Criss Cross
Evie Rhodes
Dafina, Feb 2006, $14.00
ISBN: 0758208723

Thirtyish Newark Homicide Detective Micah Jordan-Wells is considered the best at catching killers due to his ability to understand how they think. His latest triumph is the stopping of David Edward Stokes, better known as the serial killer Silky, who terrorized the females of the city. However, not long afterward, as Micah gains celebrity status thanks to local TV news and the Newark Star-Ledger, someone begins killing little boys using the same MO that Silky used to kill women.

Micah, his partner Nugent "Nuggie" Lewis and their superior John "Wolfgang" Morrison work on the case. However, the evidence strongly points to Micah, leaving his teammates to wonder if he got into one sociopath's head too many. The beleaguered bewildered cop will soon learn why he is so good at tracking down killers, and why he hesitates to propose to Raven, who he loves, even while those who once trusted him wonder if he has lost it.

CRISS CROSS is a superb police procedural that uses paranormal elements to enhance a terrific whodunit. The action-packed storyline focuses on a hero under siege from forces he does not comprehend, as not only is someone inside his head setting him up, but his friends and his beloved Raven begin to worry that he has gone over the edge. Evie Rhodes provides a strong thriller with just the right amount of the mystical to turn her novel into a strong unique thriller.