Did I buy you with roses?

Any additional comments?

A serial killer has started murdering and mutilating women in Queens, leaving behind a single red rose. From the beginning of this strange novel, we know who the killer is and, as the book progresses, we learn why he believes he is doing it. There is also a Catholic priest, devout but tearing himself apart because of promises made as a boy, and a detective duo, Kate and her partner of five years standing, Mike, who seem far more absorbed in the rights and wrongs of their growing romance than in bothering to work hard at solving the killings, prefering inspiration to investigation. There are a lot of introspective ramblings on the part of all of the main protagonist (though less from Mike), and constant detailed descriptions of what everyone was wearing and eating. The contrast, too, between the idyllic family life of Kate's sister and the sickly sweet little niece, and the grim horror of the killings was too extreme.

All that having been said, this is an unusual book of two parts and mostly enjoyable. Narrator Collene Curran was very good, although I did increase the delivery speed to 1.25 part way through as it seemed slightly too slow in pace. Her reading voice was clear and pleasant with distinctive interpretations of the various protagonists.

Overall, I enjoyed An Absence of Faith, which was freely gifted to me by the rights holder, at my request, via Audiobook Boom. Would I recommend it to a friend? Probably not.

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