Shame

By Alan Russell

Book Overview

Nominated for the Anthony and Macavity Awards for Best Mystery Novel of the Year.

Although it's been many years since the death of his father--an infamous serial killer known as Shame--Caleb Parker still struggles to free himself from his father's dark shadow. Caleb wishes only for a normal life without being branded a "killer's son," but his dreams are shattered when a new string of murders surfaces that are all too reminiscent of Shame's terrible killings.

When the police label him the prime suspect, Caleb forges an unlikely partnership with true-crime author Elizabeth Line, a writer whose career began when she survived an encounter with Shame and who then went on to document his life--and death. As the body count begins to pile up, Elizabeth and Caleb come to the conclusion that one of them has been targeted by the killer, and a game of cat and mouse begins as they try to uncover the murderer's identity before becoming his next victims.

Brutal and unapologetic, Shame draws you into the mind of a serial killer with no chance of escape until the last page is turned.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1612186106
• ISBN13: 9781612186108
• Release Date: December 2012
• Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
• Length: 336 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Psycho Thriller!

I recently read Russell's latest work, EXPOSURE, which was so good that I decided to pick up a copy of SHAME. These are very different books - I would call the latter a psycho thriller murder mystery - but Russell's inventive plotlines and nimble writing shine in both.The protagonist is the son of a serial killer! An intriguing premise which Russell deftly explores - or should I say exploits - to show how the sins of the father are visited upon the son.Like EXPOSURE, SHAME has lots of twists and turns that will keep you guessing to the end. It is well written and fast paced with lots of action and suspense. It is a very good read. I highly recommend it for the adult reader, but probably not for the kids.

A new twist on serial murder mysteries

Serial murders are a dime a dozen in mystery novels, but this is the first I've read which features the child of a serial murderer (as well as a writer covering the story). A gripping psychological suspense novel with interesting characters (especially the transsexual), plot twists, and fine dialogue. Russell's last book, Multiple Wounds, was a real departure from his comic novels. (Hotel Detective & The Fat Innkeeper are two of my all-time favorites). But Multiple Wounds was occasionally flawed by, in my mind, humor and "tourist" information -- Russell hails from the hospitality industry -- sandwiched in between deep psychoanalysis and mythological allusions. In Shame, he manages to integrate local color and occasional jokes without breaking the mood of the book.

A thrilling, heart stopping page turner

I thought this book was excellent. I enjoyed the characters immensely and the plot was believable.

A terrific book!

This book held my attention from the moment I picked it up. The topic was fascinating to me and it read like a real true crime book. I had never before given a thought to the children of criminals. But now I will think of them every time a murderer is sent to jail.

Great read-A real pageturner

Caleb Parker fled his home to escape his psychopath of a father, Gray. However, in spite of leaving his home, Caleb knows he can never escape his father's genes. He always worries that he will become just like his sire, an inhuman monstrosity. However, Caleb's haunted past returns when naked corpses seem to follow Caleb everywhere he goes. The dead bodies all follow the modus operandi that Gray used over a quarter of a century ago. The bodies have the word SHAME written on all of them. Gray knows that SHAME is his deceased father's code name he used on 17 women. Maryelizabeth Line, the sole survivor of the Gray murders, believes that Caleb is innocent. This unlikely duo works together in a desperate attempt to stop a copycat serial killer from running up the murder count. It will be a SHAME if fans of the psychological suspense and serial killer sub-genres miss this haunting journey into the minds of an obsessive murderer and his victims. The fast-paced story line is one of the best chillers in several years. However, it is the insight into the brains of the killer, his family, his victims, and his victim's family that make Alan Russell's novel a must read for sub-genre fans. Harriet Klausner