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IM
One by one, he's killing them. Lurking in a digital underworld, he lures, seduces, charms, reaching out through instant messages. In this killer's world, IM doesn't stand for instant message...it stands for instant murder. Openly gay Chicago Police detective Ed Comparetto is on a quest to unmask a killer--who may himself be dead--before he loses everything, including his life.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2007
13 people are currently reading
446 people want to read
About the author
Rick R. Reed
118 books1,047 followersReal Men. True Love.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
Rick R. Reed is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than sixty works of published fiction, spanning genres such as horror, psychological suspense and love stories. He is a Lambda Literary Award finalist and a multiple Rainbow Award winner.
Entertainment Weekly has described his work as “heartrending and sensitive.” Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…”
Find him at www.rickrreedreality.blogspot.com. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA, with his two rescue dogs, Kodi and Joaquin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
April 24, 2017
2.5*
Well....
Look, the blurb sounded really promising and I was getting a lot of good feels for this when my fellow goodreads peeps started giving it 4 star ratings. I was all ready for a good detective read about a serial killer. What I got was a bit of a mess.
Ed is a detective for all of five seconds in the book because he's fired for supposedly inventing a witness. What? There was a murder scene where there was more than one cop not to mention other professionals who had their own job to do. There were other cops who witnessed there being an actual person who claimed to be the victims friend who found him and was the caller of 911. A fellow cop TOLD Ed that the witness was waiting to talk to him. So how did all these "professionals" forget what the key witness looked like or his freaking name? Nope. Not believing that shit.
That aside. We have Ed. Who doesn't do much detective work at all when he decides to look into things on his own. I didn't really get to know him very well. For him being the MC he felt very much like a side character. Timothy felt more like the MC.
Timothy. Dude was a complete nut. Even so, I had a very hard time believing this man that so many described as a small man from height to weight and who was said to look like a elf from a fairy tale was able to take on such big men with none of them being able to get the upper hand, Ed included. But I guess the innocent look made for a good killer. And the author does give us good crazy. The killer is psychotic. He does some really disturbing things. Some that really grossed me out. But the rest was a mess.
All the jumping around to Ed, Peter, Timothy, the Aunt, the victims were just too freaking much. There were too many on the pot as my mom likes to say. LOL
Peter. He really came outta nowhere as did their relationship. I wish we got to see more of how they became a couple instead of it all being pretty much off page.
The thing that really upset me with this book wasn't even all the gore. It was the fact that a child is molested and raped and there was no fucking trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. After reading that I put the book down and debated on even finishing it. But like the crazy person I am, I had to. I have that stupid book OCD where I have to finish every book I start.
I felt for all the victims. Most of them were just lonely and sad looking for any kind of companionship and some were even hoping for a love connection. But honey ain't no one gonna find love on a hookup site.
So in the end I would NOT recommend this one.
Well....
Look, the blurb sounded really promising and I was getting a lot of good feels for this when my fellow goodreads peeps started giving it 4 star ratings. I was all ready for a good detective read about a serial killer. What I got was a bit of a mess.
Ed is a detective for all of five seconds in the book because he's fired for supposedly inventing a witness. What? There was a murder scene where there was more than one cop not to mention other professionals who had their own job to do. There were other cops who witnessed there being an actual person who claimed to be the victims friend who found him and was the caller of 911. A fellow cop TOLD Ed that the witness was waiting to talk to him. So how did all these "professionals" forget what the key witness looked like or his freaking name? Nope. Not believing that shit.
That aside. We have Ed. Who doesn't do much detective work at all when he decides to look into things on his own. I didn't really get to know him very well. For him being the MC he felt very much like a side character. Timothy felt more like the MC.
Timothy. Dude was a complete nut. Even so, I had a very hard time believing this man that so many described as a small man from height to weight and who was said to look like a elf from a fairy tale was able to take on such big men with none of them being able to get the upper hand, Ed included. But I guess the innocent look made for a good killer. And the author does give us good crazy. The killer is psychotic. He does some really disturbing things. Some that really grossed me out. But the rest was a mess.
All the jumping around to Ed, Peter, Timothy, the Aunt, the victims were just too freaking much. There were too many on the pot as my mom likes to say. LOL
Peter. He really came outta nowhere as did their relationship. I wish we got to see more of how they became a couple instead of it all being pretty much off page.
The thing that really upset me with this book wasn't even all the gore. It was the fact that a child is molested and raped and there was no fucking trigger warnings at the beginning of this book. After reading that I put the book down and debated on even finishing it. But like the crazy person I am, I had to. I have that stupid book OCD where I have to finish every book I start.
I felt for all the victims. Most of them were just lonely and sad looking for any kind of companionship and some were even hoping for a love connection. But honey ain't no one gonna find love on a hookup site.
So in the end I would NOT recommend this one.
March 25, 2012
Timothy Bright is a serial killer who targets his victims through a gay hook-up site. After the first murder, openly gay detective Ed Comparetto is asked to investigate. Once he questions a witness, Ed’s life takes a turn for the worse. Nevertheless, he is determined to solve the murders and find out the truth about Timothy Bright, even if no one else believes he exists.
I really enjoyed this story! If I didn't have to complete a class project, I'd have gobbled it up in one sitting. Its relentless pace left me breathless and on the edge of my seat.
There were some very brutal, violent and disturbing scenes, but none were gratuitous and all were necessary to reveal the twisted mind of the serial killer, Timothy, and the pain and suffering that drove his actions.
I liked the shifting points of view, from the detective who is trying to solve the case, to the aunt who has kept a journal revealing her own mental instability and showing glimpses of Timothy’s childhood and teen years, and to Timothy himself.
Timothy is a monster, and I had no compassion for him, but I understand how families and life circumstances can lead to behavior disorders, violence, and possibly murder.
The horrible end to Timothy's lonely victims looking for sex and companionship made me very sad. It bothers me that in a society that is supposedly more enlightened and tolerant, that people continue to engage in risky anonymous sex.
The bright spot in this story is the relationship between Ed, still grieving the loss of his previous relationship, and Peter, a librarian he met while conducting research on the case. Their growing friendship and love is in sharp contrast to Timothy’s hate and self-loathing.
I really enjoyed this story! If I didn't have to complete a class project, I'd have gobbled it up in one sitting. Its relentless pace left me breathless and on the edge of my seat.
There were some very brutal, violent and disturbing scenes, but none were gratuitous and all were necessary to reveal the twisted mind of the serial killer, Timothy, and the pain and suffering that drove his actions.
I liked the shifting points of view, from the detective who is trying to solve the case, to the aunt who has kept a journal revealing her own mental instability and showing glimpses of Timothy’s childhood and teen years, and to Timothy himself.
Timothy is a monster, and I had no compassion for him, but I understand how families and life circumstances can lead to behavior disorders, violence, and possibly murder.
The horrible end to Timothy's lonely victims looking for sex and companionship made me very sad. It bothers me that in a society that is supposedly more enlightened and tolerant, that people continue to engage in risky anonymous sex.
The bright spot in this story is the relationship between Ed, still grieving the loss of his previous relationship, and Peter, a librarian he met while conducting research on the case. Their growing friendship and love is in sharp contrast to Timothy’s hate and self-loathing.
October 3, 2015
So many plot holes I almost fell through the book. The writing itself was excellent and the characters very well drawn but the premise was trite & the plot predictable. The set up was absolutely ridiculous as I said in my progress notes and the cops were beyond stupid. Even the main guy was an idiot. I loved his bf though and thought their relationship realistic, not love at first site I'm going to die without you.
The book was very violent and graphic which might bother some. there was too much detail about each killing and had too many different POVs for my taste.
I think it was good to talk about this online pickup site and talk about sex with strangers without judgment but also without glorifying it because it's realistic and a real though not talked about part of the gay male subculture. This felt like it was written by a gay man (as it was) unlike the vast majority that are written by straight women (many of my favorite stories among them so I'm not dissing them). I like to read those.
The best thing about the book was that the main character said that even if there were a "cure" for being gay he wouldn't take it because there wasn't anything wrong with being gay and he liked who he was. He was then horrified that there could be something that would make him stop liking to suck cock. Awesome!
