Jersey Girl Book Reviews: Portraits Of The Dead by John Nicholl (Book Review / Contest Giveaway)

Friday, November 18, 2016

Portraits Of The Dead by John Nicholl (Book Review / Contest Giveaway)

In association with Goddess Fish Promotions, Jersey Girl Book Reviews is pleased to host the virtual book tour event for Portraits Of The Dead by author John Nicholl!

Book Review

Portraits Of The Dead by John Nicholl

Publisher: Feedaread.com

Publication Date: Paperback - August 19, 2016 / eBook - September 1, 2016

Format: Paperback - 324 pages

Kindle - 658 KB

ISBN: 978-1786972675

ASIN: B01KEANZU2
BNID: 978-1786972675
Genre: Psychological Thriller

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Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Book Description:

Emma didn’t know how long he hid, silent and unmoving, in the large Victorian wardrobe to the side of her single bed. She didn’t know how long he peered out, salivating and drooling, between the two heavy dark oak doors, and watched, mesmerized, as she slowly drifted into fitful sleep. She didn't know what time he pushed the doors open and crept towards her in the drab grey darkness of the night.

Detective Inspector Gravel finds himself floundering when a local nineteen-year-old university student is abducted and imprisoned by a sadistic serial killer, who has already tortured and killed five young women.

A gripping page-turner of a serial killer thriller packed with suspense. If you like Rachel Abbott, Robert Bryndza and Karin Slaughter, discover John Nicholl’s chilling new thriller today.

Book Excerpt:

Chapter 1

2:20 A.M. Saturday, 2 May 1998

Emma didn’t know how long he hid, silent and unmoving, in the large Victorian wardrobe to the side of her single bed. She didn’t know how long he peered, salivating and drooling, between the two heavy dark oak doors and watched, mesmerized, as she slowly drifted into fitful sleep. She didn’t know what time he pushed the doors open and crept towards her in the drab grey darkness of the night. But he did. She knew that he did.

Emma woke with a start, tense, alert, and opened her bleary eyes, telling herself insistently that the dark silhouette slowly approaching her was the nightmare construct of her subconscious mind. But initial anxiety became blind panic as the inky shadow took on an obvious human form that suddenly gained pace and loomed over her. And then a hand, a large hot clammy hand, pulled the bedclothes over her head, clamped her mouth tight shut and silenced her scream before it materialized.

A myriad unwelcome thoughts invaded her troubled mind as he pinned her head to the pillow and raised his free arm high above his head, before closing his fingers tightly, forming his hand into a formidable weapon and bringing it crashing down, again and again and again, with all the force he could muster, rendering her unconscious and bleeding.

She didn’t know how long she remained senseless, or what he did to her while she slept. She didn’t know what time he lifted her from her bed and carried her from her student bedroom, down the creaking wooden staircase and out into the Welsh city street. But he did. She knew that he did.

My Book Review:

In Portraits Of The Dead, author John Nicholl weaves a riveting psychological thriller that easily draws the reader in with its dark and gritty storyline that follows the abduction, imprisonment, and cruel tormenting of nineteen year old college student Emma Jones by a depraved serial killer, and the intense investigation by Detective Inspector Gravell and Detective Sergeant Clive Rankin to find and save Emma before she suffers the same fate as five murdered young girls before her.

This captivating and gritty tale is rich in detail and vivid descriptions and has intriguing and suspenseful twists and turns that leaves the reader with no other option than to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. As a diehard fan of psychological thrillers, I must admit that this story exceeded my expectations. The dark intensity of the storyline and the tension between the serial killer, Emma, and the investigators kept me thoroughly riveted and so engrossed, I literally had to finish the story in one sitting.

With a complex and realistic cast of characters, the author does a phenomenal job of delving into the mind of a serial killer who is seriously demented, a courageous young girl who is determined to survive, and police investigators who are determined to save the girl and bring the serial killer to justice. The author transports the reader into this fast-paced white-knuckle storyline with his creative interweaving of a psychological cat-n-mouse game between the characters that leaves the reader's heart palpating while holding their breath until the surprise ending. It just doesn't get any better than this!

Portraits Of The Dead is one heck of an adrenaline rush that is a must-read for the true diehard psychological thriller junkie!

RATING: 5 STARS

About The Author

John Nicholl, an ex-police officer, child protection social worker, manager and lecturer, has written three dark psychological suspense thrillers, each of which are Amazon international bestsellers, reaching # 1 in multiple categories in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Australia, Canada and the USA. John is always happy to hear from readers, bloggers or anyone interested in proposing a joint creative project. He can be contacted via his author website at:

Author Website
Amazon Author Page

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