Erica Spindler Copycat

Copycat

Erica Spindler

Mira, Jun 2006, $21.95

ISBN: 0778323129

In 2001 in Rockford, Illinois, the Sleeping Angel Killer (SAK) murders three preadolescent girls in their bedrooms while their parents were nearby. He left his smothered innocent victims looking as if they were peacefully asleep. Rockford Police Department Violent Crimes Bureau Detectives Kitt Lundgren and Brian Spillare head the investigation. At the same time Kitt's ten year old daughter Sadie dies from leukemia, which drives the cop to drink and costs her an opportunity to catch SAK.

Five years later, SAK who was silent since Kitt failed, apparently has returned as another young girl Julie Entzel is smothered in her bedroom. Heading the investigation is ambitious Detective Mary Catherine "M.C." Riggio; she does not want the loser Kitt on the case. Kitt, who has not touched a drink in eighteen months in spite of a divorce, notices that the hands of the victim is different than the case she worked on; this leads to the cops wondering if a possible COPYCAT killer exists. Not long after the media announces the return of the Sleeping Angel Killer, SAK calls Kitt to insist that she take charge of the inquiry into what he claims is a careless copy cat killer or else he too will return to murdering the innocent.

The key to this tense serial killer thriller that makes for a fresh entry is the dysfunctional relationship between the two female detectives. The story line is action-packed from start to finish yet readers see deep inside Kitt and M.C. to see what motivates each of them. The final twist will stun the appreciative audience as Erica Spindler spins a fabulous suspense tale.

Harriet Klausner