2.5 stars rounded up because the writing itself really was very good.
The book was very violent and graphic which might bother some. there was too much detail about each killing and had too many different POVs for my taste.
I think it was good to talk about this online pickup site and talk about sex with strangers without judgment but also without glorifying it because it's realistic and a real though not talked about part of the gay male subculture. This felt like it was written by a gay man (as it was) unlike the vast majority that are written by straight women (many of my favorite stories among them so I'm not dissing them). I like to read those.
The best thing about the book was that the main character said that even if there were a "cure" for being gay he wouldn't take it because there wasn't anything wrong with being gay and he liked who he was. He was then horrified that there could be something that would make him stop liking to suck cock. Awesome!
2.5 stars rounded up because the writing itself really was very good.
August 17, 2013
I hate this man. I hate him I hate him I hate him.
But I love him.
How on earth Rick R. Reed manages to produce these tightly-wound tales and sleep nights is beyond me.
Why oh why did I choose to pick this book up and keep reading? It scared the pants off me. This is not a horror tale in a paranormal sense, but a tale of ordinary madness - which is even more frightening.
What hooks you is the little snapshot of each victim. The sad, lonely men who prepare themselves for their anonymous dates to show up. When one of them actually fends the guy off then is tracked down and killed later, it was a scene that was riveting, terryfing and utterly real.
I strongly urge you not to read this book at night. It will keep you awake and more importantly...you will never, ever go near a chat room again.
One teeny weeny niggle: why did all the men, even the killer, have striped bed sheets? Still trying to figure that out...not sure what the connection was there but this is a classic suspense novel that screams for a movie version.
I can't wait...but I will make sure to see a morning matinee.
But I love him.
How on earth Rick R. Reed manages to produce these tightly-wound tales and sleep nights is beyond me.
Why oh why did I choose to pick this book up and keep reading? It scared the pants off me. This is not a horror tale in a paranormal sense, but a tale of ordinary madness - which is even more frightening.
What hooks you is the little snapshot of each victim. The sad, lonely men who prepare themselves for their anonymous dates to show up. When one of them actually fends the guy off then is tracked down and killed later, it was a scene that was riveting, terryfing and utterly real.
I strongly urge you not to read this book at night. It will keep you awake and more importantly...you will never, ever go near a chat room again.
One teeny weeny niggle: why did all the men, even the killer, have striped bed sheets? Still trying to figure that out...not sure what the connection was there but this is a classic suspense novel that screams for a movie version.
I can't wait...but I will make sure to see a morning matinee.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 1, 2020
I received this eARC of IM by Rick R. Reed from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is essentially a serial killer murder mystery, with the killer targeting gay guys he meets on an online 'dating' website (hence the title IM, being instant messaging). The main protagonist is our hero cop Ed Comparetto (also gay and recently single) who is set up by the killer from the get go, and suspended from his job on the Chicago PD. It's one of those stories where you know who the killer is quite early on, but spend a lot of time thinking is it actually him? There is of course a back story of abuse and mental illness, so look out for lots of triggers.
The book is told from multiple POVs which can get annoying at times, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Lots of creepy moments too, where I thought maybe I'd carry on reading in the morning rather than at bedtime 😀
There's a nice little side storyline romance for our hero, which was a welcome relief from (an awful lot) of blood and gore and torture and general nastiness.
Other triggers include: rape, abuse, child abuse (off page and remembered), graphic violence.
3.5 ✨✨✨
This is essentially a serial killer murder mystery, with the killer targeting gay guys he meets on an online 'dating' website (hence the title IM, being instant messaging). The main protagonist is our hero cop Ed Comparetto (also gay and recently single) who is set up by the killer from the get go, and suspended from his job on the Chicago PD. It's one of those stories where you know who the killer is quite early on, but spend a lot of time thinking is it actually him? There is of course a back story of abuse and mental illness, so look out for lots of triggers.
The book is told from multiple POVs which can get annoying at times, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Lots of creepy moments too, where I thought maybe I'd carry on reading in the morning rather than at bedtime 😀
There's a nice little side storyline romance for our hero, which was a welcome relief from (an awful lot) of blood and gore and torture and general nastiness.
Other triggers include: rape, abuse, child abuse (off page and remembered), graphic violence.
3.5 ✨✨✨
July 6, 2016
This book went progressively downhill for me.
It started with a good enough premise, but also with a a major (and obvious) plot hole. But I was ready to roll with it.
The middle of the book was pretty interesting and engaging and I found myself getting drawn into the mystery. And even thou the million different POVs was jarring at first I actually got used to them. I really liked the idea behind the story. I love these detective-like books.
But then, by the last third of the book it all turned into a bad horror movie. You know those scenes in teen scary movies where you want to shout at the people on the screen because they are being utter imbeciles? I was like that. Everyone started doing what they shouldn't. The cops, the ex detective, the sorta boyfriend, the victims, even the killer himself. I skimmed the last part, particularly the muahaha monologues at the last scenes.
And the ending was a total bust. Unsatisfying and dull.
It started with a good enough premise, but also with a a major (and obvious) plot hole. But I was ready to roll with it.
The middle of the book was pretty interesting and engaging and I found myself getting drawn into the mystery. And even thou the million different POVs was jarring at first I actually got used to them. I really liked the idea behind the story. I love these detective-like books.
But then, by the last third of the book it all turned into a bad horror movie. You know those scenes in teen scary movies where you want to shout at the people on the screen because they are being utter imbeciles? I was like that. Everyone started doing what they shouldn't. The cops, the ex detective, the sorta boyfriend, the victims, even the killer himself. I skimmed the last part, particularly the muahaha monologues at the last scenes.
And the ending was a total bust. Unsatisfying and dull.
March 6, 2014
Be afraid. Be very afraid. Rick R Reed at his best!!
I think this must be one of my favourite Rick Reed mysterys!! It has tension, blood, guts, death, fear and also love and romance. It is 'Silence of the Lambs' scary too. The best part for me is that it is truly gripping. Once I started I wanted to race to the end and I was immediately drawn into the twists and turns of the plot. The story has a way of evoking images in my mind and it explores some fascinating aspects: the ease and superficiality of on line hook ups, the seeming paralysing fear of homophobia and rejection, the loneliness that pushes people to take risks and the pyschological effects of a damaged childhood. All these and more contribute to the creation of a monster and the ease with which he is able to stalk and capture his prey.
Rick has written a story that is dark and scary, but which also holds this together with love and light and hope. I was able to read on because I knew that there would be light at the end of the tunnel and some kind of resolution and hope. Reading the story has been like riding a roller coaster in the dark. You just have to hang on and hope for the best as the story takes you through ups, downs that you cannot see, and twists and turns in ways that make you both tense up and then sigh with relief.
This is a really great read but scary, very scary. It is now one of my favourites from this author.
I think this must be one of my favourite Rick Reed mysterys!! It has tension, blood, guts, death, fear and also love and romance. It is 'Silence of the Lambs' scary too. The best part for me is that it is truly gripping. Once I started I wanted to race to the end and I was immediately drawn into the twists and turns of the plot. The story has a way of evoking images in my mind and it explores some fascinating aspects: the ease and superficiality of on line hook ups, the seeming paralysing fear of homophobia and rejection, the loneliness that pushes people to take risks and the pyschological effects of a damaged childhood. All these and more contribute to the creation of a monster and the ease with which he is able to stalk and capture his prey.
Rick has written a story that is dark and scary, but which also holds this together with love and light and hope. I was able to read on because I knew that there would be light at the end of the tunnel and some kind of resolution and hope. Reading the story has been like riding a roller coaster in the dark. You just have to hang on and hope for the best as the story takes you through ups, downs that you cannot see, and twists and turns in ways that make you both tense up and then sigh with relief.
This is a really great read but scary, very scary. It is now one of my favourites from this author.
December 7, 2015
Wow. New levels of incompetence and bad decisions on par with a horror movie. Not campy enough to be funny and the timeline jumps and headspace roulette were too much for me.
