Collecting Cooper (Theodore Tate Book 2) by Paul Cleave

I came to this book not realizing that previous books are referenced in passing. The first book of his I read was Blood Men, followed by Cemetery Lake, and now this book, Finding Cooper. Nevertheless, it can stand alone as a compelling narrative.

This book focuses on Christchurch, a city I lived in for 8 years. A nice little city but I saw it was changing all those years ago. But I moved to Japan before it got its nickname, CrimeChurch.

Paul Cleave uses New Zealand's second-largest city to weave tales of suspense with multi-character viewpoints.

Cleave has an exceptional narrative voice for Tate—sarcastic, world-weary, and driven by a quest for justice. The storyline unfolds through alternating chapters featuring Tate in the first person, Adrian—a prospective serial killer with a penchant for collecting—and Cooper, a kidnapped criminology professor. The killer's chapters blend dark humor with creepiness, portraying characters with painful pasts and mundane malevolence, evoking a more genuine sense of fear than typical fictional villains.

Tate is a PI just out of prison in this book, but at heart, he is a detective through and through. With a bunch of twists, perfect pacing, and authentic dialogue, the story is entertaining. Dry humor, insightful observations, and vivid descriptions bring Christchurch to life, making it practically palpable.

The Heirloom by Graham Masterton

This captivating novel, hailing from the enigmatic era of the 80s or 90s, immerses readers in a chilling world crafted by the master of horror, Graham Masterton. My experience with this literary gem took an intriguing twist as I opted for the audiobook format, with a narrator who skillfully breathed life into the characters, making them vivid and real.

At the heart of this story lies an object of dark fascination, a chair with an ominous reputation that pushes readers to stretch the boundaries of their belief. This sinister piece of furniture is imbued with malevolent power or, if the receiver is willing to welcome it to the family, the promise of unimaginable success forms the enigmatic core of the narrative. The cost of embracing such power remains a cryptic enigma, never explicitly revealed.

Masterton's writing shines with precision and economy, driving the narrative forward with unrelenting momentum. It's a tale firmly rooted in plot-driven storytelling, a hallmark of the era it hails from, the 80s. It's crucial to approach this narrative with an understanding of its historical context and to suspend modern sensibilities, setting aside any inclination for liberal condemnation of the characters' actions. By doing so, readers can fully immerse themselves in the rollercoaster of suspense, tension, and terror that this gripping tale offers.

This horror narrative is firmly rooted in the Christian faith, a recurring motif that echoes throughout Masterton's body of work. It's a testament to his skill as a storyteller that he can draw upon such themes to evoke the darkest corners of human fear and fascination. This book is a captivating relic of its time, and it's intriguing to see the evolution in the author's genre, transitioning from horror to thrillers in later years.

This book from the bygone decades, bearing the signature of Graham Masterton's chilling imagination, proves itself a timeless masterpiece. Through the eyes and ears of the audiobook, the narrative becomes a haunting journey filled with suspense and inexplicable phenomena, beckoning readers to dare to believe in the unsettling unknown. The narrative may belong to a different era, but it retains its power to captivate and terrify, making it a must-read for fans of the horror genre and those interested in the evolution of storytelling over the years.

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