HANGMAN

5 stars out of 5

Holy carnivore, Batman - this book's a killer!

FBI "consultant" Timothy Blake is Dexter and Hannibal Lecter melded together and on speed. In case you're wondering, yes, that makes for some pretty gory details, so if your idea of a tasty lunch isn't somebody's left arm, you might want to skip this one. For everybody else, though, it's a bone-ified winner.

After surviving what is easily an horrific childhood, Blake runs afoul of the law. But he gets a reprieve of sorts when he's offered a deal too good to pass up: Put his unique on-target insights to use by helping with tough FBI cases and - when he's successful - earn an even more unique "reward": a freshly dead human perfectly fit for consumption courtesy of the Death House at Huntsville Prison.

It's an arrangement that's served Blake well, so to speak; he's able to earn money in other ways, including winning $20 bets that he won't be able to solve puzzles sent by the bettors. To underscore his talent in this regard, each chapter begins with a content-related riddle, such as "What belongs to you but is used mostly by others?" 

The story begins as Blake's handler, FBI Director Peter Luzhin, pulls him in to help when a 14-year-old boy is kidnapped. Despite Blake's concerns, he's paired with Special Agent Reese Thistle. Neither is thrilled with the arrangement, but the more they work together, the more they begin to respect and trust each other (well, to a point, of course; Blake isn't exactly chomping at the bit to admit his eating preferences to anyone except his FBI boss).

The plot itself is filled with twists, turns and surprises mixed in with some pretty grisly stuff - but hey, what did you expect when the "hero" is a cannibal? In between, though, is an intricately woven tale of a complex and tragic life that makes an otherwise unlovable character, well, palatable.

For the record, this is the first adult novel by the author, a successful writer for the young adult market. I've also read that ABC has a TV rights option, so I'll be keeping an eye out for developments on that front if for no other reason than I'd love to run into Blake again. And those riddles? I'll give you a freebie: The answer to the one above, if you haven't already guessed, is "your name." Here's another hint: If you read the book and want answers to the others, just go to http://jackheath.com.au/riddles.

In short, this is without question one of the best and most clever books I've read so far this year and I recommend it highly (except to the really squeamish). Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read an advance review copy.

Hangman by Jack Heath (Hanover Square Press, June 2018); 320 pp.