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Books Fluent, Historical Fiction/Mystery & Thrillers and NetGalley
#ADisturbingNature #NetGalley

Thanks Netgalley, Brian Lebaeu and book fluent for giving me this arc in exchange for a honest review.
This story follows 2 people Detective Palmer and Mo who will later cross path during investigations.
Detective Palmer a man with an unhealthy attachment to his job and drugs has a case which is to find a mass murderer (aka as a serial killer now).
Mo a 24 year mentally disabled orphan who recently became a groundskeeper in Braynt College.
The story was good but i think Mo deserved a better ending than the one he was given after going through all the harsh treatments his roommates put him though.
Rating : 3.75 ⭐

A tense and thrilling psychological murder, mystery, this book is especially notable for superb character development. Mo Lomen is towering young man who has been developmentally disabled by a childhood seizure, Frank Palmer is a brilliant FBI senior agent haunted by the pursuit of serial killers. Their intersection in the search for the murderer of a number of young women in Rhode Island forms the backdrop for a rich cast of supporting characters. The tension and suspense remain until the very end of the story.

This was very wordy and way to descriptive about non issues. Maybe it was the arc, I am not sure but, it was very hard to read through.

Palmer a veteran investigator drinks and pops Valium, while people around him are clueless. He has been told by everyone to let the other case go, but he shows no respect and continues to ignore orders. He had been away for six months. I guess as a one man show, he failed to get the goods.

The Mo part was already sad. It was hard to read when he kept going back into his thoughts and babbling endlessly. Spending a lot of time in the White Mountains, I looked forward to that part of the story. The only thing the author mentions is Santa's Village and Clark's currently. Then the character Palmer goes into his thoughts again recalls a long story of his father taking him there and a glimpse of what his father was doing. Was he in the car waiting while his father had an affair or visited a sex worker? bizarre and still not worth the time.

Another issue is how does a groundskeeper room with students ? Such a mismatch that made no sense. I don't really care what year it is, I don't think this would have been at all likely. Cheaper rent? no clue. The Mo character is "slo Mo" and having roomies abuse him was another downfall. Take his paycheck during a card game? That is really low even for drunk college guys.

Needs edits. I hope the finished book avoids all of these flashbacks and reminiscing. Part of the plot can be mapping out the killer through characters thoughts, but it is a miss.