Summary: “Where do serial killers come from?” and why has Buckaroo, Oregon given birth to sixteen of the most vile serial killers in the world? NSA Agent Nicholas Finch needs to solve that mystery in order to save his friend, and he’ll have to team up with the infamous Edward “Nailbiter” Warren to do it.

In the 3rd installment of this “killer” series find out… Does the Nailbiter know why sixteen of the world’s worst serial killers all came from the same small town? Does he know the truth? Find out as the Nailbiter…confesses! And much, much more!

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Nailbiter, vol. 3, by Joshua Williamson, Mike Henderson, Adam Guzowski and John J. Hill 7.25

Okay, I’m done.

Remember how I was on the fence with the first volume of ‘Nailbiter’, unsure of whether or not it was gratuitous in its display of violence, maybe even glamourizing serial killing to such a degree that it feels more like its engaging people’s bloodlust than anything else?

Now I’m convinced of that.

Volume three not only engages in unnecessary displays of violence for the sole purpose of making an impression, but it actually indulges in a full, two-page spread of someone being dismembered with a meat cleaver while another character revels in his love of serial killing.

He actually says the following: “I killed people! Lots of people! And it was great! The time of my life!”

Holy !@#$

The juxtaposition of this with the hacking of another body completely plays into that bloodlust in a way that I think is a rather irresponsible and dangerous. The potential argument that it was intended tap into the killer’s mind is eclipsed by its overindulgence.

Sealing the deal is the fact that our protagonist, Finch, is also torturing this character, closing that two-page spread with a  couple of panels of him getting ready to pull his victim’s teeth out with pliers. When even your “hero” partakes in the massacre, it’s gratuitous.

But what really finished me off, so to speak, was the writing. Previous volumes had their contrivances, absolutely, but there was enough creative spark on the page to keep me reading. I felt that there were some sections that were quite original in their approach.

This volume, however, is pregnant with dishonesty. How many times can we be told by Warren that he’s going to divulge the town’s secrets before we stop believing it? How many times will Finch and Crane allow him to stall so that the truth about Buckaroo remains veiled?

How many times will they make concessions with him? How can they not see that he’s killing time and will escape? It’s so bloody clichéd that I could predict where this was headed – and they’re supposed to be experienced with criminals. On top of that, Finch is a tough guy!

So what gives?

Well, it’s simply Williamson’s way of getting us to read more books before he reveals his secrets. And, frankly, I feel cheated. Don’t make me a promise and then not fulfill that promise – especially if you’re going to be so cheap about it. I feel lied to. Very poorly.

I will not be lied to anymore.