Bred to Kill by Franck Thilliez + a Giveaway

So you might recall that last week I reviewed a little book called Syndrome E. And I was totally blown away by it. Well, this week marks the release of the follow up title, Bred to Kill, and thanks to the publisher I'm able to offer up a copy of that new release to one of you!

In the year since their investigation of the mysterious Syndrome E, Sharko and Hennebelle have dealt with some huge emotional blows. Shortly after coming together, they were separated by a tragedy neither of them will likely ever overcome. Sharko has taken a voluntary demotion, which has placed him back on the streets. His latest case involves a grad student found dead at a primate research facility. The only witness - and suspect - is a chimp trapped in the pen with the dead body. Before Sharko can solve the murder, though, it becomes clear that he'll have to delve into the mystery of the student's research as well. And it's precisely this that brings Sharko and Hennebelle together once again.

At one point Franck tells Lucie that they are both cursed and when Syndrome E ended it surely seemed that way. The beginning of Bred to Kill picks up immediately after and explains what's happened before jumping ahead one year. Readers new to Thilliez can read on without fear, you can certainly start Bred to Kill without having read Syndrome E.

Once again, Thilliez presents a weird and fascinating premise - evolution and violence in this case - and again backs up the plot with enough science based theory to make the story seem believable. (I certainly don't have the chops to confirm or disprove it.) It makes for a meaty thriller, the kind you can sink your teeth into and really savor!

Thilliez isn't afraid of gore or violence - I probably should have pointed that out in my coverage of Syndrome E - so if any of you are feint of heart and took a chance with it, ending up grossed out as a result, I do apologize. For any of you who don't mind dark, twisty, and bloody I highly recommend both books!

This author is a bona fide new favorite of mine. I hope it doesn't take another two+ years for another of his titles to be translated and released Stateside. But I'll be waiting patiently even if that does turn out to be the case.

Rating: 5/5

And now for the giveaway: to enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below before Monday, January 26. (Open US/Canada only and no PO boxes, please.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway