This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Gaius Konstantine for Readers' Favorite
“A real predator didn't seek attention. A predator made the world forget he was there at all.” This quote from The Archivist by Robin Alden Howard offers insight into a new kind of villain—one who appears to be anything but. The world perceives Doctor Adam Sinclair as he wishes: a brilliant, cultured, and handsome neurologist who embodies success. However, that is only a mask. Behind the façade of success and normality lurks a serial killer—ruthless, efficient, and devoid of emotion, driven solely by a need for control and perfection. As Adam continues his killing spree, he encounters Cyra Nikolas, an investigative journalist who becomes a different kind of target. Instead of killing her, Adam makes her his wife while persisting in his study of death. Throughout this, it never occurs to him that a man obsessed with perfection and control ultimately possesses neither.
Horrifying yet elegant, The Archivist by Robin Alden Howard is a thriller that stands out in its reliance on psychological terror rather than on gore. The plot is straightforward: a serial killer operates largely undetected and beyond suspicion, killing with impunity—almost. Dark themes of obsession and malice permeate the novel, while raising questions about true justice versus the letter of the law. Character development focuses on a unique villain, who is a masterpiece in his own right, while also featuring a strong supporting cast. The pacing of the story is sublime, enhanced by a slightly unorthodox writing style, and includes short, sharp sentences to create a realistic but frightening tone. For fans of psychological thrillers, The Archivist is a breath of fresh air that will surely satisfy.
