Publication Date: March 16, 2023
It all started with a murder . . . now there’s no turning back . . .
For the past decade, police homicide consultant Mark Gilliam has been wasting his life with corpses, drugs, and alcohol. Things weren’t always like this. Ten years ago, he was a soldier, a husband, a . . . father. But it’s what he deserves. He couldn’t protect his son from the monsters that took him away.
For the past decade, Jason Roneros has been living a reclusive life, forced to spend the rest of his days in isolation. Things weren’t always like this. Ten years ago, he was a well-respected author, a fighter, a . . . dreamer. But it’s what he deserves. He trusted these monsters.
For the past decade, Mark and Jason haven’t seen each other.
But everything is about to change . . .
A murder brings them together one night, trapping them in the streets of Chicago in search of redemption down a cryptic path that could unlock the darkest scandal in history. As the path unrolls secrets buried in great works of art and philosophical writings, the shadiest aspects of the human soul come to the surface. Soon, the two men realize that those hunting them, closing in with each passing minute, are equally dangerous as the ghosts of the past . . .
***Mature Content***
What is a dark noir thriller? If you encounter one, there are a number of key characteristics that make it different from a standard thriller.
When considering The Rebirth by V.P. Evans, it is clearly in the noir category. Themes of corruption and moral ambiguity? Definitely. This is a big one. Complex characters? Absolutely. Mark and Jason haven’t seen each other in 10 years. They both fall into that morally gray space. Nonlinear storytelling? There are plenty of flashbacks and other techniques to create a suspenseful atmosphere.
All of those qualities combine for an unusual story riddled with murder and mystery. Mark is on the hunt for answers, while Jason is ready to spill his secrets to the world. Both have been impacted by a destructive force in the past that robbed them of everything.
The sins of the past are catching up after a decade, but the fallout remains. The author shifts back and forth between past and present, so it’s important to maintain attention. There’s plenty of intricate detail, which at times might seem overwhelming.
The Rebirth serves up a thought-provoking thriller packed with broken characters and unexpected twists.
Wandering around small towns and cozy villages in faraway lands, V.P. Evans tastes the manifold flavors of this planet and, somewhere down the road, finds himself charmed by the few who live passionately or disappointed as darkness surrounds societies and people. He then sits down and starts to write.
