The Keeper by Luke Delaney--A Review

Luke Delaney's, The Keeper,  was released the end of July 2014.  It was a 550  page psychological police procedural and it was scary.

SYNOPSIS:

A damp, dark cellar holds two cages. And for the women behind the bars, their worst nightmares are about to come true . . .

When Louise Russell goes missing from her home, D.I. Sean Corrigan from South London's Murder Investigation Unit immediately senses foul play. For Corrigan's own dark childhood has given him the ability not only to recognize evil in those who prey upon the innocent, but also to see a crime scene from the eyes of the perpetrator.

Though Corrigan has no doubts that Louise was taken against her will, he believes she's still alive. But time is running out, especially when a body is found dumped in the woods—a woman who's a dead ringer for Louise. How long before Louise's captor gets tired of her and replaces her with another lookalike? How long before they find Louise's corpse next?

Now, in order to track a psychopath, Corrigan must place himself in the mind of a killer. For it is only there that the twisted secrets of a murderer lie.

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE:

First, let me say, I enjoy a great mystery and I can enjoy a psychological thriller.   I got both with this read, but it was almost too graphic for me.   I wanted to read The Keeper because I was really drawn to the character of Sean Corrigan in the first of the series, Cold Killing.   I really wanted to learn more about him in book two and I did from a minimal perspective.   As I read I felt we got to know DS Sally Jones better as she had more of an opportunity to overcome, heal and grow.

Now this was told from multiple points of view, from the police/detective squad, to the "keeper" or villain to the victims.   Only in one spot of the book did I have trouble transitioning from one point of view to the other.   In my opinion, chapters were way too long for the horror and weight of the crimes involved.

Now for the villain.   Wow...did my heart break for a little boy abandoned by his mother and unwanted by every individual he encountered.   Abused by the adults that were supposed to protect him, never receiving the help from the adults that could have provided him assistance, never having learned compassion from anyone around him, or how to deal with the anger growing inside of him...with the exception  a twelve year old girl who accepted him until he crossed a line.....what a horrible childhood that led to an even worse adulthood.    How could anyone have turned out differently given Thomas Kellar's circumstances?

Although he made my skin crawl right along with his victims', the one thing that became evident as not fitting was that he had been to his one true love's house, stolen her Black orchid perfume, her skin lotion, and some clothes, for his replacements of her.    Why didn't he just take Samantha Shaw?  I guess I needed to have Delaney spell that out  for me to comprehend.

This was a thriller, and a gripping one at that.   I so wanted Louise Russell to be a survivor.   It was horror and fearful, disgusting and sad and so full of indescribable emotions.   As the reader I felt everyone of them and for me, that is the character of a good writer....if they make you feel what their characters are evoking.

I gave this read 4 Winks, but the crime scenes are very graphic.

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like. I received a complimentary copy from the author or the author’s representatives in exchange for an honest review.