Bloodman by Robert Pobi

FBI independent contractor Jake Cole deciphers the language of murderers by reconstructing three-dimensional crime scene models in his head- a grim gift that has left his nerves frayed and his psyche fragile. When his father, an important American painter, is almost killed in an Alzheimer's-fueled accident, Jake is forced to come home and confront a past he spent a quarter of a century trying to forget. Once there, a brutal double homicide teaches Jake that even though he has forgotten about the past, it has not yet forgotten about him. As Jake tries to make sense of his father's unhinged existence, he discovers thousands of seemingly meaningless canvases stacked in the studio-a bizarre trail of dust-covered breadcrumbs, that Jake believes lead to a killer called the Bloodman. All of his work seems to come apart just as another malevolent beast descends on the town- a Category 5 hurricane that is as unstoppable as the murderer. Pinned between the two forces of nature, Jake realizes that old ghosts are on the move.

This book is not for the squeamish or faint of heart.  Though the murders are not sensationalized and and Pobi doesn't go out of his way to give you that 'eeeeeew!' reaction, you'll instinctively have it just for the sheer factor of the horror of the murders.  This is not your average murderer and these are not your average dead bodies.  Though described in great detail, the part that will get you in the gut is the fact that the murders took place at all, not the horrific remains that are left behind.

I was really excited to read this book, thinking I was in for a fast-paced experience.  The book starts off incredibly slowly.  It took me several chapters before I actually cared what was going on.  Once I got into it though, I couldn't stop myself from guessing what would happen next and the rapid page turning began.  What started as a long, dull read became a fascinating one that I couldn't wait to get to the conclusion of.  The pace between the murderer and the hurricane is perfectly placed, keeping you interested in both as you delve alternately into them.

*I received this book in exchange for an honest review.  Shawn