SLOW DRiP: First in a series of heart-racing thrillers

by Gary Polisano

When a beautiful and highly-intuitive small town police detective is presented with a third related murder, she tries to follow conventional police procedure, while the teenage boy who discovered the body possesses clues of his own that may lead directly to the killer, a mysterious figure with seemingly advanced medical knowledge who like to torture his victims in a particular sick manner. Clues and taunts left by the killer along with the knowledge held by the teenager cause the three characters to intersect in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

301 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2019

Reviews

[Ann Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author to watch! This is a stunning first novel by Gary J. Polisano. Slow Drip is a fast-paced thriller. Can small-town police detective Tina Patterson figure out the string of murders before the killer takes another victim? Will she be able to decipher the clues and taunts left for her by a deranged murderer? Walk into the mind of a killer, the pages will fly by. Can’t wait for another thriller by Polisano. If you like Lee Child and James Patterson– Slow Drip is a must read!

[Els · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author certainly knows how to keep you glued to your chair!

The book starts with the author introducing us to the modus operandi of the killer. It’s quite clear he is clever and well organized and those are the most dangerous culprits.

Suddenly the author switches gears and leaves you wondering what this has to do with the beginning of the book. It seems like two different stories, but be patient. It will become very clear, little by little, how the two are connected.

I loved the way the author kept us in the dark for a very long time before he revealed the identity of the murderer. He gave us hints, let us see inside his head but still I could not guess how it would all turn out. Brilliant!

A very good start to a new series. 4 stars.

Thank you, Gary Polisano and Rachel’s Random Resources.

https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com

[Amanda (Smitten For Fiction) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hello book lovers! I hope you're having a wonderful summer so far. I'm here with a spoiler-free book review for Slow Drip by Gary Polisano. I was invited to take part in the blog tour facilitated by Rachel's Random Resources.

Cassie, a first-year med student, wakes up on a warehouse floor. She's tortured by a killer with medical knowledge and a sick mind. After she dies, the murderer pulls out one of her teeth, slips it into a baggie, and labels it "Cassandra Talbert". He then uses Cassie's blood to paint a poem of clues for the police to find, in particular, lead detective Tina Patterson.

• Tina is a career-focused, a small-town detective who sometimes receives random letters and numbers in her head which has helped her solve a difficult case before.
• Tice is the Director of the Forensics Team. His wife died from cancer four years ago. Tina and Tice have chemistry, but she's too focused on her career to become romantically involved with anyone.
• Jeff is a high school kid who gets a concussion during a baseball game. Jeff and his friend Rick discover Cassie's body. He begins having vivid and disturbing dreams of the killer and needs to find a way to decode them so he can help Detective Patterson find the murderer.

› Writing Style
• This story is fast-paced and creepy. We get to be inside the killer's mind as he chooses and kills his victims. The characters are extremely well-written. Slow Drip will have you guessing right to the end.

› Final Thoughts
• Slow Drip is a thrilling and memorable debut! I highly recommend this to Mystery/Thriller fans and can't wait to read more from Polisano.

Thank you to the publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

*Quotes taken from an ARC copy and subject to change*

About The Author

"Born and raised near Glendale California Mr. Polisano earned his BA degree in 1995 and an MBA in Business Management in 1998 while working full-time and raising three children with his wife Deborah.   A career that spanned thirty-five years in the food and pharmaceutical industries as the National Sales Manager for two prominent and highly respected organizations, and as International Sales Manager for a third.  

Besides a demanding work schedule that required frequent domestic and international travel, Mr. Polisano was a volunteer team member for the Ventura County Search & Rescue in the 1980's, a leader with the Boy Scouts of America in the 1990's, and later in the 2000's, serving as the School Board President of CBS Schools in Southern California.  

A highly motivated self-starter, Mr. Polisano found it necessary to seek part-time work after retirement and moving to Northern Utah in 2014.   Now, working just a day and a half a week in the field of pain/spine management, it has provided the perfect balance of relaxation and outdoor activities, while still serving others.   A lifelong baseball fanatic, Mr. Polisano can be found in MLB ballparks throughout the country during the summer.   Writing, golfing, outdoor activities, family time and traveling with his wife of thirty-four years are what the Polisano's define as "true happiness"."

https://gpolisano.com/

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[Lel Budge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thriller with a supernatural edge….

A serial killer is a schedule to adhere to…abducting, torturing and murdering young women……using their femoral artery to exsanguinate them…..

The Detective. Tina Patterson is studying the little evidence they have, their perpetrator is clearly meticulous and leaving very little forensic evidence behind.

