Bloody Precious

Categories: Mystery & Suspense , Fiction

 For a debut novel, Precious Blood exceeded my expectations.  Medical examiner Edward Jenner was hired to investigate the exceedingly gruesome murder of a young woman in New York City.  Needless to say, other murders follow and as the numbers mount, the severity of cruelty increases.  There are decapitated heads soaking in deep puddles of milk, pole impalements and a creative new use for an ice cream scooper other than dipping ice cream. 

Jenner is forbidden to investigate any of the other murders due to the fact that he stole the chief coroner’s girlfriend.  Jenner investigates anyway because the one victim who got away, Ana DeJong, chooses to live with him.   Jenner tries to solve the case before the killer gets to his beloved Ana. 

Maybe this sounds like just another forensic suspense thriller.  Not so.

 

Jonathan Hayes is a new voice in the genre.  His narrative is unlike any other and he does an excellent job of drawing the reader in.  The hook is that Jonathan Hayes reveals very little about the killer.  The killer is dubbed “The Inquisitor” and all we know about the guy is the fact that he’s a guy.  Hayes leaves the details up to you.  Even on the last page we are left to wonder.  The Inquisitor could be anyone.  He can have any face.  He has every face.  He has the face lying next to you.  He’s every person you can conjure.  The technique of revealing very little information works very well in film as well as in novels.

 

 I made the mistake of reading this late at night.   Violent icy shivers plagued me in spite of an electric blanket, a duvet and four additional layers of bedclothes.  As I write this, I’m stifling a yawn.  I’m two days now without sleep.   I’m thinking of seeking professional help.  Well done Jonathan Hayes.  Very well done indeed.