Reviewed by kimbacaffeinate on
The tale is shared with us from multiple PoV’s including those of the killer and victims. Dr. Bond is a troubled soul who suffers bouts of insomnia, in part due to his examinations of the killer’s victims. Having examined victims of Jack the Ripper, his observations of this second group of victims terrifies him. He is very observant, and notices two men in his nightly travels. One is an unkempt barber named Aaron Kaminski, whom the police suspect and the other a Jesuit priest. Both of these characters added to the suspense and gave Pinborough’s story depth and believability.
Mayhem while dark is not overly gory. Yes, we get details of the bodies and imagery of what happens to these poor woman but Pinborough uses the victim’s voice to create suspense, and fear. She allows the reader to see all aspects of the case unfold. We are privy to newspaper clippings, letters, police reports, autopsy notes and Dr. Bond’s thoughts. One of the most interesting threads was from the killer himself. The imagery brought the city and its people to life. I felt at times as if I were walking alongside Dr. Bond and felt the urge to look over my shoulder. Pinborough weaved real people and events creating a macabre tale. The supernatural elements especially that of the Upir created a dark atmospheric tale that had me completely enthralled.
Copy received in exchange for unbiased review. Full review originally published @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 6 January, 2014: Finished reading
- 6 January, 2014: Reviewed