Title: Empathy

Author: Ker Dukey

Genre: Dark Romance/Erotic Suspense

Amazon US | Amazon UK

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Blake:

I am a brother I am a police detective I am a contract killer I don’t want to love I don’t want to feel I don’t want … EMPATHY.

They say some people are born with decreased activity in the front central lobe causing them a deficiency in empathy. Maybe that’s true about me but whether I was born this way or created in a moment of evil, empathy was something I didn’t possess until her green eyes met mine in the mirror and I couldn’t take her life. I didn’t want to feel, didn’t want this woman in my life complicating how I lived but she was there at every turn. Sent to haunt me for my sins. Her light so bright she provoked a shadow from everyone she touched. When a job turns bad quickly altering my life forever I’m forced to feel. When nothing is making sense I’m forced to face truths I never would recover from. When life drowns you in its cruelty you don’t know which way the current will drag you or who you’ll become once you re-surface.

Melody:

I was a daughter I was a student I was a victim Did I have his love? Did I make him feel? Did I have his empathy? When the actions of a soulless killer forces sorrow into my veins I never dreamed the man healing my wounds would be the one to leave the worst scar. His love would scar my soul. Scars are permanent; I will never feel the relief from them. Will I learn to live with them, remember why I have them and learn never to let him close enough to inflict more? Will I eventually cover them… like tattoos coating them with new memories, new love and new starts? I didn’t know these answers because the pain was too suffocating, the only thing I knew was they will always be under the surface lingering. He had scars too, from his sins. There is nothing that can cover them, they were too deep, too ugly, too dark and they marked us both forever.

Review by Heather

4.5 Stars

Empathy is a deep, dark book that has so many wtf moments it’s crazy! Told in the point of view of the three main characters, this journey is a twisted as they come.

Melody is a rich girl, college student that has noticed introvert Ryan in class. After being put on an assignment together they form a friendship. Ryan is a loner, keeps to himself and is labelled a freak by his fellow classmates, which is pretty accurate. Melody has a few run ins with Blake, Ryan’s hot as sin and oh so arrogant older brother and feels a pull towards him.

On a weekend home, tragedy strikes Melody and she turns to Ryan to help her forget but not in the way you may be thinking. Blake, a police officer, who is keeping a dark secret, cannot stay away from Melody even though he knows that he should.

After what happens when his brother was a child which forced Blake to do the unthinkable, Blake has become emotionless. A psychopath. He lacks any feelings of empathy or compassion, so he thinks. Until Melody who makes him do the one thing he hasn’t done in many years- feel. As Melody’s world has shattered and the walls with Blake’s heart and mind crumble, Ryan is on a downward spiral that no one but the reader can truly see.

The darkness within both Blake and Ryan were tangible. You feel for Blake as he deals with all of the suppressed emotions and you shudder when you see how messed up they both really are. Melody, is breath of fresh air and he inner torture feels so real.

The writing in this book is phenomenal. I really felt like I was there with the characters going through what they were going feeling what they were feeling. All of the main characters were very deep. The brothers’ dark elements kept me glued to my kindle.

This book is twisted, sadistic, crazy and oh so good. There are many ways in which I thought this book would go but nothing prepared me for the oh em gee moments and there were plenty. The only thing I was not thrilled with in this book is the first epilogue but then the second epilogue made up for it and left me feeling raw. I like that this book is a standalone but leaves the option for a sequel and I really hope there is a second book.

Ker Dukey has become a must read author for me and Empathy is definitely in my top 5 dark reads. Anyone who loves dark and sadistic needs to read this book and enjoy the crazy ride that is Empathy.

I have always had a passion for storytelling, whether it be through lyrics or bed time stories with my sisters. I wanted to be an actress growing up so I could live many roles but I learned early on that my mind was too active... I would want to change the script.I would watch films and think of ways they could of improved the story if they took another direction so i thought it best that i tell my own. My mum would always have a book in her hand when I was young and passed on her love for reading, inspiring me to venture into writing my own. I tend to have a darker edge to my writing. Not all love stories are made from light, some are created in darkness but are just as powerful and worth telling. When I'm not lost in the world of characters I love spending time with my family. I'm a mum and that comes first in my life but when I do get down time I love attending music concerts or reading events with my younger sister. You can find me on facebook where i love interacting with my readers.