Passing Through Writer’s Commentary

One of my best thriller books of all time.

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I believe that writers and novelists, as in any profession, change and grow over the timespan that they work and produce. Any of my readers and fans who are familiar with my books and the ‘genres’ they are ‘classified’ under are able to recognize the point I am making.

Authors’ characters get more detailed and personal; descriptions get a bit more intense, as do emotional scenes of any kind. I have also found, for myself, that with each and every fiction book I put out, I seem to get a bit more ‘guts’ about what I am willing to put down on paper.

For instance, I’ll admit it, in the beginning, writing a detailed love scene was something I dreaded, but I do much better now, and I’m getting much more comfortable, with experience, in that particular area.

This, of course, is just one example. I consider this to be one of my best thriller books of all time. ‘Passing Through’ is my latest suspense thriller release, and it is the third book I have written that I would classify as psychological thrillers, or psychological horror.

The first was ‘Brother’s Keeper’, and when I wrote that I thought it was a bit much. The second in my list of psychological thrillers would be the ‘Box Office Butcher‘ another must read. If you like the horrors be sure to try all three of the Best Thriller Books on serial killers .

Passing Through is a psycho-thriller novel that will have you captivated from beginning to end. It tells the story of a woman who is trying to escape her past while being pursued by a madman. Will she make it out alive? With unpredictable twists and turns, this book is sure to keep you entertained. You won’t be able to put it down until you find out what happens next. Purchase Passing Through today on Amazon or Barnes & Noble!

Here’s the deal ‘Passing Through’ is on an entirely different level.

Now, I realize that there will be fans of psychological thrillers out there who will love this book; perhaps it will surprise them, and they will find it will be just what they were waiting for from me. Others, though, are going to despise it.

‘Passing Through’ was very difficult for me to write for a number of reasons, but there were two in particular that took a toll on me. First, I have had close personal experience and interactions in passing with violent criminals, and their minds and ways of thinking are ugly and burdensome; they are not people you want to make regular friends of. To put these things into words and make people understand was, well, exhausting.

I also found myself quite beaten up after writing each and every violent part. I didn’t want the parts to be mild, because the character of Elliot Keller was a horrible, horrible man. It thrilled him to do the things he did to people to the point that the only motivation he had for escaping prison was to have a chance to indulge in his deviant behavior yet once more in his life.

Some of the visuals I got, which are what prompt what I write, made me sick, and more than once, I had to step away and breathe. Another good reason why this is one of my best thriller books of all time.

Now, let’s talk about the psychopath Keller.

Initially, I wrote his character with little to no explanation as to why he was the serial killer that he was. Did his mother not love him enough? Could he have suffer abuse as a child? Did he see something he never could get past? It didn’t matter at first; to me, he was just a bad man, an animal, a violent psychopath. Many murderers or serial killers never suffer wrong at the hands of another, yet they choose to harm others over and over, for no other reason that they like it and its fun.

I changed this. The reasons I began to explain a bit about what made Elliot what he was are simple: I had to show readers the ripple effect, that can literally last for decades when this type of violence is bestowed by one on another. What happened to Keller, Keller did to others, and it would not stop there… it would never stop.

I didn’t go into his past to provoke pity or compassion. He is nothing more than a rabid animal, and his actions clearly demonstrate that. With that being said, by the end of the new book, you will understand what I mean, and you will still hate him all the more.

You might be wondering about the town.

Thompson Trails, Virginia is yet another fictional town full of ignorant, innocent unawares that have no idea what is about to hit them. I love to develop these little burgs, and I enjoy creating the people who live blissfully within their boundaries. I grow to love many of the characters, no matter how brief their appearances; as readers know, authors kill people off, no matter their age or how good of a person they are.

This happens a lot in Thompson Trails, and I grieved each death. But in reality, killers don’t flip coins, and they don’t pick and choose. Bad things happen, and they always seem to happen to good people. If they happened only to people like Keller, well, that would be a good thing to happen, now wouldn’t it?

Want to know the best part?

Finally, I would like to touch base briefly on Rick and Donna Welk, the owners of the cabin resort, but mostly I want to focus on Donna. Donna and Rick have suffered the loss of a pregnancy, which spurred them to move and buy the cabins. On the outside, Donna is soft, kind, generous, a good wife, and wouldn’t hurt a fly.

She is hurting that she cannot have a child, and she is simply trying to build a new, happy life around this reality. I believe that readers are going to be surprised by the fiber this little woman is made of, and I think they will be furious at the outcome Keller causes her and the man she loves.

