The Silent Night Stalker (The Naughty List) by Courtney W. Dixon

Constantine is a killer that meets his match when he tries to kill unsuspecting MMA fighter and criminal Enzo. But instead of turning him in, Enzo let's him go, except now Constantine believes they were meant to be brought together even if he doesn't believe in gifts at Christmas time.


From the blurb:

There’s a serial killer in our midst.

They call him ‘The Silent-Night Stalker.’ Every Christmas Eve, he chooses one person to kill. He leaves behind no trace of himself, so the cops have no leads.

And now he’s chosen me.

It’s Christmas Eve, and I’m the serial killer’s next target. While I grieve the loss of my best friend, the Stalker breaks into my home and tries to kill me. He thinks he can subdue me... however, he’s not the only criminal under this roof.

But this man isn’t who I expect him to be. He’s no hardened killer. He’s definitely unhinged, but he’s also meek and desperate to be controlled. How does someone like him become a killer? And what does it make me when I understand him and give in to him, dominating him in ways he’s never experienced?


SNik's review:

Part of a multi-author series (The Naughty List), but can be read as a standalone. Dual POV. Heed content warnings. 

Constantine has his own reality of why he kills, he thinks he is saving people and Christmas Eve is his breaking point every year. But when he chooses grief stricken Enzo, things go sideways and now he’s at Enzo’s mercy, but maybe this was all meant to bring him and Enzo together. 

Constantine and Enzo have similar difficult backgrounds, and that actually makes their immediate connection seem stronger as Enzo understands and sympathizes with Constantine’s hatred of the holidays. There’s something about a slightly broken character that meets that special someone that “gets” them, accepts everything about the crazy and even appreciates it to some extent. I appreciated that Constantine was not invincible, but he is determined, and that Enzo is loyal to both his best friend and his new person. I especially enjoyed the epilogues that showed their HEA working in the future and it capped a really good story with a sweet HEA.

The Silent Night Stalker is currently available as an e-book and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription