Customer Reviews

Deviant Ways

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If one could create a new category of fiction, say, in the manner of sports, this first novel by Chris Mooney would be at the top of a list titled: Extreme Fiction. As one who is never at a loss for words, this incredibly intelligent and mind-rendering thriller evoked only the most astounding comparisons...such as, "Move over Thomas Harris, Chris Mooney has created a bigger, better, and meaner Hannibal Lecter!" Where once Harris' top-selling book was the litmus test to improve upon, Mooney's "Deviant Ways" is destined to become one to outdo.

Jack Casey is a man haunted. Not by your everyday, run-of-the-mill ghosts...but by his own demons: The face of his former wife as she lay dying only feet away from him, bleeding to death from a slashed throat; the images of all the victims that he was too late to save as a criminal profiler for one of the nation's top law enforcement agencies, the FBI. Now retired from the Bureau, but still tormented by his past, Casey is trying to form a new existence, hoping vainly to outrun these demons that insist on following him. And follow him they do, deep into one of the most intense thrillers ever written. Like an evil hybrid of Jack Clancy, Thomas Harris, and Jonathon Kellerman, Mooney writes like a man possessed by his own monsters, and his therapy is to purge them onto the page...much to the benefit of the reader.

Pursuing Jack Casey is The Sandman, the result of a horrible government drug experiment gone as wrong as possible. The Sandman is without conscience, remorse, or feeling...but what he lacks in these, he makes up for in cunning and intelligence, and knowledge in explosives. As Casey tries to out-think The Sandman, he is forced to confront all of his own monsters, not only to save his own life, but those of the people he is beginning to care about as well.

With as many twisting turns as a mountain highway, "Deviant Ways" is not for those who read to fall asleep. I proudly add this book to the list of my all-time favorite reads!

This is Chris Mooney's first book and I am amazed at the talent and maturity his writing displays. I have read alot of books lately and Deviant Ways is at the peak of my top 5 list. This is a true suspence thriller that is unprecedented. The descriptives in this book were so good that at times I felt as though I was watching a movie. The Sandman is a great "serial" character but I think Miles Hamilton was a little creepier. But my favorite character wasn't even the main character, Jack Casey. It was Malcolm Fletcher, a former FBI profiler with a sordid past. He is the key ingredient for the utter success of this book. Malcolm Fletcher is cool and delivers his own form of justice that will surely put a smile on your face. This is a dark tale but don't worry you'll be feeling most hopeful at the end of Deviant Ways. Enjoy, thriller fans and watch for Chris Mooney in future. I have a feeling he'll back.

I had never heard of Chris Mooney until someone sent me an e-mail telling me about this book. So, I decided to put it on my list. Well, after reading this book, I am still wondering what took me so long to read it! This book was well-written, exciting, and very suspenseful. I really enjoyed The Sandman, Jack Casey, Miles Hamilton, and especially Malcolm Fletcher. This was a classic case of good vs. evil and, while I was rooting for Jack Casey, I found myself really enjoying and respecting the cleverness of The Sandman. I really enjoyed how the Sandman continued to call and torment Jack Casey throughout the book. He knew ALL of the buttons to push to get to Jack and, believe me, HE PUSHED ALL OF THEM! Although Jack is the main character of the book, you cannot help but to take notice to the antics of Malcolm Fletcher, an ex-FBI agent. He was the "guardian angel" that always seemed to pop up whenever Jack was in trouble. Fans of the Thomas Harris books or even the James Patterson books really ought to give this one a try. If you are looking for heart-pounding suspense, this book should not be missed!

In the early eighties, Thomas Harris wrote RED DRAGON and introduced the reading public to the "serial-killer" genre. Since then, every writer who tries his hand in this particular area of fiction has naturally had his work compared to that of Mr. Harris's. Very few authors have been able to write a novel of equal quality to the above book, or to its superb follow-up, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS. A friend of mine, knowing my reading tastes, recently sent me a book by Chris Mooney, a new author whose debut novel, DEVIANT WAYS, surprised and thrilled me like few novels have in the last ten years or so. All the way through the book, I was continuously reminded of RED DRAGON and the writing style of Thomas Harris, and I mean that as a sincere compliment to Mr. Mooney. Chris Mooney wasn't trying to imitate Mr. Harris, but rather was attempting to create a novel of such action-packed, devastating suspense that he would lift this genre to new heights. I'm extremely excited to say that for me, DEVIANT WAYS succeeds in every possible fashion. This is the story of Jack Casey, a detective in the small town of Marblehead, MA. Casey used to be an FBI profiler...that is, until a serial killer named Miles Hamilton (a person of such perverse evil that he could teach Hannibal Lector a few tricks), murdered his wife. When the Sandman comes to Marblehead to seek vengeance and wreak havoc on those who hurt him as a teenager, Casey is the one man who stands in his way. Though a genius at inflicting pain and murdering people, the Sandman may have just met his match in Jack Casey. Casey was no ordinary profiler: he was the best at capturing and killing the inhuman monsters that preyed on the weak and innocent. Before this battle of wits and tenacity is over, hundreds of people will be dead, possibly including the woman Casey now loves. DEVIANT WAYS is a page-turner of the best sort. I found myself hooked in the first twenty pages by its multi-layered plot, its finely textured characters who stay in the reader's mind long after the novel is finished, and by prose so well-written that I found myself literally reading out loud. This is a novel that deserves to be on the bestseller's list. Chris Mooney is an author who's already light years ahead of most of the other writers in this field, and is someone who is surely on his way to achieving stardom. If you're a reader looking for a sharp adrenaline rush, run out and buy this book now, and then hold on to your seat because you're going to be in for the ride of a lifetime!