March 17, 2015
IM
Rick R. Reed
Quest Books (2007)
ISBN 9781932300796
Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (4/07)
“IM” by Rick Reed is a fast-paced page turner that I could barely put down. The title is the abbreviation for
“Instant Messaging” but in this case, the instant messaging results in instant murder. While it is a mystery
concerning a series of crimes against gay men, and featuring a gay detective and a questionably gay killer, the
plot twists, character development, and suspense make it a story any fan of mystery or crime fiction will
enjoy.
The story is about Timothy Bright, a man sexually abused as a teenager by his aunt’s boyfriend. He now
seeks revenge upon the gay world, as well as his aunt and her boyfriend. He preys upon gay men who log
onto Men4HookUpNow.com, instant messaging them and getting them to invite him over for a night of hot
sex. Once they let him in their homes, he murders them. Chicago Police Department detective Ed Comparetto,
who happens to be gay himself, investigates the crimes. Ed soon becomes convinced Timothy Bright is the
murderer, until he learns that Timothy Bright actually died years before. Complications ensue as Ed seeks the
killer and the truth behind the real identity of Timothy Bright. Several attempts to catch Bright fail until Ed
puts not only himself, but his boyfriend, Peter, in serious danger.
What I found most interesting about “IM” was how Reed used different point -of-views to achieve his effects.
The primary story takes place in the present day, detailing Ed Comparetto’s investigations in third-person.
However, the author also uses diary entries from Timothy’s aunt, discussing Timothy’s childhood and how
she came to realize he was mentally unbalanced. Most daringly, Reed creates chapters told in first person by
Timothy Bright to explain how Bright became a killer. Reed manages to pull off these first person sections
magnificently, not making Timothy completely repulsive to the reader, yet staying away from making him a
sympathetic villain. Timothy’s first person narration is bold and allows him to flaunt to the reader how clever
he is that he can get away with his crimes.
“IM” has many gruesome scenes which make it unlikely the reader will pity Timothy. Because of the highly
descriptive sexual encounters and the repulsive murders that result from them, I would caution readers to stay
away from the book if they cannot stomach blood and violence, yet the violent scenes are not simply for
gratuitous shock effect, but to help the reader better understand Timothy’s evil nature and the sexual revenge
he is set on committing.
Rick R. Reed has written several other novels and short stories. Fans of mystery and suspense may want to
explore his work further. At the end of “IM” are several pages of his upcoming vampire novel “In the Blood”
which gives a taste of his work in other genres. If his other books are as fast-paced and well-developed as
“IM” I would read them as well. I may, however, think twice before I ever instant message anyone.
Rick R. Reed
Quest Books (2007)
ISBN 9781932300796
Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (4/07)
“IM” by Rick Reed is a fast-paced page turner that I could barely put down. The title is the abbreviation for
“Instant Messaging” but in this case, the instant messaging results in instant murder. While it is a mystery
concerning a series of crimes against gay men, and featuring a gay detective and a questionably gay killer, the
plot twists, character development, and suspense make it a story any fan of mystery or crime fiction will
enjoy.
The story is about Timothy Bright, a man sexually abused as a teenager by his aunt’s boyfriend. He now
seeks revenge upon the gay world, as well as his aunt and her boyfriend. He preys upon gay men who log
onto Men4HookUpNow.com, instant messaging them and getting them to invite him over for a night of hot
sex. Once they let him in their homes, he murders them. Chicago Police Department detective Ed Comparetto,
who happens to be gay himself, investigates the crimes. Ed soon becomes convinced Timothy Bright is the
murderer, until he learns that Timothy Bright actually died years before. Complications ensue as Ed seeks the
killer and the truth behind the real identity of Timothy Bright. Several attempts to catch Bright fail until Ed
puts not only himself, but his boyfriend, Peter, in serious danger.
What I found most interesting about “IM” was how Reed used different point -of-views to achieve his effects.
The primary story takes place in the present day, detailing Ed Comparetto’s investigations in third-person.
However, the author also uses diary entries from Timothy’s aunt, discussing Timothy’s childhood and how
she came to realize he was mentally unbalanced. Most daringly, Reed creates chapters told in first person by
Timothy Bright to explain how Bright became a killer. Reed manages to pull off these first person sections
magnificently, not making Timothy completely repulsive to the reader, yet staying away from making him a
sympathetic villain. Timothy’s first person narration is bold and allows him to flaunt to the reader how clever
he is that he can get away with his crimes.
“IM” has many gruesome scenes which make it unlikely the reader will pity Timothy. Because of the highly
descriptive sexual encounters and the repulsive murders that result from them, I would caution readers to stay
away from the book if they cannot stomach blood and violence, yet the violent scenes are not simply for
gratuitous shock effect, but to help the reader better understand Timothy’s evil nature and the sexual revenge
he is set on committing.
Rick R. Reed has written several other novels and short stories. Fans of mystery and suspense may want to
explore his work further. At the end of “IM” are several pages of his upcoming vampire novel “In the Blood”
which gives a taste of his work in other genres. If his other books are as fast-paced and well-developed as
“IM” I would read them as well. I may, however, think twice before I ever instant message anyone.
July 24, 2013
***** Audio book review = 5 surprising stars *****
I 'read' this book in its audio format so my enjoyment was impacted by a number of factors: the plot, quality of the story, style of the telling, characterisation and finally the narration. Ideally I would like to be able to assess the two components (the story and the narration) separately but actually find the narration has too much direct impact on my views of the story to do this effectively.
This is a mystery/thriller and is a beautifully crafted tale that takes the listener deep into a darker side of the world of internet hook-ups. It plunges straight into a series of brutal murders. It is blunt and graphic and violent and horrific. The murders are descriptive, grossly so, with descriptions of sights, sounds, smells and feelings giving a sense of realism to the scenes. It was almost like being plunged into an episode of Criminal Minds.
During the early part of the story, we are introduced to the various murder victims before they face their final moments. Even though each of these characters only play a short role, the author does a wonderful job of bringing a real personal element to each one. He describes their homes, personal traits and provides an insight into each man's emotional state. We learn how feel about their online hookups and the men they meet and what they are really looking for in life - and all are looking for love.
Ed Comparetto is the main focus of the story (apart from the killer). He is a cop who gets caught up in the murder investigation but ultimately gets suspended. I am not sure why the killer singled Ed out but contact from the killer and a desire to get his job back gives him no choice but to solve the mystery himself. While going through this really difficult period in his life, Ed meets Peter, which adds a romance element to the story. But mostly this story is focused on Ed's efforts to catch the killer.
It is difficult to talk about the killer and other characters without giving away the plot so I will keep it short. I thought the character of the killer was brilliant. He was perfectly creepy and his true evil nature was evident. There were some devices used in the story which provided a fabulous view into the past and the pyschy of the killer. A word of warning that the story does have some scenes, apart from graphic murder, that could be upsetting to some readers .
Now to the narration which was brilliant! I am not an expert (I've only listened to 3 other audio books) but truly believe this guy (Taavi Mark) got it right. The accents were perfectly suited to each character and he switched effortlessly between them.
He mastered the voice of the killer, truly adding a real sense of creepiness. The voice is breathy but chilling. It was quite clever how the killer's breathy voice deepened when he was switching into character for his IM hook ups which even included when he was reading them.
This story had large sections of dialogue and switched between different characters points of view so it was even more important to get the voices right - it wasn't just small sentences here and there but large tracts of narration while in character. One of the significant characters was female and I found her voice (the pitch, tone, accent and inflections) perfect!
It is really hard to make this claim because I hadn't read the book first but I'm going to put it out there anyway - I think listening to this book actually added to my enjoyment. I felt the use of the voices, particularly the killer and his family member, actually helped immerse me into the story, added to the atmosphere and gave a great sense of the emotion.
In summary, I highly recommend this story for lovers of a good graphic, murder thriller (it's focus is not romance) and the audio book is excellent.
If you do choose to listen to the audio version then be aware that it is long (you can change the pace of the narration but it does have a big impact on how it sounds - I listened at x1.25). I think this one was nearly 10 hours. I listened to the first half during a weekly commute to and from work and the second half on a 4 hour road trip which made good use of my time!