But here’s the kicker.

For those of you who are lovers of psychological thrillers, well, here you go. I hope you enjoy it and add it to your best thriller books of all time list. I also hope it makes you as sick as it makes me, because it is that horror and sickness that makes us face the harsh realities of life and keeps us on our toes.

Well, I didn’t write this and then roll it in sugar because it isn’t candy; it is a jagged little pill that will slice your throat straight open if you swallow too fast, or without water. And believe me, when I say, it is not for children. Best to give fair warning; I wrote this in a manner that it would leave some kind of mark. Hopefully, the mark is a good one. So, sit down with the lights on and enjoy the terror that is Elliot Keller in ‘Passing Through’.

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Passing Through Psychothriller Character Profile

Elliot Keller, AKA Elias Derringer ‘serial killer’

Elliot Keller is pretty much the main horror character of this psychothriller. He is in his mid-thirties, with long, scraggly black hair that seems constantly uncombed and a bit greasy. Sporting a black goatee most of the time to enhance his menacing appearance. He is slender and tall, with piercing dark brown eyes that are almost black. Elliot has lived a life of crime, though only a handful are told in these pages. He is a rapist, a sexual sadist, and though his preferred raped victims are women, he looks especially for a male victim to include in his ‘fun and games.’

For five years in prison, the psychopath has been patiently scheming his escape, and now the time has come. He is highly intelligent and knows how to ‘be where he is at’, meaning, if he is in a situation he cannot control, such as prison, he will act as expected as a means of maintaining control. In addition, he can bluff anyone, and he does it well.

He is heartless, soulless, and has absolutely no conscience to speak of. The only reason he wants to escape is to have a bit of fun once again. He escaped the death penalty on a trumped-up technicality, which shows the level of his intellect and depravity. The perfect psycho for one of my best thriller books of all time.

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Donna Welk

This small, plump blonde is about as cute and good-natured as female horror characters come, with a heart of pure gold and an attitude to match. Donna and her husband Rick moved to Virginia after losing a pregnancy and being told she would never have children. In an effort to move on anew, they bought and renovated the cabin resorts on the Appalachian Trailhead in Virginia.

Donna is too innocent and trusting, and her first meeting with Keller shows this. The pain she carries around over her loss has made her tougher than even she knows. While she is a wonderful woman and wife, her experience with this man will prove to be her complete undoing.

Rick Welk

Donna’s husband is of medium height and weight, with short brown hair and hazel eyes. This horror character is from a bigger city, which is never mentioned, but he lacks the easy trust in people that his wife and the other townsfolk have. If his gut senses something is off, he follows it. He feels that he is Donna’s protector and the things that Keller puts him through tear his manhood and ego apart. Though Keller never really puts his actual life in danger, he steals it from him completely.

Sheriff Bob Brown

This rotund, balding man is around sixty, and he has sheriffed the town he loves for more than thirty years. Those who live there are like his children, and he is close to everyone. This horror character’s pride is his wife Rosie, and he beams at the sound of her name. Sheriff Brown is another who is way too trusting, even for a cop, and he has never met the likes of Keller. With no experience, he winds up learning first-hand what the meaning of the word ‘maniac’ really is.

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Deputy Darren Rush

This young red-headed kid is left with Keller for the night, thinking he is simply keeping watch over a man who is down on his luck.

Avery Rush

This pregnant young woman is given the responsibility to take breakfast to the passer-through while staying at the jail. She is stunningly attractive and just as innocent as the rest of the female horror characters.

Captain Russell Johnson

Part of the Virginia State Patrol, Johnson is the cop who contacts Rush about Keller the psychopath. He thinks they have time to get the convict because he is in a cell, but an emergency nine-one-one over the computer from Thompson Trails is cut off, and there is no power or phone service. Now, he and another cop, along with backup, race against time and the weather to get to the town and stop the horror that is already well underway.

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Detective Jackson Fowler

This man is a state detective who becomes involved with not much of a real part, but without him, the cops would never get to Thompson Trails.

Rose Brown

Sweet and silver-haired Rosie is a life-long resident of the town, and she is considered the ‘mother’ of all. Her part is simple, as female horror characters go; yet sweet, and she is necessary to the emotional aspect of the novel.

Do you like to be scared? Passing Through is a psycho thriller novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s the perfect book for anyone who loves a good scare. With twists and turns around every corner, you’ll never know what’s going to happen next in this suspenseful novel. Will the main character make it out alive? Or will she meet her demise at the hands of the killer? You’ll just have to read to find out. Purchase Passing Through today!

