Review of Deathly Gifted

[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Deathly Gifted" by Terry R. King.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Deathly Gifted by Terry R. King is a horror crime thriller about a serial killer who is on a rampage, killing people in a brutal manner that has never been seen before. The police, on the other hand, are under great pressure from the media and their chief to close the case as soon as possible, and they end up making a mess of this whole thing. Then someone with some fantastic abilities comes onto the scene to lend a helping hand. The author is described as a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and loves to write, especially since he harbours a deep fascination with serial killers. This book was certainly thrilling with its gory details.

Robert Anderson has a paranormal gift. He can see the murder as it happened when he is present at the crime scene. He sees it vividly, including the smell, the weather, and the feel of where the murder has taken place. It took a lot from him to be able to control it. At first, he wasn’t sure about it. The only person he knew who had this kind of gift was his grandmother. She was the one who helped him come to terms with it and how he could use it to his advantage. Robert is adamant about using his gift for the better, not for the worse, of society.

That’s why he works with a private investigator who is working on this strange case. There seems to be a serial killer going around, targeting unsuspecting individuals. The police believe they have closed the case, but the family of one of the victims of the serial killer doesn’t believe so; hence, they work with Robert. Robert takes the case, and what he learns moves him to the core. He has never seen such a vicious killer before. He’s calculative in his method, and he is definitely not stopping any time soon.

I enjoyed reading this book, even though it disturbed me. The explicit murder scenes caught me off guard, and I think it would have helped if the book came with a trigger warning to at least forewarn me to come prepared. The book is one of those detective novels, but with a spin, since the leading character is not qualified that well for the job. This makes him faulty as a character, so the reader can never be certain of his ability to escape danger so easily. This made him a human. He wasn’t invincible, as most lead characters are in these kinds of novels.

The characters were minimal. The lead character had one character supporting him throughout the chase. Then the others that appeared most were the family members of the victims. The author developed the characters so well and to their full potential. This is what the author did in style because, at first, when we met Robert, he was coming to the murder scene, where the visions were to help him see what happened. Then the next chapter was kind of like a flashback because it took us back to how Robert came to be. This was new and unpredictable in character development.

The writing was flowing. The sentences were short, mixed with a few long, complex ones to make the reading experience amazing. The pace of the book was rather quick. In the very first chapter, we meet the lead character about to step into the crime scene. Then, in the middle, it slowed down just a little bit to give off vital information about the characters and the problems they had. Then, going to the end, the pace picked up greatly. The switch in pace kept me alert.

The action sequence was not that impressive, although the author described it fully. I can say the descriptions were revealing, but I felt like they could have done more. But when it came to murder scenes, the descriptions worked really well. They were so fully described that I could see it in my mind’s eye as the murders happened. They disturbed me so much that I had to take a little break from them. The details were gory and explicit. They didn’t leave much to the imagination.

I detected a few errors in the text, although they were not that many. I can say the book was professionally edited. With all I have said, I rate this book four out of five stars. I knocked out one star because it had flaws. I would only recommend this book to adults, as the language used here is too strong for a younger audience. Adults who love crime thrillers with a touch of horror would find this enjoyable. The suspense and mystery really made the novel enjoyable because I wasn’t sure they were going to catch the killer.

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Deathly Gifted
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[Enkay Favour]

Deathly Gifted by Terry R. King delivers a chilling twist on the crime thriller genre with its blend of paranormal elements and brutal murder scenes. The unique perspective of a protagonist who relives murders in vivid detail adds depth to the suspense, while the quick-paced narrative keeps readers on edge. Despite its disturbing content and occasional editing flaws, the novel’s gripping storyline and intricate character development make it a compelling read for fans of intense, mature thrillers.

[Yasmine ZM]

Deathly Gifted has an interesting storyline. It seems to be well-written, well sequenced and a fascinating thriller. Robert Anderson has a paranormal gift which he decided to use for the good of the society. However, I can't help thinking that all that he sees with his gift (which I think is rather a curse) might have a huge impact on his mental health. Imagine reliving gruesome scenes of brutal killings; how does he sleep? How does he shake those images off?

[Emmanuel Chima 3]

"Deathly Gifted by Terry R. King is a gripping horror crime thriller featuring a unique protagonist with paranormal abilities. The vivid, gory murder scenes and the quick-paced narrative keep readers on edge, though the explicit content and some minor errors might not appeal to everyone. Recommended for adults who enjoy a dark twist on detective fiction.

[Nuella Joseph]

"Deathly Gifted" sounds like a gripping and intense read, especially with its unique twist on the crime thriller genre. The concept of a protagonist with paranormal abilities adds an interesting layer to the story. However, the explicit nature of the murder scenes might not be for everyone, and it's good to know the book's pacing and character development are highlights. It sounds like a solid pick for fans of horror and crime thrillers, though I'll keep the trigger warning in mind.