Love Is the Bond (Rowan Gant Investigations) [Paperback]

M. R. Sellars (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rowan Gant Investigations | Publication Date: October 2005

SHE LOVES THEM TO DEATH …

Of existing serial homicide cases, women make up less than one-tenth of American serial killers. However, among female serial killers in existence worldwide, American women have the dubious honor of snagging better than three-quarters of that total.

Within the characteristics of the Kelleher Typology nine point categorization of serial killers is that of SEXUAL PREDATORS— those who systematically kill others in clear acts of sexual homicide.

They are sociopaths, sometimes harboring a form of paraphilia, but almost always killing in order to fuel or even validate an ongoing fantasy. In the case of female serial killers, however, this classification is so distinctly rare that there has only been one documented instance of it in the United States.

Still, there are those who wonder if that case was merely an isolated anomaly, or in fact a harbinger of what is yet to come.

Rowan Gant is about to find the answer to that question. The problem is, it might just be one he doesn’t want to hear…

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A member of the ITW (International Thriller Writers) and HWA (Horror Writers Association), M. R. Sellars is a relatively unassuming homebody who, in his own words, considers himself just a "guy with a lot of nightmares and a word processing program." He is the author of the Rowan Gant Investigations series, the Special Agent Constance Mandalay series, as well as other works of thriller and suspense fiction.

Product Details

• Paperback: 346 pages
• Publisher: E.M.A. Mysteries; 1 edition (October 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967822122
• ISBN-13: 978-0967822129
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,418,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW), and of the Horror Writers Association (HWA), M. R. Sellars is a relatively unassuming homebody who, in his own words, considers himself just a "guy with a lot of nightmares and a word processing program." Legend has it he started making up stories to entertain a stuffed bear during his single digit years, then began writing them down sometime around his early teens when the growing catalogue of fiction started causing him to experience migraines. Although he had several short stories and newspaper articles published during his early adult life, it wasn't until 2000 that his first full-length novel, Harm None: A Rowan Gant Investigation, hit bookstore shelves, officially launching the acclaimed paranormal thriller series.

Sellars says that the biggest adjustment he has had to make with his writing career is coping with the time spent away from his family while traveling on promotional tours. Still, he approaches the necessity of public appearances with the same humorously deadpan and satirical wit that he applies to life in general, stating, "As long as I have an RC Cola and a bag of peanuts, I'm all good, Bubba."

All of the current novels in Sellars' continuing Rowan Gant Investigations saga have spent several consecutive weeks on numerous bookstore bestseller lists as well as a consistent showing on the Amazon.com Horror/Occult top 100.

Sellars currently resides in the Midwest with his incomparably amazing wife, equally fantastic daughter, and a feline he describes as, "the competition." At home, when not writing or taking care of the household, he indulges his passions for cooking and hanging out with friends. In order to satisfy his lifelong dream of being a satirical humor columnist for a major metropolitan newspaper, twice each week he removes his glasses, dons blue tights and a red cape, then blogs about the incredibly bizarre world that is his life as a writer, husband, and father. It has been said that his blog articles sometimes blur the line between fiction and reality. To that Sellars responds, "What line?"

M. R. Sellars can be located on the web wherever there is a virtual bar serving virtual single malt Scotch, single barrel bourbon, good Irish whisky, and decent beer. In other words, look for him on the major social networking sites.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Murder, Magic and the Kinky Side of Town - Part 1, October 26, 2005

By 

Boudica (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Is the Bond (Rowan Gant Investigations) (Paperback)

*** No Spoiler Here!!!***

The story begins: After two quiet years, our hero Rowan and his wife, Felicity, are called upon again (in a round about way) to consult with their dear friend and St. Louis Homicide Detective Ben Storm, who has finally gotten past the wrath of his superior "Bible Barb". Ben has a dead judge, the FBI, his superiors and the press to deal with and it's not getting better. The bodies are beginning to pile up and this time it's kinky sex and death and clues that are plainly leading them all into the "Twilight Zone".

That, kids, is the teaser. I will not spoil it for anyone. The only warning I am going to give you is that this is "grown up" reading, and this is part one of two.

For those of you who are not familiar with the Rowan Gant series of detective novels, this is the sixth installment. Some of you may want to check out his other books and catch up before going on to this novel.

