Five psychopaths have somehow found each other and formed a private chat room known as Jack’s Special Place and themselves as Jack’s Boys. The names are in honour of the most famous serial killer of all time, Jack the Ripper. Their little meeting place is located on the Dark Web and should be impossible to access if not invited.

Connor and Niki are a couple of teens in love who, for some reason, also to prowl the Dark Web, exploring forbidden places as a bit of excitement. That’s when Connor stumbles into the Jack’s Boys chat room.

The presence of an intruder who breaks into their conversation, taunting them and disrespecting them creates anger that’s palpable. So much so the group as a collective decide they need to kill this interloper, but before killing him, they would make him suffer to teach him a lesson first.

Jack’s Boys are referred to as Alpha, Beta, Charlie, Delta and Easy and they each have perversions that would make the normal person shudder. And, as we get to know each of them while they plan their attack, we learn more about them and start to understand just how damaged each of them is.

What follows is a full on story involving the hunters and the prey. The five hunters are stalking Connor and his family and they’re not aware of the danger they’re in for a very long time. The suspense is built to almost unbearable levels, particularly as we’re continually fed the sick and twisted thoughts of each of the men doing the hunting.

John Katzenbach doesn’t just get inside the head of one serial killer, he provides us with deep insight into the thoughts and motivations of 5 of them. Each a little different from the others but no less depraved and the scary thing is, they’re all working together, getting their rocks off on the prospect of the next kill. I’ve got to say, it’s not a particularly comfortable place to be, inside the heads of 5 deranged killers, but it sure ramps up the suspense.

An interesting aspect of the story that even the “good guys” are not totally, one hundred percent pure. Connor is harbouring a dark plan for the future, one that he’s talked Niki into backing. His grandfather and grandmother are also dealing with their own ghosts from the past that are constantly affecting their present.

All in all, this is a psychological quagmire that manages to hit you from all sides. You should definitely mentally prepare yourself for a frontal assault on your tolerance to hate, intolerance and narcissistic behaviour.

Jack’s Boys is a chilling thriller that moves with effortless fluidity, just the hunters stalking their prey. Katzenbach’s ability to take you straight into his character’s minds helps to underline the peril the potential victims are in, ramping up the tension to extreme levels.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for a digital ARC which allowed me to read, enjoy and review this book.2024-release hardboiled mystery ...more19 s Leo4,567 486

I got this for review on Netgally.

The ebook had a log if pages but it feelt I read it super quick, it was a real page turner. I found the concept to be rather unique and very entertaining to read as well as being big on suspense at times. Following Jack's Boys was unsettling but an interesting way to showcase the bad guys in a story. With chat rooms, dark Web and their daily life.22 s Stacy40pages1,612 213

Jack’s Boys by John Katzenbach. Thanks to @blackstonepublishing for the gifted Arc ??????????

Jack’s Boys is a small group of killers who have found a home with each other on the dark web. When a teenage boy and his girlfriend stumble upon their chat and mock them, a game of life and death begins.

At first I was a little dumbfounded because Goodread said this was a 280 page book but when I got it it was 608 pages! Big difference and I have a lot of May releases to knock out. However a hundred pages in and it was flying, I realized I was glad that it was so long. Last night when I stayed up way too late to finish it, I wished there were even more pages. This is such a fun cat and mouse thriller; with the cats and mice being a group of serial killers vs. two teens and a set of grandparents. The ending gets so tense it’s hard to stay in your seat. Highly recommend this one and don’t be scared by the number of pages!

“The taste of death for you is awful. Sickening. For us, it’s sweet and intoxicating. And that means you have no chance against us.”

Jack’s Boys comes out 5/28. 6 s2 comments Luis9

An amazing book about how psychopaths can move between normal lives and hidden lives.

This is the fastest book I read in my entire lifetime, until now3 s Silver Screen Videos349 6

What’s better (for thriller fans) or worse (for intended victims) than a serial killer? How about five serial killers in one novel, all with the same target? That’s the premise of John Katzenbach’s fascinating new thriller, “Jack’s Boys.” The killers, known only as Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Easy, don’t hang out in a secluded hideout the Manson family. Instead, they live all over the United States and never meet each other, except through the Internet chat room where they correspond. The author has delved into the minds of individual serial killers before, but “Jack’s Boys” is his most ambitious novel yet. With the characters’ interior monologues dominating the narrative, the 500+ page novel sometimes drags. Still, the views inside some twisted psyches and well-staged action sequences will lift readers past a few dull moments.