But then we meet Jeff Cronin, who has recently made a psychic connection to one of the victims…..Will he be able to help the police with their investigation?

I found this to be a well plotted thriller with a psychic element and a nicely satisfying end…surprisingly this is Gary Polisano’s debut novel…..an author to watch out for!

Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to participate in this blog tour and for the promotional materials and a free copy of the ebook. This is my honest, unbiased review.

[Ken Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow Drip by Gary J. Polisano is a wonderfully uncozy murder mystery. Someone is abducting, torturing and murdering young women in the town of Stansbury Valley, and it falls upon Detective Tina Patterson to catch him. Into the action, enter Jeff Cronin, a high school kid with a gift. Or, perhaps, a curse. You see, Jeff happened to discover one of the killer's earlier victims, and now she won't leave him alone. She comes to him in his dreams, desperate to show him the truth, but he'll have to make sense of the visions if he's to have any chance of helping Detective Patterson catch the killer.
In the best tradition of murder mystery/thrillers, Slow Drip not only brings us along on the manhunt, but it also shows us the killer at work. And in both regards, Polisano hits the mark beautifully. The crimes themselves and the subsequent peeks we get into the killer's mind are as disturbing as they are revealing, and Detective Patterson's sometimes-slogging investigation rings entirely true. Such authenticity comes only through believable characters, and there is not a single character in Slow Drip who fails to resonate. On one side, a meticulous madman intent on exacting revenge. On the other, a brilliant female cop struggling under the command of a misogynist. Stuck in the middle, a confused kid just trying to do what's right. And behind it all, a new author who orchestrates action like a seasoned pro. Nothing overblown, nothing overdone, he simply lays out the story and lets the other three play off one another in perfect measure. Even the killer's victims are fully-rounded. It would have been easy enough to have all of those people who come and go so quickly appear as typical weeping, helpless-victim caricatures, but not once did I think of those poor souls as anything less than real people facing their ghastly final moments. And bonus points to the author, I was particularly pleased that not a single one of those brave, doomed women went gentle into that good night. It was a wholly unnecessary detail, but such things can often be the difference between a good read and an awesome read.
Quite frankly, I was surprised to learn that Slow Drip is Polisano's first book. If he is this good from the start, you can be sure I'll be following his work to see just how great he'll become.
Five big stars for Slow Drip and for Gary J. Polisano!

[KT Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to start this review off by stating I am a huge crime reader, both fiction and true crime, and to say I have an unhealthy obsession with serial killers is an understatement. So when I cracked this book open and started that first chapter, I was hooked straight away. I barely put the book down until I had finished it, and even then it was under duress (How rude is my boss, expecting me to do work when there’s book to be read?!). SLOW DRiP has quickly become one of my favourite reads this year, hands down.

The whole story was so well crafted, each character having clear individual voices. The lead detective on the case, Tina, not only has the stress of a serial killer on the loose, but also the stress of her superiors breathing down her neck to make progress, and make it fast. Easier said than done when the killer seems to move like a shadow and leaves taunting messages for the police at every crime scene.

Jeff, the high school baseball prodigy, takes a nasty blow to the head in a game and is relegated to the sidelines for a while whilst he recovers. Aside from the blinding headaches from the injury, he is also plagued by strange dreams interrupting his sleep. The dreams slowly progress over time, starting off with small hints at what they’re about before becoming more full on and leading Jeff down a path to help the police.

The story builds at a good, steady pace with the police slowly discovering tidbits of information to help lead them to the killer, but never receiving too much too soon. The stakes are raised as aspects of the killings become more risky, before finally the motivation behind the killings is revealed, tying all the loose ends of the story together.

I’ve been very lucky in that a lot of the books I’ve read recently and really enjoyed have been the beginnings of series, and this one is no exception. With his great crime writing skills and ability to create tension, I can’t wait to see what Gary publishes next!

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow Drip is an intense thrill-ride through the dark machinations of a serial killer's mind.

A small town is reeling after discovering the bodies of three young women, all killed in the same gruesome manner: they had their femoral vein (not the artery) sliced and bled out slowly until they were dead. It's up to Detective Tina Patterson and her partner Dennis to try and unravel the mystery surrounding the deaths of these women. Who could do such a thing, and why? And how does a teenager with a head injury and strange dreams come into play? You'll have to read the book to find out.

I really enjoyed this story. It was crazy from start to finish, and it had me guessing until the very end. I had so many people I suspected, but of course, it was... well, I can't spoil things, so I'll stop there.