If you're not sure if the audio version is for you, you can listen to a sample before completing your purchase. If you already own the Kindle version then the audio version is sometimes cheaper. If you own both, you can switch back and forth using WhisperSync which is brilliant.
Finally I would like to pass on my thanks to the author who provided me with this Audio book in return for an honest review.
I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
I 'read' this book in its audio format so my enjoyment was impacted by a number of factors: the plot, quality of the story, style of the telling, characterisation and finally the narration. Ideally I would like to be able to assess the two components (the story and the narration) separately but actually find the narration has too much direct impact on my views of the story to do this effectively.
This is a mystery/thriller and is a beautifully crafted tale that takes the listener deep into a darker side of the world of internet hook-ups. It plunges straight into a series of brutal murders. It is blunt and graphic and violent and horrific. The murders are descriptive, grossly so, with descriptions of sights, sounds, smells and feelings giving a sense of realism to the scenes. It was almost like being plunged into an episode of Criminal Minds.
During the early part of the story, we are introduced to the various murder victims before they face their final moments. Even though each of these characters only play a short role, the author does a wonderful job of bringing a real personal element to each one. He describes their homes, personal traits and provides an insight into each man's emotional state. We learn how feel about their online hookups and the men they meet and what they are really looking for in life - and all are looking for love.
Ed Comparetto is the main focus of the story (apart from the killer). He is a cop who gets caught up in the murder investigation but ultimately gets suspended. I am not sure why the killer singled Ed out but contact from the killer and a desire to get his job back gives him no choice but to solve the mystery himself. While going through this really difficult period in his life, Ed meets Peter, which adds a romance element to the story. But mostly this story is focused on Ed's efforts to catch the killer.
It is difficult to talk about the killer and other characters without giving away the plot so I will keep it short. I thought the character of the killer was brilliant. He was perfectly creepy and his true evil nature was evident. There were some devices used in the story which provided a fabulous view into the past and the pyschy of the killer. A word of warning that the story does have some scenes, apart from graphic murder, that could be upsetting to some readers .
Now to the narration which was brilliant! I am not an expert (I've only listened to 3 other audio books) but truly believe this guy (Taavi Mark) got it right. The accents were perfectly suited to each character and he switched effortlessly between them.
He mastered the voice of the killer, truly adding a real sense of creepiness. The voice is breathy but chilling. It was quite clever how the killer's breathy voice deepened when he was switching into character for his IM hook ups which even included when he was reading them.
This story had large sections of dialogue and switched between different characters points of view so it was even more important to get the voices right - it wasn't just small sentences here and there but large tracts of narration while in character. One of the significant characters was female and I found her voice (the pitch, tone, accent and inflections) perfect!
It is really hard to make this claim because I hadn't read the book first but I'm going to put it out there anyway - I think listening to this book actually added to my enjoyment. I felt the use of the voices, particularly the killer and his family member, actually helped immerse me into the story, added to the atmosphere and gave a great sense of the emotion.
In summary, I highly recommend this story for lovers of a good graphic, murder thriller (it's focus is not romance) and the audio book is excellent.
If you do choose to listen to the audio version then be aware that it is long (you can change the pace of the narration but it does have a big impact on how it sounds - I listened at x1.25). I think this one was nearly 10 hours. I listened to the first half during a weekly commute to and from work and the second half on a 4 hour road trip which made good use of my time!
If you're not sure if the audio version is for you, you can listen to a sample before completing your purchase. If you already own the Kindle version then the audio version is sometimes cheaper. If you own both, you can switch back and forth using WhisperSync which is brilliant.
Finally I would like to pass on my thanks to the author who provided me with this Audio book in return for an honest review.
I now publish all my m/m reviews on my blog so if you want to see all my m/m reviews in one place come visit at Because Two Men Are Better Than One!
August 20, 2012
I give this story two stars.
When I read the book synopsis I thought it would be a good fit for me as I love detective murder mystery and thrillers with a little bit of horror.
It started off very interesting, but fell into a spiraling descent from which it never recovers.
The story has so many flaws that I could not get past and hence I did not enjoy this story. I felt the story lacked credibility/believability.
In the end, it was just too unbelievable, too gory, and too disturbing to be called entertainment.
I do not recommend this read. I am not likely to read this author again.
When I read the book synopsis I thought it would be a good fit for me as I love detective murder mystery and thrillers with a little bit of horror.
It started off very interesting, but fell into a spiraling descent from which it never recovers.
The story has so many flaws that I could not get past and hence I did not enjoy this story. I felt the story lacked credibility/believability.
In the end, it was just too unbelievable, too gory, and too disturbing to be called entertainment.
I do not recommend this read. I am not likely to read this author again.
January 18, 2018
Wow! IM is the first novel I've read by Rick R Reed - but it certainly won't be the last. Reed takes a modern-day twist of the gay serial killer that is at once unique and intriging; the killer meets all his victims online. Unlike typical serial killer novels, where bodies stack up will police search clues to find the person responsible, IM displays a strong backstory of the killer's life that is served up to the reader in doses throughout the novel. Just when I thought I'd figured out the reason driving Timothy's terror on the city, Reed tosses in a different twist. I thoroughly enjoyed the POV changes throughout the novel, a fine balance that allows the reader a chance to experience what each of the characters are feeling. Odd to say that IM is a love-story, too, however, the emerging bond between the ex-cop, Ed and his boyfriend, Peter, is real...I was sorry to see the novel end for this reason and hope that perhaps, Reed will return later with their continuing story! If you've never read a Rick R Reed Novel, I'd strongly suggest you begin with IM!
September 30, 2011
I'm going to come at this from a different angle. Yes, IM is a horrifyingly realistic thriller delivered through crisp prose and perfect pacing (I was up late into the night finishing it). But something else impressed me about this book: how the author managed to sketch concise yet resonant portraits of the killer's victims; how he also managed to create a murderous psychopath as intriguing as he is repellent.
Making "throwaway" characters come alive, if only for a moment, requires enormous skill. Making them evoke the reader's sympathy requires even more skill. Rick Reed does both, in addition to generating fascination for his villain.
I'm drawn to authors who take care with their characters -- and care about them, and make the reader care about them. Now I'm looking forward more than ever to reading Rick Reed's "softer" stories.
Making "throwaway" characters come alive, if only for a moment, requires enormous skill. Making them evoke the reader's sympathy requires even more skill. Rick Reed does both, in addition to generating fascination for his villain.
I'm drawn to authors who take care with their characters -- and care about them, and make the reader care about them. Now I'm looking forward more than ever to reading Rick Reed's "softer" stories.
October 9, 2010
This book took me so much longer to read than normal, because I kept having to put it down. I've always been a big fan of horror/mystery books, but one just scared the hell out of me. At one point, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to finish it. I had to have my hand held through the entire last half, and STILL put it down at least five times. It could be partially due to the "lonely hearts" aspect of the killings. I just didn't want to see the lonely ones end up like that. there were a lot of horror aspects in it. Mostly, I think it's just a damn scary book, and did just what it was supposed to do - scare the hell out of me.
May 28, 2010
Holy shit, this was scary! Brilliant, but scary as hell - don't read it in the dark.
April 27, 2023
This one is long overdue. Finally got around to it. I know, had I read this one back then, I’d probably be horrified. But a lot changes in three years. I’ve read shit. I’ve watched shit and well, it doesn't really phase me much anymore.
This one bounces between Ed, Peter and a host of other characters to tell the story of a serial killer whose hunting ground is a hookup site for men. I find that it usually goes downhill at the point of the grand reveal or unmasking of the killer. This one did that very quickly. It was interesting from Timothy’s point of view. But whilst there were a couple of twists, it was fairly predictable as a mystery.
As a straight forward crazy guy on a killing spree story, I question my younger self. What were you thinking? I think this might’ve been one of those go outside the comfort zone attempts. It would’ve done that alright.
