Alfred Chester was born on September 7, 1928 in Brooklyn, N.Y., to a family of Jewish-Russian immigrants. He received his B.A. at New York University in 1949 and completed some graduate study at Columbia University. In 1951, he left for Paris as other bohemian expatriates had done before him, most notably, Gertrude Stein. At this point I should warn any potential readers that there are several topics in the book that may cause difficulties for some readers, from necrophilia to sexual assault and abuse of power imbalances. It's going to upset some people, but displaying dark truths should do that. To escaped serial killer Andrew Compton, murder is an art, the most intimate art to ever exist. After feigning his own death to escape from a life sentence in prison, he makes his way to America with the intention of bringing his art to new heights. Tortured by his own perverse desires, he inadvertently joins forces with Jay, a dissolute playboy. They set their sights on a young Vietnamese-American runaway, whom they deem to be the perfect victim. An orgy of blood and madness ensues.

In 1990s New Orleans, recently escaped British serial killer Andrew Compton joins forces with Jay Byrne, an American playboy who has pushed his ‘art’ to a new level. A level where both men are able to realise their most profane and deplorable fantasies. They set their sights on what they deem to be the perfect victim, a young Vietnamese-American runaway named Tran. Jay Byrne: Mass-murderer, homosexual, necrophiliac, cannibal, recreational drug abuser, alleged Cajun. With that off my chest, you can expect extreme gore, cannibalism, murder, necrophilia, rape, and a LOT of graphic sex and torture. It goes without saying this one isn't for the light of heart, or for the squeamish.

If you have a thing for serial killers and 'villain gets the boy/the girl', then read this one!!!! 'The love of my life'? HAHAHAA!!!

Naked Came the Manatee (Putnam, 1996) is a mystery thriller parody novel. Each of its thirteen chapters was written, in sequence, by a different Florida writer, beginning with Dave Barry and ending with Carl Hiaasen. I made it through, I have no plans to read it again, as it is not my favorite genre of horror (necrophilia) But I pay my respects to Brite, Brite sure knows how to TERRIFY me. Wouldn’t this be a fun-nomenal New Years’ Eve activity for the kids while you’re slugging down a bunch of champagne? I read this book in staves with The Pigeonhole online book club, other readers and the author. It was a pleasure and I am truly grateful. The additional content and comments that Maryam provided enhanced this unique experience.We get to experience this macabre tale in 4 parts. Each part is told through the eyes of a different character and, as the story develops, the darker it becomes. While living in Paris (1951-1958) he began his career as a serious writer, composing such works as the collection of short stories, Here Be Dragons (1955) and his first novel, Jamie Is My Heart's Desire (1956). During this time, Chester also met and began a relationship with an Israeli pianist, Arthur, with whom he lived in Paris and, for a short time, in New York City. While in Paris, Chester befriended other literary figures, such as Susan Sontag, James Baldwin, and Princess Marguerite Caetani. Joe .... bravely dived off the bridge into the gorge. Nancy dived after him, even more bravely. (Don't you agree? I mean, she'd had an extra moment to think about it.)" (pp 19-20) This bit was written by Susan Cooper. It made me laugh. Absolutely terrifying. I had an actual night terror/ sleep paralysis from this book. I swore it was from having the book on my bed while I slept. I woke up and threw it off my bed.