The Jack in “Jack’s Boys” is the infamous Whitechapel Ripper, the hero of the psychotic quintet. Years earlier, Alpha set up a highly encrypted chat room on the dark web called Jack’s Special Place, and the others later found their way to the site. The group formed a mutual admiration and aid society, passing helpful tips on eluding capture and sharing the documentation and enjoyment of their crimes with each other. Their sense of invincibility is shattered when high school senior Connor Mitchell somehow stumbles across the chat room and misinterprets their discussions as the sort of immature braggadocio that frequently shows up on these sites. Using the handle “Socgoal02,” Connor ridicules Jack’s Boys for being silly, childish, lying braggarts. Not surprisingly, Jack’s Boys don’t appreciate the putdown. They soon learn Connor’s identity and start plans for a gruesome revenge against Connor and his girlfriend, Niki.

“Jack’s Boys” has two elaborate action set pieces where Connor eventually encounters Jack’s Boys. But most of the book comprises the inner monologues or online chats of the various Boys. Readers never learn their real names or detailed information about them. However, the author reveals their twisted mental processes in great detail. Sometimes too much detail. The story shifts from one killer’s point of view to another to another, sometimes repeatedly in the same chapter. They reminisce about past killings, which differ in methodology and the choice of victims. However, the author covers only their planned attacks on Connor and his family in detail. Genre fans may develop a morbid fascination with seeing the various shadings of psychopathy that motivate the five individual killers and the warped group dynamic that has developed.

Readers who get further into “Jack’s Boys” will realize the killers are not trained assassins. They are just five outwardly normal-appearing men with a passion for murder who succeed because their intended victims don’t realize how twisted and dangerous they are until it’s too late. They have also learned to plan well and cover their tracks to avoid forensic detection. But while the killers lack special combat skills, at least one of their intended victims doesn’t. Connor has lived with his grandparents for years, ever since his parents died. His grandfather Ross is an ex-Marine with extensive combat experience in Vietnam and a sizable personal arsenal. Connor and Niki are both high school athletes in top physical condition. Their skill sets create suspense for readers about the outcome of their eventual showdown with the killers.

While the author devotes considerable time to exploring the psyche of the killers, he also gives readers insight into Connor, his grandparents, and Niki. They all have their own mental issues. Connor may have found the online location of Jack’s Special Place, but he and Niki still do some typically stupid teenage things later that land them in trouble. Ross is still dealing with trauma arising from his Vietnam service, while Connor hasn’t gotten over the death of his parents. Grandmother Kate is an emergency room nurse, and she encounters bloodshed and death daily. At first, I thought the discussions about Kate were superfluous to the main storyline, but the author brilliantly ties her into the action.

I’ve read many serial killer novels (including one by John Katzenbach) pitting serial killers against surprisingly resourceful would-be victims. But “Jack’s Boys” is the first book I’ve read that turns this cat-and-mouse game into a team sport. It’s the five Boys pitted against Connor’s family, with the outcome in doubt for much of the book. The author skillfully establishes the strengths and weaknesses of both “teams” to keep the action plausible within the confines of this genre. When the action starts, the book becomes incredibly suspenseful.

A 300-page version of “Jack’s Boys” would have been a superb thriller. However, this book is over 500 pages long, an incredible length for this type of story. Despite the author’s skill and extensive research into criminal psychology, the killers’ repeated inner monologues sometimes become tedious. The effect is watching a documentary about an important football game in which the cameras spend more time covering every similar practice and training session during the week leading up to the game than the game itself.

Although “Jack’s Boys” could have benefitted from more judicious editing, the book has little, if any, poor material. Many of the insights into the Boys’ warped thought processes, such as their adoption of coded language in their chats ( calling all police “gestapo”), are creepily fascinating. In the book’s Acknowledgements, the author credits various psychiatrists he consulted during his research for the book. That effort was worthwhile; the Boys’ bizarre musings seemed authentic… and chilling. Even at its current length, “Jack’s Boys” is a superb suspense thriller. You wouldn’t want to meet any of Jack’s Boys, but you will want to curl up in bed with “Jack’s Boys” and the other colorful characters.

NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own. My Bookish Ways78 7

Jack's Boys by John Katzenbach is an enthralling and chilling thriller that delves into the intricate minds of five serial killers seeking revenge on a teenager who discovers their hidden sanctuary on the dark web.