The R word gets thrown around a lot, along with quite a few derogatory terms. Timothy is messed up and I can't tell if it was supposed to just be a back story, or if there was supposed to be sympathy in there. Chapter 13 contains pedophilia. Chapter 20 is the start of a rape scene that doesn’t get far and chapter 21 contains a bit of necro, short blowy to the dead guy. There’s also a chapter where it shows how Theo died, but I forget which one that was.
The killer is obvious from the get go, but with the blue eye thing, the story treats Peter like a red herring, especially once the twin thing is mentioned. It was an interesting story, if not an eye opening one that makes Scream look like a comedy, but the one thing that kept bothering me was the site itself. The way the victims invited a guy without a profile pic to their homes and the guy who was so blasé about STDs. The lack of safety awareness was horrifying.
Timothy was off the rails, Helene was highly opinionated, Peter felt like he’d turn out to be a bad guy. Mark could’ve likely survived if he’d spoken up or if they’d paid him a house visit. I didn’t get much from Ed. It felt like an excuse to kick him out. He continued the case unofficially, getting over Dan in the process and falling for Peter. Their happy ending felt a bit abrupt with the way the story ended. There were no consequences for Ed going off on his own or anything like that.
This one bounces between Ed, Peter and a host of other characters to tell the story of a serial killer whose hunting ground is a hookup site for men. I find that it usually goes downhill at the point of the grand reveal or unmasking of the killer. This one did that very quickly. It was interesting from Timothy’s point of view. But whilst there were a couple of twists, it was fairly predictable as a mystery.
As a straight forward crazy guy on a killing spree story, I question my younger self. What were you thinking? I think this might’ve been one of those go outside the comfort zone attempts. It would’ve done that alright.
The R word gets thrown around a lot, along with quite a few derogatory terms. Timothy is messed up and I can't tell if it was supposed to just be a back story, or if there was supposed to be sympathy in there. Chapter 13 contains pedophilia. Chapter 20 is the start of a rape scene that doesn’t get far and chapter 21 contains a bit of necro, short blowy to the dead guy. There’s also a chapter where it shows how Theo died, but I forget which one that was.
The killer is obvious from the get go, but with the blue eye thing, the story treats Peter like a red herring, especially once the twin thing is mentioned. It was an interesting story, if not an eye opening one that makes Scream look like a comedy, but the one thing that kept bothering me was the site itself. The way the victims invited a guy without a profile pic to their homes and the guy who was so blasé about STDs. The lack of safety awareness was horrifying.
Timothy was off the rails, Helene was highly opinionated, Peter felt like he’d turn out to be a bad guy. Mark could’ve likely survived if he’d spoken up or if they’d paid him a house visit. I didn’t get much from Ed. It felt like an excuse to kick him out. He continued the case unofficially, getting over Dan in the process and falling for Peter. Their happy ending felt a bit abrupt with the way the story ended. There were no consequences for Ed going off on his own or anything like that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2020
Rick R. Reed is a successful author with over 35 books (and counting) and his book list is an interesting mix of M/M romance ... and horror. Yup, horror. Reed addresses this interesting dichotomy in his blog, noting "I think that sense of emotional vulnerability applies to both romance and horror. Vulnerability is universal and that’s why people enjoy reading about it."
IM gives us that vulnerability in this tale of Chicago men using Men4HookUpNow and finding death at their door. We really get a sense of what each man is hoping to find (love, romance, sex, kink) and these richly-detailed vignettes make the horror that comes much more terrifying and poignant (although I found the deaths very disturbing).
However, I didn't get as clear a sense of the book's main character Ed, gay former Chicago police detective who seemingly meets a dead man at the scene of the crime and is fired for falsifying his police report. The rationale for his firing seems unlikely given that other people at the crime scene also saw the supposed dead man and it's a bit of a reach to use this as a plot device to get fired so he could independently work on the case.. The unfolding of the intricate plot definitely held my interest throughout, and the victims broke my heart, but the POVs from a multitude of characters seemed like overkill (no pun intended). 3.5 stars for IM (YMMV).
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
IM gives us that vulnerability in this tale of Chicago men using Men4HookUpNow and finding death at their door. We really get a sense of what each man is hoping to find (love, romance, sex, kink) and these richly-detailed vignettes make the horror that comes much more terrifying and poignant (although I found the deaths very disturbing).
However, I didn't get as clear a sense of the book's main character Ed, gay former Chicago police detective who seemingly meets a dead man at the scene of the crime and is fired for falsifying his police report. The rationale for his firing seems unlikely given that other people at the crime scene also saw the supposed dead man and it's a bit of a reach to use this as a plot device to get fired so he could independently work on the case.. The unfolding of the intricate plot definitely held my interest throughout, and the victims broke my heart, but the POVs from a multitude of characters seemed like overkill (no pun intended). 3.5 stars for IM (YMMV).
Visit my blog, Sinfully Good Gay Book Reviews
February 22, 2017
4.0 Stars
Wow, that was some seriously dark stuff that definitely reinforced my decision to never, ever use a hookup app or Craigslist should the need for quick sex present itself at some point in the future.
I do have to say that I'm a little tired of the queer psychopathic killer shtick, though; sometimes I worry that it perpetuates some awful stereotypes and reinforces the bigotry via justification of homosexuality as a mental illness. Luckily (or not - YMMV), it works in this case because there are other mitigating (possibly congenital) factors and circumstances. Although, those extenuating circumstances are also what some 'phobes say "causes" homosexuality in men/boys so...*shrug* I dunno.
The book is well written and I was on the edge of my seat through that whole last 25%. Those scenes from the victims' POV are the most chilling and compelling, too.
Wow, that was some seriously dark stuff that definitely reinforced my decision to never, ever use a hookup app or Craigslist should the need for quick sex present itself at some point in the future.
I do have to say that I'm a little tired of the queer psychopathic killer shtick, though; sometimes I worry that it perpetuates some awful stereotypes and reinforces the bigotry via justification of homosexuality as a mental illness. Luckily (or not - YMMV), it works in this case because there are other mitigating (possibly congenital) factors and circumstances. Although, those extenuating circumstances are also what some 'phobes say "causes" homosexuality in men/boys so...*shrug* I dunno.
The book is well written and I was on the edge of my seat through that whole last 25%. Those scenes from the victims' POV are the most chilling and compelling, too.
June 24, 2009
From the book's very first murder, Mr. Reed takes the reader on a wild ride where nothing is as it seems. Ed is a cop whose job crumbles from under him as he chases after a madman who may already be dead. Timothy Bright seems heartless and cruel, but as the story progresses, the reader learns what has made him who he is. Throughout the book, the pacing is tight and fast, catapulting you through the twists and turns, leaving you breathless, until you're reading as fast as you can in an effort to find out how it ends.
Beware ~ the violence is graphic and sexual, disturbing images that speak to the dangers of anonymous sex. But Comparetto is the perfect counterpart to the evil Timothy Bright, who haunts the cop's every move throughout the story. I found myself rooting for Ed from the start, and as time seems to run out for him, I was on the edge of my seat, reading furiously, flipping pages to find out what happened next.
In short, this book is riveting. I couldn't put it down. This is a must read for any fans of gay fiction who are looking for a good murder mystery/horror story. Think Stephen King meets Patricia Cornwell, with lots of gay sexual references to satisfy readers. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Mr. Reed's work.
Beware ~ the violence is graphic and sexual, disturbing images that speak to the dangers of anonymous sex. But Comparetto is the perfect counterpart to the evil Timothy Bright, who haunts the cop's every move throughout the story. I found myself rooting for Ed from the start, and as time seems to run out for him, I was on the edge of my seat, reading furiously, flipping pages to find out what happened next.
In short, this book is riveting. I couldn't put it down. This is a must read for any fans of gay fiction who are looking for a good murder mystery/horror story. Think Stephen King meets Patricia Cornwell, with lots of gay sexual references to satisfy readers. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Mr. Reed's work.
March 11, 2011
I have to say I wished I never read this book. I am sure I will never have another good night sleep again it scared me that much. This book is about a serial killer and the way it was written was so well done it felt like you are right there in the action. I have never read a book that was so realistic.
