Customer Reviews

With These Hands

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Michigan Central University has a serial killer amongst it's student body. But what would drive an ordinary college student in becoming what the media has labeled "The Mid-West Strangler"? Could one lie coupled with a childhood secret change a regular college student into a heartless killer? Detective Madeline Harris is sent undercover as a college student to help catch the killer. But even being one of Detroit's most decorated African American detectives may not be enough to help Madeline catch The Mid West Strangler.

Author Derek Vitatoe expertly narrates this story in the voices of the serial killer and the detective assigned to bring him down. Just when readers think that the story has reached it's dramatic conclusion Mr. Vitatoe delivers a stunner that will leave readers mouths hanging open and begging for a part II.

Your hands can get you into a lot of trouble. Brooks Traver has always been quiet, always watching those around him. After living under the absent hands of his mother and being touched daily by his Aunt Cecile, Brooks spent his formative years in juvenile detention. He was locked up because he couldn't keep his hands off things. Brooks was released before his 18th birthday, earned a scholarship to attend Michigan Central University to educate himself and live a normal life. Until Nicole started spreading lies and he had to take matters into his own hands.

Madeline Harris is a single mom with an intense work ethic as leader of the sex crime unit at her precinct. All of her friends want her to let her hair down and relax...meet a man and have a life. Just as she finds `Mr. Right' she lands knee deep in a case involving the "infectious man case". As that case is winding down, the "Midwest Strangler" puts his hands around the necks of the women of Delta Chi Omega. Madeline goes deep undercover to wrap her hands around the case but that just might cost her life.

WITH THESE HANDS is slow to start but the action takes off around page 70. As the plot thickens you will keep turning the pages trying to guess who does what next. Even though the book wasn't carefully edited, it doesn't distract much from the unique storyline. The main characters were well developed but some of the secondary characters could use more work. The ending makes one wonder if a sequel is in the works...I sure hope so as Vitatoe has won a space on my new authors to watch list.

Deltareviewer
Reviewing for Real Page Turners

This is the first release from K'wan's Black Dawn Books. A good murder mystery that certainly got my attention.
Not bad for Derek Vitaoe's first round in the literary arena. All the characters were will thought out with enough background information to keep the flow. An unexpected twist at the end had me wanting to read another fifty pages. I hope Derek gives us a sequel to this one.
I was expecting to find out a little more about the character "The Infectious Man" since he had an interaction with Natalie and she chose to keep it quiet, her reasons never being disclosed...you left me hanging on that one!

Locksie

ARC Book Club Inc.

Star Rating ****4.0

With These Hands is a murder,mystery, suspense that starts off slow but will keep you turning the pages. Derek Vitatoe will capture his reading audience attention as he narrates' what would push the average college student over the edge. You will find out just how deep words can cut a person. Black Dawn Publishing is on the come up don't blink cause you will miss a good book. www.coast2coastreaders.com

I really enjoyed this book! It was hard to put it down. Derek did a great job and I can not wait until the next book.

I could not really get into this book..The beginnin gof the book was a little slow and I couldn't follow it out. I did however hear about the ending of the book and wish that I had followed it through...But usually if books don't grab my attention from the beginning I loose interest. ...

Derek, you did a wonderful job. This is a page turner. I couldn't put it down. Now you left me hanging so I am waiting on the sequal. You never know what makes people click and you did a great job showing us a couple scenarios. I was glad to see that you depicted a strong and courageous woman in the lead role. Terrific job!!!!

THIS BOOK WAS GOOD I LIKE IT ALOT.DEREK VITATOE IS UP AND RISING AUTHOR THAT'S BOUT TO DO THE DAYUM THING WITH THIS BOOK.....IT A REAL GOOD READ AND THAT YOU WILL LOVE IT...HE KEEPS YOU IN SUSPENSE....K'WAN HE DID HIS THING FOR REAL. IT'S DEFINITELY A CHANGE IN WHAT I READ........AND THAT WHAT WE NEED CHANGE. SO, DEREK KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK...AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR SOME MORE WORK FROM YOU~I WILL DEFINITELY DO MY P.R AND LET THEM KNOW TO READ THIS BOOK.

Brooks Tarver is a Michigan Central University student with good looks and a troubled past. Although he is handsome and labeled a good catch, his childhood memories make it difficult to score with the ladies. Then along comes Natalie. Unsatisfied with Brooks 'performance', Natalie spreads the ultimate white lie that catapults Brook into a homicidal rage.

Madeline Harris is a feisty cop assigned to the Sex Crimes Unit of the Detroit P.D. When women start to turn up dead on the MCU campus, the police are intent on catching their killer. Madeline accepts the disturbing case. Going undercover she embarks on her journey to take down the sicko the media has dubbed "the Midwest Srangler". But she may be closer to becoming his next victim than she is to solvng the case...

With These Hands is a welcome change from the redundant storylines in its genre. Mystery, suspense and drama are all packed between the book's cover along with enough room for a shocking ending. As with many freshman works, the editing was minimal and slightly distracting. But the storyline remained consistent and had good closure. Well done!

Englishruler
ARC Book Club Inc.
Star Rating: 4.0

With these Hands, Derek Vitatoe dared to be different and successfully did so. I was totally intrigued with his story and the idea of basically bringing two stories together, where the characters eventually got to connect with each other, was interesting. Brooks was a scary individual, but a part of me felt deeply saddened for his character. Madeline was a strong character and it felt rather good to read about a woman who had courage. Even though she'd suffered a tramatic loss, she used her strengths to pull her through.(Or did she?) As for the ending...Derek, you got me! I need a sequel and I need it fast! Until then, thanks for stepping up the game and maybe you'll encourage many more of us to step out of the box and do the same.

4.5 rating