I liked the weird little poems the killer included with each murder. It had a sort of Zodiac Killer vibe going on. This killer definitely enjoyed toying with and teasing the cops.

I also liked that there was a small bit of paranormal element to the story as well. Detective Patterson mentions having an almost sixth sense sort of ability sometimes, and Jeff also has a psychic-like connection to the newest victim of the killer. It was fascinating, and I really hope the other books explore this more.

The one thing I would have liked a bit more would have been some extra fleshing-out of the killer. What's his back story? You get a glimpse of it in the book, but it left me a little unsatisfied. I would have liked to know more about him, what, specifically, happened to set him off, etc.

And I did notice a few editing/grammatical errors throughout the book, but nothing too major to detract from my enjoyment of the story.

Overall, Slow Drip is a solid crime thriller, and I'd recommend it to fans of the genre.

4 stars from me!

[Mark Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gary Polisano’s Slow Drip is an impressive first novel. It’s a fast-moving, serial-killer police procedural that quickly turns into a thriller with a touch of the supernatural. He’s done his research into forensics, police protocol, psychological disorders, anatomy, physiology, and even baseball. The result is a tale that’s both intriguing and realistic. And it’s a page-turner.

Slow Drip takes advantage of three points of view: Lead Detective Tina Patterson’s, high school baseball star Jeff Cronin’s, and the deranged killer’s (whose name I won’t reveal). So, the story comes to us in pieces but Polisano’s deft hand ensures that the transitions are smooth and keep the plot moving forward.

Shortly after Jeff and his best friend happen upon the corpse of the latest victim, a freak accident on the ballfield forces Jeff off the field and into concussion protocol. In another novel, Jeff might well be no more than a star first baseman, but here he goes well beyond that. The strange dreams include the latest victim’s nocturnal visits to Jeff, which while upsetting, allow him to “see” things he hadn’t noticed—and that leads to Jeff’s ability to greatly aid Patterson in her relentless pursuit of the killer. Okay, that’s enough of a spoiler. But know that the plot is anything but predictable.

Essentially, the plot carries the characters here. Not unusual for the genre, but that said, the characters are compelling. We can relate to them (all but the meticulous psychopath) just fine, but they could have been fleshed out a little more. We care about them, and we cringe at the pure evil of the killer all the way to the heart-racing end.

I found myself grabbing every spare moment to read Slow Drip, I predict you will too. It’s a great read that will make you anxious to see what Tina Patterson does in the next installment of the series.

[Kerry Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A meticulously intelligent serial killer has begun on a monthly schedule to abduct and tortuously murder young women by tapping their femoral vein and letting them bleed to death in the surrounding communities of Stansbury Valley. Detective Tina Patterson is just as meticulous in looking over the light evidence and clues in capably tracking down the unknown perpetrator, but she has to also work against the male bias of her direct supervisor. However, the case takes an odd turn, when high school junior Jeff Cronin, following a head injury during a baseball game, begins to develop a ghostly psychic connection with one of the victims, after he and a friend discover the victim’s body in an abandoned factory. The author has developed an intellectually complicated, but basic “Criminal Minds” type serial killer police mystery with a very capable investigator that proves her worth enough that the reader becomes very confident she would be able to track down our psychotic perp. Yet, adding in the psychic edge with a young teenager trying to understand the ghostly gift inside of him that will tip the scales for our police investigator faster is an interesting twist, but the process of that discovery can feel distracting to readers more intent on the basic mystery. The story heads for a very tense and satisfying climax, but there was a small piece of motive trigger background that was not fully cleared up in the post climax. Yet that is a minor item in a satisfying mystery thriller with a psychic edge.

[Jessica Bronder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serial killer is targeting women in Stansbury Valley and Detective Tine Patterson is tasked with stopping them. Tine has her hands full since this killer doesn’t leave much in the way of evidence beyond a bloody poem. Thankfully Tine has a little bit of visions to help guide her.

Then there is Jeff Cronin, a high school kid that received a head injury from a sporting event. He seems to have a mental connection to one of the victim. He is trying to figure out what the dreams mean to try to help the victim.

This is a great thriller. I love the paranormal addition; it was a great way to move the story along. Tine is a hard person to like because she is so focused on her work. There is the possibility for romance but she is not having any of it. I liked Jeff too and my heart went out to him with his dreams and connection to the killer.

