Ken MacQueen’s Hero Haters is a suspense thriller that will pull you to the edge of your seat and keep you there. Somewhere in the United States is a man with a grudge against so-called “heroes,” and he has a particular one that he has his eye on. But first, he’ll make people disappear and perform “heroic acts” to prove they are “worthy” of the title. Even if they are, it doesn’t mean they’ll get out alive.
This book starts off interesting and engaging. It does slow down in spots, however, the author goes right back into building mode to keep you turning the pages. The desire to dig deeper is ever present with these characters. Some you will classify as “shadow characters.” You don’t know much about them yet, so that adds a nice degree of mystery.
Hero Haters starts out with a man named Wise—a hero who saved schoolchildren from an enraged shooter. Wise has stayed around town after receiving his Sedgewick Medallion but decides that maybe, just maybe, it’s time to go ahead and find someplace new. But he’s derailed by lust. Tempting. Dangerous.
Right off the cuff, the story engages you. You’re dropped into a familiar and horrifying scene, painting a target on Wise’s back. He has no idea what’s coming for him, but all will be revealed. So settle in because there is more to come.
After Wise, the story shifts to Jake—a rower who damaged his hands, ending dreams and ambitions he once had. It seems pretty innocuous, right? What’s so great about this guy? What is it about this particular guy? Well, just relax, keep reading, and watch as the puzzle starts piecing together.
Next, Billy Gohl—a man with a slew of murders attributed to him that stem from a thesis written by Christina Doctorow. This section, unfortunately brief since it doesn’t truly relate to the actual storyline, will intrigue. These tantalizing snippets will have you wishing, hoping, and praying that the author writes a book about that whole subject.
Jake starts the story off strong. He’s funny, pithy, and absolutely full of quips, especially when he’s dealing with Tina, aka Doc Doctorow. His brief conversation with Anna Mae is gold—“Anna Mae, can you give Doc Doctorow a bundle of papers as she leaves, please… It’s Jake. Who else calls you on my office line?” I nearly snorted my drink reading that little gem.
As you read, you’ll find yourself nodding along with some of Jake’s thought processes as he pontificates on the depths of various clients in less than “above board” incidents and the fundings of them. Just how deep does it go and how much is the “alphabet soup” involved? As we all know, deep pockets come from all avenues of the world… not just the “filthy” rich.
And with that said, brace yourself for one particular tidbit in the story. I guarantee your jaw will be on the floor once you come across this shocker. You’re going to be thinking this exact thought—where do authors come up with these things?! LOL! Don’t worry though, it all is finished off with a dash of humor. So, try not to end up choke laughing.
One fact is going to be true concerning this book. You are going to constantly be asking this one question—why? Why does this individual, this shadow character, hate heroes so much? Why does he seek to bring them harm? Why is he fixated on Jake? But just wait and pay close attention. The pieces will begin to come together, and you will absolutely have an “OMG!” moment.
When it comes to the characters, by far, Erik is my favorite. He’s unrepentantly hilarious. Erik brings a nice amount of humor to the story, but don’t let his good looks and witty personality fool you—this guy is wicked smart and knows how to dig deep to get the information you seek. He will keep you on your toes and a smile creeping across your lips (in a non-creepy way, of course.) LOL! Of course, he’s closely followed by Sue Price, an attorney, and that woman is an absolute dynamo!
Call it gruesome, but I would have liked more information as to what transpired with two of the kidnapped victims. The author indicates what happened to them but doesn’t give readers a play-by-play. I found this to be disappointing because the build-up is there to give readers more. However, the author chooses to let readers use their imaginations with this one. Since most scenes tend to come back to the characters involved, it was disappointing that didn’t hold true in this case.
Hero Haters starts with drama—and ends with drama. You’re going to devour this book. The ending will leave you wondering… when does the next book release?
Packed with suspense, thrills, danger, a hint of romance, and some nail-biting moments, this book is a must-read for many. Dark and twisted characters will light up the pages and live in your mind long after the book is done. This author has a bright future in writing, and I look forward to more!
Pros:
- Novel is a page-turner that will constantly pull you to the edge of your seat—and tempt you to chomp on your nails.
- Riveting characters that will have you either rooting for them or against them.
- Thrilling backstories that will have you wanting to dig deeper.
- Strikes the right balance between realism and fiction. This novel could be ripped from the headlines.
- Packed with tons of detail without weighing the story down.
Cons:
- None
Lesson of the book: Just because they are deemed a hero doesn’t mean they are perfect. It simply means they made a selfless choice in a dire situation.
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