Published
by HQ (HarperCollins),
27 June 2017.
ISBN: 978-0-00-821699-3
27 June 2017.
ISBN: 978-0-00-821699-3
Chicago, present
day. On leave cop Sam Porter is called in to what seems a routine suicide –
except that the dead man was carrying a parcel containing a human ear ... the
signature of the #4MK killer. Somewhere in the city
is a kidnapped young girl ... and Porter has only three days to find her.
This
story has two narration strands. The first follows Porter as he carries out the
investigation, with the occasional chapter showing us how the kidnapped girl,
Emory, is surviving her captivity. The other strand is the diary found on the
body, telling us of the killer’s childhood, and a seeming-normality that turns
increasingly violent. Porter is a good everyman cop, determined to get the
answers, and he’s surrounded by an interesting team who spark well off each
other. The police background is convincingly done, with paperwork and
briefings, but Porter’s status as on-leave means he can act alone when he wants
to. The child of the diaries is a chilling character, growing up in a seemingly
happy, though old-fashioned household, but already experimenting with killing
animals. The chapters are short – three or four pages – and both narratives are
written in a way that makes you want to keep turning them – I found the
thickness of the book daunting initially, but once I began reading, I was
engrossed. There were several excellent twists, particularly in the ending, and
the Chicago atmosphere, particularly in the underground tunnels scenes, was
well done.
A
page-turning psychopathic killer PI with two cracking storylines, great
characters and clever plotting. Highly recommended.
------
J.D. Barker is the internationally best-selling
author of Forsaken, a finalist for
the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel, and winner of
the New Apple Medalist Award. His work has been compared to Stephen King, Dean
Koontz, and Thomas Harris. His latest novel, The Fourth Monkey, released in June 2017. His third novel, The Fifth To Die, releases June 2018. He
has been asked by the Stoker family to coauthor the forthcoming prequel to Dracula due out in fall 2018. His novels
have been translated into numerous languages and optioned for both film and
television. Barker currently resides in Pennsylvania with his wife, Dayna, and
their two dogs, both of whom sit outside his office door daily, eagerly
awaiting his next novel.
Marsali Taylor grew up
near Edinburgh, and came to Shetland as a newly-qualified teacher. She is
currently a part-time teacher on Shetland's scenic west side, living with her
husband and two Shetland ponies. Marsali is a qualified STGA tourist-guide who is
fascinated by history, and has published plays in Shetland's distinctive
dialect, as well as a history of women's suffrage in Shetland. She's also a
keen sailor who enjoys exploring in her own 8m yacht, and an active member of
her local drama group. Marsali also does
a regular monthly column for the Mystery People e-zine.
A review of her recent book Ghosts of the Vikings can be read here.
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