Cameraman

Cameraman

by Joshua Sutton

3.5 out of 5

Synopsis
Death is always an inconvenience, and it never comes when you expect it. Enter Dylan Delgado, mass murderer, pyschopath, magician and the last person you'd expect to be called upon when the police need help.

When a man becomes a splatter on the wall of safe room, can Dylan figure out whats going on and the connection to his past, before his past catches up with him?



Review
When an inexplicable and gory murder baffles police, they turn to their caged psychopath to shed light on what is going through the killer's mind.

I bought a copy from the author at the UK Indie Lit Fest this summer, after listening to his reading of the opening chapter. I admit that I was a bit hesitant, after I struggled with the author's debut In Memory; but the reading really got my attention.
It starts with Dylan Delgado, a magician who uses blood and death to fuel his spells; and with the long list of his kills, he's considered a serial killer by everyday people. Locked up for his crimes, he escapes the death sentence because the police find his way of thinking useful for solving inexplicable murders.
As Dylan recounts the things that led him to this prison, I found it dark, gory, and unexpectedly amusing. For all that he is a psychopath, Dylan was fun to read about. I kept getting Dexter vibes, where you are connecting to your main character, despite the fact that he isn't a good guy.

I thought the story had a very strong start, as Dylan is unleashed back into the world, to uncover the truth of the murder. He's kept on a long leash, and is relatively free, as long as he is useful.
The story expands beyond mundane killings, as Dylan's history gradually comes to light; revealing how much magic and demons actually influence this world.
I have to admit, at that point, I was ready to give a solid four or five stars to the book.

It unravelled a bit along the way.
The copy I had needed an editor, there were a lot of misspelled words and misplaced speechmarks, etc.
This is a short book, at 130 pages, which I thought was an absolute shame. I was enjoying, and getting into it, but there were the occasional time jumps, as Sutton keeps the story focused on the main plot. You have this big, juicy possibility, with our psycho allowed back into public. I was looking forward to seeing how Dylan handled all these muggles around him.
There were time jumps of days and weeks, and it's kinda glossed over. Did anything happen? Was he tempted to drain the blood out of anyone?

The only person Dylan really interacts with is his police escort. She's a nice enough character, and open-minded enough to take a gamble on letting a serial killer loose; but that's about all you learn.

When I read Sutton's debut, I struggled with the lack of focus, stemming from multiple narrators with multiple storyline. I kinda feel Sutton has gone the other way on this one, keeping the focus solely on Dylan and the job at hand.
I'd love to see Dylan's story expanded, so it includes some of the little human (or not-human) moments; so the people that Dylan hang around with are more well-rounded - surely Dylan has opinions, or at least speculations on their character?

Overall, this was about 3.5 out of 5 for me. I'd definitely read more of the Cameraman story.

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