Well, I just read other reviews on this book - and my initial response is, why read a book that obviously isn't your cup of tea? Yes it is gory but that's this particular reader's preference. Sure it is ugly and I read to be shocked. And I was. I found it took me a little while to get into this book, hence my decision to give it 4 stars. However, once the author had grabbed my attention, she had it - I couldn't put the damn thing down! Halfway through, a major plot change happened and left me thinking "What the heck?" and I couldn't wait to finish it. I loved this book. I gave it to a friend of mine - and she too has the same opinion. If you want background and thorough reasoning to why killers kill - keep with true crime, if you want a great fast-paced interesting fiction story about killing, then this is it. I can't wait to read another of this author's works.