Reviews

Becoming David by Phil Sloman

vondav's review

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5.0

Richard a self-employed accountant, house-proud and someone you would take home to meet your mother, a man who if you met in a pub you would be happy to have a drink with him. But what if I told you he had unusual taste, a taste for meat that was not animal. Oh yes to get his favourite food, he had to kill, unsuspected men he picked up in bars. He had a great life, until he killed the wrong person and David made sure he knew it.
This is a fast paced read and before I knew I had finished it. Having only a few characters, helps you learn all about Richard. When David started to haunt Richard, you get to see Richard’s world fall apart. At the start David was more like Jiminy Cricket, Richard’s conscious but as the story progressed he became as dark as Richard. Although there were times that I suspected that Richard had a split personality and David was a figment of his imagination. Whilst this is a story of a cannibal serial killer, the author does not concentrate on the blood and gore which enables you to use your imagination. The cannibalism was discussed at meal times and I always had a smile on my face when I read how he prepared the food. Obtaining the meat was just how you would get meat from an animal. The planning of each killing was more important than the kill and you can understand how Richard had got away for it for so long. There are not many books that at the end of the story, you start to feel sorry for the killer, but this was one of them.
I have read this author work in a few anthologies and always love his ideas of a story. I am eagerly looking forward to more stories from him. If you like your horror psychological then pick up this book.

charshorrorcorner's review

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4.0

Becoming David is the story of Richard, serial killer extraordinaire.

Richard is a respectable man, with a great job, a beautiful home and his own gym in the basement. Which is also where he likes to drag his victims and carve the fine fillets with which he fills his freezer.

When Richard targets David and does his usual thing with the body, he thinks no more of it... until David starts speaking to him. And peering back at him from the mirror.

This was a fun, psychological novella that messed with my head. The tension and atmosphere built throughout and the ending went in a direction that surprised me. I love when that happens! (Another little surprise I noted, with pleasure, was the nod to the Hyde Hotel.)

I've not read anything from Mr. Sloman before, but hey-sign me up! Because if this is the type of story he's offering up on a regular basis, I want in!

Highly recommended to fans of psychological horror, served up with some liver, fava beans and a nice Chianti!)

You can find your copy here: Becoming David

*Thanks to the publisher/author for the free e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is it.*
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