“Schaffer is the real deal. His writing will knock you out.” —J.A. Konrath WHEN EVIL KNOWS YOUR NAME Nothing fascinates rookie cop Carrie Santero more than serial killers. Now she’s hunting down the sickest, most twisted psychopath she’s ever faced—an “omnikiller.” Unpredictable, unrelenting. A death machine beyond all evil. As the body count rises, Carrie enlists the help of Jacob Rein, … the body count rises, Carrie enlists the help of Jacob Rein, a brilliant, embittered former detective who has gone to the darkest corners of the killing mind. What he knows—what he can never unknow—could lead Carrie to the point of no return. The place she can no longer avoid. The place that has never stopped calling her . . .
“A killer who sets a new standard for lethal danger.”—Lisa Scottoline
“A stylish, attention-getting thriller. . . the most engaging pair of detectives I’ve seen in a long while.” —David Morrell
“Gruesome and honest. Readers will find themselves fascinated.” —Booklist
“Schaffer’s knowledge of detective work is evident.” —Library Journal
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Tense, fast, and excellent—I loved this book.
Bernard Schaffer is the real thing. He writes about cops with the assurance of a seasoned police veteran, and his debut THE THIEF OF ALL LIGHT launches a stunning series with two of the most original heroes ever – as well as a killer who sets a new standard for lethal danger.
Schaffer is the real deal. His writing will knock you out.
From its first three lines, The Thief of All Light announces itself as a stylish, attention-getting thriller. Its speed and intensity are matched by the most engaging pair of detectives I’ve seen in a long while.
Omg this was a page turner and first book by this author! Loved and so hooked on this author now.
The Thief Of All Light is a psychological Thriller/ police procedural.
Oh. My. Gosh! One of the best thrillers I’ve read this year! I knew I was hooked from the first sentence! It took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions! The ebb and flow of the authors writing is wonderful and keeps your attention..keeps you guessing…makes you yell at your book (lol). Yet he adds light moments to take off some of the rawness that will have you holding your breath! The plot is suspenseful. The characters are real and gritty, tough yet human. I loved them!
Schaffer has done a wonderful job keeping me engaged and turning the pages! A detective in real life he brings to life this police procedural in a way that you know is authentic.
I loved watching the characters develop and as this is book one in what is supposed to be a series, I can hardly wait to learn more about them!
The Thief of All Light (A Santero and Rein Thriller #1) by Bernard Schaffer. I used to read all the time, then life happened! This by far was my favorite read since my last John Grisham book. A few of us purchased the book, no words except I was addicted. I read the book front to back in 2 days. Every time I went to put it down, I wanted to know what happened next. Definitely a THRILLER! The author Bernard Schaffer is the real deal! A veteran police detective who I recently read solved a cold case from over 20 years ago.(Do I envision another best seller?) It is very apparent that his real life cases/experiences spilled over to this book. It brought all the characters alive, you felt like you knew them and what they stood for but, you just needed to know more…
Of course my favorite character was the aspiring Rookie cop Carrie Santero and her obsession with serial killers. In her teenage years, she went as far as to write a letter to Charles Manson while he was in jail and received a reply.
Carrie will now face the real life drama in this enthralling thriller. You feel like your growing up real fast alongside Carrie, from being this pretty little thing, a new cop trying to be a detective that has to not only do her job but constantly prove herself to others on the force. Although I do not feel as I am alone Bill Waylon, not only Carrie’s boss but you can just tell he looks after her like a daughter. This is a glacial, calculated psychopath they are hunting, nothing they have ever seen before. Danger is uncalculated and everywhere. We will learn about Carrie’s childhood and best friend Molly. Molly’s daughter was taken and held captive by what seems like a serial killer. The author then introduces former cops, family members and others that we can hope will be in the sequel that have worked similar cases in the past. That alone intrigued me, this book goes much deeper than a suspenseful thriller of a serial killer but also dives to the down and dirty of what the life of a police officer is really like. Their personal life, their addictions, their habits and more. Just because they go home at night, their minds are constantly on overdrive. They see things that most individuals should never have to encounter especially with their lives on the line every day. TRUE HEROS’
DEFINITE DON’T MISS!! I am awaiting the next book which I pre-ordered on Amazon called An Unsettled Grave
The Thief of All Light by Bernard Schaffer
Santero and Rein #1
Murder mysteries with serial killers are not uncommon but this one is uncommonly good. After starting to read I could not put it down. The Santero – Rein team had the rookie wannabe detective eventually teaming up with an older scarred detective no longer on the police force and the two together was one that I “got” and enjoyed watching. The serial killer was devoid of humanity and if there was anything that I might have liked to see more of it would have been his backstory but…sometimes it doesn’t really matter what the backstory is as no matter what it was it would not justify the deeds perpetrated.
The idea that evil is dark, might have a face, is alive, can see and pull on a person and that doors are involved to let it in or keep it out…not really personification…but the way it was presented here resonated with me. The fact that good people may have to access that evil to find and put away evil people and the impact it can have on the ones that capture such evil was also interesting and resonated.
