Smoky gets a text message on her phone alerting her of the imminent arrival of a gift for her. The gift arrives in the form of a woman who is dumped out of a vehicle, wearing only a white nightgown. Her head has been shaved. She stumbles to her feet, raises her hands to the sky, and screams.

Though wedding vows have been exchanged, the rest of the festivities are halted in favor of transporting the woman to the hospital for further examination.  As the emergency room doctor  examines the victim, Smoky notices a piece of paper on the floor next to the gurney. The message on the paper relates to the text message she has already received. It is cryptic in nature and puzzles her. The first order of business, however is to identify the woman.

The victim is identified as Heather Hollister, a LAPD homicide detective who has been missing for eight years. It was assumed she was abducted and killed by her abductor though her body had never been found. She was married and had twin sons. Her husband had recently collected on a life insurance policy leading Smoky and her colleagues to suspect that he may have been involved in her abduction.

As more evidence is amassed, it seems that there may be other abductions which are similar. Perhaps the husband is only a puppet on the string of a much more malicious killer.

Psychopathic serial killers are the subject of so many mystery novels it is difficult to find one that has a different spin on the subject. Author McFadyen seems to have been successful in accomplishing this feat. The method by which the killer determines the victims and carries out the abductions is unique. The rationale is logical and the execution flawless.

Unlike most serial killer mysteries this novel moves much more slowly and methodically. Much space is given to the details, both the killer’s method and planning. Those readers interested in a blistering pace should give this one a pass as should those who are put off by vivid descriptions of violence. There is ample attention given to the killer’s psyche including how it developed from the perpetrator’s youth.

The author’s ability to engage the reader’s emotions is never in doubt. As Smoky experiences fear so does the reader. Picturing Smoky envisioning Heather’s fear as she herself is traumatized allows the reader to vicariously enjoy heart stopping moments. McFadyen also puts Smoky in a position where she has to make a decision to save her own life or that of a colleague. This decision cannot be done altruistically because of the conditions that have been predetermined. What decision she makes may or may not surprise you.

--Andy Plonka