Search - The Face of Death (Smoky Barrett, Bk 2)

If you're a fan of the serial killer genre, this is a series you need to discover. I do recommend reading them in order, starting with "Shadow Man." The recurring characters in the series are all complex and very real, and their development through the series is well worth reading in order.

"The Face of Death" truly blew me away. In most serial killer books, the victims are cardboard characters and the action lots of blood, gore, and slice and dice. Not true of this book; the victims here are real three-dimensional characters you can relate to and care about. And their fates? Some of the killings hit you like a body blow to the solar plexus, others bring a tear to your eye. When was the last time a fictional murder touched you that deeply? Not just a quick escapist read, the Smoky Barrett books will stay with you long after you're finished reading them.

Wow. Another 5-star story in the Smoky Barrett series. And I don't give that rating very often. This book drew me in the moment I started the first page and did not let go until (after reading day and night) I finished it. The writing style draws you into the lives of the characters, makes you care about them, feel like you are part of their experiences, so much so that when the book is done, you really miss them. You want to continue looking in on their lives, seeing how they are doing.

This is a sequel to "Shadow Man", and I recommend you read that first. It's not that "Face of Death" can't stand on its own -- it CAN. But the richness of the stories and the way they meld into each other is an experience you don't want to miss.

McFadyen writes a very dark world. One where at least, sometimes, the good guys win. His story may seem too detailed at times, but i find that i appreciate it. If you close your eyes, you are actually there watching it happen thru his description. The characters are well developed and you become attached to them and want the happy ending for them all. But the path to the end is full of fear, courage, and raw rage at times. It shows you what it takes to keep your soul intact.

"I've called this a diary, but that's not what it really is.
No.
This is a black flower. This a book of dreams. This is a path to the watering hole, where the dark things go down to drink."......Sara

Sara has everything she has ever loved taken from her, killed by The Stranger. It started for her when she was 6 years old. She is now 16 and his game is coming to an end. It has been a well controlled plan of vengeance, taking place over 10 years. But for the killer, it started at age 6 with the bottom dwellers of human trafficking. But Smoky is smarter than him. Smoky and her team are thinkers, they get into the mind of the most sickest creatures of humanity and get ahead of the game before the final play. McFadyen never lets you see who the bad guy really is until you are almost at the finish. It's an edge of your seat ride and i can't wait to finish the next 2 in this series. If you haven't read the first...start there. You need to understand Smoky first before you follow her to the watering hole.

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This was a very well written book, and although it's dark, dealing with some disturbing subject matter, I found myself compelled to finish it in a couple of marathon reading sessions--it's that good. McFayden has a careful, crafted style that made his dialog sound authentic, and that brought his characters to life in the pages. Barrett and her colleagues are complex and satisfying people you care about; the killer is complex and creepy but somehow very believable. The plot was complex too, but the author managed to pull all the threads together, and to surprise me with the revelation of the villain. I'll definitely look for the other books in this series.

This author is very dark. His books do not leave you feeling good but are impossible to put down. I have had this one for several months and hadn't read it because I remembered how rough the first one was and this is no exception. But it's an intriguing read.