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A review by screamdogreads
Call Him Mine by Tim MacGabhann
4.0
In Spanish, the verb esperar means 'to hope', 'to wait', and 'to expect'. Which of these three you meant, I didn't know, but I prayed it was all three.
As a reader, something I've developed rather a soft spot for is these kinds of slower burning mystery stories, the ones that really allow you to delve deep into a character, those stories that have a quiet, charming sense of beauty to them. Call Him Mine is one such novel, acting only partly as a thriller, this fantastic little novel leans much more into the role of being a character study, and an exploration of grief. This is a novel that ever so slowly grows on you, a story that starts off gritty and yet, kind of standard, and transforms itself into a page turning thrill ride, all while the pace sits at a comfortable simmer.
Call Him Mine is a brilliantly atmospheric novel, one that so fantastically captures the vibrancy of Mexico and balances it against the gruesomeness of the stories atrocities. This really is an absolutely amazing way to debut, Tim MacGabhann clearly knows his craft, he knows how to expertly create a delicate and touching mystery. Some real peaceful moments exist within this story, despite the numerous stomach churning descriptions of death and decapitation. This book is an intense and visceral read, and while it's not as fast-paced as the thriller genre usually offers, it's a wonderful and enjoyable literary crime novel nonetheless.
Like I said, death has dozens of smells, and I only know some. This one was sallow and warmish: the carbon dioxide fug given off by bacteria feeding in a closed space.
As a reader, something I've developed rather a soft spot for is these kinds of slower burning mystery stories, the ones that really allow you to delve deep into a character, those stories that have a quiet, charming sense of beauty to them. Call Him Mine is one such novel, acting only partly as a thriller, this fantastic little novel leans much more into the role of being a character study, and an exploration of grief. This is a novel that ever so slowly grows on you, a story that starts off gritty and yet, kind of standard, and transforms itself into a page turning thrill ride, all while the pace sits at a comfortable simmer.
Call Him Mine is a brilliantly atmospheric novel, one that so fantastically captures the vibrancy of Mexico and balances it against the gruesomeness of the stories atrocities. This really is an absolutely amazing way to debut, Tim MacGabhann clearly knows his craft, he knows how to expertly create a delicate and touching mystery. Some real peaceful moments exist within this story, despite the numerous stomach churning descriptions of death and decapitation. This book is an intense and visceral read, and while it's not as fast-paced as the thriller genre usually offers, it's a wonderful and enjoyable literary crime novel nonetheless.
Like I said, death has dozens of smells, and I only know some. This one was sallow and warmish: the carbon dioxide fug given off by bacteria feeding in a closed space.