March 20, 2020
***I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley and NineStar Press.***
This book has an interesting premise, one that is becoming more relevant as the idea of social networking and hook up culture gains ever more steam. It plays on a lot of fears that people have. One side is spurring you on a hormonal rush to an anonymous lover, the other is wondering just how do you know the person you’re meeting isn’t a psycho? Ultimately, the book had it’s good points but it wasn’t done very well. The characterizations had a lot of inconsistencies, the story had gaping plot holes and the entire ending was written in a way that confused me as to what was going on.
One of the good things in this book was Peter. I really enjoyed him. I found him funny, sardonic and at times wise beyond his years. His romance with Ed was very sweet. I was rooting for the two of them because they were both nice guys that desperately wanted a relationship more meaningful than just hooking up.
I also really enjoyed that this book didn’t shy away from the depravity within its pages. Sometimes when an author feels uncomfortable writing something dark they tend to do a “fade to black” just when things are getting serious. I always admire an author that has the courage to see the depravity through. As an amateur writer myself I have written scenes that made myself feel ill and they are really hard to write. I was uncomfortable reading this book, so well done to the author.
Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get over some big things with the book. The first problem was the ever growing cast of narrators. Virtually every other chapter was “Meet Guy 2, he’s lonely and wants to hook up with a dude from online. He is wary that the person won’t be anything like they described themselves. Ahhh, he’s going to kill me.” Then the killer kills them and we move on to a chapter about Ed being frustrated with finding a killer. It got repetitive and boring, and the constant shuffling of narrators who were subsequently killed made it difficult to connect with the story emotionally. It’s hard to get an emotional investment in a character who is only around for ten pages.
There was also a very huge problem with the characterization of the killer. Sometimes he is portrayed as a victim of abuse and neglect, getting back at the homosexual world that had so richly abused him over the years. Then other times we’re treated to narratives about him being a psychopath and torturing animals as a child, or torturing lovers because the pain is a turn on. Those two things don’t really mix very well. Which one is he? I had a hard time reconciling both in my head as being the same person. Violent psychopaths typically don’t make for very easy victims.
SPOILER ALERT: The following paragraphs contain some minor spoilers.
A few of the big plotholes took away from the story for me too. First, the circumstances that Ed finds himself in with his job were weird. It literally made no sense and was never explained. Ed gets fired for allegedly “fabricating” the witness who discovered the first body. They allege that he had no witnesses so he made one up to make it seem like he had a lead. But here’s the problem. The witness was seen by several people. Several other people talked to him before Ed even arrived. When Ed arrived, he is directed to the witness by one of those people. But then the person is just too upset about the crime scene to remember clearly? That was very weakly done. There are plenty of options for having Ed be terminated through crooked means but this was just dumb.
I had a big problem with exactly how the killer seemed to be a full head (or more) shorter than everyone he killed, but it wasn’t a problem. He is described as “elfin” about a thousand times. He’s so short that he sometimes can’t be seen through peepholes. But yet, he physically overpowers and kills multiple men who are larger, more athletic and stronger than him. How does that happen? I have no idea. All the book told me is that he does. It’s not explained how that happened at all.
The ending was really confusing. I was being told about a lot of things happening at once and the way it was written made it all seem jumbled. All of a sudden Ed would be jumping up to attack the killer and I was thinking “Wait, but wasn’t the killer over by the door? How did he get here all of a sudden?” I started to skim it for the high points because I just didn’t follow it.
I think there are a lot of good bones to this book. The writing shows a lot of talent and the idea is a good one. It really needs a good edit or two.
Reviewed for Written Among the Stars
This book has an interesting premise, one that is becoming more relevant as the idea of social networking and hook up culture gains ever more steam. It plays on a lot of fears that people have. One side is spurring you on a hormonal rush to an anonymous lover, the other is wondering just how do you know the person you’re meeting isn’t a psycho? Ultimately, the book had it’s good points but it wasn’t done very well. The characterizations had a lot of inconsistencies, the story had gaping plot holes and the entire ending was written in a way that confused me as to what was going on.
One of the good things in this book was Peter. I really enjoyed him. I found him funny, sardonic and at times wise beyond his years. His romance with Ed was very sweet. I was rooting for the two of them because they were both nice guys that desperately wanted a relationship more meaningful than just hooking up.
I also really enjoyed that this book didn’t shy away from the depravity within its pages. Sometimes when an author feels uncomfortable writing something dark they tend to do a “fade to black” just when things are getting serious. I always admire an author that has the courage to see the depravity through. As an amateur writer myself I have written scenes that made myself feel ill and they are really hard to write. I was uncomfortable reading this book, so well done to the author.
Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get over some big things with the book. The first problem was the ever growing cast of narrators. Virtually every other chapter was “Meet Guy 2, he’s lonely and wants to hook up with a dude from online. He is wary that the person won’t be anything like they described themselves. Ahhh, he’s going to kill me.” Then the killer kills them and we move on to a chapter about Ed being frustrated with finding a killer. It got repetitive and boring, and the constant shuffling of narrators who were subsequently killed made it difficult to connect with the story emotionally. It’s hard to get an emotional investment in a character who is only around for ten pages.
There was also a very huge problem with the characterization of the killer. Sometimes he is portrayed as a victim of abuse and neglect, getting back at the homosexual world that had so richly abused him over the years. Then other times we’re treated to narratives about him being a psychopath and torturing animals as a child, or torturing lovers because the pain is a turn on. Those two things don’t really mix very well. Which one is he? I had a hard time reconciling both in my head as being the same person. Violent psychopaths typically don’t make for very easy victims.
SPOILER ALERT: The following paragraphs contain some minor spoilers.
A few of the big plotholes took away from the story for me too. First, the circumstances that Ed finds himself in with his job were weird. It literally made no sense and was never explained. Ed gets fired for allegedly “fabricating” the witness who discovered the first body. They allege that he had no witnesses so he made one up to make it seem like he had a lead. But here’s the problem. The witness was seen by several people. Several other people talked to him before Ed even arrived. When Ed arrived, he is directed to the witness by one of those people. But then the person is just too upset about the crime scene to remember clearly? That was very weakly done. There are plenty of options for having Ed be terminated through crooked means but this was just dumb.
I had a big problem with exactly how the killer seemed to be a full head (or more) shorter than everyone he killed, but it wasn’t a problem. He is described as “elfin” about a thousand times. He’s so short that he sometimes can’t be seen through peepholes. But yet, he physically overpowers and kills multiple men who are larger, more athletic and stronger than him. How does that happen? I have no idea. All the book told me is that he does. It’s not explained how that happened at all.
The ending was really confusing. I was being told about a lot of things happening at once and the way it was written made it all seem jumbled. All of a sudden Ed would be jumping up to attack the killer and I was thinking “Wait, but wasn’t the killer over by the door? How did he get here all of a sudden?” I started to skim it for the high points because I just didn’t follow it.
I think there are a lot of good bones to this book. The writing shows a lot of talent and the idea is a good one. It really needs a good edit or two.
Reviewed for Written Among the Stars
August 20, 2019
I had so many issues with this book, though I'm not sure if they're the reason that I didn't like it. Maybe the combination. That said, the actual writing was good. It was the story and plot holes that caused the issues.
First off, the main character, a cop in Chicago loses his job very early in the investigation so I'm not really going to treat it as a spoiler. It's just the first of my issues because the way it was handled confused me. I thought at first that this story must have taken place decades ago before police officers unions and everyone was afraid a lawyer would sue them, but no, Ed is later watching Modern Family so...why was he called into his superiors office with no notice, no union rep, no witness and let go on the spot, no suspension pending investigation because the investigation is already carried out? I thought they had to go through a union rep and a huge brouhaha of an investigation during which his union rep would advocate for his rights? When Ed’s let go by his supervisor, why wasn’t his first call to his union rep to check on the status of his benefits/pension vestment? This all seems a little off. Hello lawsuit.
