The Sin Eater by Lee McIntyre

The Sin Eater Reviews

• 
  Alexandra

  I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book and I’m so happy I did. “Page turner that you can’t put down” is an understatement for this gripping novel from Lee McIntyre. Too often in thrillers, protagonists are reduced to immoral urges or a sort of “outside of oneself” morality that doesn’t seem realistic or possible in the day-to-day of real life. No the case with The Sin Eater. McIntyre manages to create two characters, Adam and Tugg, who are both inherently good men whose loyalty to each other creates loyalty around them. I believed every choice and every action - everything felt completely authentic to the characters and the situations they were in. Through the twists and turns of the story (there are many and I didn’t guess any of them - my favorite type), the reader comes to gain a profound understanding of what true love is and how family can be so much more than blood shared. I never expected to be moved by a thriller, but I was in a very entertaining way.
  
  I’ve read all of McIntyre’s non-fiction work, and I’m ecstatic to get to experience this part of his repertoire. I hope that a sequel is in the works, because I want more of these characters and their adventures fighting the system.
  
• 
  Sara

  Lee McIntyre's fiction debut is a smart, twisty, humane thriller that begins with an explosive act of violence before jumping decades into a picture of happy domesticity that's threatened by a different, but equally wrenching, kind of explosion. Following a bogus child abuse allegation, married couple Adam and Kate are dropped into a Kafka-esque nightmare of attorneys and accusations—and that's just the beginning of the upheaval about to unfold.
  
  McIntyre weaves together a wholly unpredictable plot that explores the resiliency of marriage, the bonds of male friendships, and the different ways in which toughness manifests itself during the most trying of times, be it physical, mental, or emotional. Each of these richly drawn characters is tested in surprising ways, and McIntyre imbues them all with such relatable humanity that we root for their success and fear for them during their lowest moments.
  
  The Sin Eater is tense and propulsive, fueled by graceful writing, twisty plotting, and memorable characters. As much as I enjoyed the strong marriage between Kate and Adam, the lifelong friendship between Adam and Tugg is truly marvelous. If you crave action, love, and loyalty in your fiction, make The Sin Eater your next read.
• 
  Rebecca

  Thank you to the author for this ARC. I literally could not put this book down. Part mystery, part action thriller, part love story, it hit all the points and told it in a way that was interesting and unpredictable. I was invested in the characters from the very beginning and wasn't sure where they were going but I was happy to go along for the ride. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, very well written, would highly recommend it!
• 
  Bre Dubuque

  I actually loved this thriller. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have your child taken from you under false accusations. Adam and his life long friend hit the road to find his daughter and find out why he's taking the wrap for abuse he didn't commit. I love the loyalty between Adam and Tugg. Adams relationship with his wife and daughter pulls at the heart strings. Always good to see the underdog fight back. The twists and turns had me wrapping this book up in a couple days.
• 
  H Rose

  Started out promising. As the prose quality and class diminished, the work failed to fulfil its promise. Then. Just gross. When I got to the gratuitous biker club sex test scene, I returned this book.
• 
  Dale

  The Sin Eater is a great debut novel that tackles tough issues and takes the reader through some horrible situations. Hard to bear at first, but explodes when the main character decides to take action against his sea of troubles. It's got everything: unreliable witnesses, dark conspiracies, action enough for a thriller, and a complicated web of lies and intrigue enough for a spy novel. A roller-coaster read that once you're hooked, will make you race through to the end. Lots of heart, some esoteric information, and touches on some thorny issues. Great start from a promising writer.
• 
  Veronica

  I received this book as an ARC from the author. It was a decent read, but I felt it jumped around a lot and that made it kind of confusing. I was glad for a happy ending, even if it was a tad unrealistic. I really liked the inclusion of a disabled mom. I’m a disabled mom and I never read anything that I can relate to in that sense. But overall it was an enjoyable read mostly.
• 
  Tena Bremmer

  I enjoyed reading this book. The thought of someone taking your child under false pretenses would be a horrible feeling! It is a well written book. A great suspense read!