A Dark and Secret Place

We all think we know our parents, but as Michael Reave (Red Wolf) points out in this book, they had lives before they had us. Heather Evans learns this after her mother commits suicide. Upon coming home after her mother’s death, she discovers that her mother had been corresponding with serial killer, Michael Reave known as the Red Wolf. Why? It seemed so out of character. Her mother abhorred violence and yet she has stacks and stacks of letters from him.

Michael Reave has been imprisoned for over twenty years for the ritualistic murders of several women. Unfortunately, another woman is found murdered and her body staged as Michael Reave staged his victims. Is there a copycat on the loose or is the wrong man behind bars?

Heather gets the opportunity to speak with Michael. In fact, she is the only one he will speak with. She is naturally unnerved by him and his is curious about her as her mother never mentioned having a daughter. hmmm So the plot thickens as plots often do. Naturally, Heather wants to learn why her mother committed suicide. Apparently, no one warned Heather about what happened to the curious cat!

I enjoyed the “Before” parts of the book much more than I did the present day. The psychosocial aspect of his formative years. Having been a forensic therapist for years, this gets my juices flowing. The present-day aspect of the book was not as interesting to me; although I enjoyed Michael’s use of The Grimm Fairy tales to tell Heather things while she is visiting him. Too bad some of it appeared to be lost on her. I wanted to root for Heather more, but I just could not connect with her character. I did; however, enjoy her scenes with Michael in the prison.

At times creepy, dark, interesting and at times frustrating.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.