M. R. Sellars writing style is straight forward, reminiscent of the hardcore Detective Novels of the 30s and 40s. Hard biting cops, murders who leave no doubt of their guilt and do not look to the reader to forgive them because of "circumstances". These are serial killers and poor excuses for human beings. And we love the heroes and hate the bad guys. Witty dialogue, intense drama and suspense also mark this as typical of the genre.

Mix with this a touch of the macabre and add the element of magic; you get Rowan Gant. He is, for those of you who do not know, a witch, a Wiccan and has talents that are far beyond that of the normal Joe. He is the magical profiler extraordinaire, who has no training in police work but can tap the energy left behind by the perpetrator and give the police the leads they need to catch the killer before he has the chance to kill again.

He is also the consultant no one wants to admit to, because of his association with the magical circles. He is the key that the higher ups in the police force want to sweep under the carpet and hide from the public, though the press always has ways of finding out. He is not loved by those who call upon him for help, but they call on him just the same.

His wife, Felicity, is also gifted. She plays an important part in this new novel, and we explore her character a bit more closely this time. Well developed in this novel, she becomes the key this time, and through her we explore the darker, sexier side of the night life of St. Louis as well as looking into a form of magic and spirituality many of us may not be familiar with.

As I said before, M. R. Sellars does his homework. He has developed his characters well, giving them presence. He makes them look like they know their jobs by doing the research. Sellars has done excellent research on police procedures, medical practices, crime scene investigations, various life styles and spiritual beliefs that make each of these novels a treat for the reader who wants authenticity in their reading as well as something very different. His style of writing leaves no clue unturned, no matter how grizzly. And he works his clues in with the expertise of a brick layer building a foundation that will stand up to inspection and a bit of hard banging. There are no "lose ends" or "surprise elements" to throw off the reader here. The story is out in the open and expertly woven. Images carve deep into your imagination as you follow the story and unravel the details.

The book holds your interest, it peaks your curiosity, and perches you on the edge of your chair as you flip each page eating up the story, the characters and the plots. And you will have about a year (hopefully less) to muddle over the clues, wonder about how our heroes will work their way out of the messes they have gotten themselves into and to speculate on the murderer and what drives a person to that kind of sick, twisted - well, you get the idea. No spoiler here, you have to read it for yourself.

This is an excellent offering by M. R. Sellars and if you are not already a Rowan Gant fan, this book will happily drive you over to the darker side of town! boudica

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WOW!!!, December 15, 2005

By 

Dorothy Morrison (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Is the Bond (Rowan Gant Investigations) (Paperback)

A good novel keeps the reader's interest to the very last word. A great one, however manages something else: It grabs the reader's attention, feeds his hunger, and leaves him begging for more. Love Is The Bond not only satisfies this criteria, but is, without a doubt, Sellars best work yet. A truly *great* novel!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinary story-telling as usual -- but a bit disappointing on another level, December 13, 2005

By 

readerrocker "bookworm & an old-time rock n r... (Wine Country, Northern California, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Love Is the Bond (Rowan Gant Investigations) (Paperback)

Love Is the Bond is another example of Sellars' ability to put before the reader a really well-crafted story, one that draws us away from our world and into his. His characters are eminently believable and I'd take almost any of them as neighbors. His attention to detail is exactly right. Personality quirks are administered with an eye toward what might be possible in reality. I read this book in one loooooooooooooong sitting, stopping only for sleep and to accomplish a few other daily necessities.

Now for my single criticism, and the reason this book is getting only four stars from me instead of the five I would have given the other RGI books had I reviewed them:

In his six previous books, this author has been evenhanded and sensitive in his treatment of all things Wiccan as a more-or-less 'normal' subset of human society. I was disappointed, then, to encounter in one of his books such prejudiced treatment of another societal subset: those who have willingly embraced a part of active BDSM subculture.

Sellars used the most lurid images he could conjure from society's collective fear of sexual-power-games-gone-awry to underscore horror and fear in this book. In doing so, he helped to further marginalize an already in-the-shadows group of widely diverse people who claim for themselves a part of the honor and integrity that bind most BDSM practitioners to their partners.

I've bought all of the books in this series as they came out and will most assuredly do the same for the next one, especially since I *have to* know how this story ends. While I recognize that this book is fiction and, at the end of things, written to amuse, I hope the author remembers the obligations that one societal subgroup has to another and revisits the caution to `do no harm'.