4 out of 4 stars
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Slow Drip by Gary Polisano is a C/T/M/H novel that narrates gruesome murders which shock a small town. The clues that point detectives in the killer's direction come from an unlikely source.
Enroute to their favorite fishing spot, Jeff and Ells stumble upon a decomposing body. The ugly scene terrorizes their young minds and has an unexplainable effect on Jeff. In his dreams, he sees the dead woman and even talks to her. Meanwhile, detective Tina Patterson tries to unravel the mystery and gives the case the attention it deserves. Although her superior doubts her methods, she is willing to do whatever it takes to solve the case.
The author blends reality with the supernatural, and I like that it is believable. He portrays Jeff as a brave teenager who is taken aback by the changes he is experiencing. It doesn't help that the people around him are as skeptical as he is. The other characters are also well developed and play distinct roles. I was intrigued by the killer's thought process, and I hoped that the detectives would catch up with him. I applaud the author for revealing his identity at the opportune moment, neither too early nor too late into the story.
The story contains some medical jargon, which helped to expand my vocabulary. It is well researched and vividly describes the human anatomy. The author highlights the consequences of holding a grudge, which is what motivated the killer to carry out his revenge mission. I was intrigued when the author also highlighted incompetence in the workplace. In the medical field, a minor error could cost a life. Family dynamics also came into play. Jeff had a strong support system consisting of parents who cared for him, friends who valued him, and teachers who wanted the best for him.
What I liked most about the book is that it has two plots running concurrently, which intertwined to create a neat ending. At first, I didn't see how the story of a sixteen-year-old boy who loves baseball would blend with that of a murder investigation. I was relieved that it made sense as I read further. The author also presents the story in the form of journal entries, and each chapter narrates a different day's activities. That helped put events into perspective. This book is the first installment in a series, and I hope the rest are just as enthralling.
There is nothing I disliked about this book. Although I spotted a few misspelled words, they didn't detract from the reading experience. I will, therefore, award this book a rating of 4 out of 4 stars and recommend it to lovers of crime and thriller stories. People who can't stomach gory scenes, however, should stay away from this book.
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Slow Drip
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