"In his first novel, Forgive Me, Alex, Lane Diamond has initiated a crime/suspense thriller series with many of the qualities that put the likes of Lee Child and James Patterson on the bestseller lists. Protagonist Tony Hooper is characterized as a younger, more vulnerable, but equally determined cross between Child’s Jack Reacher and Patterson’s Alex Cross. Antagonist Mitchell Norton is ... think of the most psychologically imbalanced, brutally sadistic serial killer you’ve ever met in a book, and you’ll discover that Norton is far worse. When the demon in Norton’s head takes control and promises him a kingdom of pain, Norton decides that Tony’s girlfriend Diana should be his queen and then the blood flows. Tony is the first to suffer the loss of a loved one and this sets him on a determined hunt to find the killer.

"Mr. Diamond unveils what are essentially two stories through the first-person narratives of Tony, Norton, and a couple of supporting characters. With consummate skill, Diamond bounces between the characters and events of two timelines, 1978 and 1995, and rolls them all into one neat package. A writing style fraught with potential pitfalls, but Diamond brings it off with perfection and apparent ease. While the first person point of view provides the reader full disclosure of that character, authors sometimes develop problems filling out the supporting cast. Not so for Mr. Diamond. When the story needed to be seen outside the perspectives of Tony or Norton, other characters take up the story with their own narratives. Characters like Frank, who advises, supports and renders a shoulder for Tony to lean on throughout the book. Then there’s FBI agent Linda; a mere blip on the radar screen in 1978, she provides vital professional and emotional support in 1995; or Master Ben Komura, of samurai ancestry, who trains Tony in martial arts. There’s more, much more, but I’ll leave it here for new readers to discover, savor, and pencil in the name Lane Diamond next to their current favorite authors."

"Suck a rubber duck if you are not blown away by this dark psychological thriller. In a world where characters are as vital as in the Game of Thrones, the suspense had me on the edge of my seat and holding my breath for everyone involved. Neighboring Huntley, the setting is home to me, making this all the more twisted and real for me. If you love serial killers, red herrings, the thrill of the chase, and unpredictable endings, you are in for a treat.

"Methodically thorough, this book came together like a well-crafted puzzle. The word choice, though coarse, is meaningful and eloquent. The switching points of view and timelines were plot-driven, not pointless. The narrator made this story come alive. I loved all of the character voices. Well, I loved all of them except one. The author created such a vile creature in the serial killer that by the end of the book, I heard his voice and wanted to throw up. Authors should look to this as a great example of the use of an epilogue and cliffhanger.

"In short: mind blown."

"Lane Diamond has succeeded in bringing to the surface the dark and horrifying mind of a psychotic serial killer, while at the same time bringing forth the desperate need for humanity and justice for the victims and their families."

"FORGIVE ME, ALEX is classified as a psychological suspense thriller, and suspense should really be bolded and italicized. There is a certain level of mastery a writer must possess in order to effectively build this kind of breathless expectation in a reader, and Diamond does just that, not only by switching us back and forth between 1978 (when the events that set everything in motion took place) and 1995 (the subsequent aftermath after the serial killer is released), but also by switching up narrative perspectives between our hero and antagonist. Although I was originally afraid all this moving about might harm the linearity of the tale, my fears were unfounded: The story developed and evolved brilliantly, and kept me turning the pages wanting more. More. More."

"Psychological thrillers are my kind of books! Not only do I write them, but truly enjoy reading one that makes my skin crawl, my nerves skitter with fear and my heart thump a tad louder. This incredible novel by Lane Diamond handed me ALL of that, in spades!

"The ending is a perfect way to ease the reader down from the intense, page-gripping high that the author just yanked them through, leaving the option wide open for a sequel. Out of all the books I have read this year, this one just launched itself to #1 for me!"

"I could not put this book down.....well....I did have to occasionally, but I didn't want to! It was so well written, the characters were so real to me and the suspense kept me coming back. I would read it every little chance I had and would read previous pages just to refresh my mind. This book took me on a roller coaster range of emotions: tears, fear, excitement, and happiness. I also got a surprise at the end of this book by finding out there is a sequel! I'm jumping up and down in excitement because I WILL be downloading the sequel so I can ride that roller coaster again!"