Shane Gericke, Cut to the Bone

Cut to the Bone

Shane Gericke

Pinnacle, June 2007, $6.99, 400 pp.

ISBN 0786018143

In Naperville Illinois, detective commander in the sheriff's office Martin Benedetti and local police detective Emily Thompson brought down a serial killer. In a very short time, Corey Trent was convicted of killing a woman, tearing her unborn from her uterus and killing it too. He is scheduled to die in the electric chair. On site will be Governor Wayne Covington who in the 1960's on the day the Supreme Court struck down the death penalty was at the execution of the man who killed his beloved younger brother, innocent bystanders and some men in blue. He intends to be there for Corey's execution as well.

The police are busy with a series of killings, one of which took place in Naperville. Marty and Emily investigate the homicide, including extracting information from the national crime database; at least nine others come up with the same modus operendi. Also the victims were the grandchildren of Naperville residents. As the killer makes his way back to Naperville and the execution, Martin and Emily race the clock to prevent another murder and see justice done.

Serial killer thrillers are glutting the market but CUT TO THE BONE is no ordinary work. It is as much a police procedural as it is a thriller and there are two shocking twists when taken in total context make perfect sense. The one thing is for sure is that fans won't get bored while reading this novel with its non-stop action, red herrings and romance between Marty and Emily. Their relationship feels genuine, takes up a significant part of the book and brings a little needed light in the dark world that the knights in blue explore.

Harriet Klausner