LAST KNOWN VICTIM
Author: Eric Spindler ISBN: 0778324613 10/2007 SUSPENSE Publisher: MIRA
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August 2006
As the rescue efforts unfold, a grisley discovery is made at one of the massive refrigerator "graveyards". One of these metal hulks contains six human hands—all female, all right hands. The press has dubbed the unknown perpetrator "The Handyman." But with no way to trace the origin of this refrigerator, and with evidence lost to time and the elements, the case dead-ends.
Captain Patti O'Shay is a straight-arrow, by-the-book cop who is assigned to the case. Her tough, unflinching character is fractured when her husband and fellow police captain is found murdered—surprised by looters taking advantage of the post-storm chaos.
August 2007
Patti, still grieving and disillusioned, gets a call from homicide: skeletal remains have been unearthed in City Park. The unknown victim—a female—is missing her right hand. But for Patti, this grave holds something even more shocking. Found beside the victim's bones is her husband's police badge.
Casting aside the very "rule book" by which she has lived her life, Patti is fearless—but so is the killer. As he stalks her she is forced to question all she believes in, to doubt the code she has lived by...because she knows that if she doesn't find The Handyman first, she will become his last known victim. |
 RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:
If you are familiar with KILLER TAKES ALL from Erica Spindler, than you may recognize some of the key players in LAST KNOWN VICTIM. And as before, this book is an action-packed, macabre dance of death. It features a cast of players that have a ghastly connection, aside from Hurricane Katrina, but none of them realize it. That makes for an interesting read, as it is such an extensive puzzle.
As a murder mystery, this one is pretty good. I doubt you will guess who the killer is, but even if you do, you won't guess why. However, if it is romantic suspense you are looking for, look elsewhere. As a matter of fact, I must confess some confusion on even receiving this book to review because aside from a few scenes between two of the characters that happen to be living together, there is no romance. But, if you like Stephen King and Dean Koontz that may not matter all that much to you.
Shannon Johnson |