This is a great killer, very methodical and one I didn’t figure out until the end. I had several suspects but was completely wrong. I was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time wanting to know what was going to happen next. For being a first book from Gary Polisano I was blown away. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for his future works.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ocassionally, I come across a book that I don’t want to write a review for because I just want you all to go buy it and start reading it right now! Slow Drip is one of those books. WOW. I am absolutely blown away. Gary Polisano is a gifted writer and I am so impressed.

The characters are incredibly detailed and real. We follow multiple characters. At first, it was slightly jarring to head hop between each character, but I eventually got the hang of it. That’s really my only critique.

What was unique, was getting inside the killer’s head while still not knowing he he was. I loved that. The twists and turns are constant, and I never felt like I knew what was happening. The ending threw me for a loop and I was very satisfied with it.

There is a twist to one of the characters that makes this thriller edge on the paranormal side and it is really cool. Suspension of disbelief is required a bit, but when isn’t that the case in a fictional novel?

I really loved Slow Drip. I am so excited this is the first in a series and I cannot wait for the next! Highly recommended!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book as part of a blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources. All opinions are my own.*

Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com

[Maureen Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Tina Patterson, a beautiful and highly-intuitive small town police detective is presented with a third related murder, she tries to follow conventional police procedure, but ends up collaborating with the FBI.
A teenage boy who discovered the body seemingly possesses clues of his own that may lead directly to the killer, a mysterious figure with seemingly advanced medical knowledge who likes to torture his victims in a particular sick manner.
Clues and taunts left by the killer along with the knowledge held by the teenager cause the three characters to intersect in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
This was a good, fast paced, intriguing novel that keeps the reader on edge until the end. I highly recommend it!

[Feed The Crime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this as it’s such an original case of murders, I flew through it! I loved the narrative from our killer, seeing what was going on his head, how he prepared for the kills and how he chose his next victim.

I’m going to try and be pretty vague through this next point as I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I really enjoyed that not all of his kills go according to his meticulous plan, one tiny decision from another character can completely blow everything up. This really added to the thrill of this book!

You can read the rest of my review here: https://feedthecrime.wordpress.com/20...

[Alicia Kozak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been meaning to get to this book for awhile and finally dug it out. The first chapter gets your attention, then there's an abrupt shift to Jeff's baseball game. It did get a little slow at first, seemed like too much filler and exposition, especially in the chapters featuring Jeff. Things picked up fairly quickly though. The medical details were good and I always like the killer taunting the cops trope. Jeff and Tina having a bit of psychic ability was a little different, but it worked well here, not too much or too little emphasis on the "gift." I see there's a second book and I think I'll give it a shot.

[Caroline Venables · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent read and it is hard to believe that it is the author’s first book. Well plotted and fast paced with an original story, the author has successfully written a great thriller.

Tina Patterson is thrown into hunting a sadistic killer who enjoys torturing his victims, it is obvious he has medical knowledge and will use to get the most satisfaction out of his kills.

Jeff Cronin finds the latest body, and forms a link to the dead person, he too finds himself thrown into the investigation. Can he prove useful to Tina as she tries to find the serial killer?

Author Giveaway –

[Garrett Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A murder mystery with a ghost twist

An unusual murder mystery because of a ghost helping to indirectly assist with the apprehension of the killer and put a young man bach in tract with his life

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book

I enjoyed reading this book about murder & psychic gifts, both in the teenage boy & apparently in the homicide detective. Much is made of the boy's gift but the detective 's gift is barely mentioned. However, overall a very likable read.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!! I couldn't put it down and can't wait for the next one!!

[Lisa Gassner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Slow Drip was slow-moving for me and found the premise totally out there.

[J Chad · Rating 1 out of 5]

Perhaps the author should actually find out where the femoral vein is and what exsanguination actually looks like before writing a book about it.

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read but lost me a few times switching all over the place.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good. And exciting to read. The first in a series 3 books I highly recommend author

[Michael George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read.

I never guessed who it was, usually I know after a couple chapters. I recommend this book. Looking for more by this author!

[paulette sarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great thriller

Loved this book. It kept you engaged until the end. The paranormal aspect added to the story. The happy ending and a twist at the end.

[Vicky Whedbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book out loud to my disabled husband and we thoroughly enjoyed it! Usually, a chapter at a time is our pace, but we found ourselves going chapter after chapter each session, anxious to see what happens next! It is a fast-paced thriller that takes you into the minds of a serial killer, an ace detective, and an innocent third party that found himself in the middle of the mayhem due to a special gift he found himself to be endowed with after a sports injury. I was surprised at how quickly we devoured this book! If you like thrillers, you won't be disappointed with this one! We look forward to reading the next book in the series!