The Rainy Day Killer

Donaghue and Stainer Crime Novel #4

by Michael J. McCann

A man in a business suit offers the protection of his umbrella to an unsuspecting woman ... and several days later she turns up dead on a river bank, raped and strangled. The terrifying serial killer known in the press as the Rainy Day Killer is now hunting new victims in the city of Glendale ... whenever it rains.

Homicide Lieutenant Hank Donaghue leads the investigation as the killer begins to communicate directly to him through phone calls and grisly packages containing body parts of his victims. Assisted by FBI profiler Ed Griffin, Donaghue and Detective Karen Stainer pursue an elusive predator who leaves no physical evidence behind.

The timing couldn't be worse, however, as Karen Stainer's attention is divided between the investigation and preparations for her upcoming wedding. Distracted and uncertain about her future, Stainer is furious when she learns that the Rainy Day Killer has followed her to Virginia, where the wedding will take place, and that he intends to make her his next victim!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Thriller, Serial Killer

290 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 2011

About the author

Michael J. McCann is the author of SORROW LAKE, a March and Walker Crime Novel set in Canada. This novel was a finalist for the 2015 international Hammett Prize for best literary work in a crime novel by a Canadian or US author. He has subsequently published four more books in this series: BURN COUNTRY, PERSISTENT GUILT, NO SADNESS OF FAREWELL, and A DEATH IN WINTER (October 2020).

THE LONG ROAD INTO DARKNESS is the first book in a new series by Michael J. McCann also set in Canada and featuring retired police detective Tom Faust.

He has also written four novels in the Donaghue and Stainer Crime Novel series set in the U.S., including BLOOD PASSAGE, MARCIE'S MURDER, THE FREGOLI DELUSION, and THE RAINY DAY KILLER.

In addition, he has published a supernatural thriller entitled THE GHOST MAN.

He has also published a subsequent supernatural thriller, TWILIGHT ROAD: A MADDIE HUBBARD NOVEL OF SUPERNATURAL SUSPENSE, and a science fiction thriller, PROJECT CHANGELING: A SERENA KEILOR NOVEL.

His books are available in e-book and paperback format at https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=Michael+J+M....

Reviews

[Brown Girl Reading · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't often pick up thrillers/detective novels because they don't really move me, but occasionally for a bit of fast pace I do. The Rainy Day Killer is the fourth installment in the Donaghue and Stainer crime series. I'm not sure if that's the problem with getting into the story, but for me I think it was. The characters were just too one-dimensional and typical for me. Donaghue was reflective and quiet and Stainer was a bit of a feisty hot-headed woman. In this book we don't learn that much about them, so I'm assuming the readers will learn more about them if they began reading with book one.

The story contained its quantity of descriptive gore and a serial killer with lots of issues that we never get explanations for. Lots of clues and near miss searches are given that don't help the reader solve the crime but I figured out who it was before he showed his face. This was not a true who dunnit. I would have liked to know more about the serial killer and maybe had some perspective from his point of view.

The Rainy Day Killer really read like any CSI show on American television. The descriptions, settings and situations are similar to those shows. I was hoping for a more complex thriller but that wasn't the case. There wasn't all bad guys. It was obvious that McCann had thoroughly researched to be able to write the book and that was refreshing. Even the cop language was spot on. At no point did I think things weren't true to life. On the contrary, they were very real, down to the detailed descriptions of certain aspects like using stun guns for example. Nevertheless, I gave the Rainy Day Killer 2 stars since It wasn't for me (too predictable), but if you enjoy thrillers you just might like it.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Michael J McCann continues to deliver the same well-written and well-paced mystery in this next installment of The Donaghue and Stainer series. It’s a pleasure to read a story that includes realistic settings and characters, and a plot that keeps you in suspense from start to finish.

