The Resident by David Jackson | Blog Tour Review #FearTheResident

Publisher : Viper Books
Available in Ebook, Hardback & Paperback (16 July 2020)
320 pages
Source: Copy received for review

ABOUT THE BOOK

THERE’S A SERIAL KILLER ON THE RUN
AND HE’S HIDING IN YOUR HOUSE

Thomas Brogan is a serial killer. With a trail of bodies in his wake and the police hot on his heels, it seems like Thomas has nowhere left to hide. That is until he breaks into an abandoned house at the end of a terrace on a quiet street. And when he climbs up into the loft, he realises that he can drop down into all the other houses through the shared attic space.

That’s when the real fun begins. Because the one thing that Thomas enjoys even more than killing is playing games with his victims – the lonely old woman, the bickering couple, the tempting young newlyweds. And his new neighbours have more than enough dark secrets to make this game his best one yet…

Do you fear The Resident? Soon you’ll be dying to meet him.

MY THOUGHTS

Thomas Brogan is on the run from the police when he chances across an abandoned property at the end of row of terrace properties. He breaks in, covering his tracks and it makes the perfect hiding place however with no food, running water or electricity, he decides to explore.  Luck is on his side for he discovers that none of the attic spaces are fully bricked and he can move from one house to another. Wow. What a find for a serial killer!

Just the idea of having anyone hiding in my property is scary enough but you do not want someone like Brogan.  Through his flashback memories we discover what gruesome and brutal crimes he has carried out and although the gory stuff takes place off the page, it’s the imagination that is the worst.

Moving through each loft and occasionally into the houses when he thinks the properties are empty, Brogan spies on his neighbours, he takes great interest in Elsie, a rather confused elderly lady and a young couple, Martyn and Collette – especially Collette with whom he becomes rather obsessed.

The story is mainly told from Brogan’s perspective together with dialogue from his conflicting personalities.  One is egging the other on to live up to his brutal reputation whilst the other is for the moment just enjoying watching and playing his mind games however just occasionally a softer Thomas raises its head. This inner dialogue leads to some dark humour to lighten the story. To counterbalance the psychopath persona, Brogan’s backstory is gradually revealed and whilst it in no way excuses his actions – after all this man is a monster, there were times when I couldn’t help but feel a tiny smidgen of sympathy for him and his past. I suppose it brings in that old question of is someone born evil or are they made evil.

Brogan has much fun playing with his victims, particularly the young couple. As he watches, he gets more confident and moves things around the house and finds ways of playing one off against the other, especially when he discovers things about them and their relationship that they are hiding from each other.

The Resident is a wonderfully entertaining and disturbing read. Well paced, exciting and interesting throughout. There was a time when I think it was in danger of moving into farce territory but I was so engrossed I raced through it in virtually one sitting. Brogan is one seriously messed up individual and just knowing what he is capable of makes you seriously worried for those in his sights.

Definitely recommended for thriller fans. I’m so glad I no longer live in a terraced property! Check your lofts folks….

My thanks to Rachel of Viper Books for the tour invitation and for sending a review copy.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

David Jackson is the author of nine crime novels, including the bestseller Cry Baby and the DS Nathan Cody series. When not murdering fictional people, David spends his days as a university academic in his birth city of Liverpool. He lives on the Wirral with his wife and two daughters. Find him on Twitter @Author_Dave

Author Links:
Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Book Links:
Amazon UK | Waterstones | Hive