FictionZeal

Roy has a history of duping people out of their money.  He’s now in his eighties, and has set himself up with Betty, a rather gullible but affluent elderly woman.  He just wants to be taken care of.  But inwardly, he wants one more big fling; one more big con.  Betty’s grandson, Stephen, doesn’t like Roy and suspects he’s up to no good.

The author methodically creates a man who is able to give readers the creeps.  Searle peels back the layers of this man piece by piece, going from his most recent past to his early past.  Yet he never lets us forget the present time – what is Roy planning now that he has successfully weaved his way into Betty’s life?

Present tense was used for some of the scenes which had existed in the past.  If this was purposefully done, I thought it a bit odd.  The characters were fascinating and well crafted, but I had a difficult time relating to any of them.  The mood of the storyline was dark and foreboding.  Yet, curiosity carries the reader forth to a rather satisfying ending.  Rating: 3.5 out of 5.