Ethan Cross

I Am Wrath by Ethan Cross
The Ackerman Thrillers #4

It is so refreshing to find a lethal bad guy that I should hate but really do empathize with and feel I am beginning to love. Not that I would want to be his prey, but I do like this anti-hero, his brother and this series! Each book draws me in a bit more and I wonder as I read just where the series is going and how it will finally end.

What I like:
* Francis Ackerman Jr. – lethal serial killer that is trying to go straight…sort of. I show more admire his skills, intelligence and cunning but also realize he is not truly a good guy.
* Marcus Williams – special operative on the side of right…the light to Ackerman’s dark BUT both do have a bit or more of the dark lurking within.
* Maggie Carlisle: Marcus’s love-interest and another operative that we did not see much of, at least in the “love light” in this book. She seems to have her own demons to deal with
* Dylan: Marcus’s son – again, not much seen of him but he could have an interesting part in future books
* Andrew – a good friend and fellow operative
* That I could empathize with some of the really evil people that were in this book
* The plot and how the details were slowly released about the game in play, who was involved, the ultimate plot and how it all came together seamlessly
* Hating the bad guy…and though there were more than one there was one that I really REALLY hated
* Wanting to know more about Demon and hoping to find out in book five who Gladiator might be.
* All of it really…even the gruesome bits including the fight scenes

What I didn’t like:
* The loss of innocent lives…but then…is anyone truly innocent?
* Having to wait for book five

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus-Aries for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars show less

I am the Night by Ethan Cross
Originally Published 2011 as The Shepherd
Shepherd Thriller #1 or Ackerman Thriller #1

Graphic, gritty and gruesome some of the opening scenes had me cringing and thinking about not continuing the story BUT I chose to keep going even though I wondered how Ackerman could do the things he did. I did eventually find out a bit about Francis Ackerman Jr. but am sure there is more to be learned in future books. Then there was Marcus Williams – a man that seemed the show more complete opposite of Ackerman. Why are they in the same book and what purpose, if anything, will their meeting up have. Once I got into the story I couldn’t put it down and have to say I am eager to tackle book two if/when I find a copy to read.

What I liked:
* The writing: felt like I was there within the story
* The twists and turns – there were many
* That I was surprised at the end of the story – I tend to read the end before I reach the last page and was still surprised
* Marcus: a good man that carried a heavy weight
* Ackerman: in spite of how wicked he was he grew on me and I really want to see what will happen to him as the series progresses.
* That though this is a serial killer story it is not like most of its genre
* That I will be thinking about this story for quite a while.

What I did not like:
* Ackerman’s father – a heinous creature even more evil than his son
* That so many suffered and lost their lives…painfully

Did I enjoy this book? In the end I really did…in spite of the cringing and wanting to look through my fingers at times
Would I read more by this author/in this series? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus-Aria for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars show less

I Am Pain by Ethan Cross
The Ackerman Thrillers #3

I keep wondering how I have come to actually like a serial killer that has no compunction and even enjoys killing others…often in painful ways…and yet…that is exactly what I find I am doing when it comes to Francis “Frank” Ackerman Jr. He has perpetrated heinous crimes on others but also seems to have had an epiphany and be trying to change his ways…at least a bit. He is the son of a ruthless psychotic killer, the brother of a man show more that has a dark side but works on the side of right and is often caught in situations that are difficult for him as well as for others. I have no idea where this rather dark gritty sometimes gruesome series will lead but I can’t wait to find out in book four.

What I liked:
* Frank: a serial killer that may be redeemable(?)
* Marcus Williams: Frank’s brother who seems to be questioning much before this book begins. He finds himself in a whole lot of pain for a good portion of this story
* Maggie Carlisle: works with Marcus and is his romantic interest although not much romance was observed in this book. She seems conflicted.
* Stan and Andrew – part of the Shepherd group
* Learning more about Ackerman Sr. and just how twisted he was – also meeting his father who was also interesting and disturbing
* The plot and how it was developed – finding out what the Coercion Killer’s goal and motivation were and who he was
* The taking down of the mercenaries
* The creep factor that left me thinking about how twisted and dark some people are
* Being able to like Frank – a man that should be unlikable
* Wondering how Dylan will turn out
* Knowing that there will be a book four

What I didn’t like:
* Knowing what Ackerman Sr. did to his family and to others
* Realizing and being reminded of the fact that there are people in the world that could be like the bad guys in this book.

