Fascinating Authors

Book Review
by
John H. Manhold

They Never Die Quietly ISBN 9780982555033, by D. M. Annechino. Paperback, 279 pages, $14.95. An AMAZON Encore advanced reader’s copy from uncorrected proofs.

The reader is warned by an opening statement from Amazon Encore’s Senior Content Acquisition Editor that the book is “not for the faint of heart” in that “It stretches the limits of the serial killer genre.” He follows with: “From the very first page, you will know that you are experiencing a new kind of terror from a bold, original writer.”

The prognostication is quite accurate. The Prologue opens with the grisly description of the demented killer in the process of beginning to crucify his victim without the aid of any form of anesthesia and with the victim’s young child lying on the nearby bed. Following chapters describe the extent of abuse the killer suffered that led to his development into a religious fanatic and the lengths to which he goes to live out his belief that he has been appointed by God to “cleanse sinners”.

The plot provides an interesting main character in Detective Sami Rizzo and fleshes out her Mexican partner, Alberto Diaz, quite adequately, although it is a little difficult to accept his implied almost complete loss of ability to use his native tongue. It also is a little difficult to believe that Sami, with her experience, would place herself in jeopardy as described, but is acceptable because of her life’s troubled situation. The investigative methods employed follow an acceptable protocol and the writing is well done.

Only one fact has been set forth that perhaps would not bother the average reader, but does bother my obsessive attention to detail. On Page 210 the killer tells the victim she will be crucified at 6 P. M. on Sunday. Unless I have missed something, the frantic efforts on the part of the police department, and members thereof, entail dealing with city, county, and other bureaucratic offices that would not be open on the week-end to comply with their requests.

In summary, Daniel Annechino has provided a well-written tale of the exploits of a religious fanatic serial killer, and the efforts to stop him. The story moves along at a good pace until the final 50 pages where, as predicted in the editor’s note, the pace moves into overdrive to the story’s completion. It is a riveting tale that, again referencing the editor, is not for those who are “made uneasy” by descriptions of bodily mutilation.