He Wore A Leather Jacket

by Brandon Ford

After witnessing a brutal murder, it is Jen Whitney’s positive identification that puts the man responsible behind bars. Though she knows he is in a maximum security prison, Jen cannot stop seeing him. He haunts her daily life. His terrifying vision appears on the sidewalk outside her window, in the stairwell just beyond her apartment door, even in the bathroom mirror as she prepares for bed.His consistently looming presence begins to tear at Jen’s already frayed anxieties and she lashes out in ways she never thought she’d be capable. She is convinced that there is only one thing that will stop the hallucinations and bring her back to some semblance of seeing the murderer where he rightfully belongs.With the help of David Blanchard, a detective she quickly befriends, Jen sets off on a journey to face evil head-on. What she doesn’t know is that what awaits her beyond those prison walls will leave her forever changed.He Wore a Leather Jacket is a novel of psychological terror, with twists and turns on every page. It explores the inner workings of a madman, as well as those affected by his actions. A story that will leave you glancing over your shoulder no matter the setting or time of day.

Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2021

About the author

Brandon Ford (b. August 28, 1981) grew up in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He started writing at the approximate age of 8 and spent a lot of time testing the waters with various genres. He wrote dramas, comedies, essays, plays, and, of course, thrillers. There were few things he took pleasure in crafting more than a good old-fashioned scary story. Throughout grade school, as well as high school, he continued to build his portfolio with various works (mostly short stories and novellas, but a few plays here and there). He’d pass around these manuscripts to friends and teachers for feedback. Knowing others enjoyed his work and craved more inspired him to keep going.
A few months shy of 23, he sat down to pen his first novel, which became Crystal Bay. Arctic Wolf Publishing, a small press based in Georgia, picked the book up a few years later. Shortly thereafter, he completed Splattered Beauty, an ode to his favorite Scream Queens. In 2009, he teamed up with Alan Draven and Jessica Lynne Gardner for Creeping Shadows (Pixie Dust Press), a collection of three short novels. Ford’s contribution, Merciless, was heavily inspired by a real-life kidnapping that took place in California in 2002. In March 2010, Arctic Wolf released his third novel, Pay Phone. Ford has also contributed works of short fiction to several anthologies, including Abaculus 2007 and Abaculus III (Leucrota Press), Sinister Landscapes (Pixie Dust Press), Raw: Brutality As Art (Snuff Books), and The Death Panel (Comet Press). Some of his biggest influences have been writers like Jack Ketchum and the late Richard Laymon. In his spare time he enjoys reading, watching bad TV, and all things horror. He still resides in South Philadelphia.

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jen is doing her normal grocery shopping when she notices the man in the next lane. He's tall, and very attractive and there's just something about him she likes. To her horror, he pulls out a knife and kills the young girl working the register. Frozen in place, scared to move, scared to stand still, the man calmly walks away, blowing a kiss her way before he leaves the store.

It's her witness statement and her identification that puts the man behind bars ... where he will stay for a very long time.

Already having an anxiety problem, she begins to see him everywhere she looks ... outside her window ... inside her house... he's haunting her every move. She lashes out ... and people get hurt.

She is convinced that only seeing the man behind bars will alleviate her fear and hallucinations. With the help of David Blanchard, a detective she quickly befriends, Jen sets off on a journey to face evil head-on. What she doesn’t know is that what awaits her beyond those prison walls will leave her forever changed.

I must admit ... when I saw the title, I was imagining all sorts of scenarios ... none of which even came close to what I read. It's well-written, the suspense and terror are palpable and seems to jump off the pages. There are twists and turns throughout .. but it's the last one that will have the reader gasping for air.

[Kayla Krantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

While going about her daily chores, Jen witnesses a horrific murder at the grocery store. Though the suspect is quickly apprehended, Jen swears that she sees him everywhere he goes. Is it possible the police have the wrong man in custody? Or is Jen facing a battle of her own?

I have read just about everything that Mr. Ford’s written, and I have to say that I have never found something I didn’t enjoy. That theme stays strong with He Wore a Leather Jacket. Like previous books, the characters feel so real. Jen and her brother, Bill, had a very interesting dynamic full of love, understanding, and deep down, a lot of pain.

I thought the way that Ford described Jen’s slow mental descent was so on-point. The gradual shift from a normal routine to one that was plagued with hallucinations and the overall fear of what she was becoming made it all so real. As someone who struggles with chemical imbalances, every bit of Jen’s actions were accurate.

Needless to say, the end of the book went in a direction I definitely didn’t see coming, and I’m still trying to pick my jaw up off the floor because that was spectacular. I think this may be one of Ford’s best works yet!

Narration was perfect!


This book was given to me for free at my request, and I provided this voluntary review.

[Michael Wooten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well then

I am torn whether to suggest this book or no. I never ever foresee the twist at the end of the book.