Physchological Thriller/Suspense Winner CTRR Award 5 Star Reviews When Senior Constable Daniel Hart stops bartender Phoenix Love from picking his pocket one evening, it's an inauspicious beginning, but Daniel falls for the beautiful Phoenix anyway. Things become complicated when Detective Paul Somerset, who's been on the trail of Australia's notorious serial killer "The Crucifix Slayer", sets his sights on Phoenix. Convinced that Phoenix Love is the killer, Detective Somerset pursues him single-mindedly. As evidence, and Phoenix's behavior, point toward Somerset being right, Daniel must protect their fledgling love affair, his own heart and his lover while deciphering whether or not Phoenix actually is the killer. Is Phoenix Love a victim or is his love affair with Daniel doomed to fall at the whims of a monster?   Excerpt Have you ever desired with passion? I don’t mean superficial passion yearned for by most men. No, the passion I’m talking about comes from far deeper within one’s soul. Not an aspect of one’s spirit, but its very core. It is not something you can switch off and on like the light of so-called love. Passion so all-consuming it feeds off every breath you draw, growing more powerful, seizing the soul in its embrace, never willing, or able, to let it go. It’s that final look in their eyes. A final pleading look of confusion, which in that moment erases their fear. A flash of questioning: ‘Why me?’ ‘Why you?’ ‘Why now?’ ‘Why?’ It’s the final time their chest rises... falls... shudders... stops. It’s the final moment when, at my will, everything for them ceases to be. It’s that final moment which makes the build up, the hunt, the capture, and the deed, culminate into the exhilarating end. So here you are reading this, surrounded by my work and impressed by it. Stimulated, perhaps. It gets the adrenaline pumping, doesn’t it? Your mind is already ticking over; I don’t have to be there personally to know this. You want me. At this one moment in time, you want me more than anything else you’ve ever desired. It’s a rage building inside you. I won’t stop and now you, due to my initiation, will not stop either. You can’t. I know how God feels. NOW you desire with the passion I feel, all because I, without even meeting you, have planted the seed. I have the upper hand. I’ll do this again, and again, and again, and again. Ad infinitum. You, and dare I say many others, are just along for the ride. In my hands, I hold the reins; in my heart, I hold the lust; in my mind, I hold the key; in my thoughts, I hold my plans; and in my deeds, I hold a captive audience. You won’t trace me from this letter. You won’t find the blue-eyed, redheaded boy. You won’t find peace. You won’t find me. Until we meet again. T.C.S *** Detective Paul Somerset placed the paper into a plastic bag and handed it over to forensics. “T.C.S.” He scoffed. “Kitsch.” “That mean something?” inquired a uniformed police officer. Peering sideways, Paul lifted an eyebrow. “The Crucifix Strangler, The Crucifix Slayer, The Crucifix Stalker, take your pick, Constable Lang. I highly doubt he’s been kind enough to give us his real initials.” He sidestepped the officer and re-entered the master bedroom. “Approximate time of death?” “Coroner estimates between five and seven last night. You think it’s a ritual killing?” “Because of the crucifix?” Paul shook his head. “I doubt it. This guy wants notoriety; he wants the media attention, a name for himself. My guess is the crucifix image is nothing more than a calling card.” Folding his arms over his chest, he craned his neck upward. “Drawn upside down on her forehead to signify the Antichrist. But he didn’t compare himself to the Devil, did he? In the letter, he made a comparison with God.” Eight years working with Sydney’s Criminal Investigation Branch and Paul had never personally encountered a slaying quite so horrifically bizarre. In the back, a German Shepherd dog lay dead on the doorstep. Baited earlier and arranged on its back, its paws were bound with the same thick nylon cord used to strangle the three victims, its muzzle taped shut, its throat cut. In the lounge room, Colin Hilliard sat dead in an armchair, bound and gagged in a perfect replica of the deceased canine. He’d been struck in the back of the head with a blunt object, strangled, and then arranged in the armchair as though he’d died peacefully with a cup of coffee at his side. In the bedroom, his wife, Vanessa Hilliard, hung, stripped down to her underwear with no obvious sign of sexual assault. Her wrists had been slashed with only minimal blood spatter near where the body had been found. She’d then been taken into the bedroom and suspended from an exposed beam above. Unlike her husband, her body showed definite signs of a struggle, with defensive wounds on her hands and bruising across her face. Most disturbing to Paul was a possible frightening connection between the Hilliard murders and the abduction of thirteen-year-old schoolboy, Dylan Firth, earlier in the day. ‘You won’t find the blue-eyed, redheaded boy.’ It could have been written as a taunt, taking responsibility for another heinous crime in order to boost the killer’s own ego. Paul knew T.C.S. wanted to be noticed. He wanted to play the law and flaunt his ability to elude it. A precursor, Paul feared, for more to come. He’d slain an innocent young couple in their mid-twenties, possibly abducted and murdered a child, boasted of it, and had plans to become Australia’s next most wanted serial killer. The killer had already given himself a name Paul knew he’d fully exploit at a later date. T.C.S. had arrogantly placed himself on a pedestal and likened his first crime to those that had gone down in history as the world’s most notorious. He was intelligent; the eloquent letter showed an educated man, a man who desired the police to immediately recognize this intellect. The murders would not stop until he was caught. Of that Paul could be certain.

