3 out of 4 stars
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It's summer in Albany, New York, and a woman sits on a park bench with her perfect hair blowing in the wind. Her startling blue eyes gaze at you as you jog by. The woman is smiling, and her friendly demeanor is enough to make you stop running and greet her. She doesn't acknowledge your greeting. She doesn't blink at all. She doesn't even breathe.
Steve Jobz (not to be confused with the late Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple) is an ex-cop who now works at the Unemployment Insurance Fraud Investigations Agency in Albany, New York. When Detective Miller from the Albany Police Department asks him for help with the Mortician Murders investigation, Jobz is more than happy to get away from his lackluster career. A misguided soul has so far committed three murders by injecting victims with embalming fluid while they were still alive. With no leads on the identity of the culprit, Miller and Jobz must work tirelessly to find someone who fits the established profile before another embalmed and lifelike corpse is put on display in Albany.
The Embalmer by Vincent Zandri is an example of a thriller done right! The story is captivating from the first page to the last sentence. Two strengths deserve a standing ovation. The first is that every few chapters readers are treated with a first-person perspective from the mortician murderer. The author gives us a glimpse into the murderer's bizarre home life and takes us along as the next victim of the embalmer is pursued. This glimpse into the mind of the murderer, albeit a little disturbing, is actually a real treat and an excellent way to break up the investigation. The second strength is that this story only takes place over a period of a couple of days, so there is a real sense of urgency that revs up the suspense. Another strength worth noting is the uniqueness of the story itself. Thrillers are a dime a dozen, but the fact that the protagonist, Steve Jobz, isn't a detective or even a private investigator as well as the unexpected method of the crimes adds a distinctive quality to a crowded genre.
I'll set my praises aside for a moment in order to address the book's weaknesses. The objectification of the female characters, as well as the ageism in regards to women in this book, is a bit too much for me. Almost every female that is mentioned in this book is described by her physical attractiveness, or lack thereof, and age. I see this a lot in stories, and it doesn't always bother me. However, I felt that this objectification in conjunction with a plethora of sexual innuendos and crude jokes detracted from the story. There are also a few technical errors scattered throughout the book such as extra spaces and confused punctuation. Due to the negatives mentioned above, this book is rated 3 out of 4 stars.
Thriller fans will enjoy this story unless they are averse to the explicit imageries of murder and violence, the autopsy process, vulgar language, or descriptions of sexual encounters. The Embalmer is a story that is suitable for adults but should be avoided by those who might be offended by the graphic content. From my humble perspective, the positives of this narrative far outweigh the negatives. It is a quick and enthralling read.
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The Embalmer
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