At the heart of the story are Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Easy, five serial killers known only by their codenames and unique areas of expertise. These individuals have formed a secretive online community known as "Jack's Special Place," where they delight in sharing and discussing their crimes, emulating the notorious Jack the Ripper as their ultimate role model.

The psychological profiles of these killers are deeply unsettling, yet Katzenbach crafts them with a nuanced and insightful touch. The five antagonists exhibit a profound sense of arrogance and conceit, viewing themselves as superior to their victims and the authorities pursuing them. They find immense satisfaction in the chaos and confusion they sow, taking pleasure in taunting the police with cryptic clues and online boasts.

However, their false sense of invincibility shatters when their secure online location is hacked by two teenagers who are equally as fascinated by the dark web as they are. This chance encounter leads to rage and retaliation as Jack's Boys emerge from the shadows to seek revenge on the teenagers who mocked them. All five individuals collaborate to integrate themselves into the lives of Socgoal02 and his girlfriend, with each assigned a role that aligns with their skills and expertise. Alongside the teens are the boy's grandparents, an ICU nurse and a former college admissions counselor with a violent past, who must figure out how to confront and outsmart the killers to survive.

Katzenbach's exceptional storytelling and ability to craft chilling characters will appeal to anyone who enjoys suspense and psychologically thrilling novels. He skillfully presents diverse character perspectives, with a particular highlight on Jack's Boys, who are depicted without bias and with their own unremarkable lives outside of crime. Throughout the novel, Katzenbach seamlessly transitions between murder and civilian narratives, showcasing his mastery as a writer and his experience as a criminal court reporter.

I usually don't gravitate toward psychological thrillers, but I was pleasantly surprised by how captivating, intricate, and richly developed this book is. The author did a fantastic job bringing the characters and storyline to life, creating a sense of realism that makes it seem the events could happen to anyone, anywhere. If you're looking for a book that will captivate you, keep you hooked, and leave you breathless as you eagerly turn the pages to find out who survives, I suggest reading Jack's Boys .

(Thank you, Blackstone Publishing, for entrusting me with the ARC of Jack's Boys!)2 s BiblioPeeks129 12

“Think of ourselves as five generals on a battlefield, coordinating a multipronged attack.” ~ Alpha

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta and Easy are five serial killers who have come together on the dark web. Never having met in person, they meet online in an encrypted chat room, “Jack’s Special Place” named after their idol ‘Jack the Ripper.’ Conner and Nikki are a teenage couple who frequent the dark web for their own disturbing reasons. They inadvertently stumble into ‘Jack’s Special Place’ and taunt the killers, thinking they’re just wannabes and say as much. In true psychopathic narcissistic form, the five killers decide socgoal02 (Conner’s user ID) must suffer for his audacity. The vengeance must be swift, tortuous and deadly. No one messes with ‘Jack’s Boys’ and lives. Working together, they formulate and ultimately enact a vicious plan.

When I say I dark crime fiction, THIS is what I’m talking about. In a clear cut game of cat and mouse, where the prey doesn’t know it’s being hunted, the suspense was nerve wracking and palpable. Along with getting to know Conner and Nikki, Connor’s grandparents are also in the mix. Little do the killers know that these folks all have their own struggles with darkness. As ‘Jack’s Boys’ confer and plan, it’s uncomfortable being in the minds of five different killers, each with their own set of proclivities, signatures and desires. Despite the subject matter and Jack’s Boys routinely drifting off into nasty fantasies, nothing is overly graphic. Still, there IS disturbing content so please check warnings.

JACK’S BOYS is a bit of a beast with 530 pages, yet it never felt it and I flew through the pages! The length is quite necessary for the complexity. There is a lot of detailed planning that built tension and anxiety in the best way possible and when that action hit?! I could NOT. READ. FAST. ENOUGH! John Katzenbach is a phenomenal storyteller. Character development is off the charts. I felt connected to both teens AND the grandparents. My emotions were all over the place from disgust, amusement and empathy, to excitement and satisfaction. There are some truly heart pounding moments and the ending was perfection!
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Thank you Blackstone Publishing for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

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??Content Warnings: depression, PTSD, Vietnam war flashbacks, suicidal ideation, language, sexual situations, murderous fantasies, stalking, violence, gun violence, death, mention of CSAserial-killer J Kromrie1,011 17

Thanks to the Blackstone publishing and Netgalley for this exciting and captivating eARC.

