Melissa’s Review: From a Killer’s Mind by Jason Helford

From a Killer’s Mind
written by Jason Helford
published by Jason Helford, 2013

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Smashwords, Goodreads

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange  for an honest review.

Did I enjoy this book: I . . . I’ve never read anything quite like this book, and I’m honestly not sure if I enjoyed it. I had to stop reading several times (mostly right before bed) because I was afraid I’d have nightmares. You know how you sneak a peak at car accidents as you drive past, feeling guilty all the while? This book is like that. It’s awful and disgusting and gory and I couldn’t not finish it.

Helford’s got a bit of work to do with his prose, but if From a Killer’s Mind is anything like others in its genre, I’d be surprised if he can’t find a publisher after a few more rounds of editing. For starters, let’s get rid of about half the occurrences of “deep seated” whatevers and figure out a different way to say that. I’d also recommend ditching that pesky passive voice (you all know how I HATE passivity) and then just doing some general tidying up (for example: my mind is still reeling from John’s trip to the grocery store, not because of what he did, but because I’m pretty sure he never bothered to take all that frozen food out of his back seat).

As for the story, well, I’m left feeling both overwhelmingly sad and overwhelmingly disgusted. I’m pretty sure that’s what Helford was going for.

GOLDEN LINE

“John darkly wondered if he was yelling into an empty kitchen, screaming at nothing but himself, but he pushed that thought back down and continued.”

Would I recommend it: I’d definitely give this book a NSFW/NSFL warning, but if bloody, icky gore tossed with a giant dose of insanity is your thing you’ll love From a Killer’s Mind. 

About the book – from Goodreads: “Fans of Thomas Harris’ The Silence of the Lambs and Shane Stevens’ By Reason of Insanity may find a new favorite author here.”
-Kirkus Reviews

John has been a successful serial killer for his entire adult life, committed to his craft without detection or disruption. He’s spent years perfecting his process and meticulously planning out each kill, honing his abilities to horrible heights; however, when one kill doesn’t go as planned, his confidence is shattered, and his dark life starts down an even darker road, to either his salvation…or his ultimate downfall. John finds his private sanctum infiltrated by chaotic characters from the most unlikely of places, putting him through an existential crisis of the soul. As John loses control, his true crucible begins.

From a Killer’s Mind, the debut novel of writer Jason Helford, is a mind-bending, scary, and emotionally honest trip through the life of a serial killer, laying bare the killer’s soul for all readers to see. The remarkable twist at the core of this novel is something that will leave you open-mouthed, shocked, and completely hooked, until the very last page.