It's In The Eyes

A Different Type of Tale...

I think I recognized the eyes on the cover of It's In The Eyes by Charles Toftoy! Is that scary...or what? Actually, I found this book more like a cozy mystery than a true suspense novel--even if the storyline is about a "psychopath stalking coeds!"

The book was inspired and written in memory of an undergraduate student who was raped and murdered near George Washington University, as well as other women who have been victimized. Kudos to the author for this remembrance!

Lars Neilsen is a college professor and part-time sleuth, the latter perhaps due to his being brother-in-law to Deputy Chief Cory Swink. In any event, he was kneeling over the body of the latest victim, Candance, when first he realized that she looked very much like his daughter who had been killed in an accident, and second that he had received a message from her still-open eyes: "Please get him."

Although Lars was clearly told by the Chief to stay away from the case, he and his group of friends/professionals, code name Alpha Team, knew that they would be working it, one way or another! And Lars, especially, was out for revenge!

Tiger (Nate) who has been with Lars for many years tries to keep things light, even at the darkest times...so he'll share a joke just about every time the Team meets. While Doris who was with the FBI and still has many connections is able to provide the team with the right information at the right time. The last member of the team is Brenda, a reporter for The Post, who is willing and able to ensure the paper is used in whatever way possible to assist in the capture of those guilty of crimes!

Actually, there is quite a bit of side activities by Lars, the Team Leader, who is entranced by Doris who looks like Veronica Lake, but still manages to respond to Brenda "at the right time." While the mother of the victim, and the lady paying for their services, also finds a need to have personal meetings with Lars...whenever...

But The Team does get the job done, first, by having Lars travel to Dublin to follow a major clue and assist in the hunt and capture of a "Thuggee," killers who are faithful to the Goddess Kali--a very dangerous goddess indeed! And then back to find out what the team has found out!

Expect to read a different kind of book and you'll find that It's In The Eyes by Charles Toftoy just might be right for you! Because, after all, it is in the eyes--of the reader!

G. A. Bixler

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Beware: IT' S ALL IN THE EYES

Title: It's In The Eyes
Author: Dr. Charles Toftoy
ISBN: 978-1432711962
Publisher: Outskirts Press



Imagine getting a phone call asking you come down to identify your daughter's body after some psychopathic killer took her life. Unfortunately, these things do happen and we read about them in the news on a daily basis. Abuse of any kind is unconscionable and the end result can leave more than just physical trauma or scars on the abused person. All too often the hidden traumas caused by verbal, physical and sexual abuse can have devastating and lasting effects on a person whether an adult or child. This brings me to my review of an important novel written by Dr. Charles Toftoy, Its In the Eyes.

As the novel begins we learn of a horrific rape and murder of a young college student in Washington DC. Dr. Lars Neilsen is a college professor who created a team of private investigators called the Alpha Team who privately and discreetly assist in the investigation and soon learn startling facts about the killer or killers and their brand of murder. Four coeds are killed and all four deaths are by strangulation. A psychopathic killer is at work who models his murders after the rapes and killings of the 17th and 18th century killers called the Thuggees who worshipped the black goddess Kali- meaning darkness.

As with our killer Kali worship comes from a legend that originated from India. It refers to a period when an evil demon hunted mankind in order to devour him. During this time period children were killed and Kali was determined to stop him. But, all of her efforts did not work and each time blood of the demon was spilled it would rise again and she created her own form of help. Creating men from various sources she hoped to strangle the demons. It is this legend that is the impetus for the religion of Kali and her worshippers, the Thugs. Worshippers of Kali followed the Thug path and a killer who believes in Kali and sees her in his visions murders the women killed in this book. Kali wore clothes made of human body parts. Using her as a guide the killer's victim was positioned and given the special yellow scarf around her neck to indicate the reference to Kali in the murders.

However, you need to beware of a new moon or darkness as Kali represents darkness and the targets for these murders are blue-eyed blonds who think according to our killer and Kali, that they are God's gift to the world. The killer states that these women are superficial and self-absorbed: His targets are blonds on the basketball tames who think that they are as some put it today, "ALL THAT," and more.

His mode of killing fits that of the killings of the Thuggees. The victims were travelers who were murdered as sacrifices to the goddess Kali. Using her favorite color yellow, a silk scarf of that color was tied around the unsuspecting traveler's neck. Death occurred within five seconds. Thuggees always used this method of killing since spilling blood was forbidden. Thinking that the police and the Alpha team would not pick up on this, our killer lived in a world devoted to Kali and envisioning her in his presence and guiding his actions.

But, in order to throw them off and send them in another direction, he commits a crime so violent and heinous it sends Lars and his team reeling with anger and determination to bring him to justice and more.

Did you ever look into the eyes of someone and know they were lying to you? Can you tell when someone i

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

It's In The Eyes

"It's In The Eyes" by Charles Toftoy is a thriller set in Washington D.C and someone is killing beautiful, blond co-eds. Unhappy with the police's progress, one family hires Lars Neilsen and his Alpha Team to locate the murderer of their daughter. As the story progresses and as the Team goes where the police can't, they find that they are chasing not one, but two distinct murderers, but why? Toftoy has written a story that shows potential yet misses in several areas of believability.

This book will keep you on pins and needles

It's in the Eyes - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat

'"Please get him." Lars looked down at her and flashbacked three years, as if he was seeing his own daughter at the morgue. Candance Hawthorne, the fourth rape and murdered coed, was almost an identical twin of Lars' daughter, Lisa. As he looked at Candance's face, he recognized some of those facial features. And the blue eyes seemed to be staring intently at him. A tear stung Lars' eyes. Even though the temperature outside the Lubber Run Nature Center was a warm 62 degrees Fahrenheit, he felt a chill.'

Lars Neilsen is a West Pointer who served three tours in Vietnam as a ranger/paratrooper, Special Operations. He was awarded the DSC, three Silver Stars, two Purple Hearts and many other awards while serving his country. He knows the streets, is clever and has good instincts. He also believes in justice for the victims and has no problem in carrying out whatever needs to be done to acquire that justice. But most important, Lars heads a team he created called the Alpha Team. The Alpha Team takes their position seriously and won't stop until their job is complete.

Nathan Green, called 'Tiger', originally from New Orleans, served with Lars in Vietnam. Tiger was a sergeant in the military and was very accomplished in the Special Ops by performing top secret missions. He, as well as Lars, has a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do and won't hesitate to use this art of defense when needed.

Doris Wagner was a former FBI profiler and recognized as their best. Her husband died in the World Trade Center on 9/11, draining her emotionally. She now does part-time work for the FBI. She's clairvoyant, into astrology and develops clinical psychological leads to uncover criminals.

Brenda Little is a journalist who helped break a big murder case in Richmond. She was hired by the Washington Post but burned out after six years and now does freelance work. She studied criminal justice at the University of Maryland, her father was a metro cop killed in the line of duty and she has a black belt in Tae Kwo Do.

Now you know the Alpha Teams. When Candance Hawthorne was raped and murdered the Alpha Team was hired by the family to find her killer. This case turns out to be the toughest case the team has encountered.

I've enjoyed following Lars and his team as they search for the 'Coed Killer', only to find out that there is not one killer but two, bringing even more excitement to the story. Charles Toftoy created 4 characters, dedicated them to justice, but still give the reader the feel that these 4 characters are normal everyday people. He does this through the jokes and humor of 'Tiger', the compassion of Brenda, the confused lifestyle and childhood memories of Doris and the pain felt by Lars due to the death of his wife and daughter. I couldn't help but enjoy It's in the Eyes and look forward to reading it's sequel Eyes of Cold Case Killers.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.