Review
The Kindle Book Review: "This story affords us a look into the mind of a serial killer, and the tremendous strength of writing in this book makes that a terrifying experience. The writing is exceptional in that it propelled me into the story and into the minds of the main characters, as well as keeping me totally fixated on the story. The suspense and tension is this story is very palpable, and I found myself thinking about this story long after I had finished. The main characters of Tony and Mitchell are painted with such fine precision and depth, I could almost feel their presence while reading. The character of Frank Willow, the adopted Grandfather of Tony and Alex, is a richly defined character who contributes a great deal of emotion and compassion to the story. The other characters in this story are all unique and well defined, and successfully contribute to the sentiment, understanding, and underlying current of the story."
Lex Allen, Reader's Favorite International Book Awards: "With his first novel, Forgive Me, Alex, Lane Diamond has initiated a crime/suspense thriller series that exhibits many of the qualities that put the likes of Lee Child and James Patterson on the bestseller lists."
Raven Reviewer: "Suck a rubber duck if you are not blown away by this dark psychological thriller. In a world where characters are as vital as in The Game of Thrones, the suspense had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath for everyone involved. Neighboring Huntley, the setting is home to me, making this all the more twisted and real for me. If you love serial killers, red herrings, the thrill of the chase, and unpredictable endings, you are in for a treat. Methodically thorough, this book came together like a well-crafted puzzle. The word choice, though coarse, is meaningful and eloquent. The switching points of view and timelines were plot-driven, not pointless. The narrator made this story come alive. I loved all of the character voices. Well, I loved all of them except one. The author created such a vile creature in the serial killer that by the end of the book, I heard his voice and wanted to throw up. Authors should look to this as a great example of the use of an epilogue and cliffhanger. In short: mind blown."
Ashley Fontaine, Author: "Stellar! ~ Psychological thrillers are my kind of books! Not only do I write them, but truly enjoy reading one that makes my skin crawl, my nerves skitter with fear and my heart thump a tad louder. This incredible novel by Lane Diamond handed me ALL of that, in spades!"
Anne B. Chaconas: "It scared the beejesus out of me. I LOVED it. ~ Diamond does in Forgive Me, Alex what I wish more contemporary authors would do: He brings me right into the story, forcing me to identify with the characters. I didn't have a choice--I would feel Tony Hooper's wrath and need for revenge. I would wallow in Mitchell Norton's desperate inability to ward off his demons. I would cheer for Diana Gregorio's unbelievable ballsiness in the face of seemingly unbeatable odds. I would weep, shedding actual tears, for Alex Hooper's childhood."
ALC: "Wowzer! Hold on tight. You're in for a doozy of a ride! ~ This thriller hooked me from the very beginning and I found it near impossible to put it aside. I carried my kindle with me everywhere I went and when snatches of time presented itself, I pulled out the Kindle and read. I needed to know what was going to happen next despite some of the gruesome and more uncomfortable parts of the story (inside the mind of a serial killer). I found the story engrossing and the style of writing quite crisp, clean, and forthright."
Renee Dillon: "Yes, I'm going to read it a third time. ~ One sentence and I was hooked... Of the many books I've read over the past 39 years, few have warranted a second read. However, I was so bent on getting to the end of Forgive Me, Alex--to find out if Tony received (or more accurately, sought out) the justice he so obviously deserved--that I had to go back and read it again to savor the masterful writing. You know what happened the second time around? I blew through it again, even knowing the ending."
Mark Schafer: "Well worth a 5 star rating & more money than what I paid for it.~ Hooked from page one & it was quite a struggle to put this one done. If you want to read a book that will stick with you long after you finish it, you need to read this one. Everything was so well described I could almost visualize the scenes."
JMD: "Excellent cerebral thriller. ~ Forgive Me, Alex is a real page turner; it hooks you right from the first pages and doesn't let go. Tony Hooper, the protagonist, is a character that is incredibly developed; the emotions you will feel for him are gut-wrenching at times. The flawless execution of the different POV's, such as Hooper and the chilling antagonist, Mitchell Norton, really make the pace go. You climb inside the mind of the serial killer Norton, and though gruesome at times, the substance is much deeper than murder, and being in his mind is a terrifying experience; I hugged my loved ones often when reading it. The ending is satisfying as it sets up the sequel perfectly and I can't wait to read it! If you like a heart-pounding, emotional, scary thriller, you need to read this."
From the Author
I spent about 5 years working on Forgive Me, Alex. Why so long? Well, some of it had to do with market conditions at the time, but mostly I wanted to make it just right. I went through multiple revisions, then had several beta readers provide input, then had my editor take a final pass.
The end result is a book I'm pleased to offer, and one I hope you'll thoroughly enjoy.
I wanted to provide a glimpse inside the minds of the primary characters -- not just for the protagonist, Tony Hooper, but also for the antagonist, Mitchell Norton. Everybody loves the good guy, of course, but the bad guy needs some lovin' too! Or maybe some hatin'. Or maybe some gut-wrenching, oh-my-God-I-think-I'[m-gonna-puke fascination.
