Jonathan Santlofer, Anatomy of Fear

Anatomy of Fear

Jonathan Santlofer

Morrow, Apr 2007, $24.95

ISBN: 0060881976

NYPD sketch artist Nate Rodriguez is considered by the department as one of the best at capturing the essence of a suspect. Some say he has psychic skills that enable him to enter the mind of a victim or witness that facilitates his drawing beyond what is often poorly described. Nate has always seen the world in pictures rather than in words.

A killer claiming to do God's cleansing leaves drawings at the scenes of the crime. NYPD Homicide Detective Terri Russo asks for Nate to join her on the investigation because the pictures eerily remind her of the police artist's skills. Upon seeing the graphic evidence of gruesome murders, Nate recognizes a kindred sprit though it is the other side of the coin. Nate turns to his Santera grandmother for guidance even as the adversary ups the murder count and the clues begin to point to a police artist with the grim sketches left behind reminiscent of Nate's work.

The sketches alongside the text make this an astonishingly unique police procedural tale that grips readers from the first picture to the last. The storyline is action-packed as the investigation comes across via the vivid pictures as much as by the text; which in turns means incredible twists and red herrings as the mind's eye can be fooled. Though the egotistical know it all FBI agents targeting Nate for Attica seems unnecessary as having Terri doubt should be enough personal pressure, readers will receive immense pleasure from Jonathan Santlofer's delightful serial killer thriller.

Harriet Klausner