Carrie Santero is relatively new on the job and her boss often sees her more as a daughter than a rookie cop. Her boss, Bill Waylon, is strong and fair and a great person to act as her leader. They get along well and seem to see eye to eye though sometimes he is more friend than boss. There are a few more interesting characters in the detective section that no doubt will appear again in future books…as will perhaps Thome – son of Rein who calls Waylon “uncle”. And then, there is Jacob Rein. Rein and Waylon were once partners who put away a heinous serial killer. Rein has dropped off the radar for a number of years but is pulled in again when a serial killer appears that takes Carries best friend Molly and Molly’s daughter captive. From that point on there is a race to the finish that may or may not be what the reader hopes for.
Did I like this book? Definitely
Would I like to read more in this series? Of course
Is this a new-to-me author I will read again? Without a doubt
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
This was one book that was when you start it you can’t put down. You never think that something can seem to be touching as this book The Thief of All Light. Carrie Santero is doing something that she love most. When her best friend always gives her a hard time about always working and not spending enough time with her and her friends daughter things change. She fined serial killer fascinating and when they are twisted psychopath. Although she has never had one that copies past psychopaths. She has to get help from past Detectives. Detective Jacob Rein and her Chief Bill Waylon. This is one book you have to read it from the beginning to know what is going on. Carrie just has a lot of work to do and needs Rein to help her. It is a very close case for her and I believe if you get the book you will get the emotional and the angry parts of the book. But you have to read the end to get what happens.
The author weaves this story like a fairytale, you are caught up before you realize it! He builds the foundation of his characters so you really understand them and their actions. I thoroughly enjoyed how the story comes full circle with the events of the past! Highly recommend and cannot wait to read the next book!
I usually know by page 70 if I will like a book, with this one I knew right away that I would enjoy it.
The Author Bernard Schaffer who is also a law enforcement veteran captured the characters in this book so well that you could tell his experience in law enforcement was part of the motivation of this book.
It is the first book of the Santero and Rein thriller series, which is about a female rookie cop and a seasoned male detective who both value human life and will do whatever they can to save someone in trouble.
This book hooked me from the beginning and was full of suspense that kept you on the edge of your seat, it was to the point I didn’t want to put it down because I had to know what was going to happen!
Now that the book is complete I feel like I’m going through withdrawal and I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
This author did such a great job that he will be an author that I will keep an eye out for and look forward to reading more of his books!
I think it would be interesting
A serial killer in rural Pennsylvania
Carrie Santero is the first woman ever hired by the Coyote Township Police Department in rural Pennsylvania to be a police officer. She has wanted to be a detective for as long as she remembers and is doing everything she can as a patrol cop to achieve that goal.
As she settles into her job, a series of murders brings back memories to law enforcement and the small community of a killer of small children caught years ago and Carrie is excited when she’s given the lead on one of the recent murders.
Before long her and her over-protective boss, the Chief of Police, end up tracking down Jacob Rein, a former detective that was instrumental in bring the child killer to justice years ago to try to enlist his help in solving these latest murders.
I like police procedurals especially ones that are done well. The author, in this instance, is a police detective himself and it shows. The dialogue and characters stand out as being authentic. This was a dark tale about a twisted individual that is obsessed with serial killers and wants to emulate them.
I highly recommend this book and I’m now off to read the second book in the series AN UNSETTLED GRAVE.
The thief of all light was a brilliant novel and beginning to the Santero and Rein series. With a world so realistic and characters so well written this book isn’t one you get stuck into, its one that completely immerses you. Pulling you into a dark and twisted journey with two utterly compelling characters. This is a book series that deserves so much praise and one I won’t ever stop recommending.
Highly addictive, highly disturbing, and incredibly realistic– I was hooked from the very first page. A haunting look inside the mind of a serial killer and the people trying to bring him to justice, this was not an easy read — but it was a powerful one. I read the second book before I read this one, so I did myself a slight disservice by already forming opinions about the characters. I did enjoy seeing how it all began, and was able to appreciate how Schaffer developed his characters as the story progressed, especially Rein. For fans of police procedural fiction, this book is a must read! Shaffer’s experience in law enforcement brings depth and insight to his writing, and his unique voice is one you don’t want to miss.
Bernard Schaffer does an amazing job of grabbing a reader, and not letting go. This is the first book of his that I have read, and it definitely won’t be the last! I highly recommend this book!
A fantastic detective thriller! Well written characters and believable police protocol. This fast paced is sure to delight those that enjoy descriptive scenes, smart writing and a real fantastic story. I love how the author is able to write a believable, smart and strong female detective and it’s clear Schaeffer knows his stuff on all fronts.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Wow what a read. This is one of those books where when u start it be prepared to stay up all night.
In reading the book gives you so much food for thought.
Realizing how appropriate the title is.
The title is so fitting.
Some parts are raw and emotional so not for faint of heart.
Written well.
I’m a fan .
Holds your interest.
For me this book had an intense start. Once I got further into the story I had a hard time putting it down. It was tense, suspenseful, a real thriller and a page turner.