Book Description
June, 2110. A serial killer strikes the populace of the City
of Chicago. The first victim is a wanted man by Detective Frank Campanelli’s
Sentinel Division. His body had been mutilated and, from the evidence uncovered
by forensic genius, H. Lincoln Rothgery, it has been partially consumed. The
unknown invader leaves a trail of corpses behind in short order, including that
of a homicide detective.
of Chicago. The first victim is a wanted man by Detective Frank Campanelli’s
Sentinel Division. His body had been mutilated and, from the evidence uncovered
by forensic genius, H. Lincoln Rothgery, it has been partially consumed. The
unknown invader leaves a trail of corpses behind in short order, including that
of a homicide detective.
To add to the mystery, the DNA evidence retrieved from a
stolen vehicle indicates that the killer is former military, but special
encoding prevents the murderer from being identified. Frank’s partner, Marcus
Williams, seems to know more about what’s going on than he lets on, until the
former Navy SEAL calls in a friend from the FBI to help.
stolen vehicle indicates that the killer is former military, but special
encoding prevents the murderer from being identified. Frank’s partner, Marcus
Williams, seems to know more about what’s going on than he lets on, until the
former Navy SEAL calls in a friend from the FBI to help.
“The Nighthunter”, as the media has labeled him, instills
terror and virtually shuts down Chicago. Together, Campanelli, Williams, and
the agent must work to capture the enigmatic and frighteningly efficient
cannibal.
terror and virtually shuts down Chicago. Together, Campanelli, Williams, and
the agent must work to capture the enigmatic and frighteningly efficient
cannibal.
Excerpt
Lincoln
caught Frank’s gaze. “We found two different types of blood, two sets of DNA in
the car.”
caught Frank’s gaze. “We found two different types of blood, two sets of DNA in
the car.”
“Go on,” McLain prompted.
“Herman Werner’s and the killer’s. No ID’s been
matched to his,” Rothgery stated and stood from his chair. He stepped between
the two detectives and stepped casually toward the sedan. “The killer’s DNA has
been engineered, as has the blood, but there’s no identification to be found in
the cells. He is a he and appears to be of military origin, but it goes beyond
anything I’ve ever seen.”
matched to his,” Rothgery stated and stood from his chair. He stepped between
the two detectives and stepped casually toward the sedan. “The killer’s DNA has
been engineered, as has the blood, but there’s no identification to be found in
the cells. He is a he and appears to be of military origin, but it goes beyond
anything I’ve ever seen.”
“So, you’re telling me that the killer is a
soldier. American?” Frank asked as he stopped next to Lincoln and stared at the
driver’s seat of the ruined car.
soldier. American?” Frank asked as he stopped next to Lincoln and stared at the
driver’s seat of the ruined car.
“I can’t even determine that without a serial
number, Frank.”
number, Frank.”
“Soldier or not, Mister Rothgery…how the hell did
he get outta that?” McLain asked from Lincoln’s other side. The big man waved
his hand over the wreckage as he spoke. “That should’ve been fatal…engineered
genes or not.”
he get outta that?” McLain asked from Lincoln’s other side. The big man waved
his hand over the wreckage as he spoke. “That should’ve been fatal…engineered
genes or not.”
“I agree.” Rothgery slid his glasses from his
Roman nose and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. “Gherling is still
researching the DNA and the blood while Teri is carrying out more tests.”
Roman nose and rubbed his eyes with his free hand. “Gherling is still
researching the DNA and the blood while Teri is carrying out more tests.”
“You said Werner’s blood was in the car,” Frank
stated.
stated.
“Yeah,” Lincoln said then nodded. “Not much of it,
though. A lot of the DNA we found in it was from hairs in the carpets and
seats. My opinion is that he used the car for some time. Months, perhaps close
to a year.”
though. A lot of the DNA we found in it was from hairs in the carpets and
seats. My opinion is that he used the car for some time. Months, perhaps close
to a year.”
“So, Werner was cut out of the seatbelt…then
thrown through the air.” Kirby stepped up to the side of the car and studied
the sliced seatbelt. In the bright light, the precision cut was much more
impressive.
thrown through the air.” Kirby stepped up to the side of the car and studied
the sliced seatbelt. In the bright light, the precision cut was much more
impressive.
