Without Sin by Rachel Ford

Rachel Ford

Without Sin

A city in fear. A serial killer who crossed the line. The Nursery Rhyme Killer took his brother. Now Owen Day will stop at absolutely nothing to find him. A brutal killer haunts the streets of Kennington, leaving dead bodies in his wake – dead bodies, gruesome murder scenes, and nursery rhymes. The media dubs him NRK, the Nursery Rhyme Killer. When NRK targets his brother, ex-military intelligence analyst Owen Day taps into the skills he developed in the Army to bring the killer to justice – before he strikes again. 'He that is without sin, let him first cast a stone...' Owen's own hands are far from clean. But to wrest the city from the death grip of a madman, Owen will need to confront the demons of his past. Sometimes, a man with blood on his hands is the only one who can stop a killer.

Semi Finalist

Plot/Idea: 10 out of 10

Originality: 10 out of 10

Prose: 10 out of 10

Character/Execution: 10 out of 10

Overall: 10.00 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot: Ford has created a complex, intriguing, and addicting thriller. The mystery is twisty, the characters are multifaceted, and the murder keeps the reader guessing.

Prose: The language used in this story is clear, easy to follow. There is an appropriate amount of description to allow the readers to form a picture of the characters and events. None of the gruesome details are gratuitous, while remaining impactful and appropriate for the story.

Originality: While the story of former military personnel solving mysteries and catching killers is not novel, Ford integrates a number of unique elements, including the fact that the main character goes about solving the mystery independently. The killer's moniker and modus operandi also add an intriguing twist.

Character/Execution: While the main character does not show significant development over time, his arc does not feel stagnant. He is consistent in his personality and the references to his past show that he has already undergone personal growth before dealing with this particular serial killer. The characters are complex and consistent, real and raw.

Date Submitted: August 05, 2021

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