Gardner Camden is an FBI agent with the Patterns and Recognitions Unit (PAR) located in St. Augustine, Florida.
Most agents in the PAR have two characteristics: they made a mistake and were subsequently transferred to the PAR; and they're brainiacs with unique abilities, like eidetic memory, math expertise, etc. Up until now, the PAR agents have been confined to office work, studying the evidence and files from unsolved cases, to look for new clues.
Camden, who's always been socially awkward, observes: "Riddles. Those are my specialty. That is, when I am not studying patterns. Or decoding enigmas. Some might say that solving puzzles is all I'm good for. That leaving my desk in the Jacksonville office of the FBI to interact with real people is not the best use of my time or talent. And I would agree with them."
Now, however, the PAR investigators have been sent to Texas to view a body. Camden recognizes the murdered man as serial killer Ross Tignon. Camden's shocked, and observes 'Tignon is a man I had hunted years ago. I had only stopped hunting him because he supposedly died in a house fire six years ago.' At that time, Tignon's incinerated body was identified by two molars, and the current corpse is missing two molars. Tignon apparently yanked out his teeth to fool the authorities.
In addition to missing teeth, Tignon's body has been defaced by the killer, who cut Tignon open and carved the numbers 5 and 0 into his torso. In addition, it's later discovered the murderer left a clue INSIDE the body as well.
A few hours after viewing Tignon, the PAR agents are re-routed to New Mexico to observe another body. This victim is Barry Fisher, a serial killer who was JUST paroled for 'old age' after serving 31 years in the penitentiary. Fisher's body is terribly mutilated, with his organs excised and placed in plastic bags in the refrigerator and freezer. As is the case with Tignon, the murderer also left a clue inside a body part.
The PAR concludes A SERIAL KILLER IS TARGETING SERIAL KILLERS.
Camden is assigned to lead this multi-case investigation, a first for him at the PAR. Before long, Gardner starts to get phone calls from the killer, who says to call him God. The PAR agents, however, elect to call the murderer Mad Dog, and Mad Dog's conversation shows he has inside information about the investigation. The murderer must have a source in the FBI, and Camden takes steps to expose the mole while proceeding with the inquiries.
Mad Dog's phone calls, and the clues he leaves behind, demonstrate that he thinks of himself as a partner who's aiding the PAR. When Mad Dog is disabused of this notion, he makes threats.....and takes steps to carry them out.
As the inquiries proceed, several possible suspects are identified, the current murders are linked to past homicides, and the PAR agents must use all their skills to solve the cases.
The novel is a page-turner, with plenty of action. My major criticism is that the brilliant PAR investigators sometimes miss information they should winkle out right away. Author John McMahon probably uses this technique to prolong the suspense, but it's not credible (to me) In any case, this is a good thriller, recommended to fans of the genre.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Will Damron, who does an excellent job.
Thanks to Netgalley, John McMahon, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.
Rating: 3.5 stars
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