Put this crime fiction on the best thriller books of all time list.

If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that will send chills down your spine, look no further than R.W.K. Clark’s “Passing Through,” available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. This gripping novel introduces Elliot Keller, a heartless and soulless psychopath who has spent the last five years meticulously planning his escape from prison. Now, with his freedom within reach, he’s ready to unleash his twisted desires on the world once again.

“Passing Through” is a chilling exploration of the criminal mind, delving into the dark thoughts and motivations of a truly terrifying character. R WK Clark Best Thriller Books masterfully builds suspense as Elliot’s sinister plan unfolds, leaving readers to wonder who will become his next victim. With its fast-paced plot, vivid descriptions, and exploration of the darkest corners of human nature, “Passing Through” is a must-read for fans of psychological horror and psychological fiction.

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But be warned: this novel is not for the faint of heart. Elliot Keller is a truly disturbing character, and his actions will leave you reeling. If you’re looking for a safe and comforting read, this is not the book for you. However, if you’re ready to confront the darkness and explore the depths of human depravity, then “Passing Through” is a journey you won’t soon forget. Visit Amazon or Barnes & Noble today and discover the chilling world of R.W.K. Clark’s “Passing Through.”

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Box Office Butcher Smash Hit Writer’s Commentary

One Of My Best Horror Books Of All Time Box Office Butcher.

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On of my best horror books, Box Office Butcher is a murder mystery psychological thriller novel about a serial killer (a copycat killer).
Dubbed the ‘Box Office Butcher’ by the press, the killer is committing a couple of killings every weekend. This results in Detective Kevin Harmes, of the Los Angeles Police Department, scrambling from here to there and back again to try and keep up.

Fortunately, this seasoned cop has some pretty spot-on suspicions of his own. Regardless of this fact, ‘The Butcher’ manages to keep him on his toes, and miserably so, with the sick game he is playing. I consider this to be one of my best horror books of all time. ‘Box Office Butcher’ is my second suspense thriller release, and it is the second book I have written that I would classify as a psychological thrillers, or psychological horror. My first novel was ‘Brother’s Keeper’ and my third novel in my list of psychological thrillers would be ‘Passing Through’ another must read. If you like the horrors be sure to try all three serial killers.

Here’s the deal it is important to understand that the serial killer has a vendetta.

For this psychopath, these murders are rooted in a history of abuse and rage, and he feels the compelling need to take care of the issue, which he has carried around with him his entire life. It is more than simply killing because he’s a sicko, or because it’s fun, though these are true as well. His actions are essentially a way to make right a past that has, unbeknownst to him, destroyed him from the inside out.

Keep in mind that none of the ‘copycat’ killings are identical to the one from the film which they are meant to emulate. The Butcher doesn’t have the kind of power it would take to make his victims cooperate with a scripted film and still enjoy the spontaneity and horror he is set on sparking and enjoying. Parallel to that, he is a careful planner, spending both time and money to get the real-life murders as close to the ones on film as he possibly can, and he comes terrifyingly close each time. Another reason why I add this book to my best horror books of all time list.

Now, let’s talk about the psychopath.

The Butcher is a very sick man, and it was important to drive this home through a variety of methods. I also added extra elements, as an added bonus pointing to his psychosis. A trait I like to add to my psychological thrillers, I believe it helps build up the readers hatred towards the psychopath.

The hardest part of this psychothriller novel, for me, was keeping the real serial killers identity from being given away during the investigation. It was difficult to give some hints here and there while still shining the spotlight on another, as a distraction. There was a fine line here that couldn’t be crossed, at least, not immediately, and it was like a balancing act to walk that line. Another difficulty was keeping each murder original and unique to itself. I didn’t want the repetition found in most suspense thriller mysterious stories, such as the killer simply chasing and slashing each victim in the same manner.

You might be wondering about the detective.

Why is Kevin Harmes so obsessed? As an experienced detective, the fact that a criminal like The Butcher knows that Harmes will buy his bluff and veer off in another direction is bothersome, to say the least. He almost takes this as an assault on his policing ability. Sure, people are dying, but for Harmes, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The psychopath is also basically making fun of the cops, running them around from city to city in confusion, like small children trying to catch a balloon filled with helium, but is always out of reach.
As can be expected, as the crime thriller goes on, Harmes finds little tidbits here and there which begin to clear the fog covering The Butcher’s identity. Everything begins to make sense about the serial killer. Box Office Butcher is packed full of mystery to make it the best horror books of all time.

