|
With thousands of online "hookup" services available just a mouse click away, many men have taken their chances meeting a complete stranger, with the hopes of fun and gratification. But what if, instead of pleasure, the stranger behind the screen name arrived with the intention of causing bodily harm, or even death? This perilous possibility is highlighted in award-winning author Rick R. Reed's thriller novel, "IM." Through the skillful use of alternating points-of view and multiple first and third-person accounts, Reed manages to keep readers in nail-biting suspense. "IM" also makes use of a rather audacious tactic with a frightening look into the killer's mind in the form of "up close and personal" first-person narratives.
IM
Rick R. Reed
Quest Books (2007)
ISBN 9781932300796
Reviewed by Tyler R. Tichelaar for Reader Views (4/07)
“IM” by Rick Reed is a fast-paced page turner that I could barely put down. The title is the abbreviation for “Instant Messaging” but in this case, the instant messaging results in instant murder. While it is a mystery concerning a series of crimes against gay men, and featuring a gay detective and a questionably gay killer, the plot twists, character development, and suspense make it a story any fan of mystery or crime fiction will enjoy.
The story is about Timothy Bright, a man sexually abused as a teenager by his aunt’s boyfriend. He now seeks revenge upon the gay world, as well as his aunt and her boyfriend. He preys upon gay men who log onto Men4HookUpNow.com, instant messaging them and getting them to invite him over for a night of hot sex. Once they let him in their homes, he murders them. Chicago Police Department detective Ed Comparetto, who happens to be gay himself, investigates the crimes. Ed soon becomes convinced Timothy Bright is the murderer, until he learns that Timothy Bright actually died years before. Complications ensue as Ed seeks the killer and the truth behind the real identity of Timothy Bright. Several attempts to catch Bright fail until Ed puts not only himself, but his boyfriend, Peter, in serious danger.
What I found most interesting about “IM” was how Reed used different point-of-views to achieve his effects. The primary story takes place in the present day, detailing Ed Comparetto’s investigations in third-person. However, the author also uses diary entries from Timothy’s aunt, discussing Timothy’s childhood and how she came to realize he was mentally unbalanced. Most daringly, Reed creates chapters told in first person by Timothy Bright to explain how Bright became a killer. Reed manages to pull off these first person sections magnificently, not making Timothy completely repulsive to the reader, yet staying away from making him a sympathetic villain. Timothy’s first person narration is bold and allows him to flaunt to the reader how clever he is that he can get away with his crimes.
“IM” has many gruesome scenes which make it unlikely the reader will pity Timothy. Because of the highly descriptive sexual encounters and the repulsive murders that result from them, I would caution readers to stay away from the book if they cannot stomach blood and violence, yet the violent scenes are not simply for gratuitous shock effect, but to help the reader better understand Timothy’s evil nature and the sexual revenge he is set on committing.
Rick R. Reed has written several other novels and short stories. Fans of mystery and suspense may want to explore his work further. At the end of “IM” are several pages of his upcoming vampire novel “In the Blood” which gives a taste of his work in other genres. If his other books are as fast-paced and well-developed as “IM” I would read them as well. I may, however, think twice before I ever instant message anyone.
|
