Rating: 4 stars
A mother is giving her daughter a birthday party, although the little girl had disappeared 3 months ago. The doorbell rings...the mother is presented with a parcel from a delivery company....arriving on her daughter’s birthday? Her worst fears are realized when she opens the box. She can stop worrying now...her daughter has come home. The package contains the skull of her little girl.
During a burglary, a serial killer's identity is revealed when the robber discovers a snuff dvd while cleaning out his safe. This plot sets off at a fast pace when the author throws the first twist into the story; the burglar decides to blackmail the killer instead of turning him into the police.
The detectives assigned to the case, Steve and Michael Scanlon, each have lives that are falling apart and a serial killer case to solve with no clues. The third detective assigned to the case, Kim Pierce, has her own drama to contend with; one having an affair with Michael, she left him for another man. Add to the mix a street thug named Leo Rice -- fresh out of jail and hellbent on revenge for his brother's shooting death at the hands of Michael Scanlon. Along with these vivid characters, the Scanlon's dying father and a missing girl from the wrong side of town round out the cast and it's time to hold on tight for this ride. The question is not who the killer is but who is this person that now shares his secret...and how long will they remain silent?
At first, finding out who the killer was at the beginning left me feeling -- how does one say it -- powerless. I felt I had been the one robbed ...of my ability to get through the clues before the detectives in the story. The twists in the storyline are not only unseen but leave you saying Why didn’t I see that coming?
Gorman’s well-created and varied characters jump from the pages, leaving the reader breathless with every turn of the page. The detectives are well-created and varied; their focus is less on solving the case than their own drama that plays out between the two brothers, their work, and their families. Their legendary father, Jack Scanlon, is slowing slipping away and although proud of both of his boys he does have his favorite...Steve. Like his father, he is reckless and free while his brother is more cautious. Kim Pierce is feisty and full of fire and the character of Leo Rice is perfect thug; stupid and violent, adding intrigue and an interesting side story.
I think this author has set a new standard for the regular serial killer; a well thought out story that will leave you wondering what will happen next and why no one has done something this original before. Don't let this one slip through your fingers!
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Publisher: Dorchester Publishing Company, Incorporated
Pub. Date: June 2009
ISBN-13: 9780843961089