I greatly enjoyed the first Gibbons & Tozzi novel by Bruno – and have the second one to read – but I decided to take the opportunity to also read this stand-alone one. Lacking the moral ambiguity set up by the other series, “Bleeders” seemed a far more common story, a standard serial killer thriller that makes use of personal, past connections between the killer and the investigative protagonist.

The most successful element of “Bleeders” is the serial killer, effectively rendered suave and profoundly creepy. The novel is decidedly not a mystery, the killer is known from the start and it is fairly obvious how the story will proceed. Interestingly, it could be argued that the killer is the actual protagonist of the novel rather than the investigator, who is also not as interesting or strong of a character. “Bleeders” focuses on the killer’s psychological problems, the event that fully set him on his course, and his absolute obsession with fulfilling his deviant desires and fantasy. Yet even looking at the story as being centered around the killer, he is flat-out evil and obsessed, not remotely complex.

“Bleeders” is an enjoyable crime thriller, despite being standard in many respects. If reading this genre is something you enjoy for a good easy read, you won’t go wrong here, particularly if you are interested in a story centered a little more on the killer than the law. If you are looking for complexities and compelling well-rounded characters, or if you could be easily put off by the creepy dysfunction of the killer, this probably won’t suit.