But here’s the kicker.

Box Office Butcher, with all difficulties aside, was a fun novel to write. The psychological thriller genre which it falls under afforded me much freedom; I just had to sort my way through the murder mystery aspect, what was believable and what would appear to be smoke and mirrors to the reader. I had to reconcile the two to each other without giving away The Butcher’s identity too quickly, and hopefully, I accomplished this properly.

Besides that, I also had a lot of fun with The Butcher’s past; though it was horrid, and the abuse the guy went through are enough to cause anyone to almost understand how someone could go to the kinds of extremes that this serial killer did. I hope you enjoy one of my best fiction books. Get a copy of Box Office Butcher now.

Box Office Butcher Smash Hit Character Profile

Kevin Harmes

Detective Ken Harmes is a seasoned veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department. In his years on the force, he has developed a reputation as a man who will throw himself into his work full tilt, as well as being among the best at criminal profiling- capable of delving deep into a subject’s psyche with a combination of research, insight, and good old fashioned gumshoe leg work.

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Kevin Harmes is the cop who happens to have the pleasure of the ‘Box Office Butcher‘ case landing directly in his lap. The single man has nothing to do but work, and he has no problem dedicating the time and energy needed to chase serial killers. He is relentless in his pursuit, and he is willing to take some pretty dangerous risks to stop the guy. As his investigation progresses, Harmes begins to put together who the suspect probably is, and as he digs into the man’s past, he begins to clearly see how his upbringing brought him to the murderous point he is at today.

Kevin Harmes is the kind of man who is constantly thinking, and he takes it personally when a psychopath such as this toys with him. These particular strategic moves are likely the very things that help to catch the man in the end, because all they do is spurn Harmes on in determination. An excellent detective for one of my best horror books of all time.

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Joe Carter

Another LAPD detective, Carter is Harmes’ partner. He is not as verbal or as intelligent as Harmes, keeping his own neck at a fairly safe distance from the chopping block by limiting his own dedication to catching the Butcher. He is willing, however, to accompany Harmes from city to city during the scattered pursuit, and every now and then, he comes up with a valuable point, out of the blue, that is pertinent to the case. Otherwise, Carter is mostly a character that exists to give Harmes someone to think out loud to, bouncing ideas off him as they go.

Donovan Cannon ‘psychopath’

Donovan Cannon is the serial killer though he changed his name when he was much younger.  Because of this, we have no idea which of the suspects he may be. A product of rape, Cannon faced abused his entire life and put through a psychologically painful living hell. This is something the psychopath has been planning for a long time. He has deep traumas, even to the point of feeling good by violence. To him this is natural, and he doesn’t even think about it. It all seems innocent enough in his mind, especially when we compare to what he has gone through in his life. The best psycho for one of my best horror books of all time.

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Miles March

The director of the movie ‘Smash Hit’ is a snob who is at the top of the ranks at Milestone Pictures. He is not only a producer and director, he runs the studio that is his namesake. March never seems to be impressed with what the killer is doing. But he is greatly impressed by the fact that the murders are sending his picture through the roof, making it his highest-grossing movie ever. Because of this, he is less than willing to eagerly assist police. Regardless of his apparent help, March really couldn’t care less, and as far as he is concerned, The Butcher will only make him more money if he completes his murder list.

Cory Caine

The leading fiction character and sole survivor in the movie ‘Smash Hit’. Cory is angelically good-looking, though he has a bit of a drug problem and is currently at the top of the American Schoolgirl Crush list.

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Davis Reed

One of the surviving victims of the Butcher; the fact that Reed survives puts him at the top of the suspect list, along with having not a mark on him and being guilty of the murder of his girlfriend.

Ruth Cannon

Ruth Cannon is Donovan’s mother. She hates the child. Seeing only the rape when she looks at him, spawning abuse that is stomach-turning. Ruth was also an up and coming actress when the rape took place.So, this incident not only affected her life but also her career. She is a bitter, angry, hateful woman who can’t stand the sight of her own son.

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Myron Dennis

This old man fiction character is the object of the Butcher’s revenge and rage. But now he is an old man living in LA, and The Butcher is well aware of who he is and where he lives. The murder of Myron Dennis will be his ‘coup de grace’, at least in the confines of his own mind.

Box Office Butcher the best horror books of all time.

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Put this detective fiction on your best horror books of all time list.

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