What makes a serial killer tick? As the psychological sciences have taught us in recent years, any number of factors can serve as the impetus for serial murder, or torture, or sick, twisted, sadistic sexual rituals. I hope I've given you enough of a glimpse into Mitchell Norton so that you'll know him well, even if you don't want to. **This is me grinning.**
As to our hero, Tony Hooper... well, it's not that simple. I sought to paint a picture of what might happen to a basically all-American kid when outside forces turn his world upside down. He loves hard, and therefore loses hard. We humans are such a complex lot, and I hope you'll find Tony's complexity interesting and compelling.
Strong relationships lay at the core of this story, which is ultimately one of love and loss, fueled by such a wide range of emotions. I've grown to love some of these characters, and I hope you, dear reader, will too. I plan to bring many of them back in my next book.
From the Inside Flap
An excerpt from Forgive Me, Alex:
Mitchell Norton, the man I've long considered the devil, smiles atop the courthouse steps and waves to the simmering crowd. He tilts his head back to soak in the sunshine and cool breeze of the late spring day, the tranquility of which stands in stark contrast to the circumstances of this event.
The mere sight of him pushes me to the dark edge of my mind, where sanity hangs like... like... like a balloon in a tornado!
I stand in shadow across the street, one amongst many in the crowd of curiosity-hounds gathered to watch a monster's release. As my face blazes, fists clench and teeth grind, I can easily imagine the onset of a stroke, an aneurism, a pulmonary embolism, a raging scream--
Control yourself, Tony!
I long to charge across the street to destroy him--no remorse--as if stepping on a cockroach. Only sheer force of will prevents my doing so.
For seventeen years, I assumed this day would never come. How could they even consider releasing this vile creature, this very personification of evil?
In 1978, Norton murdered innocent kids who'd barely tasted of life. He tortured two of them beyond the limits of rational imagination, for to imagine such deeds was to summon a devilry that we dared not face. Yet the jury held him not responsible, a victim himself to the ravages of an illness that drove him to insanity beyond our reckoning.
He thus resides forever in the darkest pit of my psyche, chained to me in perpetuity. Now only two choices remain: I must cast off those chains, or yank them tight around his neck. Yes, I must obtain satisfaction. The idiotic jury seventeen years ago, and today's flawed court system, has left little recourse. No one else seems willing to deliver him to justice.
I am willing. After all, this is what I do. It's who I am. Indeed, the devil himself made me into this hunter of monsters. What a sweet twist of fate this is, that I may still, finally, administer justice.
From the Back Cover
Here's what some are saying about the award-winning psychological thriller, Forgive Me, Alex:
"Forgive Me, Alex is a deeply emotional spellbinding psychological thriller. Lane Diamond has succeeded in bringing to the surface the dark and horrifying mind of a psychotic serial killer while at the same time bringing forth the desperate need for humanity and justice for the victims and their families. You will be held in a spell that will keep you wanting more and find yourself totally drawn in." ~ The Kindle Book Review
"Lane Diamond gets you into the head of the characters and you feel this bond with them, urging you to read faster to find out what happens next. You know you are reading a great book when you need to stop reading, but keep telling yourself just one more chapter, then one more leads to half the book." ~ Can't Put It Down Reviews
"Forgive Me, Alex was an emotional, tense, powerful, brilliant roller-coaster that I will happily go on again, and again, and again. It was simply inspiring and clever and just really succeeded in being a great piece of entertainment." ~ Daydreaming Star
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Two personalities, two attitudes, two goals, two methods--one darkness.
Take an intimate look inside the mind of a killer, and of the man determined to end that killer, in this story of justice and vengeance, evil and redemption, fear and courage, love and loss.
About the Author
I write fiction, long and short. My writings cross over many genres and focus on diverse subjects, ranging from the mysteries of the human mind, with its fragile psychological and emotional states, to the everyday joy and anguish of life on Earth.
I've been an avid reader my entire life, and started writing at the age of 12. I love a good story, of course, a compelling plot and satisfying conclusion. Yet as a reader, I've always been drawn to great characters. The characters bring me back to an author time and time again. This shows in my writing, where I attempt to create authentic, complex, real characters you can come to love, and in whose company you feel at home. Or maybe you'll despise a character and want to stick a fork in his eye. Hey, bad guys are fun too!
I did my tour in the real world, serving in the U.S. Air Force, then working as everything from a forklift operator to a bartender in my youth, before settling in as Business Services and Project Manager for a large manufacturing and distribution concern. Now, at long last (Man! Why did I wait so long?), I'm putting pedal to the metal in pursuit of the author's life.
After many years as a Freelance Editor, with several clients published or aspiring to be so, I co-founded Evolved Publishing, where I'm the managing publisher/editor, and author, of course. As an author, I started with a few short stories, and released my debut novel, a psychological thriller called Forgive Me, Alex, in December 2011. The sequel, The Devil's Bane, is under way and due in the not-too-distant future.
You can find out more about me at my website: LaneDiamond.com.