Professional Reviews
Fallen Angel Reviews
Phoenix Love uses his skills as a pickpocket to ensure there's always enough money to pay the cost of taking care of his younger brother. He isn't on the top of his game the night he lifts Senior Constable Daniel Hart's wallet. Daniel has never seen a more beautiful man, and despite Phoenix's talents as a thief and the special ingredient he diligently adds to customer's drinks, Daniel still decides he wants to get to know him better.

There's more to Phoenix than meets the eye, and his life is turned upside down when he is recognized. Detective Paul Somerset has chased a serial killer for five years and the reintroduction of Phoenix has him believing the young man to be either the culprit or an accomplice. Not to mention, Phoenix's actions make him look guilty as sin. Is Daniel too smitten too see the truth being Phoenix or is everyone else too blind to understand that he's a victim?

The Slayer's Apprentice is a fantastic story that kept me on the edge of my seat. Zathyn Priest has created a story centered on strong characters and an even stronger plot. Phoenix has lived through hell. The one thing that keeps him anchored is his little brother Echo. Over the past four years, he has thrown all the nurturing he possesses into protecting and loving his brother. Daniel is older, wiser, and not ashamed of his sexuality. While he wants Phoenix, he knows that to accept less than the total package would mean selling himself short. I didn't have a clue of the true culprit until their identity was revealed. That's rare for me and made me enjoy the story that much more. The Slayer's Apprentice is a gay romance horror story, with very few references of sexual interaction. It focuses more on the combination of events leading to delivering justice to the Slayer and Phoenix and Daniel's budding romance.

Reviewed by: NeNe


Rainbow Reviews
BOOK REVIEW:
Phoenix Love is a resourceful young man, making money to support himself and his five-year-old brother Echo by working as a bartender and supplementing that income by picking pockets. It is something that he is extremely good at, with his angelic good looks no one suspects the eighteen-year-old of being a thief, and the bar patrons provide perfect opportunities for Phoenix to utilize his skills. He doesn’t have any qualms about stealing from the customers ~ and is willing to do whatever it takes to provide for Echo.

When Phoenix lifts a wallet from Senior Constable Daniel Hart, his life starts to get a bit more interesting. Daniel is fascinated with the young man, and after recovering his wallet and running into Phoenix and Echo at the mall, Daniel is determined to learn more about Phoenix. The more time Daniel spends with Phoenix, the more he realizes that things are not quite right.

Detective Paul Somerset has been on the trail of The Crucifix Slayer for years, and becomes convinced that Phoenix is responsible for the most recent killings. Erratic behavior and outward manipulations make it appear to everyone that Somerset is right, but Daniel is unwilling to listen. He is convinced that Phoenix is innocent and will stand by the man no matter what, even while Somerset does everything he can to prove Phoenix is guilty.

The Slayer’s Apprentice is a phenomenal novel, one that I couldn’t put down. Once I started reading there was no possibility of sleep until I had reached the end and the identity of the killer had been revealed. The characters are well developed, especially Phoenix who is so multi-faceted after his difficult past and is beautifully written by Priest. There were times I didn’t like Phoenix and had begun to believe he was simply using Daniel, while at other times I was touched by the emotional connection between them and my heart hurt for Phoenix. I wanted to sympathize with Phoenix, especially after all he had endured, but his wild overreactions at times made me question his sincerity. In the end, Phoenix is a character with a level of complexity that is necessary for such a detailed plot. The characters and the story are gripping and moving, and the result is an exceptional book.

