Robert Ellis, City of Fire

City of Fire

Robert Ellis

St. Martin's, Jun 2007, $24.95

ISBN: 0312366132

LAPD Robbery-Homicide Division rookie detective Lena Gamble and her senior partner Hank Novak, are assigned to investigate the brutal rape and murder of Nikki Brant. Due to musical and handwriting notes left at the scene that reminds her of the horrific gangland style murder of her brother David Gamble, Lena quickly realizes that the victim is not random but instead another depressing statistic of a serial killer apparently with a motive not yet known to the cops.

While most of the first responders, including much of LAPD, prepare for the Santa Ana winds bringing an inferno towards the city, Lena and Hank begin to piece together the clues of a serial killer who methodically is executing those he believes hurt him and made his life wretched; he seeks revenge. Lena realizes her initial reaction to the Brant crime scene begins to look valid as her sibling executed in Hollywood five years ago may have been the opening salvo of a killer seeking vengeance.

This is an exciting, police-procedural, serial-killer thriller that brings alive the underbelly of Los Angeles as Lena and Hank investigate the murders that soon have a personal ring to them. The storyline is action-packed, gripping the audience from the opening call from Hank to Lena to meet him at a crime scene and never slowing down until the final confrontation. Fans of serial killer investigations will want to join the two LAPD detectives as they search for a deadly executioner bringing a personalized brand of justice to those he believes destroyed his existence.

Harriet Klausner