Four teenage girls suddenly go missing without a trace in various locations based in the North and the East of England in a short period of several months apart. One of these girls, Gracie Peterson, is found alive in a small wooden box on an abandoned industrial estate, with injuries that are so gruesome even the paramedics cringe in anticipation whilst trying to free her, after Gracie had spent eight horrific weeks in captivity. Detective Inspector Marty Bride and his specialist team of detectives, forensic investigators and psychological profiles become chilling aware that there is a brutal serial killer on the loose who enjoys leaving them various clues to his real identity.
Excerpt
Jessica was terrified after walking and running through the various parts of dark woodland, wondering if she was walking around in circles venturing back to where she started her journey several hours earlier since her escape. The further she ventured in to the forest the light of the moon seemed to fade, creating new shadows and dark patches around her. She wrapped the coat she had stolen from the strange looking house where she was held captive from the large garderobe whilst taking a pair of oversized climbing boots and putting them on her naked cold feet, trying not to make a sound while she unlocked the front door.
The wind wailed between the distorted tree trunks. She could smell the sickly stench of wood rot in the cold air through her nostrils that were running with watery fluid in response to the cold temperature of a mere minus two or three degrees celsius. She was completely naked underneath the thick sheepskin jacket and could no longer feel her legs aware she was losing a lot of blood from her right leg. In fear, she remembered the crazed man who captured her on her way home from cheerleading practise at Calvary High, who then dressed up as some kind of surgeon so he could perform a double leg amputation. She could feel the warm liquid running down both her legs while she urinated in fear that the man was somewhere out here watching her, ready to hunt her down and kill her in cold blood.
Professional Reviews
The Surgeon´s Son
The Surgeon’s Son is a crime novel about a serial killer in England who targets teenage girls. The reader is brought on a roller coaster ride of horror, hope, sadness and joy as the ‘Surgeon’ unleashes his own brand of torture on his innocent young victims.
‘The Surgeon’s Son’ is different to many other novels in the genre as it is more character driven and less about the police investigation in general. In most of the crime books I’ve read the police procedure is the centre of the story and the victims are only a means to provide clues in propelling the investigation to its conclusion. In this novel the investigative team; although an integral part of the story, takes a back seat. The ‘surgeon’ himself is really the focus of the novel along with the victims. We are given a lot of information about the victims and what they are thinking and feeling, the families viewpoint of having a missing child and quite a detailed look behind the serial killer himself and his motivations. There is a big back story behind him and the reader is left in no doubt who the killer is from the beginning of the book. There are no twists and turns to keep you guessing but there are plenty of thrills and excitement in the anticipation itself of the killer finally being caught.
The Surgeon’s Son is a fast paced, exciting read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys crime fiction. It is set up for a sequel which will include the same investigative team.
The Surgeon's Son Review
The Surgeon’s Son by Catherine Putsche is a crime thriller featuring Dr. Barnes, a surgeon with a dark secret. He has a fetish for cutting off the limbs of young girls in a misguided attempt to save them from future horrors.
When young Katie Wilson is taken from outside her home, the police assume she is a teenage runaway until another young girl is found with two missing limbs and tells them that Katie is being held prisoner. The police must figure out who this maniac is before another girl is taken.
A dark crime thriller with an intriguing plot. The characters were well developed and the killer believable with a solid back story. Recommended reading for crime fans.
Ripping Yarn
Enjoyed this book, real page turner.
Writing style put me in mind of Jilliane Hoffman's books.
Highly recommended.
Keep them coming!
Jack London’s cousin writes a heartwarming, young adult story about the glory of life. It is also a heart-pounding adventure to a new and strange world.