My second issue was with the multiple points of view. I don't mind a few characters telling you a story but almost everyone on the page had a point of view. Especially all the victims. By halfway through the book, I was telling myself that if one more young man was introduced so that he could be murdered by the serial killer before the end of his POV chapter, I was going to scream. Amazon needs to create an indestructible Kindle so that I can throw it against my fireplace brick/stone when I'm frustrated with a book. Sometimes I do miss being able to throw an actual book across the room.
And what was up with all the characters who can't sleep at night reading horror novels? Especially Mark, who is panicking about the serial killer stalking him after his close call. Why would you pick up a Stephen King novel when you're already looking out the windows afraid? I think I commented "seriously" at least 4 times during the reading of this book. I just can't imagine people would actually do this.
And final thoughts on the serial killer. His profile in the book confused me as well. I couldn't tell if he was a sociopath incapable of empathy or a guy who had been driven to be a serial killer because of the atrocities that happened to him growing up. It was like the author was trying to make him both.
First off, the main character, a cop in Chicago loses his job very early in the investigation so I'm not really going to treat it as a spoiler. It's just the first of my issues because the way it was handled confused me. I thought at first that this story must have taken place decades ago before police officers unions and everyone was afraid a lawyer would sue them, but no, Ed is later watching Modern Family so...why was he called into his superiors office with no notice, no union rep, no witness and let go on the spot, no suspension pending investigation because the investigation is already carried out? I thought they had to go through a union rep and a huge brouhaha of an investigation during which his union rep would advocate for his rights? When Ed’s let go by his supervisor, why wasn’t his first call to his union rep to check on the status of his benefits/pension vestment? This all seems a little off. Hello lawsuit.
My second issue was with the multiple points of view. I don't mind a few characters telling you a story but almost everyone on the page had a point of view. Especially all the victims. By halfway through the book, I was telling myself that if one more young man was introduced so that he could be murdered by the serial killer before the end of his POV chapter, I was going to scream. Amazon needs to create an indestructible Kindle so that I can throw it against my fireplace brick/stone when I'm frustrated with a book. Sometimes I do miss being able to throw an actual book across the room.
And what was up with all the characters who can't sleep at night reading horror novels? Especially Mark, who is panicking about the serial killer stalking him after his close call. Why would you pick up a Stephen King novel when you're already looking out the windows afraid? I think I commented "seriously" at least 4 times during the reading of this book. I just can't imagine people would actually do this.
And final thoughts on the serial killer. His profile in the book confused me as well. I couldn't tell if he was a sociopath incapable of empathy or a guy who had been driven to be a serial killer because of the atrocities that happened to him growing up. It was like the author was trying to make him both.
March 19, 2021
Trigger warnings:
Okay, first thing's first. This is a book in which many gay men die.
I know this is something that some LGBTQIA+ readers find upsetting, particularly as the sole plot device of the book. If so, this book isn't for you. I am unsure where my feeling exactly land in this dilemma. But as Reed is a predominantly LGBTQIA+ author, I see no harm from the outset personally.
This is all I will say on this discussion throughout this review.
I love messed up, gory, creepy characters. Or I love hating them at least. And this is where Reed got me hooked in this story.
Reed's development of Timothy Bright, our main creepo & serial killer, was a fascinating character. There are some pretty graphic scenes with him, so just a heads up if this isn't your thing. And while the character certainly wasn't fleshed out as much as I would have liked and there something a little thrown-together about his eventual backstory, I did enjoy him as a character.
Our other characters - namingly, our MC, Ed, and his love interest, Peter? Left me a little wanting. The relationship was very insta-romance, which didn't fit the story at all. And Eds entire career situation is riddled with plot holes.
The story itself, while mostly enjoyable, was fairly generic as far as a serial killer plot goes. I guessed the twist about a third of the way in and it wasn't anything special. IM is a quick to digest book but by the second half I was pretty underwhelmed.
If you want something quick to jump through and a creepy-as-all-heck antagonist - maybe you should check this out. Just don't be hoping for a gob-smacking plot ending to write home about.
Okay, first thing's first. This is a book in which many gay men die.
I know this is something that some LGBTQIA+ readers find upsetting, particularly as the sole plot device of the book. If so, this book isn't for you. I am unsure where my feeling exactly land in this dilemma. But as Reed is a predominantly LGBTQIA+ author, I see no harm from the outset personally.
This is all I will say on this discussion throughout this review.
I love messed up, gory, creepy characters. Or I love hating them at least. And this is where Reed got me hooked in this story.
Reed's development of Timothy Bright, our main creepo & serial killer, was a fascinating character. There are some pretty graphic scenes with him, so just a heads up if this isn't your thing. And while the character certainly wasn't fleshed out as much as I would have liked and there something a little thrown-together about his eventual backstory, I did enjoy him as a character.
Our other characters - namingly, our MC, Ed, and his love interest, Peter? Left me a little wanting. The relationship was very insta-romance, which didn't fit the story at all. And Eds entire career situation is riddled with plot holes.
The story itself, while mostly enjoyable, was fairly generic as far as a serial killer plot goes. I guessed the twist about a third of the way in and it wasn't anything special. IM is a quick to digest book but by the second half I was pretty underwhelmed.
If you want something quick to jump through and a creepy-as-all-heck antagonist - maybe you should check this out. Just don't be hoping for a gob-smacking plot ending to write home about.
Note: Review copy received via NetGalley. This does not impact opinions within this review.
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Happy reading! ❤
May 2, 2011
Ok, let me start by saying this is really, really not my genre! I would never ordinarily choose a book like this to read. I hate suspense and horror. This was chosen for me in the Pick It For Me challenge, so I felt I needed to give it a shot.
After about 4 chapters, I knew this wasn't something I was gonna like. I suffered through and about a 1/4 of the way in I found myself thinking that the author has a really good writing style, the characters were really fleshed out, (sometimes literally) and the plot was...still not the genre for me.
About half way through I found myself really liking Ed and Peter and wanting to see where there relationship would go. I thought the shifting POV was a good way to know what was going on inside the mind of Timothy. This isn't a "Who Done It" or even a "How Done It"
We know almost immediately who the serial killer is. It is all the questions of why he is the way he is, and getting inside his head, and the heads of the victims, that kept me intrigued.
I felt no sympathy for Timothy the man because yeah, he's a sick fuck!
I did find myself feeling a bit of sympathy for Timothy the boy though.
I really wanted to know what the answers were for all the questions that kept cropping up. I found myself reading as fast as I could to get them. This is a real page turner. Ok, I am reading the ebook, so I guess this was a real page um, scroller. I was scrolling as fast as I could and was dead tired last night, but kept thinking if I read just a little bit more, I would get some of the answers.
When I was done with this book I think I was relieved it was over. I may have sweated and bitten my nails through some of it. I know I caught myself yelling at the victims to not go in or to walk away, or whatever.
So to recap...This is not the genre for me, (please don't do this to me again Geoffrey)...And I really liked this book! :)
After about 4 chapters, I knew this wasn't something I was gonna like. I suffered through and about a 1/4 of the way in I found myself thinking that the author has a really good writing style, the characters were really fleshed out, (sometimes literally) and the plot was...still not the genre for me.
About half way through I found myself really liking Ed and Peter and wanting to see where there relationship would go. I thought the shifting POV was a good way to know what was going on inside the mind of Timothy. This isn't a "Who Done It" or even a "How Done It"
We know almost immediately who the serial killer is. It is all the questions of why he is the way he is, and getting inside his head, and the heads of the victims, that kept me intrigued.
I felt no sympathy for Timothy the man because yeah, he's a sick fuck!
I did find myself feeling a bit of sympathy for Timothy the boy though.
I really wanted to know what the answers were for all the questions that kept cropping up. I found myself reading as fast as I could to get them. This is a real page turner. Ok, I am reading the ebook, so I guess this was a real page um, scroller. I was scrolling as fast as I could and was dead tired last night, but kept thinking if I read just a little bit more, I would get some of the answers.
When I was done with this book I think I was relieved it was over. I may have sweated and bitten my nails through some of it. I know I caught myself yelling at the victims to not go in or to walk away, or whatever.