The theme of The Rainy Day Killer takes on a personal note when an elusive serial killer targets Lieutenant Donaghue’s sidekick, Sergeant Karen Stainer, as his next victim. What could be worse than having a vicious murderer stalking you while your attention is focused on wedding day preparations? Detective Stainer and her wedding entourage are forewarned, but will they be able to thwart the conniving ways of an unknown predator?

It’s obvious McCann has done his homework. The interaction between Detective Donaghue and his colleagues is informative and convincing. We’re given detailed insight into the procedural and political bantering that can occur during discussions among various levels of law enforcement working the same case. We’re also made privy to the twisted mind of a serial killer through the findings of FBI profiler, Ed Griffin, who plays a supportive but noteworthy role in the investigation. Of course, Detective Stainer’s blunt comments continue to add vigor to any conversation—more so as the threat of a personal attack looms.

If you haven’t yet read McCann’s work, you’re in for a special treat. Don’t take my word for it—buy the book and see for yourself.

[Deborah (debbishdotcom) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I seem to be reading a lot of crime novels lately which are part of a series. It can occasionally be problematic* if you're not familiar with the author and their previous work, although sometimes it just doesn't matter.

The Rainy Day Killer is the fourth in Michael J McCann's crime series featuring homicide Lieutenant Hank Donaghue and Detective Karen Stainer and – McCann took care to provide sufficient backstory so that newcomers needn't worry about not having read the three previous novels in the series. (Which unfortunately also means that a lot of spoilers were provided… making me less-inclined to read the earlier novels!)

A posed and mutilated corpse is found on a riverbank in Glendale and it soon becomes obvious that the body is the latest in a long line of victims of a serial perpetrator known by the FBI and other jurisdictions as the Rainy Day Killer (for obvious reasons!).

RDK has a habit of taunting the police and Donaghue and his team find themselves in a bizarre 'game' with a killer who seems to know as much about profiling as the FBI experts on hand. Things get personal when RDK starts targetting Detective Stainer and a fellow police officer and – as the wet weather returns - everyone is working to a deadline.

Unfamiliar with the key players and supporting cast I found myself a little confused initially with so many characters in the mix. I suspect those familiar with the novels would have immediately recognised the names and roles, but I found myself constantly checking back to remind myself of who was who.

I enjoyed the plot of The Rainy Day Killer – though the end was slightly anticlimactic. However, I have to admit I mostly struggled with the writing itself. I'm not sure if McCann's previous novels are similar but parts of the novel were excessively wordy with useless information.

When describing contents atop a victim's desk:
"Attached to the stand was a round pop screen, which vocalists use to filter out the popping sounds that can occur when singing words beginning with a 'p' or 'b'…"

I'd bookmarked that page, WTF? along with paragraphs like:
"The other desks were vacant because currently there were no other detectives in Homicide to sit at them."

I know I probably sound petty but I was – quite frankly – bewildered at prose which seemed immature and overly obvious at times. Indeed, I struggled so much with the first couple of chapters I almost shelved the book completely.

The Rainy Day Killer is to be released on 1 October 2013 by The Plaid Raccoon Press – an independent micro-publisher created in 2011 to publish the novels of McCann.

* http://www.debbish.com/books-literatu...

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rainy Day Killer (The Donaghue and Stainer Crime Novel Series) is the second book in the series by Michael J McCann and for me was an excellent introduction to the series. Based around Lieutenant Hank Donaghue and Detective Karen Stainer of the Homicide Division of the City of Glendale’s Police Department.

The story opens with Hank Donaghue being called out to a body under a bridge on a very rainy day, what they find is a mutilated but very clean dead woman. When he gets there his team are in place the sweary Texan detective Karen Stainer is all ready at the scene and not happy.
With wondering whether was the killer’s first kill or had he been round the block before the team start to get their answers. Especially when a box is delivered to Hank returning items that belonged to the dead woman Theresa Olsen. He is advised to contact Ed Griffin at the FBI’s BAU at Quantico for advice and any assistance.

