Vince Vogel

A Cross to Bear implied more than just a serial killer on the loose. When this book was recommended to me, I was struck by the name and synopsis of the story.

Each character had so much weight to bear, so profound that I got lost in the story of each individual which formed a unique tapestry of pain, and survival intertwined with hope. Each holding a piece of the puzzle and it was up to one man to get to the bottom of it all.

Jack Sheridan was a man with a hurtful past. A past that still held him captive in the present. Though he seemed like a lost cause at first he was the best man for the job. Doing the best he could with what he had. It was this hurt that led him to dig deeper, look further and unruffle the knots, unwavering in his task. Even in the little, he became the centre as he pulled every thread together in a great turn of events.

Alex's story also captivated me, it was fascinating to watch as these two men shared one goal. To find the killer. Alex's direct approach stirred things up as he swept through the ring of deceit and secrets. A debauched ring filled with utter filth that made it almost unbelievable.

The gruesome acts were seldom spelt out. I liked that the author gave me just enough description to get the picture. And the pictures were vivid and frightening as I followed the path of destruction with Jack and Lange. The author's compassion and empathy glued you to the pages as you got entangled in the web of prostitution, rape, and child abuse in its worst scenarios.

Each character's role was perfectly added to enhance the plot. Each expertly timed for emphasis. Lange the perfect partner for Jack as he tried to find a killer while getting to the bottom of a mystery being covered up. A mystery that highlighted the true monsters within.

The author had me guessing at the true culprit's identity until the end. It is thrilling and engaging at the same time.

The only thing stopping me to give it a 5-star rating was the fact that the descriptions were at times too long, the backstory too much and I had to skip several paragraphs to get back to the story itself.

Otherwise a very engaging read.… (meer)