The Killing Kind

Professional killer Arlen Wagner has a supernatural ability to see death coming - he perceives smoke in people's eyes when their demise is near. After witnessing this omen in every passenger aboard a train in 1935, he gets off with a young companion, Paul Brickhill, at a work camp in the Florida Keys. The two find jobs at a construction site run by the ambitious and ruthless Julius Barker. As a deadly hurricane bears down on the Keys, Arlen becomes increasingly concerned about corruption at the camp and the fate of a beautiful woman named Rebecca, who has caught Paul's attention. The story moves between Arlen's efforts to protect Paul and Rebecca, his confrontations with dangerous figures at the camp, and his struggle with his own dark past as a killer. Historical elements of the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane and the veterans' work camps blend with supernatural elements and noir crime fiction. This Depression-era thriller explores themes of redemption, fate versus free will, and the price of violence - both for its perpetrators and its victims. The supernatural element serves as a lens through which to examine human nature and mortality.

Readers describe this as a fast-paced thriller with detailed research into the world of professional killers and witness protection. The protagonist Arlen Wagner draws consistent praise for his complex character development and moral struggles. Likes: - Technical accuracy about firearms and professional hits - Strong character relationships, particularly between Wagner and female characters - Plot pacing that builds tension - Realistic depiction of witness protection procedures Dislikes: - Some find the middle section drags - A few readers note predictable plot elements - Violence level too high for some readers' taste Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "The details about protection techniques felt thoroughly researched" - Goodreads reviewer "Last third of the book moves at breakneck speed" - Amazon reviewer "Too much gratuitous violence for my taste" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

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🔹 Michael Koryta wrote his first published crime novel at age 21 and worked as a private investigator and newspaper reporter while developing his writing career. 🔹 The book delves into the world of professional killers-for-hire and witness protection, drawing from real cases where hitmen were hired through seemingly legitimate business fronts. 🔹 The protagonist's specialty in wilderness survival and tracking was inspired by Koryta's own experiences learning from professional trackers and survival experts. 🔹 The book's antagonist, Vis, was partially based on historical contract killers who maintained ordinary public personas while carrying out their deadly profession. 🔹 Koryta has written several books under the pen name Scott Carson, and The Killing Kind marked his return to crime fiction after exploring supernatural themes in previous novels.