Daniel is a bit less developed than Phoenix, which makes perfect sense for the character. He is blind to the unexplainable actions of Phoenix and it is easy to say that he is obsessed with the young man. He cares deeply for Phoenix, and Echo, very quickly and is willing to throw away his entire life for them. At times it is a drastic contrast from Phoenix who appears to manipulate situations for his own benefits and makes for a rough and edgy romance and you are never quite sure how it will end.

First and foremost, this book is a mystery and the drive throughout the story is discovering the identity of the serial killer. Although there is a romantic aspect as well with the budding relationship between Phoenix and Dylan, there are no erotic love scenes, which fits in perfectly with the tone of the story.

The suspense had my attention glued to the story. With mystery novels, and suspense or thrillers in general, I like being kept on my toes trying to figure out the identity of the killer and this story doesn’t disappoint. The best endorsement I can give a book is to say that the minute I finished reading I wanted to turn back to page one and start all over again! I look forward to reading this novel numerous times, to pick up on the subtle hints that Priest provided throughout that are clues to the identity of the killer. Kudos to Priest for writing a novel that is most definitely a suspense and thriller, and for writing a reveal that is both shocking and fits into the story perfectly.

I highly recommend this new story from Priest and am anxiously awaiting his next novel. I really do hope that he returns to this genre in the future, but any book he writes will be at the top of my list of books to read.

By Emily


Coffee Time Roamance
Phoenix Love works as a bartender in a seedy bar for a man who is less than respectable. Working for wages that are in cash and under the table, he uses his fast hands to pick pockets, needing the extra cash to take care of his brother.

Constable Daniel Hart is helping out his partner and friend, Rachel, who is trying to catch her fiancé in the act of cheating. While there, he catches a beautiful man picking his pocket and spitting in customers’ drinks. Daniel is intrigued enough to come back and see if the beautiful man with the face of an angel is as interested as he is.

While Daniel and Phoenix dance around their attraction, a brutal serial killer known as The Crucifix Strangler has struck again after a four year hiatus. Detective Paul Somerset has been on the tail of this serial killer since his first slaying years ago. When he finds out Phoenix is not who he says he is, it leads him on a new trail, one that pegs Phoenix as the serial killer. With the clues leading to multiple suspects, Daniel and Phoenix try to keep their relationship afloat, even as the real killer strikes over and over again, leading the police in a tailspin that leaves them stunned as to who the real killer is.

The Slayer’s Apprentice is a novel that has left me speechless; Mr. Priest has written an exquisite novel with so many elements and emotions that will just squeeze your heart tight. The suspense alone had me walking away, afraid one moment to read more and at the same time aching to turn the page. The sensual attraction between Daniel and Phoenix is so amazing and heartfelt; it left me breathless with so much emotion. When Daniel was portrayed as the only person willing to believe Phoenix, it made me angry at everyone else, made me want to reach into the novel and strangle that darn Detective Somerset myself and berate him for being an incompetent fool. With the brilliant portrayal of Phoenix's multiple characteristics and the way Daniel dealt with them all, this is a story that has you guessing until the very end and will definitely keep you on your toes. Unquestionably, it is a must read tale for anyone!

Danielle

Reader Reviews for "The Slayer's Apprentice"

Reviewed by Meg Leigh	5/2/2009
I have added this book to my top 5 for 2009. I found it a gripping read from start to finish with many twists and turns and it kept me guessing right up to the last moment about who 'The Crucifix Slayer' was. When his identity was revealed I was so surprised that I actually exclaimed aloud. That does not mean that the revelation was implausible as thinking about the clues given throughout the story made it perfectly obvious in hindsight. The action is non-stop from the first page, plunging us into the world of police investigation into the killer's doings. The underlying romance between Police officer Daniel Hart, and Phoenix Love, is interesting and multi-faceted and sometimes left me wondering if Daniel was merely the victim of the machinations of a crazed psychopath, a view shared by other characters in the book, I might add. Although there are many characters in this tale who are quite unlikeable, the author's craft and dedication to his tale still managed to make me care about what happened to them. The writing is tight, building tension as the story progresses and the ending left me feeling satisfied that all the questions asked were answered. A definite must read for anyone who enjoys a good, solid mystery with a dash of romance thrown in for flavor.

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