Timeless Books & Ravens Parlour

Tony's Review

5/5

Reviewed: April/May 2010

Dave Gurney is a retired NYPD detective who has gained legendary status by catching serial killers. He is contacted by an old college friend from 20 years before, who has been receiving unnerving and possibly threatening poems (he’s not sure) from someone who claims to be able to read his mind. The friend is murdered in a bizarre fashion after Gurney goes to see him, followed by a couple of other widely separated murders connected by similar poems and weird scenarios. This is a challenge Gurney can’t let go, and he is driven to try to figure out other connections, as well as how the killer is able to make predictions about what his victims are thinking. Of course, he also wants to try to predict who will be next on the killer’s list. This is the author’s first book, and he has excelled himself by writing a complex novel with the obligatory twists and turns. He is an ex advertising executive, and his understanding of psychology shows. He applies his knowledge throughout the book, and takes the reader into the mind of the investigator. In this respect I found the book fascinating. It is a book you will want to read more than once. It also makes me think that perhaps I have overrated other books I have given 5 stars to in the past. You can add John Verdon’s name to your list, as I am sure he will in future come up with plenty more excellent stuff. Highly recommended.