Did I enjoy this book? It kept me interested beginning to end – I could not put it down
Would I read more in tis series/ by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Head oof Zeus – Aries for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars show less

I think it’s good that I’ve delayed this review a little and had a chance to discuss it with another reviewer, because I’ve learned something about myself and the genre. Some of my problems with the book were genre staples, and some of my opinions had a chance to be clarified. But here’s the long and the short of it.

This is a really good thriller. I’m just not sure I actually like them.


When I first got done with this book, I was speaking to another reviewer for the publishing house show more that this book is being released through, and I warned him that the book was grim–and this coming from someone who has never once said that about Song of Ice and Fire. This was just dark and depressing and painful at times. The main character was fantastic and I genuinely enjoyed him, but the plot just seemed unrelenting.

This, apparently, is common in thrillers.

The book follows Deacon Munroe, an investigator who is well-spoken, smart, connected–and blind. He’s very familiar with the people of Washington, DC, particularly those working in organizations often referred to by acronyms. A friend (and very high-ranking general) has died, and Deacon believes that something more is behind this than a “simple” murder-suicide of the general and his wife. As he continues poking, he begins to see the threads that link this death back to a much larger organization…and they’re not pleased. It becomes a classic race against the clock as Deacon and his team attempt to stop the attack the bad guys have on the city, and try to keep all of them living.

As a forewarning to anyone who may not be aware: there is a lot of death. All the death. So much death. Every other chapter death. Characters you just met death. (You get the picture.) For me, this is disconcerting. I enjoy character in my novels; I like seeing people grow and change. When you bring in a character only to kill them in the next chapter, I have trouble connecting with any of your characters. Who’s to say that they won’t die too? I avoid this with ASoIaF in that I assume everyone will die, so I don’t even try to get attached. (This only works to a certain extent.) In addition to that, it generally takes more than a few chapters before important people die. Ned got at least half a book, yeah? Maybe a whole book! (Uh, is that still a spoiler?)

However, there is a caveat to this: everyone will die as soon as the bad guys decide they will–unless your name is Deacon Munroe. It makes the bad guys sound like Stormtroopers: described as being these amazing shots, but as soon as our hero reaches the scene, they couldn’t hit the broad side of a Death Star. There is at least a shade of nuance to the villains; we have the conscience of the group, who makes a point of reminding us that he’s “not that bad” each time he’s ordered to kill someone, and we know that he “wished he didn’t have to do this.” This becomes tiresome, at least for me, after a few deaths. Dude, you clearly don’t seem to care as much as you’d like us to believe.

All this aside, Cross is a fantastic writer. He’s descriptive, detailed, and clearly has done his research. Deacon is given an excellent level of depth to his lack of sight; his relationships with his family and friends is nuanced and genuine. (I particularly like his daughters.) The characters who to stick around have time and thought invested in them, and they’re (relatively) easy to like. There is a fantastically executed Chekhov’s Gun in the story, which I’m proud to say I caught, but isn’t made blatantly obvious. (I just particularly look for them.) And the ending is satisfying, if not surprising.

As I discussed with my fellow reviewer, the body count is perhaps a little high in this book, but I have been assured that it’s common. If it is, I’m not sure how anyone gets through these books. It makes it very difficult to invest in the story. Also, as this is very obviously set up to lead into a sequel, one of the deaths is unfortunate as it drops a huge opportunity for discussion into Deacon’s character and his association with the others–as well as Cross never truly making the “replacement” work out completely. I would be tempted to read a sequel if and when it comes, but I’ll need to brace myself.

And prepare to read lots of fluffy happy stories afterward.

Rating: **** – Recommended

BLIND JUSTICE hits shelves August 25th, 2015. show less