Move aside nudie mags! In Find Him and Kill Him by Cody J. Thompson, this young man has a new obsession — a darker obsession — murder. Get wrapped up in the unease of how normalized killing becomes for this teen and what journey it sets him on for the rest of his life…
Let’s dive in!
My Thoughts on Find Him and Kill Him by Cody J. Thompson –
When a kid winds up in the wrong place at the wrong time, he witnesses a murder. Rather than fleeing, this kid has questions. Lots of questions. Luckily for him, the murderer/drifter actually agrees to take the kid under his wing and teach him the best ways to end someone’s life.
Fast forward sixteen years – this kid is all grown up and has a special birthday surprise for his sister. But will the gift be a hit?
My gosh. When I tell you I was totally sucked into this story… it was like I had tunnel vision while reading. Right from the start, this was such a normal, everyday life kind of setting, and even though many things changed and a lot of blood was spilled, it all kept that same vibe. I thought this was so interesting as the quiet and the brutality objectively clash, but blended so well here.
I absolutely loved Myrna’s character. I feel like she and I would have been friends, especially with her taste in music! I mean, talking about My Chemical Romance and playing the Misfits? Two of my favorites!
Another element that I will continue to comment on when it comes to Cody’s writing is how well he places you in a scene with various senses. I mean, just read the passage below and tell me you don’t feel like you’re right there with the character, ready for a shower.
“A blower from overhead burst to life covering their bodies with recycled, stale air. The smell inside was anything but comforting or inviting. The stench of travelers on the road for way too long floated all around, intermingled with the heavy odor of chemicals all too familiar in these roadside establishments. Like some sort of bionic lemons grown in a laboratory somewhere that had fallen into a batch of acid and ammonia.“
And no spoilers, but that ending… I’m obsessed.
My Favorite Passages from Find Him and Kill Him –
“Hey!” the drifter shouted, using the back of his arm to wipe the splatter from his face. “The kid’s already dead. You’re not going to hurt him any worse than you already have. Hack at it. Slash away. That sawing shit might work on some weeds in your backyard, but that ain’t gonna cut it here. Let me show you.”
The sun continued to fall beyond the horizon; the night taking over quicker and quicker, yet the nameless killer never showed. As the darkness took over any remaining light, he shivered. Not just from the chill in the air, but also from being alone with the ghosts that now lived in and were stuck forever within those containers. His own hands had created some of those ghosts.
“You know, My Chemical Romance reunited and are touring again. Couldn’t you just get us tickets to go see them? That would be a much better gift if you ask me.”
“No. Forget the tickets,” he said, shuffling in his seat. “Come on, it’ll be perfect. You and I… [redacted to avoid spoilers].”
“Three cheers for sweet revenge, huh?”
A blower from overhead burst to life covering their bodies with recycled, stale air. The smell inside was anything but comforting or inviting. The stench of travelers on the road for way too long floated all around, intermingled with the heavy odor of chemicals all too familiar in these roadside establishments. Like some sort of bionic lemons grown in a laboratory somewhere that had fallen into a batch of acid and ammonia.
Left to your own imagination, nightmares play not only within your head, they become all too real. Almost like you can reach out and touch them, slicing your fingertips on the memories.
My Final Thoughts on Find Him and Kill Him –
Not quite a full-blown horror comedy, but very close. This book was such a hit for me! I had a blast following these characters and seeing their lighthearted banter with one another. But more than a few times, I had to pause and remember that people were dying here. The author had me so deep in the same mindset as these characters that I kept thinking this was normal.
Horror fans, if you enjoy everyday life types of tales combined perfectly with brutal slashers that have many twists and turns, you gotta check this one out!
Be warned though, you’re not going to want to put this one down!
Thanks for reading!
Leave a Reply