In the shadowy corners of the dark web, where anonymity breeds malevolence, a clandestine group thrives. They are Jack’s Boys, five serial killers connected through encrypted channels, their twisted camaraderie fueled by a shared obsession with the infamous Jack the Ripper. In homage to their ultimate model, they convene in a secure chat room, taunting police worldwide with cryptic clues and gruesome boasts.

But their arrogance blinds them. When two unsuspecting teenagers stumble upon their digital lair, mocking their murderous exploits, the game takes a chilling turn. Revenge simmers, and the killers decide to teach the insolent teens a lesson—one that will echo with blood and terror.

Caught in this web of death are the teenage boy’s grandparents: an ICU nurse with her own hidden history of violence and an ex-Marine haunted by the ghosts of Vietnam. As the five killers emerge from the shadows, this unly alliance of young and old must find a way to expose them, defeat them, or face their own demise.

John Katzenbach weaves a gripping tale that transcends mere thriller conventions. His prose is a symphony of suspense, each note resonating with tension and intrigue. The characters are vividly drawn, their flaws and secrets adding depth to the narrative. The pacing is relentless, propelling the reader through a labyrinth of twists and revelations.

Katzenbach masterfully constructs a world where darkness seeps through the digital cracks, where killers and innocents collide, and where the past’s echoes reverberate into the present.

Jack’s Boys is a psychological exploration of obsession, morality, and the thin line between predator and prey.

Katzenbach’s prose is a blade that cuts through complacency, leaving readers breathless and questioning their own shadows.

This novel defies conventions, grips your psyche and refuses to let go, leading you to venture into the twisted realm of Jack’s Boys; beware—the darkness here is contagious, and once you step in, there’s no turning back.

This author is a master when it comes to crafting taut and captivating thrillers, and this book is a standout!
2 s Shelby11

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Easy all have something in common. Something that brought them together when they responded to Alpha's manifesto explaining why he kills. They've bonded over their shared love of murder, their admiration for Jack the Ripper, and the belief that they all have greatness inside of them just waiting to be released.

When Connor and Niki stumble into their private chat room and insult Jack's Boys, they will not let it stand. What follows is a campaign of vicious attacks on the teenagers and their families, designed to tear them down before Jack's Boys move in for the kill. But Jack's Boys have never encountered anyone them before, never encountered anyone not afraid to fight back.

If it's possible to be a fast-paced slow burn, that's exactly what this is. The build-up to those anticipated moments of confrontation is so full of development that you don't realize how quickly you're turning the pages. The in-depth dive into the minds of Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta, and Easy is unsettling. They're humanized by little details about the daily lives they lead, making them seem they could be any coworker, neighbor, or casual friend. Then, the glimpses inside their thoughts show the monsters hiding behind those mundane lives they present to the world.

Connor isn't as innocent as he seems, and Ross has blood on his hands he'll never be able to wash off. Connor's desire for revenge is so understandable that the injustice of his situation feels it justifies his desire to kill. Ross is a veteran who fought to survive and to avenge a fallen comrade. The two of them really drive home the difference between someone who is capable of murder and a psychopath who does it for enjoyment, which just makes Jack's Boys all the more creepy.

Overall, I recommend this book for anyone who loves a good psychological thriller, especially one that's so realistic that it feels almost a true crime story. Scott61

Good to have John Katzenbach writing again after many years. He always provides unusual stories with strong plot lines.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Present day, with most of the action near Boston, Massachusetts
Characters: Connor and Niki, high school senior sweethearts, their interestingly diverse families, a range of police and detectives, and the five despicable Jack’s Boys.
Overview: There is a dark web chat room named Jack’s Special Place where five psychopaths have found each other and share stories of their conquests, in the mode of their idol, Jack the Ripper. Connor, for specific, tragic reasons of his own, stumbles into the chat room, makes the mistake of interacting with Jack’s Boys, and becomes the victim of their revenge. From there, the suspenseful story takes off in several directions with payback the continuing themes.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: This book is not for everyone since many of the scenes are very dark, but the plot is intriguing, and the characters stand up throughout the story. Longer than most novels of this type, the story is fast-paced and the pages fly by with anticipation of what’s next.
Thanx to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for the opportunity to provide this candid review Summer R Jones140 6

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