Publisher: Bookouture | Publication date: 2nd June 2016
Resilient DCI Erika Foster returns from her EPIC ordeal in The Girl in the Ice to tackle the elusive serial killer journalists have branded The Night Stalker. It’s the name they have conjured up to sensationalise the nature of this criminal’s grim method of dispatching people.
The Night Stalker is targeting people who meet certain criteria, in other words our Stalker has taken their actions very personally. As a result they have successfully discovered a callous way of disposing of their chosen victims under the cover of darkness, armed only with a plastic bag (and the encouragement of an anonymous chat room ‘friend’).
The brief, yet insightful, chats between Night Owl and Duke tell of the suffering both of them have endured during their lives, as they share a bond where they can unburden themselves but retain the protection of online anonymity.
Dealing with a killer who is convinced they have a perfectly legitimate reason to take another person’s life and who leaves no major clues to their identity, the case won’t be a walk in the park – but if it that was the case we wouldn’t be sitting on the edge of our seats, would we?! And so Erika once again battles with her superiors concerning her opposing ideas surrounding the her ideas of a suspect, the inner politics of the of the force and her personal methods, all of which grate on those higher in the ranks and regularly see her in the firing line, not ideal when a promotion dares to raise its tempting head.
Erika’s approach means she’ll find herself in hot water, allowing the emotion of the two year anniversary of her husband’s death to be explored further when she is officially taking a ‘holiday’. This unbearable time sees Erika receiving unwelcome contact from the killer. Let’s be honest that’s a tad freaky and our DCI knows she has to do something, even if her boss doesn’t always endorse her actions.
Whilst this was nothing short of gripping, I found the explosive grit of The Girl in the Ice was replaced by more intense character psychology in The Night Stalker. Everyone’s little nuances came alive in this investigation, as they were written with depth and controlled with the perfect timing. Moments when killer’s frustration peaked as their ‘acts of kindness’ produced a different result to the one they had imagined were gruelling, for both the killer and the poor person on the receiving end. If a writer can play with your mind to make you feel a warped kind-of sorry for a serial killer (AND their cheerleader in places) then they’re obviously doing their job right!
The Night Stalker offers such an intriguing invitation it would simply be rude not to read it. Yes, people expire in an unpleasant manner and there are aftershocks from multiple diverse issues. No, it’s not always a comfortable ride, but the combination of mountainous tension and a thoroughly ‘human’ element creates a terrific crime thriller in every conceivable way.
Rating: 5/5
P.S. There’s enough background info cleverly incorporated so that this can be read as a standalone, should you wish.
(My thanks to Bookouture for the digital copy of this title, via NetGalley.)
(Courtesy of Amazon UK)
If the Night Stalker is watching, you’re already dead…
In the dead of a swelteringly hot summer’s night, Detective Erika Foster is called to a murder scene. The victim, a doctor, is found suffocated in bed. His wrists are bound and his eyes bulging through a clear plastic bag tied tight over his head.
A few days later, another victim is found dead, in exactly the same circumstances. As Erika and her team start digging deeper, they discover a calculated serial killer – stalking their victims before choosing the right moment to strike.
The victims are all single men, with very private lives. Why are their pasts shrouded in secrecy? And what links them to the killer?
As a heat wave descends upon London, Erika will do everything to stop the Night Stalker before the body count rises, even if it means risking her job. But the victims might not be the only ones being watched… Erika’s own life could be on the line.
The global bestselling author of The Girl in the Ice is back with a heart-racing, electrifying thriller. If you love Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Peter James, you’ll be hooked on Robert Bryndza.
Watch out for more from DCI Erika Foster.
She’s fearless. Respected. Unstoppable. Detective Erika Foster will catch a killer, whatever it takes.
Originally from the UK, Rob lives in Slovakia with his Slovak husband and their two crazy dogs. He originally trained as an actor, but was bitten by the writing bug in his mid-twenties and hasn’t looked back.
His debut novel, The Not So Secret Emails of Coco Pinchard became an Amazon bestseller, and has grown to a best selling series of five books.
In addition to his recent number one romantic comedy Miss Wrong and Mr Right, Rob is excited to embrace the darker side of life, and has signed a three-book deal with Bookouture to write a crime thriller series, featuring Detective Erika Foster:
THE DETECTIVE ERIKA FOSTER SERIES…
CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR:
Little Bookness Lane 
I LOVED the girl in the ice and can’t wait to read this one – it’s on my TBR list so I’m really glad you thought it was great! 😀
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You’re in for a treat! I look forward to hearing what you think. 🙂
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