This book grabbed me from the very first page. Jack Casey gets called in for a 911 call and immediately upon the scene his former FBI training as a profiler hits it into high gear, for the Sandman is no ordinary killer, he tortures and torments his prey before killing them. Then he goes after the remaining family members. All in a small town. The terror escalades and Jack is desperate to keep it from continuing. It is a wily game these two end up playing before the stunning conclusion is reached. The psychological aspects of this novel will keep you turning pages long after the witching hour, so be careful when you start this one!

As the contrarian I would like to believe I am, I took twice as long as is usually the case with a book in this category to complete Chris Mooney's first novel. I just refused to force myself to finish because I didn't want to look for something else to read that I knew would not be as good. Move over Patterson and Deaver, it's time to create a slot on the best seller list for a new contender.

As an FBI profiler, Jack Casey was at the top of the heap. Now, after a slew of cases that weigh heavily on his psyche, most especially the one that cost him his wife, he's trying to rebuild his life working as a detective in the tony New England town of Marblehead, Massachussetts. But instead of hormonal teens looking for a diversion, he comes up against a brilliant and deranged killer who calls himself "The Sandman", hellbent on bombing his name to the forefront of public consciousness. In order to apprehend him, Jack is going to be obligated to re-visit mental recesses he just as soon allow to remain blocked off. Aided by the suave, witty, mysterious, and eminently (not to mention imminently) resourceful Malcolm Fletcher - another ex-profiler, Jack has to battle his through a litany of obstacles, including those internally created. Can he outthink The Sandman and are forces from his past going to allow him to succeed?

Mooney doesn't waste time or pages building to a crisis. DEVIANT WAYS is non-stop action from page one. Without a dull interlude to be found, it is a thriller in every sense of the word.

I could NOT put this book down! Chris Mooney's debut work is an exciting, fast-paced, psychological thrill ride. When you read this book, you can actually FEEL the emotional turmoil that the main character experiences in hunting down an elusive, sadistic, and brilliant killer who enjoys toying with his pursuers as much as his victims. Leave the lights on as you TRY to sleep, for the Sandman cometh!

I am so thrilled to have FINALLY discovered a new author in the "thriller" genre. This book was absolutely thrilling to the very end.

Detective Jack Casey has some serious problems. His wife and unborn child were brutally killed by a serial murderer and Jack had to watch. Although desperately trying to move on, Jack can't forget the horrible images of what he has seen. He tries to "remake" himself by becoming a detective in a small town and by finding love again.

However, Jack soons becomes the target of another serial killer intent on exposing a nasty secret and Jack's past now catches up with him.

This book walks the fine line between good and evil with our hero battling his inner demons and trying to find the serial killer before he kills again.

I just could not put this book down. The pace was constant and the storyline just kept turning and turning. I especially liked the way the author did not make Jack out to be some kind of "superman". Instead he made him a human being who doesn't always like what he discovers about himself.

I also really liked the very mysterious Malcom Fletcher who comes and goes into the night and MUST be brought back in any future books.

Its hard to write a review about this book without giving too much away, suffice it to say that you MUST buy this book and bookmark this author for purchase of any of his future books.

From the start of this thrilling novel, I was engrossed with every new twist and turn that evolved from one page to the next. Mooney evoked so many emotions throughout this thriller that I felt as if I was with Casey every step of the way as he pursed the Sandman. I was able to feel the terror of the Sandman's victims as well as those who sought to halt him. Mooney takes the reader on a roller coaster of excitement as Casey and his assistants draw ever closer to the end of this string of terror that has plagued New England. Mooney has dug deep into the imagination to come up with elaborate methods to choose, stalk and finally carry out the Sandmans sick revenge that he inflicts on his victims. With his vast resources for assistance on this case, Mooney has opened up unlimited opportunites for future reintroduction of his colorful cast of characters for his next book.

Deviant Ways is a hit! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

For a first time novelist, Chris Mooney demonstrates a remarkable ability to write a disturbing thriller. I was especially impressed by his attention to detail which really brought each character to life and made each chapter seem so realistic. I could visualize the Sandman's every move and feel Jack's inner suffering and victimization.

Deviant Ways is a movie in the making -- Lot's of great action, sex, violence and heroism. I can already imagine someone like Harrison Ford playing the role of Jack, and Sean Connery acting as Fletcher.

Highly recommended!