Review of The Embalmer

[Andrada Madalina]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Embalmer" by Brae Wyckoff.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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The Embalmer by Brae Wyckoff is a crime book about inner demons and vengeance. It emphasizes the spiritual journey of a man who seeks justice for the murder of his daughter. Also, the novel presents themes such as friendship, love, death, and hope.

Briefly, this novel focuses on Freddy Foley, an embalmer at a morgue in San Diego, California, and his desire for revenge on the criminal who killed his child. Evelyn, his five-year-old daughter, was the eleventh victim of the Angel Killer, a serial killer in his forties. Affected by her death and the divorce from his wife, Jenny, Freddy tries to cope with his guilt and starts to question his faith in God.

I loved the mixture of mystery and horror, even if the brutality of the killings horrified me. I liked the impeccable character development, especially Freddy's mindset. For instance, I admired his immense respect for his job and the decedents he embalmed, and I empathized with his rage after the death of his daughter. Also, I loved George's altruism and his sincere friendship with Freddy.

Another positive aspect of this novel was its philosophical stance on death and forgiveness. I loved how the author illustrated in parallel the actions of Freddy and the serial killer and the modus operandi of each of them, and I felt like I was watching the sequences of a psychological horror movie whose action takes place in an embalming room. Also, I appreciated that Brae Wyckoff highlighted the criminal's psychology, background, and motives that made him become pure evil. For example, the serial killer's trademark message disgusted me, but I understood his mental issues from childhood.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars because there is no aspect I dislike about it. I liked how Brae Wyckoff outlined the contrast between the respect for the decedents of an embalmer and the gruesome behavior of a serial killer. I was shocked by the plot twists and graphic violence. Freddy's monologues about death and his daughter saddened me, and I empathized with his pain and need to seek justice. Also, The Embalmer was professionally edited. I only discovered a minor punctuation error that did not affect my reading experience.

I recommend this book to fans of crime novels sprinkled with drama and mystery, especially those who enjoy philosophical discussions about ultimate truths and life after death. It is perfect for those eager to read a psychological story about faith and transformation but not for those who despise reading about horrifying acts of violence and murder rampages. Also, The Embalmer is suitable for a mature audience due to its non-borderline profanity and very light erotic content.

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The Embalmer
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[CrossK]

Wow, this novel is spectacular. I love how horrific the novel is talking about the character Freddy foley and how he wants to avenge his daughter's death.fascinating.

[NetMassimo]

A crime thriller that offers philosophical ideas connected to death and forgiveness and a psychological dig into the protagonists' minds is intriguing. Thank you for your great review!