So to recap...This is not the genre for me, (please don't do this to me again Geoffrey)...And I really liked this book! :)
February 21, 2017
I enjoyed this read overall. The two MCs, Ed and Peter, were enjoyable personalities and their relationship developed organically and at a reasonable pace. The secondary character, Aunt Helene, was a smart addition to the story, with her POV and backdated journal entries giving the reader much needed insight into the mind of the loathsome and despicable villain, Timothy.
Surprisingly, I found the short, detailed stories of the victims of Timothy's violent rampages the most compelling part of the story. On the other hand, my interest in Ed & Peter seemed to dwindle and fade as the story progressed. I became progressively disenchanted with Ed in particular, as his impulsive behavior and poor judgment contrasted significantly with the honed insticts and sharp mind I'd expect from a detective in a major city like Chicago.
Some parts of this book were hard to read. One scene I found particularly upsetting involved a graphic example animal cruelty. Even though this type violence is consistent with the behavior of a sociopathic youth, and therefore was relevant to the story, it was upsetting enough that I briefly considered abandoning the book. That said, I'm glad I pushed on as it turned out to be a compelling and worthwhile read.
Recommended for fans of M/M mystery/suspense who have the intestinal fortitude for graphic violence.
Surprisingly, I found the short, detailed stories of the victims of Timothy's violent rampages the most compelling part of the story. On the other hand, my interest in Ed & Peter seemed to dwindle and fade as the story progressed. I became progressively disenchanted with Ed in particular, as his impulsive behavior and poor judgment contrasted significantly with the honed insticts and sharp mind I'd expect from a detective in a major city like Chicago.
Some parts of this book were hard to read. One scene I found particularly upsetting involved a graphic example animal cruelty. Even though this type violence is consistent with the behavior of a sociopathic youth, and therefore was relevant to the story, it was upsetting enough that I briefly considered abandoning the book. That said, I'm glad I pushed on as it turned out to be a compelling and worthwhile read.
Recommended for fans of M/M mystery/suspense who have the intestinal fortitude for graphic violence.
January 26, 2012
"You could call him the Stephen King of gay horror." Well that's what he is.
Murder, mystery, suspense.
Characters that show up and you ask yourself "How are they going to fit in?" Well, everyone is a piece in a huge jigsaw puzzle.
Mr. Reed keeps you on the edge of your sit. You never know who is going to be next.
**some spoilers**
Timothy Bright - I haven't read a heartless nasty piece of work in a long time. I tried to hate him, in the end I felt sorry for him. The more you know about him the more you try to justify his actions. But OMG I truly hated the guy. His twisted mind...amazing.
Ed, he is just a nice guy caught up in the wrong situation. He thinks he lost the one thing that defines him, his job. The one thing he know how to do and is good at. He will not give up. Timothy Bright wont let him.
Then there is Peter, I wish there was more of him.
But this is not a love story, no romance here - apart from a few moments between Peter & Ed. So don't expect anything like that.
Be prepared for some pretty graphic murder scenes, rape references & other things you might not be 100% comfortable with.
Murder, mystery, suspense.
Characters that show up and you ask yourself "How are they going to fit in?" Well, everyone is a piece in a huge jigsaw puzzle.
Mr. Reed keeps you on the edge of your sit. You never know who is going to be next.
**some spoilers**
Timothy Bright - I haven't read a heartless nasty piece of work in a long time. I tried to hate him, in the end I felt sorry for him. The more you know about him the more you try to justify his actions. But OMG I truly hated the guy. His twisted mind...amazing.
Ed, he is just a nice guy caught up in the wrong situation. He thinks he lost the one thing that defines him, his job. The one thing he know how to do and is good at. He will not give up. Timothy Bright wont let him.
Then there is Peter, I wish there was more of him.
But this is not a love story, no romance here - apart from a few moments between Peter & Ed. So don't expect anything like that.
Be prepared for some pretty graphic murder scenes, rape references & other things you might not be 100% comfortable with.
January 13, 2009
Heard all the rave and just had to read IM for myself. Wow.
A too real concept using online dating for the major plot element that will leave you feeling just a bit paranoid if you've ever hooked up with someone from an online service. Once again, Reed's ability to portray realistic, multidimensional characters shines. Some of the horrific content might make you squeamish though, but unlike some horror stories that seem too far fetched to ever be possible, IM is closer to reality, which makes it all the more frightening.
I found myself routing for the protag, and yet, Reed illustrated the motivation of the antagonist so well, I ended up actually understanding, although not justifying the guy's actions. Very unique writing style and well worth the read for the mystery as much as for the horror.
A too real concept using online dating for the major plot element that will leave you feeling just a bit paranoid if you've ever hooked up with someone from an online service. Once again, Reed's ability to portray realistic, multidimensional characters shines. Some of the horrific content might make you squeamish though, but unlike some horror stories that seem too far fetched to ever be possible, IM is closer to reality, which makes it all the more frightening.
I found myself routing for the protag, and yet, Reed illustrated the motivation of the antagonist so well, I ended up actually understanding, although not justifying the guy's actions. Very unique writing style and well worth the read for the mystery as much as for the horror.
August 3, 2012
As a gay guy in the age of Manhunt and Craigslist and all the other easy hook up sites available, this book sometimes had me thinking, there but for the grace of God go I. The extraordinary amount of trust I have to place in the total stranger walking through my front door just for a few moments of pleasure never really crosses my mind when flirting with someone online. Man oh man, it certainly will now.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I did skim in a few places where I just wasn't into the flashbacks of Helene but that was no big deal. I was wanting to move along and find out what the heck was going to happen with Ed/Peter/Tim. The only real disappointment was at the ending. I was staring at the screen of my iPad thinking, wait, there isn't another chapter?
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I did skim in a few places where I just wasn't into the flashbacks of Helene but that was no big deal. I was wanting to move along and find out what the heck was going to happen with Ed/Peter/Tim. The only real disappointment was at the ending. I was staring at the screen of my iPad thinking, wait, there isn't another chapter?
January 31, 2020
I got an ARC of this from Netgally!
First of all, this is normally not my type of genre but I still found it interesting when I read the synopsis.
And I was really not disappointed.
First of all. There's a lot of trigger warnings such as rape, torture, abuse and so on, so if you don't like to read about those things, then this is not for you.
It didn't take me long to finish it, because I honestly just wanted to know what would happen next. I'm really good at guessing the plot twists in books, and even though I guessed them all in this one as well, I still enjoyed it, and it was not easy to put it down.
This book is dark and creepy... It'll make you think twice before you trust the person behind the screen again.
First of all, this is normally not my type of genre but I still found it interesting when I read the synopsis.
And I was really not disappointed.
First of all. There's a lot of trigger warnings such as rape, torture, abuse and so on, so if you don't like to read about those things, then this is not for you.
It didn't take me long to finish it, because I honestly just wanted to know what would happen next. I'm really good at guessing the plot twists in books, and even though I guessed them all in this one as well, I still enjoyed it, and it was not easy to put it down.
This book is dark and creepy... It'll make you think twice before you trust the person behind the screen again.
April 25, 2020
IM by Rick R Reed.
Chicago Police Department detective Ed Comparetto is called to a scene. A man is dead. The Victim is Tony Evan's. The person who discovers the body is Timothy Bright. Ed finds out he is gay. He logged on to Men4HookUpNow.com.
It's a gay site. Ed is going to find the killer. He's determined. He's killed Tony Evans, David Westhoff, Milt Weinsap, John Austin, and, maybe Mark Dietrich.
A brilliant read. I had no idea who the killer was. What a twist too. I didn't see that coming. I liked Ed's character. 5*.
Chicago Police Department detective Ed Comparetto is called to a scene. A man is dead. The Victim is Tony Evan's. The person who discovers the body is Timothy Bright. Ed finds out he is gay. He logged on to Men4HookUpNow.com.
It's a gay site. Ed is going to find the killer. He's determined. He's killed Tony Evans, David Westhoff, Milt Weinsap, John Austin, and, maybe Mark Dietrich.
A brilliant read. I had no idea who the killer was. What a twist too. I didn't see that coming. I liked Ed's character. 5*.
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