Marie Ferrarella Sundays Are for Murder

Sundays Are for Murder

Marie Ferrarella

Signature Spotlight, Jan 2006, $5.99

ISBN: 0373836872

Stacy Pembroke becomes the twelfth victim of Santa Ana's Sunday Killer, whose murders have baffled the local cops and the FBI. The M.O. of this serial killer especially hits home to FBI Agent Charlotte "Charley" Dow as the murders are identical to the killing of her sister.

New agent Nicholas Brannigan is assigned to team up with Charley. However, her reluctance to see the corpse surprises him until he learns about her sister. As they work together they seek information on Stacy; that leads the Feds to her married lover Robert Pullman. He had opportunity and perhaps a motive since she broke off with him, but how does he fit in with the other eleven dead. As the two Feds along with another team struggle to stop a serial killer, they begin to fall in love. First however, they must end the reign of terror of a psychopathic predator before they can explore their feelings in depth.

Though one would believe that Charley would be taken off the case for obvious reasons, readers will still appreciate this strong romantic police procedural. The five member task force especially the lead duet seems genuine as their feelings come across with how they handle the investigation. The case is cleverly pursued above all else including the growing attraction between Charley and Nicholas, which in turn adds to the realism. Though serial killers have become a too often used staple, SUNDAYS ARE FOR MURDER is a fine thriller with the romance enhancing the law enforcement efforts to apprehend an infamously successful serial killer.

Harriet Klausner