Working against the clock, they must turn to one of the country's most notorious incarcerated murderers for help: teenage sociopath Simon Gutmunsson.ĭespite Travis's objections, Emma becomes the conduit between Simon and the FBI team.

But when the team is called in to give advice on an active case-a serial killer who exclusively hunts teenagers-things begin to unravel. From the start, Emma and Travis develop a quick friendship, gaining information from juvenile murderers that even the FBI can't crack. In 1982, two teenagers-serial killer survivor Emma Lewis and US Marshal candidate Travis Bell-are recruited by the FBI to interview convicted juvenile killers and provide insight and advice on cold cases. Despite the publisher recommending this for readers aged 14 - 18 years, I would suggest caution for the younger end of this range, due to its graphic description of murders.The Silence of the Lambs meets Sadie in this riveting psychological thriller about two teenagers teaming up with the FBI to track down juvenile serial killers. Overall, it was very well written, fast paced and had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. However, it was not lacking in gory details, so those who enjoy a thriller will not be disappointed. I was also grateful that it lacked the shocking and bloodthirsty climax of Harris’s novel. I liked that – unusually for a YA story – there was zero hint of a romance. I liked that even though Emma was working with Travis, she was the stronger character who made important decisions and kept her nerve. Thankfully, the storylines diverged enough to save the book from being hurled across the room. There were other similarities – just as Lechter taunted Clarisse about being motivated by her failure to save the lambs, so does Gutmunsson taunt Emma about her failure to have rescued the other two girls who had been held hostage with her some years earlier.Īnd that no matter how successful she may be, she would always bear the load of her guilt. Or maybe he’s a clever psychopath playing her in order to gain changes in his incarceration which may offer him a way to escape.Īs I started reading, I was wary of this story, as the set up sounded very close to The Silence of the Lambs. The jailed killer, Simon Gutmunsson, is a sophisticated and charming genius who develops a rapport with Emma and throws her tantalising cryptic clues that may provide some insights into the mind of the killer. They are therefore recruited by the FBI to interview a convicted teenaged serial killer in order to gain some clues about an ongoing investigation into another serial killer, who is targeting teenagers. Emma Lewis and Travis Bell are both teenagers who have had survived encounters with serial killers.

None shall sleep by ellie marney