The year is 1999 and the place is San Francisco. For more than 8 years a serial killer known as Hellhound has terrified the young, innocent girls living in the city, leaving many dead in his path of violence. Each death has been more terrifying in its complexity and planning than the one before. Homicide Inspector Pierre LaCroix and his partner Nate Hutchinson have led the Hellhound investigation. Countless hours spent and yet they have never been able to gain on the clever killer. Finally a break….maybe. The latest victim has been left alive. As Pierre and Nate are quick to react, private attorney Harry Maxwell is unwittingly drawn into the pursuit. A fast paced chase consumes San Francisco as they pursue Hellhound to the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marina, Treasure Island, and even the Hall of Justice. And then complications arise. Hangman drawings are delivered to the pursuers, and it is clear. They must find Hellhound before the drawings are complete. Or someone they love will die.
Ok..I admit the author was my son's Godfather and I read the early drafts and got all excited with Brian's enthusiasm, so maybe that experience slightly raises my star from 4.5 to 5...but this is a rock solid hard-boiled detective story written by an experienced trial attorney. The twists and turns were definitely crafted with precision. The first chapter is hard to read; violence rules. The character development and exposition, though, makes it truly worthwhile to just suck it up and plow on (if you happen to not like violence in books; I actually do read this genre). It is easy to download and worth the effort.