Official Review: Devil's Run by AR Simmons
Posted: 03 Oct 2020, 06:36
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Devil's Run" by AR Simmons.]
Remember how in some movies, a single unexpected event turns a backwater town to a magnet for world-class news agencies and investigators? Well, a midnight fire in Blue Creek jolts this sleepy Hawthorn County town to life. And while this fire does not attract the attention of BBC or CNN, it is the beginning of a thrilling investigation that will shake you to the core of your existence.
Richard Carter, a former marine, is jerked from his PTSD dreams by bomb-like explosions. He is not the only one. His fellow deputies, Ron Guidry and Cicely "Kit" Kittredge, and the Sheriff, Shug Shively, are also alert and rush toward the source. The sight of an old, overly insured, and hardly profitable warehouse on fire, in the middle of a summer night makes Carter think it a plot by the Hawthorn Reality, to cash in the insurance. However, when three of the four owners of Hawthorn Reality are found dead in the warehouse, with signs of enhanced interrogation, more questions than can be answered are raised.
Meanwhile, two frightened children are running for their lives in the nearby Mark Twain National Forest. Two bozos have the instructions to “solve the problem,” which they take to mean either recapture the kids or eliminate them. Who is after the children? Are the murder and missing children cases coincidental, or are they connected? The killer is far from finished, but what are they after? Is it a personal feud or a professional hit? And what is their deal with the fire?
Devil’s Run by AR Simmons is an exhilarating, mystery-filled crime thriller that deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars from me. The originality and overall execution of the book are what earned it the perfect score. Plus, the author narrates the story in an orderly manner. He includes the date, time, and place of occurrence of events that makes the narrative believable. Additionally, the sarcasm of some of the characters makes it captivating.
Moreover, the editorial team did a commendable job in ensuring that the novel was devoid of grammatical and typographical errors. In the entire four hundred and twenty-four page text, I only came across two typos, which could not even affect my reading in any way.
One thing I loved the most in the book is its mysteries. The author manages to control the narration, and only gives a hint or divulge information at the appropriate time. It made me empathise with the Sheriff’s station as it raced against time to stop the murders. Furthermore, the reason for the homicides, and why the killer punctuates their achievement with a fire, makes them a hero of sorts; a vengeful angel.
All in all, there was nothing to dislike about Devil’s Run. The novel was void of profane language and sexual scenes, which makes it suitable for persons of all ages. Also, it did not lean towards any religion, removing any bias on religious grounds. Besides, I found the cover page to be intriguing. The title and depiction of a raging flame on the cover page gives the impression of something dark and sinister. And the book does not disappoint.
That said, I recommend Devil’s Run to lovers of investigative thrillers. If you are after the thrill of chasing after a serial killer from the comfort of your house, search no further. Devil’s Run by AR Simmons will give you just that.
******
Devil's Run
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Remember how in some movies, a single unexpected event turns a backwater town to a magnet for world-class news agencies and investigators? Well, a midnight fire in Blue Creek jolts this sleepy Hawthorn County town to life. And while this fire does not attract the attention of BBC or CNN, it is the beginning of a thrilling investigation that will shake you to the core of your existence.
Richard Carter, a former marine, is jerked from his PTSD dreams by bomb-like explosions. He is not the only one. His fellow deputies, Ron Guidry and Cicely "Kit" Kittredge, and the Sheriff, Shug Shively, are also alert and rush toward the source. The sight of an old, overly insured, and hardly profitable warehouse on fire, in the middle of a summer night makes Carter think it a plot by the Hawthorn Reality, to cash in the insurance. However, when three of the four owners of Hawthorn Reality are found dead in the warehouse, with signs of enhanced interrogation, more questions than can be answered are raised.
Meanwhile, two frightened children are running for their lives in the nearby Mark Twain National Forest. Two bozos have the instructions to “solve the problem,” which they take to mean either recapture the kids or eliminate them. Who is after the children? Are the murder and missing children cases coincidental, or are they connected? The killer is far from finished, but what are they after? Is it a personal feud or a professional hit? And what is their deal with the fire?
Devil’s Run by AR Simmons is an exhilarating, mystery-filled crime thriller that deserves a rating of 4 out of 4 stars from me. The originality and overall execution of the book are what earned it the perfect score. Plus, the author narrates the story in an orderly manner. He includes the date, time, and place of occurrence of events that makes the narrative believable. Additionally, the sarcasm of some of the characters makes it captivating.
Moreover, the editorial team did a commendable job in ensuring that the novel was devoid of grammatical and typographical errors. In the entire four hundred and twenty-four page text, I only came across two typos, which could not even affect my reading in any way.
One thing I loved the most in the book is its mysteries. The author manages to control the narration, and only gives a hint or divulge information at the appropriate time. It made me empathise with the Sheriff’s station as it raced against time to stop the murders. Furthermore, the reason for the homicides, and why the killer punctuates their achievement with a fire, makes them a hero of sorts; a vengeful angel.
All in all, there was nothing to dislike about Devil’s Run. The novel was void of profane language and sexual scenes, which makes it suitable for persons of all ages. Also, it did not lean towards any religion, removing any bias on religious grounds. Besides, I found the cover page to be intriguing. The title and depiction of a raging flame on the cover page gives the impression of something dark and sinister. And the book does not disappoint.
That said, I recommend Devil’s Run to lovers of investigative thrillers. If you are after the thrill of chasing after a serial killer from the comfort of your house, search no further. Devil’s Run by AR Simmons will give you just that.
******
Devil's Run
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon