Of Power and Pain is the fifth entry in the Detectives Daniels and Remalla series by J. T. Bishop, and it is a crime thriller that reads beautifully as a standalone novel.  Detectives Rem and Daniels are still working on a complex case when a sociopath begins to leave a trail of dead bodies. Daniels and Remalla are dealing with a ruthless killer who leaves a mark no one has yet deciphered on the victims’ bodies. When clues point to the next victim, the detectives must be ready to not only stop the next murder but to keep themselves safe. But how much time do they have?

This is a well-crafted crime thriller with characters that are elaborately written and utterly complex, starting with Oswald Fry, a character that instantly catches the attention of readers, not because of his hideous actions, but by the casualness with which he executes his actions and the excellent portrait the author makes of this character. Another character that readers will become curious about is Allison who is in prison and the unique effect she has on Rem.  J. T. Bishop is a great storyteller whose books should sit comfortably on the shelves with the works of James Patterson and David Baldacci. The prose is excellent and the short chapters, enhanced by timely paragraph breaks, create an immersive reading experience while accentuating the suspense and the fast pacing. The pulsating action and the sparkling dialogues add depth to the deft plotting and augment the entertainment quality of this spellbinding tale. Of Power and Pain is a winner from a writer who deserves attention. The POV is perfectly rendered in the third person narrative, and the tale is, in turn, witty and suspenseful. This author knows how to build momentum in a story, intelligently melding suspense with action to keep readers turning the pages.