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Critic's Corner
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The Postcard Killers Jacob Kanon turned his back on the window and looked down at the postcards spread out across the hotel bed. He knows there’s a pattern, a twisted logic that he can’t yet see. Jacob is a homicide detective from the NYPD’s 32 Precinct and he’s a long way from home. Someone or more than one someone is killing young couples all over Europe. The killings first took Jacob to Rome where his only child was one of the victims. This event triggered his desire to bring the killer(s) to justice. For six months he’s chased the perpetrators following the postcards usually sent to a newspaper reporter. Only one or two murders were being done in each country then the killers moved on. It took only a few clues to convince Jacob he was dealing with two murderers, a man and a woman. First Florence Italy, Athens, Salzburg, Madrid, Rome, and now Berlin. Where would they go next? In Stockholm, Dessie Larsson, a young reporter receives a postcard. “To be or not to be in Stockholm. That is the question?” Nonsense, Dessie thought until her boss mentioned all the couple murders happening all over Europe and that a postcard preceded the murders with a Shakespeare quote! Dessie’s card ended with, “We’ll be in touch.” The question is, have they arrived in Stockholm? Another question, why did they send the card to Dessie? When Mats Duvall, Stockholm police superintendent questions Dessie, she tells him that she’s worked at the paper almost three years. Part time she’s into research as a trained criminologist in property crimes. Right now she’s sporadically writing her doctoral thesis on that topic. The killers, beautiful Sylvia and her handsome partner Mac are indeed in Stockholm hunting their next victims. They’d been on the hunt eight months now beginning their spree in Florence. The chase and the kills were thrills they could not resist. Each had a role to play and played it so well; no clues were ever found at the killing scenes. Not one trace of evidence was left behind to betray them. Jacob arrives in Stockholm, meets Dessie, and explains how he knew she’d received a postcard and why he needs her cooperation. “I’m going to chase them until hell freezes over,” he says. Reluctantly Dessie agrees to help Jacob. Together they begin an investigation that has twists and turns that spin the imagination. The killers, always one jump ahead of them, gloat over their next kill and began again to find just the right couple who will fall into their web of deceit. The many fascinating characters in the story hold your attention tight to the page. Everyone knows how well Patterson does his characterizations, but with the help of Swedish journalist and author, Liza Marklund, these story people rise to a new level of suspense and intrigue. Marklund, author of the Annika Bengtzon series, which has sold nine million copies in thirty languages, is one of the best co-authors Patterson has worked with. She currently lives in Sweden and Spain. Patterson has had more New York Times bestsellers than any other writer ever, according to Guinness World Records. He is the author of the Alex Cross novels, and also writes the bestselling Women’s Murder Club novels, set in San Francisco, and the top-selling New York detective series of all time, featuring Detective Michael Bennett. James Patterson also writes books for young readers, including the award-winning Maximum Ride, Daniel X, and Witch and Wizard series. Writing full time, Patterson lives in Florida with his family. Don’t miss, “The Postcard Killers,” is not just a wonderful tour of European sights and sounds, it’s a must read for anyone who enjoys two of the best novelists working today. Buy The Postcard Killers Patricia Ann Jones is a published writer and has recently retired from her position of 18 years as a reviewer for the Tulsa World newspaper. To comment on this review you may email pattij777@aol.com. |
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from Amazon.com
