Review: After the Evil by Cary Allen Stone

I received a complimentary paperback copy of the book from author Cary Allen Stone in exchange for an honest review. I was thrilled when I realised the book was also signed by the author! 🙂

About the Book:

Detective Jake Roberts and his ex-partner and ex-lover now FBI profilers, Mika Scott, are in hot pursuit of the serial killer of dominating and controlling men. During his investigation, Jake and flight attendant Lori Powers fall in love. But she cannot quiet the voice of her daughter Emily when she speaks to Lori from the grave. Pandemonium breaks out when Jake realizes he has been sleeping with the killer.

About the Author:

Cary Allen Stone was born in 1953, began flying in 1972, and received his Bachelor of Arts in 1976. He was hired by his first airline in 1982. Aviation has given him a very unique perspective of life and led to his writing. In 1992, he flew for film director Sir Ridley Scott. It gave him an opportunity to discuss his writing with Sir Scott who remains a major influence for him.

In addition to his career in aviation and writing, he had a non-speaking character role in an AAA Club advertisement, done voice-over radio commercials, and was an extra in a motion picture. He is currently working on his next Jake Roberts novel.

He is a member of the Arizona Authors Association and The Desert Sleuths.

My Thoughts:

This is a page turning thriller that will have you at the edge of your seat. The protagonist, Jake is suffering from the trauma of having killed a child though it was in the field and was necessary. He gets drawn into investigating serial killings when his psychologist is murdered. He has to team up with his old partner and lover, Mika who is now with the FBI. Thus enfolds a spine chilling chase to find the killer before any more murders take place.

Lori, a flight attendant by profession, is struggling to deal with and accept the death of her daughter and to get over the horrifying details of her past. When she meets Jake, she thinks that he is the one man who would be different from the rest. Jake meets Lori and falls in love with her without realising who she truly is. A relationship almost develops between them when Lori breaks it off in order to protect him.

The story takes a twist when the Police chief is murdered by a copycat killer. There is also a chance of Jake and Mika getting back with each other but the author keeps that as a mystery thus keeping the suspense for the next novel in the series.

There is so much happening at every stage and the author handles the suspense with finesse. The characters are well developed and the story well paced out though quite fast. The author jumps straight into the story with no deviations and sticks to the point all the time. The style of writing is a little different. It goes from narration at some points to first person from Jake’s point of view. This change however happens in a way that does not disrupt the flow of the story. This is a well written thriller that will have all mystery/suspense/thriller story lovers entertained and happy!