“Definitely,” H. Lincoln affirmed as he replaced
his eyeglasses. “And…before I forget…there are teeth marks on the body.”
his eyeglasses. “And…before I forget…there are teeth marks on the body.”
“We saw those,” Frank said. He leaned back on the
workbench behind him and crossed his arms. “The bites on the shoulder.”
workbench behind him and crossed his arms. “The bites on the shoulder.”
“I’m not talking about those, Frank.”
This took Kirby’s attention from the wreck to the
forensic genius. “What are you trying to say, Mister Rothgery?”
forensic genius. “What are you trying to say, Mister Rothgery?”
“I’m saying he had a little nibble on some muscle
tissue while he cut out the heart and liver. It’s also confirmed that the heart
and liver were eaten.” Lincoln met the eyes of McLain then looked to
Campanelli.
tissue while he cut out the heart and liver. It’s also confirmed that the heart
and liver were eaten.” Lincoln met the eyes of McLain then looked to
Campanelli.
“God,” Kirby uttered and stepped away from the
sedan as if it exuded heat.
sedan as if it exuded heat.
“How do you come to that, Lincoln?” Frank asked.
“Pieces of both organs were left behind in the
car. Nothing more than shreds, really. Seems he had to pick them out of his
teeth as he drove.”
car. Nothing more than shreds, really. Seems he had to pick them out of his
teeth as he drove.”
Frank lifted his right hand to his chin and rested
it, keeping the left arm tucked. “You’re telling me that we have a soldier of
unknown origin turned cannibal, running around the streets of Chicago.”
it, keeping the left arm tucked. “You’re telling me that we have a soldier of
unknown origin turned cannibal, running around the streets of Chicago.”
“From everything we’ve gathered so far, Frank,
that’s about the size of it.”
that’s about the size of it.”
My review
So this is a cool mystery paranormal type book. Campanelli is a detective but futuristic. And we have some serious crazy going on with super humans that were genetically altered. And it's not just crazy but scary. I loved the feel of the mystery, it's very well done. And I really liked the suspenseful way the author did it- I definitely kept my nose glued to the pages. And the cool gadgets Campanelli uses were also really interesting. AND I loved that he's blind yet capable. Think Daredevil meets inspector gadget but way cooler!!
The writing is well done and though this is my first book by this author, I'm pretty impressed. I'll have to take a look at the rest of the books following this detective. I'm a fan!! 4.5 PAWS!!
Bio:
Frederick was born in Chicago in 1970 and now lives
in Villa Park with his wife, Rae and their three dachshunds. He began by
writing fictional works all through high school, but didn’t take himself
seriously until 2009, when Frederick began writing his first novel, The Dregs
of Exodus, which was self-published in late 2010. This was followed up with
another novel, The Pirates of Exodus in 2012.
in Villa Park with his wife, Rae and their three dachshunds. He began by
writing fictional works all through high school, but didn’t take himself
seriously until 2009, when Frederick began writing his first novel, The Dregs
of Exodus, which was self-published in late 2010. This was followed up with
another novel, The Pirates of Exodus in 2012.
Throughout that year and 2013, he continued
writing and published four short stories in eBook form for Kindle. Runt Pulse,
The Fortress of Albion, Lunar Troll, and Campanelli: The Ping Tom Affair.
writing and published four short stories in eBook form for Kindle. Runt Pulse,
The Fortress of Albion, Lunar Troll, and Campanelli: The Ping Tom Affair.
His third
novel, Campanelli: Sentinel, was picked up by Solstice Publishing in late 2014.
The novella, Minuteman Merlin, was released for the Kindle by Solstice
Publishing in March of 2015 and followed up by his fourth novel, Of Knight
& Devil in September. His fifth novel, Campanelli: Siege of the Nighthunter
was released by Solstice in March, 2016.
novel, Campanelli: Sentinel, was picked up by Solstice Publishing in late 2014.
The novella, Minuteman Merlin, was released for the Kindle by Solstice
Publishing in March of 2015 and followed up by his fourth novel, Of Knight
& Devil in September. His fifth novel, Campanelli: Siege of the Nighthunter
was released by Solstice in March, 2016.
He is currently an editor for Solstice Publishing
and working on novel number six, a paranormal historical fiction.
and working on novel number six, a paranormal historical fiction.
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