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Shame: A Novel

Shame: A Novel

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great read-A real pageturner
Review: 25 years ago a serial killer marked his victims with the word "Shame." The only woman to survive one of his attacks later interviewed him on death row and authored a best selling crime novel based on his life. This was the first of many true crime novels written by Maryelizabeth Line. Now a copycat has begun to kill in the same manner as Shame, and the evidence points to his son, Caleb Parker, as the killer. Parker has spent his life hiding his identity, not even telling his wife of his parentage. As the killings increase and the evidence mounts, Parker goes into hiding with the help of a transvestite who doesn't fully believe in his innocence. Parker contacts Lines, and the two begin to piece together the mystery which began a quarter a century ago. For pure psychological suspense, Russell has penned a heart-stopper. I was never quite as sure as Lines that Parker was innocent. The coincidences in the crimes were too high to be random; there had to be either a plot to convict Parker or Parker was Shame reincarnated. Make sure the lights are on and curl up for a scary ride.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Pure psychological suspense... keep the lights on!!
Review: 25 years ago a serial killer marked his victims with the word "Shame." The only woman to survive one of his attacks later interviewed him on death row and authored a best selling crime novel based on his life. This was the first of many true crime novels written by Maryelizabeth Line. Now a copycat has begun to kill in the same manner as Shame, and the evidence points to his son, Caleb Parker, as the killer. Parker has spent his life hiding his identity, not even telling his wife of his parentage. As the killings increase and the evidence mounts, Parker goes into hiding with the help of a transvestite who doesn't fully believe in his innocence. Parker contacts Lines, and the two begin to piece together the mystery which began a quarter a century ago. For pure psychological suspense, Russell has penned a heart-stopper. I was never quite as sure as Lines that Parker was innocent. The coincidences in the crimes were too high to be random; there had to be either a plot to convict Parker or Parker was Shame reincarnated. Make sure the lights are on and curl up for a scary ride.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Fast Paced
Review: A long awaited book from this author since Multiple Wounds.

In this story, the main character is the son of a serial killer. New murders have the same MO of his father who "rode the lightning" 20 years ago. A writer who wrote about his father gets involved in these new murders and finds that the person who discovered one of the bodies is the serial killer's son. When the police find out the link, he's on the lamb.

While the killer's reasoning is a little off (to me anyway), Alan Russell's writing is face paced and he provides a good twist at the end.

Well worth the read, but his other book, Multiple Wounds is more expertly written and researched.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Fast Paced
Review: A long awaited book from this author since Multiple Wounds.

In this story, the main character is the son of a serial killer. New murders have the same MO of his father who "rode the lightning" 20 years ago. A writer who wrote about his father gets involved in these new murders and finds that the person who discovered one of the bodies is the serial killer's son. When the police find out the link, he's on the lamb.

While the killer's reasoning is a little off (to me anyway), Alan Russell's writing is face paced and he provides a good twist at the end.

Well worth the read, but his other book, Multiple Wounds is more expertly written and researched.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great read-A real pageturner
Review: Caleb Parker fled his home to escape his psychopath of a father, Gray. However, in spite of leaving his home, Caleb knows he can never escape his father's genes. He always worries that he will become just like his sire, an inhuman monstrosity.

However, Caleb's haunted past returns when naked corpses seem to follow Caleb everywhere he goes. The dead bodies all follow the modus operandi that Gray used over a quarter of a century ago. The bodies have the word SHAME written on all of them. Gray knows that SHAME is his deceased father's code name he used on 17 women. Maryelizabeth Line, the sole survivor of the Gray murders, believes that Caleb is innocent. This unlikely duo works together in a desperate attempt to stop a copycat serial killer from running up the murder count.

It will be a SHAME if fans of the psychological suspense and serial killer sub-genres miss this haunting journey into the minds of an obsessive murderer and his victims. The fast-paced story line is one of the best chillers in several years. However, it is the insight into the brains of the killer, his family, his victims, and his victim's family that make Alan Russell's novel a must read for sub-genre fans.

Harriet Klausner

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Psycho Thriller!
Review: I recently read Russell's latest work, EXPOSURE, which was so good that I decided to pick up a copy of SHAME. These are very different books - I would call the latter a psycho thriller murder mystery - but Russell's inventive plotlines and nimble writing shine in both.

The protagonist is the son of a serial killer! An intriguing premise which Russell deftly explores - or should I say exploits - to show how the sins of the father are visited upon the son.

Like EXPOSURE, SHAME has lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing to the end. It is well written and fast paced with lots of action and suspense. It is a very good read. I highly recommend it for the adult reader, but probably not for the kids.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Psycho Thriller!
Review: I recently read Russell's latest work, EXPOSURE, which was so good that I decided to pick up a copy of SHAME. These are very different books - I would call the latter a psycho thriller murder mystery - but Russell's inventive plotlines and nimble writing shine in both.

The protagonist is the son of a serial killer! An intriguing premise which Russell deftly explores - or should I say exploits - to show how the sins of the father are visited upon the son.

Like EXPOSURE, SHAME has lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing to the end. It is well written and fast paced with lots of action and suspense. It is a very good read. I highly recommend it for the adult reader, but probably not for the kids.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Poor writing, flat plot, filled with cliches
Review: I thought this book was excellent. I enjoyed the characters immensely and the plot was believable.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A thrilling, heart stopping page turner
Review: I thought this book was excellent. I enjoyed the characters immensely and the plot was believable.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Poor writing, flat plot, filled with cliches
Review: Once again Mr. Russell outdid himself. His last book The Fat innkeeper was one of the dullest mystery stories even published -- one wonders why the publishers keep on putting out such drivel.

Mr. Russell: please keep your day job.


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