Teen sleuth Killian Kendall struggles with coming out under the shadow of a lethal hate crime in small town Maryland.
Teen sleuth Killian Kendall struggles with coming out under the shadow of a lethal hate crime in small town Maryland.
Even the most idyllic small town has dangerous currents just under the surface — like abuse, bigotry and hate.
And murder.
Killian Kendall is a small-town teen whose whole world is about to be turned upside down. The new kid in school is openly gay and, despite himself, Killian finds himself drawn to him. When the boy is killed in a brutal attack, and Killian is injured in the process, Killian begins to questions everything around him.
The police seem eager to write the attack off as a random mugging, but Killian knows better. Unable to ignore the injustice, Killian launches his own investigation, and everyone is a suspect — even his closest friends. His search turns up hatred in small town America. Before it’s over, more people will die, and Killian’s life will be on the line again.
Bleeding Hearts is the first book in the Killian Kendall Mystery Series.
Professional Reviews
A Surprisingly Compulsive Read
The story centers on 16-year-old closeted high school student Killian Kendall, whose world is rocked by the arrival of openly gay high school student Seth. Seth becomes a lightning rod of controversy in the conservative eastern shore Maryland town and Killian is the only student to befriend him, despite warnings from bullies to the contrary, including within his own family. When Seth is murdered and Killian seriously wounded by a masked killer, Killian decides to investigate on his own once the police and Killian's own bigoted attorney father decide to sweep it under the rug.
I saw mention of the Killian Kendell series of mysteries some time ago, but the original few seemed to be out of print at the time. Now they are back and I decided to try the first in the series, Bleeding Hearts. Not sure exactly what to expect, but the book defied my expectations. Given the age of the character and the setting, I thought perhaps this would be a YA-type mystery without teeth. Although the story gives nods to the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew school, it does not hold back on serious issues or having bad things happen to good people. The book addresses the consequences of bullying, bigotry and the aftermath of violence in a way that feels complete, without screeching the fascinating mystery to a halt. It introduces a diversity of supporting characters that I look forward to learning more about in the forthcoming books. And unlike some mysteries where the main players surrounding our investigator never really seem in danger, you get the distinct feeling that people are in actual jeopardy here and it does not end well for everyone.
Another bonus is the main character. Killian is incredibly appealing and likable. He is scared, confused, determined and sometimes makes decisions that are questionable, but usually credible in the situations that unfold. I knew people like Killian in school who did not initially realize their worth, but then blossom quite nicely. Killian's coming out story amid the killings and his own stalking is an immensely readable experience in and of itself. We quickly grow to care about him. His confusion and sense of discovery and the shifting natures of his relationships with those around him are palpable experiences. Killian is flawed and often unsure, and sometimes you want to give him a swift kick to get him moving on things, especially in regard to his possible budding romances, but he is always a character that you want to spend time with.
The book takes its time to introduce the various players and slowly reveal their possible motives and backgrounds, but it is also a fast read. While I did ultimately guess the identity of the killer, it did not happen near as quickly as it does in most mysteries and the denouement seemed organic and neither too abrupt or too drawn out.
While I am glad to see that the novel is a bit more adult than YA series (I gather the series follows Killian out of high school), I was pleasantly relieved by a couple of things in Aterovis's approach to his main character. First, Killian is described as bookish and not overly athletic, but still handsome enough to garner the attention of one of the most popular girls in school (and then a few boys once he leaves the closet), but despite his new freedom and several romantic interludes, Aterovis does not turn this into a series of lurid encounters and Killian believably eschews actually having sex for taking it slowly while he experiences the discovery of his sexual identity. That said, Aterovis also does not make the fatal mistake of turning Killian into a eunuch either. Too many YA novels featuring gay characters have them as sexless beings relegated to comic relief or over-the-top stereotypes, but Killian is depicted as a fully rounded character with uncertainties and desires and credible sexual curiosity. We believe it when he puts the brakes on and decides to take it slow in one instance without seeming a prude, just as we believe it (and do not lose respect for him) when he inadvertently gets a gander at a naked young hunk and feels both guilty and turned on. Aterovis has his fingers on the pulse of what works for these characters.