Ed Griffin confirms that this is not his first kill but the start of more in Glendale, and that all they know about him other than he offers the cover of an umbrella on a rainy day usually to a blonde female who several days later would reappear murdered and mutilated. At the same time somehow The Rainy Day Killer manages to stay one step ahead of the Police always able to see what they are doing and likes to call the shots.

The Rainy Day Killer likes to taunt the Police especially Detective Karen Stainer who wants to just shoot him in his crown jewels before putting two in the forehead. At the same time Karen Stainer is getting married and is under pressure from her future mother-in-law to sort some of the final details for the wedding. It is during a fitting for her wedding dress that the killer gets in touch directly with her, which drives her mad and more determined.

Does Hank and Karen finally get their man? Well I would say read the book to find out as it would need a spoiler alert if I covered the final quarter of the book. I will just say that it is very enjoyable.
This book lays out a lot of the police procedure and the various inter departmental politics plus the suspicion of the FBI involved in any case. This is a fast paced well written crime thriller with a plot that has been well researched and well written. Whether you think it is believable that is down to the individual reader. I would highly recommend reading this novel, as it highly enjoyable.

[Edmond Gagnon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
I was loaned this book by someone who had received an autographed copy by the author, Michael J. McCann. The cover and content look professional, but I had never heard of McCann. No big deal there - most readers have not heard of me either.
The book is about homicide detectives and a serial killer so I had to give it a spin. Having been a police detective in my past life, I liked and associated with the characters from the start. A couple of them seemed over the top or too typical, but I have met those types in real life.
The story unfolds at a good pace and easily held my interest. The author went to great lengths to highlight the killers idiosyncrasies, so I was disappointed when he didn't divulge their origin. Having said that, personally, I don't believe readers should find all the answers. That is how it is in real life.
I originally rated this book four stars, and only knocked it down a notch because I think it could have been done that much better.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well done police procedural. Part of a series I’ll be pursuing.
And the author lives in my town, so nice to know.

[Theresa Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A man in a business suit offers the protection of his umbrella to an unsuspecting woman ... and several days later she turns up dead on a river bank, raped and strangled. The terrifying serial killer known in the press as the Rainy Day Killer is now hunting new victims in the city of Glendale ... whenever it rains.

Homicide Lieutenant Hank Donaghue leads the investigation as the killer begins to communicate directly to him through phone calls and grisly packages containing body parts of his victims. Assisted by FBI profiler Ed Griffin, Donaghue and Detective Karen Stainer pursue an elusive predator who leaves no physical evidence behind.

The timing couldn't be worse, however, as Karen Stainer's attention is divided between the investigation and preparations for her upcoming wedding. Distracted and uncertain about her future, Stainer is furious when she learns that the Rainy Day Killer has followed her to Virginia, where the wedding will take place, and that he intends to make her his next victim!

I love a good mystery/crime novel. I love reading the characters as they work their case. Michael McCann does a great job here with lots of knowledge of how cases are worked from start to finish, even acknowledging that some cases remain open long term and sometimes they're put on a back burner so active cases can be solved before going back to a pursuit that requires the finding of more leads, etc. The author also shows us how politics works throughout a case, he shows how organizations battle over jurisdictions and how uncooperative jurisdictions can be to each other. It is all extremely real.

I enjoyed Lt. Donaghue and Detective Stainer. Their characters work enormously well together, complementing each other's strengths and weaknesses. These two have each other's backs in all things. FBI profiler Ed Griffin was also a great addition to the team. He puts away the psychobabble and profiles from the perspective of law enforcement. I loved the pacing of the story. The clues came as a result of tracking down leads and good police work. I liked that both main characters are hero and heroine. Detective Stainer is tough and she's good at her job. Lt. Donaghue respects his partner and her abilities. The fact that Detective Stainer is marrying an FBI agent and he is assigned to assist in the case bridges a lot of possible gaps in communications between the GPD and the FBI, making the processing of evidence a bit better.

