Phillip Carlo Predators & Prayers

Predators & Prayers

Phillip Carlo

Leisure, Aug 2005, $6.99

ISBN: 0843955767

New York Police Department Captain Tony Flynn investigates a serial killer targeting priests, but also uncovers criminal activities by the victims. As he follows up that link, the Catholic Diocese pressures the cops to back off that side of their inquiries even if that is the key connection besides religion between the deceased. The Church wants the killer stopped, but not with a spotlight on them; if he or she remains free to murder a few more priests until caught so be it.

The NYPD brass and the mayor's office heed the Church's desire to back off from anything that makes the priesthood look bad. They press Tony to stop following clues that paint the Church in a nasty light. The Church also uses the media claiming the cops are anti-religious activists hating Catholics. Already with a cloud over him from his past, Tony refuses to back off as he wonders about the Church's attitude until he finds a taint impacting children that have conspiracy, cover up and crime reaching into the top levels of the Catholic hierarchy.

This is an exhilarating police procedural suspense thriller that grips the reader from the moment the Church begins to complain to the media and the politicians that the cops are Catholic bashers who are not interested in capturing a deranged killer. Fans will wonder why they take that position as the conspiracy starts to surface at the same time that the audience will feel the tension of a serial killer psychological thriller. All this comes together though some readers will think perhaps Phillip Carlo went too far with the conspiracy, but all readers will finish this in one tense sitting to learn the several whys behind the realistic cast.

Harriet Klausner