Elysium Dreams by Hadena James-#review

He skins his victims alive, taking pleasure from their pain.

In the cold, dark nights of Alaska, a hunter is stalking his prey. Once found, he takes them into the woods and skins them alive, prolonging the experience as much as he can, but the satisfaction always wanes.

Aislinn Cain and the Serial Crimes Tracking Unit have just finished up another case when they get the call. Now they are packing their bags and heading for Alaska in March. The team must overcome the hostile locals and harsh climate to catch a killer before he strikes again.

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MY REVIEW

Elysium Dreams reminds me of some of those horror movies where you know something is coming, you know it is bad and you'd like to look away...but cannot.

And 'it' happens - a lot.  There is a serial killer at work, who skins his victims ... and not post mortem.  And as soon as the authorities find one victim, that is the day the killer stalks and takes his next victim.  Several things puzzle the investigators, such as marked differences in the first three murders, and the fact that the killer seems to know their every moves.  And even the feds who have been called in are not immune to the murderer's attentions.

I was on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading Elysium Dreams.  I can't say it was a 'can't put down' kind of book for me, but that's because I can't take so much darkness in one sitting.  I always, always went back, though.  I had to see this story to it's end.

If you like the horror or suspense thriller genre, and Elysium Dreams by Hadena James is not on your TBR/watch/wish list(s), get it on there today!

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MEET THE AUTHOR

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Hadena James began writing at the age of eight. By the time she graduated high school, she had published a couple of short stories in literary magazines. She completed writing her first novel at seventeen. Hadena began college as an English major, but quickly changed to a history major. However, she continued to write and took several extra classes in creative writing.

College showed her that while she could write short stories, novel writing was truly where her heart lay. She graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in European History with minors in German and Russian Studies. During this time, she received a couple of contract offers from publishing houses, but ultimately turned them all down.

In August 2012, she self-published her first novel. In retrospect, she is appreciative of the contracts offers she received when she was younger, but believes she made the right decision with self-publishing.

When she isn’t busy writing, Hadena enjoys playing in a steel-tip dart league. She loves to travel throughout North America and Europe. Her favorite cities to visit are Chicago, Illinois and Berlin, Germany. She is an avid reader, with her favorites being classic literature; Edgar Allen Poe, HP Lovecraft, Gaston LeRoux, and Jane Austen; modern favorites include Clive Barker, James Patterson, Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams. Her favorite book is “Good Omens” by Neil Gaimen and Terry Pratchett. She writes all of her books while listening to music and the bands tend to get “honorable mentions” within the pages. Some of her favorite bands are Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, Rammstein, U2, Marilyn Manson, Oomph!, and Rob Zombie.

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(Disclosure:  I received a copy of this book from the author and publishers via Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for my objective review.)

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Note:  This book helps me complete the following 2016 reading challenges:

52 Books in 52 Weeks
Eclectic Reader Challenge
New Authors Reading Challenge
Read Harder Challenge