The whole relationship initiated by the Rainy Day Killer with Lt. Donaghue is brilliantly done. The RDK did the same in all of the previous states he's killed in and he seems to "like" Hank the best. I think the RDK's relationship with Hank does eventually cause him to slip up. He has to show off for Hank and let him know how crafty and smart he thinks he is. He's so arrogant, he even tells Hank when he decides his next kill will be Detective Stainer.

I usually use this part of my review to talk about what I didn't like about the book or how the book can be improved in some way. As nobody's perfect, I think the book is so well written, I have no real criticism of anything. I will use this part to note that the ePub file was "off." The number of pages left in a chapter was never right, the Table of Contents listed pages instead of chapters and the formatting throughout showed many half-filled pages. I think it's the file itself as none of my other ePub books in the app don't have this issue. It did not make reading difficult. Just a little note.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My honest review overall is that the book is excellent. I see it's part of a series. I'd like to read the three books that come before this one.

[Dianne Ascroft · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the crime novels that I’ve read recently were cosy mysteries. This thriller is a change for me: it’s much darker. The gripping plot never loses its tension and it picked up pace as it neared the climax. I got engrossed in the story and found myself anxious to get back to the book whenever I had to put it down; I had to know what happened next.
The story centres on the hunt for a killer and the law enforcement officers involved in it. The reader doesn’t ‘meet’ the killer until near the end of the book. He tantalises the reader and the police with clues that I couldn’t put together to guess who he might be until the final pages of the book. Even then I didn’t know exactly how he had got access to his last intended victim until the summary in the final scene. It didn’t bother me though as I became so engrossed in the chase and the characters’ lives that I was willing to watch events unfold without second guessing the outcome. I also enjoyed the subplot about the power games within the police department as they endeavoured to appoint a new captain for the homicide department.

There are some graphic descriptions of violent acts such as mutilation of corpses in the book which is to be expected in this genre. I was impressed that the author gave enough detail to create fear and tension in the reader but did not overdo it for the sake of sensationalism or voyeurism.

As I’ve said, this story is about the hunt for a killer and the people involved in it. I found the interaction and sometimes tension between the characters as interesting as the actual case. The main characters, Lieutenant Hank Donaghue and detective Karen Stainer, each have distinct personalities. Donaghue is a somewhat traditional level headed cop who focusses on the job and isn’t interested in the organisational politics around him and Karen Stainer is a gutsy, singleminded cop who lives for her job. At times I found her fervour too extreme to be believable but I did love the scene where she runs out of a shop in her bra to chase the suspect.

I liked the fact that the law enforcement officers weren’t all stereotypical rednecks. Many of them had a tolerance for alternative lifestyles. Whether this is true to life or not I have no idea but I thought it made the characters more interesting because they weren’t completely what I expected.

Although the killer’s victims had minor roles in the story I liked the way the author brought them to life. The police interviews with their friends and families made them real, not just part of the body count. This was especially true of the musician abducted at the shopping mall. When the detectives search her apartment they see a picture of a marginalised person with no prospects but a different picture emerges of a talented, sensitive musician striving to succeed as Donaghue talks to her friend and fellow busker. During this conversation the author skilfully makes the reader care about the victim.

The story is set mostly in Glendale, Washington, DC but it could have been any city. It was only a backdrop to the action. I was more interested in a couple of the other settings. Although there is only a passing reference to Quantico I enjoyed the fleeting glimpse of it as it’s a place I’ve heard of but knew nothing about. I also enjoyed the atmosphere at the Texan barbecue wedding reception in Virginia.

I found The Rainy Day Killer a gripping read from beginning to end. I liked the characters and was grabbed by the plot. I will happily read other books in this series as I think the characters are worth re-visiting and I can wholeheartedly recommend this book.

[L.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted first on Blog Critict as Book Review:'The Rainy Day Killer' by Michael J. McCann.

When a common courtesy sets the stage for a deadly menace, trust becomes a fleeting passage of feeling that makes your skin crawl. Who do you trust, or must you look at every gallantry as a snare.