Ultimately, the biggest compliment I can say, is that I could not put the book down and blew through it in about 1-1/2 days. Once the book was over and the mystery solved, I wanted to return to these characters, so I have already purchased the next novel in the series. I simply cannot say enough about how pleasantly surprised I am by this author and this initial book in the series. I would encourage anyone to pick it up and give it a try.
Highly Recommended
osh Aterovis’ Bleeding Hearts introduces readers to the son of a home-grown, homophobic local District Attorney. Sixteen-year-old Killian Kendall has never been particularly popular with his classmates, nonetheless he does have three friends, Zach, Jesse and Asher, with whom he pals around. They are friends at school and away from school as well.
Immediate problems erupt when Killian make friends with a new classmate. Zach and Jesse are irate that Killian is talking with a gay person. Asher is troubled and is not sure precisely why. With his parents divorced, Seth Connelly, has just come to live with his father. Seth is an agreeable young man who has decided he has to be who he is, and, if his being gay is problematic for others then so be it.
Josh Aterovis has fashioned a nicely crafted work complete with teenaged anxiety, homophobic reactions at their worst and the problems facing many in our culture as they come to recognize their own sexual orientation. Bleeding Hearts presents a view of a young man coping not only with the usual teenaged confusion as befalls all kids trying to sort out who and what they are, but also one who is unexpectedly faced with the realization that he is gay.
While Bleeding Hearts is a novel and not particularly meant to be an analytical portrayal, Aterovis has skillfully given us a peek into what youngsters face as they step into a not always friendly adult world. In the manner of Dorien Grey and his Dick Hardesty series, Aterovis has crafted a group of characters who are very credible. From the imperious homophobic father, the demoralized mother and on to the optimistic girlfriend, as well as each of the other actors in this work; the individuals are not always likeable. They are, however, plausible, well-fleshed and convincing. Dialogue is authentic. Entwined into this narrative of a young man’s coming out is the mystery regarding who is slaying the fellows Killian befriends. Bleeding Hearts is an interesting, compelling read, happy to recommend for the home, school and public library as well as for the counselor book shelf as a book to aid troubled youngsters with whom they may be working.
Dark and Well-Plotted
Seth Connelly has moved to a new city in Maryland. On his first day at his new school, he meets Killian Kendall. Killian hangs out with a few friends, one of whom is Asher Davis, and they sometimes tease Seth. Killian is not sure about being friends with Seth, but, reluctantly, he spends some time with him and a friendship begins. Killian learns that Seth has dealt with both the good and bad of being gay, from the moment he realized he was, and Seth also awakens something in Killian which he must now face—that he is gay too.
It takes a tragedy for Killian to see how bigoted and hateful not only his schoolmates can be but his own father too, so he struggles with the thought of coming out. He knows he’s not ready and so he makes a pact with Gilly Sheridan to be his cover. Not only does this turn out to be a huge mistake, but the Sheridan family is strange and dysfunctional. He meets Gilly’s aunt, who is different from the rest of the Sheridans, and she claims that he has a “gift”.
With Killian facing Seth’s murder, he is determined to find who committed this horrific crime. As more deaths occur, Killian and Asher find themselves in danger as they’re caught up in the dark, disturbing, and gruesome crimes.
I’ve read very few YA novels, but when I read the blurb for the fourth Kendall Killian series installment, The Truth of Yesterday, I was curious. Since I hate not reading a series from the beginning, I started with this first novel, Bleeding Hearts, and must say Josh Atervois did a really good job of making his teenage characters interesting. I hope I’m addressing the storyline correctly, but to me this is a coming of age story which also covers many life occurrences. The plot involves a young man, Seth, who opens up Killian’s mind and heart to face that he’s gay. Asher, Killian discovers, has also been keeping a secret, and Killian and Asher both learn not to hide who they are and to stand up for others and their beliefs. Killian also faces the way his views change towards his parents, especially his mother’s strength and his father’s abusiveness. He also finds a loving father figure in Adam Connelly, Seth’s father, and gains a brother in Kane.
As for the murder mystery, it’s dark and well plotted. Aterovis addresses various forms of abuse that lead up to a sad and horrible ending. All in all, I was impressed with this first novel and have plans to read the next three books in this series. I’m looking forward to seeing what Josh Aterovis has planned for Killian, and where life takes him.
During the Christmas Season, servants Jane Meyers and Alfie Dawkins search for missing persons from opposite sides of the social spectrum: a homeless man and the Duke's son.
