Book Details
Format
Paperback
Pages
320
Language
English
Published
Aug 2, 2011
Publisher
Tor Books
Edition
Reissue
ISBN-10
0765362368
ISBN-13
9780765362360
Description
John Wayne Cleaver is a bright but troubled teenager who grapples with a disturbing fascination for death and violence. Living in a small town where his mother runs a mortuary, he often finds himself battling his darker impulses, feeling as though he is on the brink of becoming what he most fears—a serial killer. Despite his cerebral nature and the self-imposed restrictions he sets to keep his darker self at bay, secrets simmer just beneath the surface of his seemingly normal life.
When a series of mysterious murders shakes his town, John becomes an unlikely investigator, drawn to the macabre mystery. As he delves deeper, he discovers connections that intertwine his life with those of the victims and the killer. His struggle between his inherent urges and the desire to do something good leads him into an unsettling moral ambiguity.
Compelled by curiosity and a need to confront his own identity, John navigates a grim landscape where evil lurks in familiar faces. With each step he takes, he must decide how far he is willing to go to protect his community—and himself. The battle unfolds not just against the killer, but against the darkness within.
As danger escalates, John is pushed to his limits, forcing him to confront the nature of humanity, sanity, and the fine line between monster and man. Each choice he makes brings him closer to understanding who he is and what he might become, challenging the very essence of morality and the power of choice in a world that can often seem devoid of hope.
When a series of mysterious murders shakes his town, John becomes an unlikely investigator, drawn to the macabre mystery. As he delves deeper, he discovers connections that intertwine his life with those of the victims and the killer. His struggle between his inherent urges and the desire to do something good leads him into an unsettling moral ambiguity.
Compelled by curiosity and a need to confront his own identity, John navigates a grim landscape where evil lurks in familiar faces. With each step he takes, he must decide how far he is willing to go to protect his community—and himself. The battle unfolds not just against the killer, but against the darkness within.
As danger escalates, John is pushed to his limits, forcing him to confront the nature of humanity, sanity, and the fine line between monster and man. Each choice he makes brings him closer to understanding who he is and what he might become, challenging the very essence of morality and the power of choice in a world that can often seem devoid of hope.