Heather’s Bookshelf: Stalking Gideon Cain
Author: Kerry Alan Denney
Released: 05/21/21
Genre: Thriller/mystery/suspense
“They needed one, along with a primo hiding place until they worked out a retaliation strategy. An answer struck him like a plot device boiling up to the surface of his mind. It could work, if the offer to help hadn’t expired. The bonus was that no one would make a connection to the call, because only the flimsiest connection existed. It was a long shot, but they were out of options. ”
“Stalking Gideon Cain” follows Brendan Callahan-McCallum (aka Gideon Cain), a best selling author of psychological thrillers. Brandan begins to second guess his sanity as he finds himself in situations with women dressed as characters from his books. At first he thinks that the women may just be overzealous fans, but when he’s poisoned on a flight, he begins to fear for his life.
Brendan’s a seemingly self consumed, rich, playboy at the start of the story. But then his past traumas, loves, losses, and decisions are revealed through his memories and interactions with others around him. He is also haunted by what happened with his late wife near the end of her life. When a visit to his best friends reveals more than he could ever expect, his life’s purpose takes a dramatic turn. Unfortunately for Brendan, an unknown enemy is hunting him, his friends, and his family. If he doesn’t figure out who’s trying to hurt him soon, they all might end up dead.
Trigger Warning: adult language, animal death/murder, murder, assault
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It was fast paced and moved that way from the start. The main character of Brendan was well developed and his relationships clear and emotionally complex. The back story of his wife was also poignant and told in a way that was unobtrusive to the rest of the story. The relationship between Brendan and his dog, Pepper, was also endearing and relatable for any pet owners out there (and for those of you…there are a couple of super disturbing scenes in here…fair warning). While most of the story is told through the POV of Brendan, a couple of chapters are told through the eyes of others including a child with Down’s Syndrome and Pepper. The chapters provided an emotional element but seemed a little out of place in a story told mostly through a much different perspective. I enjoyed the ride and the revelations along the way, but found that once they were revealed the telling became a little redundant. I also wish that the villain was developed a little bit more. I would have loved knowing more about his story. I did like the ending, though, and felt that the author did a nice job of tying everything together.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A suspenseful tale filled with mystery, intrigue, love, loss, and murder.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Kerry Alan Denney
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