Day: February 22, 2023

Book review: ‘Harvesting Evil’ by CJ Wheeler

A serial killer is on the loose in CJ Wheeler’s crime thriller ‘Harvesting Evil.’ Courtesy photo, used with permission.

CJ Wheeler is a new author of crime thrillers for adults, starting with her first release “Harvesting Evil.” She was born in West Michigan and has lived most of her life along the Lake Michigan shoreline. She lives with her wife, her gorgeous English Crème retriever Hemingway, and her three naughty kitties, Indianajoan, Rizzoli, and Taylor. When not writing you will probably find her reading. She is an avid fan of JD Robb, Tess Gerritsen, Alex Kava, and Val McDermid. In her debut novel “Harvesting Evil,” the idyllic shores of Lake Michigan, in the quiet resort town of Port Orion, Michigan, have become prime hunting ground for a serial killer. (CJ Wheeler, 2023)

“Harvesting Evil: Murder on the Lakeshore” – One by one, young, beautiful women’s corpses continue to surface, while the timeline between each victim is shrinking. The story begins with a Prologue set in 1990 as a seven year old boy is about to have the worst birthday ever. Next, in the present, Sheriff Parker Anderson gets a phone call in the middle of the night about another young woman found dead. She must now pull her inexperienced team together to find the madman terrorizing her community. With the Port Orion Sheriff’s department’s resources stretched to the limit and with pressure mounting, Parker reaches out to the FBI for assistance. Enter Special Agent Oliver Locke, who has seen more than his fair share of serial homicide cases, though even he has not encountered a psychopath with this level of violence. Working a serial case against a cunning criminal mind who leaves no evidence will test his expertise and determination. As the window of opportunity to prevent another victim closes, Sheriff Anderson and Agent Locke will need to set aside their personal differences to catch this maniac.

Since the days of Jack the Ripper, stories about serial killers have fascinated readers. While the motivations behind this killer’s rampage may not be an original concept, “Harvesting Evil” is a strong debut crime novel by CJ Wheeler. Narrated in the third person point of view, it switches back and forth between the police and the serial killer, giving the reader a glimpse into the killer’s unstable and cold psyche and the police’s investigation, which includes giving a profile of the ‘unsub.’ The author’s detailed description of morgues and autopsies is impressive but it might put off more sensitive readers. Due to extensive character development and descriptions: “Mike’s 6’ 2” lanky frame rose from the chair, black straight hair hanging over one of his deep blue eyes,” they come alive within the pages and become relatable. The language is down to earth and easy to understand, in spite of the medical jargon, so it is technically an easy read. With its superb attention to detail, applications of criminal psychology, and just enough romance to make it well rounded, “Harvesting Evil” makes for a fascinating and suspenseful crime thriller. It should appeal to fans of Kathy Reichs and James Patterson as well as crime shows like Criminal Minds and CSI. Hopefully this will become a series with more crime solving adventures by Sheriff Parker Anderson, a strong female lead, and Special Agent Oliver Locke.

“He hoped the Sheriff would be pleased with the gift he had left her. It had taken cunning and exquisite timing to set it up exactly as he wanted. He knew this would show her he could do what he wanted, whenever he wanted. At the very least, he would impress her. At most he hoped it would frighten her to her core.”

* The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sponsored Post

Book highlight: ‘No More Relation$#!t’ by Jonathan Carnley

‘No More Relation$#!t’ is a dating and relationship guide by Jonathan Carnley. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Jonathan Carnley is an author whose difficult childhood included bullying at school and an abusive home life. Even though he survived and thrived, some of his adult relationships were not any better. Admittedly, he has made his share of mistakes and has done his best to make amends and one of his goals is never repeating those mistakes. He has been where many of us have been and can fully relate. In his book “No More Relation$#!t: A Woman’s Guide to Avoiding the Pieces of $#!t While Dating” he shares insight into the male psyche to help women navigate the challenging world of dating. (Jonathan Carnley, 2023)

“No More Relation$#!t” – This is a guide that helps women avoid men who are not worth their time or do not have their best interest in mind. It goes into detail about the various types of men, their motives, and all the signs to look for. It is not about what mistakes you make, have made, or will make. It is about what things to look for or recognize. It is a serious look at the dating world for women with a little comedy thrown in to keep you entertained and laughing at times. Here are a couple of quotes to pique your interest.

“Remember, red flags are for traveling carnivals, and if you ignore them, you will be trapped into paying for something that was supposed to be ‘free,’ be stuck watching a crappy show, wind up with a clown who is performing for others, be left with kids you didn’t bring, and be left behind when they leave town.”

“While many things look like a green flag, I will be honest and tell you right now that there is no such thing. Well…I mean if an angel came down from heaven and gives you a note directly from God you might consider that a green flag….Or…It could be an alien that is trying to get you to mate with their species to take over the world. I’m just saying that you have a better chance of being struck by lightning while riding a unicorn on the way to cash in your winning lottery ticket.”

Sponsored Post