Slice

Chaingang #2

by Rex Miller

Stephen King hails Rex Miller as "terrifying and original." SLOB is his debut novel, the story of a man who thinks of himself as Death. A man who likes to feast on human hearts, spilling blood wherever he goes. Jack Eichord is the detective who must hunt this human monster and genius killer. Years of working as a homicide detective for the Chicago Police department have hardened Eichord to things that would make most men turn and flee. But even he is not prepared for a labyrinthine search underground, as he trails the killer and his hostages through the sewer system of the city. Eichord thinks that he is beginning to understand the diabolical man and his patterns of violence...but can he guess the next victim in time, before it is too late for the woman he loves?

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Pulp, Crime

ebook

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Rex Miller Spangberg was a DJ and horror novelist, best known for his "Detective Jack Eichord" books.

Reviews

[Phil · Rating 3 out of 5]

While perhaps not the strongest in the Chaingang series, Slice still entertained. At the end of Slob, Jack Eichord, the expert on serial killers for the police, shot Chaingang and left him in Chicago's sewers. Well, obviously, Chaingang did not die and some old bag lady nursed him back to health. Now, Chaingang wants some revenge on Eichord. While Chaingang's resurrection unfolds, Miller introduces a few other themed subplots.

First, we have Eichord getting along splendidly with his wife, with Miller tossing in lots of hot sex. Secondly, we have a pair of numbnut hillbillies who just got out the can and are planning a heist. Third, Miller develops Eichord's relationship with his coworker cops, especially Lee (the Chink) and Fat Tuny (expect lots of crude dick jokes, etc.). Well, the hillbillies rob a bank, killing a security guard, but dropping most of the money on the way out. Lee and Tuny arrive at the scene and Lee, inexplicably, picks up 12 grand or so when no one is looking. Long story here, but the feds think a dirty cop picked up the cash, but they are not sure who it was.

Chaingang, after emerging from the sewers, knocks off a meat market (and butchers the butchers), then picks up a gal, who he promises to take to Hollywood. He ends up holing up at an old buddy's place (fellow Vietnam vet) and decides he needs to slim down, all the while plotting Eichord's demise...

This did have a disjointed feel as Miller moves along the subplots, with Chaingang's antics mainly in the background for most of the story. Miller also tosses in several events from the past, such as Chaingang's exploits in Vietnam and Eichord and Lee's visit to Hong Kong to nail an old murderer. The ending? Not sure what to make of it, but no spoilers. 3 slices!

[Gregory Dark · Rating 2 out of 5]

Absolutely loved Slob (the first book in the series), but this one is a failure all around. Meandering, messy, uneventful, stupid and worst of all, boring. It won’t stop me from reading the rest though as this seems to be the worst of the series.

[Mikepottz · Rating 2 out of 5]

In SLOB Bunkowski was a 500 pound killing machine. In Slice he loses weight and even changes his personality. Still an insane, formidable , deadly despicable, disgusting and revolting creature. Circumstances change him a little but can he get revenge in the end? The gore and storyline is lacking and really disjointed.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the "Chaingang" series, that I read many moons ago. Also, gory & violent, but if that doesn't bother you...a good read!

[Alex Budris · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great read, just like the others in this series, but what the %&@* happened at the end? As far as I can tell, a random samurai jumped out of the bushes and decapitated Chaingang before he could kill Eichord. Is this correct? I must have missed something, but I'm not sure how or what. The Man From Kowloon, what the hell. This is the second book so the next one is 'Chaingang', which I already read - did it begin with Bunkowski without a head? If I remember right he was in some government research facility. I dunno. But anyway, the next book I think is Savant - which is really HTF, but a truly Kind Soul on Facebook sold me one for 25 dollars. I'm just waiting for it to show up, prob today. All of these Rex Miller books are good. See ya.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wish I had enjoyed this more. However, this sequel to Slob feels like a padded, plodding version of the sharp first book. Perhaps, if I had read the intervening Eichord novels, I would care more about a lot of the plot points and characters. Yet, I came at it as the second in Chaingang’s novels.