Opening Moves by Steven James was a great prequel to all of the Patrick Bowers books. Steven James adequately explained how Patrick Bowers becomes the investigator we know and love. Detailed information is given about the people important to Patrick Bowers enters his life and establishes a relationship with him. The novel starts off with a look at Patrick Bowers in his mid twenties as a street cop. Bowers as usual is very observant to his surroundings which opens up drama for him as the story evolves. He starts to develop his investigative skills as he is introduced to Calvin his mentor.

The book has a dark, morbid theme as the author includes information about real life serial killers. The information is interesting and fits into the story just fine. The dark themes made me pause and reflect about what I just read, sweat nervously, question my own human race, and make me feel vulnerable. I had to stop reading the book for a while because it described pure evil, but I couldn't stay away to long because Patrick Bowers is just too interesting to stay away from.

Words learned: 
Sonorous-Producing sound when struck

Contrariwise-On the contrary. Vice versa

Pastiche-A literary, artistic, musical, or architectural work that imitates the style of previous work

Gloaming-Twilight, dusk