Now Is The Time Of Monsters is a chilling psychological horror-thriller that keeps readers guessing from start to finish. Set in 1969, San Francisco, the story follows Cassie Kennedy, a single mother separated from her husband, who begins discovering her psychic abilities. Cassie has visions of a child being abducted and the mother murdered. When the vision comes true, she informs the police but is dismissed as a lunatic. Soon after, she has dreams of her own death at the hands of the same serial killer. Meanwhile, a serial killer who calls himself the “Gemini” begins to leave clues for police about his next victim. When Cassie then disappears without a trace, a group of detectives and psychologists slowly piece together the clues left by the killer to try to save Cassie before it’s too late.

Readers should be aware that the book contains gruesome murder scenes that can be triggering, but they are few and far between. Most of the story reads as a thriller as opposed to a horror, with gripping suspense and unexpected twists that will keep readers guessing what’s coming next.

It’s evident that A.G. Mock did a lot of research while writing this book— there are historical references to the “Summer of Love,” the Vietnam War, politics, and space exploration that really bring the late 60s timeline to life. The author has also put together a Spotify playlist (with the same title as the book), full of tracks from the era, that is a perfect soundtrack while reading or listening!

The characters in this book are flawed, complex, and richly detailed. Protagonist Cassie is a fearless risk-taker. Her psychic visions frighten her at first, but she soon accepts them and puts them to use to help others. Cassie’s relationship with her friend Patty is special and a core part of the story. Some of their conversations definitely feel more contemporary than what you’d expect for 1960s dialogue. When Cassie goes missing, Patty becomes actively involved in the police investigations searching for her.

The police officers and psychologist side characters are introduced almost midway through the book. As they try to piece together the clues mailed to them by the killer, their dialogue becomes very immersive and compelling—readers will feel the rising tension with every clue they discover and a temporary sense of relief with each breakthrough. It’s likely that the author used the “Zodiac Killer” as inspiration for this book, as there are many similarities with the word puzzles. The perplexing clues and their complex answers will leave you shaking your head and then gasping for breath, especially when the story climaxes.

The story is well-paced but has slower sections in the middle when Cassie goes missing and officers are formally introduced. From there, the plot becomes more unpredictable, and the clues keep piling up in a dizzying fashion. The jaw-dropping twist ending will have you rethinking everything you’ve read and questioning the reality around you! It’s definitely a book that you’ll want to reread, as there are clues and details that you’ll totally miss and be kicking yourself over at the end!

In summary, Now Is The Time Of Monsters is a chilling novel and a disturbing journey into the mind of a psychological serial killer. This page-turning novel is brilliantly written and is touted by many as A.G. Mock’s strongest book to date. Readers who enjoy puzzle plots, characters with disturbed psyches, and stories that blur reality and madness will love this book. Grab a copy ASAP and enjoy the wild ride!