In The Rainy Day Killer by Michael J. McCann, when Homicide Lieutenant Hank Donaghue is assigned the most recent homicide, he teams up with Detective Karen Stainer and FBI profiler Ed Griffin to find and stop this menace before he kills again. The rain seems to be what draws the killer, and he makes his choices accordingly.

For Karen Stainer, this is the worst time to be trying to find a killer. She is in the preparations for her wedding and tries to keep the distractions at a minimum. For her though that is difficult. Nothing about weddings belong in her comfort zone. The eye of the killer seems to zero in on her as a possible victim, yet she has no worries. He has no idea of what she is capable of. Can she stave off the killer and hold her fiancé’s family at bay at the same time?

With an intriguing crime fighting duo that mix well, the procedural nightmares keep you guessing. Trying to keep the politics of the office from intruding on their case, and second guessing a psychopath from moving forward with another kill, they are racing against the clock to second guess his plans. McCann does a great job of taking you into the heart of the procedural nightmares that occur within precincts when people are trying to make a name for themselves. Sometimes just the slightest mistake can create a backlash that affects all in its path. The tension is tight and seamless.

Both Karen Stainer and Hank Donaghue are interesting and exciting characters. Hank is methodical and thinks things through, while Karen is bold and ballsy. They play off each other quite well, even with the event of the wedding throwing them off kilter.

If you enjoy mystery and thrillers, you will enjoy this work. If you are looking for a great crime team, than you have come to the right place. The interaction and the lead up to the finding of a killer keep you on the edge of your seat. The red herrings that litter the place keep you guessing up to the end.

This would be a great find for a reading group and a strong addition to your crime library. McCann scores well on this work. I look forward to following his crime duo in future stories.

[Tammy-&-Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the early morning hours of April 24, a naked body of a young woman is found during a rain storm in Glendale. She has been sexually assaulted, mutilated, and posed. As the evidence washes away Homicide Lieutenant Hank Donaghue and Detective Karen Stainer begin trying to unravel the mystery of the killer. Karin is weeks away from marrying her fiancé, FBI Field Agent, Sandy Alexander. During a joint lunch with Sandy and Hank a connection is made between their case and that of the Rainy Day Killer. The Rainy Day Killer is a well-dressed man who carries an umbrella. He has a skill for going unnoticed and seeming trustworthy. So trustworthy in fact that he is able to walk right up to the doors and get women to willingly get in his car. As the case escalates and FBI profiler Ed Griffin comes in to assist , we find just how gruesome he is. When he targets one of the officers, everything escalates.

This book is packed with information and details! It is a fast paced novel with well defined characters however there were so many names we had to start a list. This is the 4th novel in the series so if you’ve read the first books this may not be an issue. We have not read the first 3 books so we were wondering why there was such attention to what seemed to be irrelevant detail. Hopefully these were loose ends being tied up from previous books, or tie-ins to future novels. During the case, changes are happening within the department and we see the inter office turmoil that goes on and how it impacts the case. It also showed how overburden and understaffed they are even though they are expected to produce the same results. All in all, this book is an exciting read with something unexpected around every corner. It will keep you guessing RDK’s identity until the end.

*Disclaimer* A special thanks goes out to Nicole at Tribute Books and Michael J. McCann for a review copy of this book. It in no way influenced our review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A killer with a superiority complex scouts his victims, then waits for a rainy day and approaches in a suit and carrying an umbrella. His victims go with him willingly. When this killer arrives in Glendale, Hank Donaghue and Karen Stainer catch the case.

The characters are all well done, both the two protagonists and the minor characters. The writing and characterization drew me in at once. Although the murders are grisly, the characters carry the show. Hank Donaghue, with several degrees before entering law enforcement, and Karen Stainer, hot-headed, aggressive, and extremely capable, show the crime scene photos to Karen's fiance, an FBI agent.

When Sandy Alexander sees the photos, he realizes that the Rainy Day Killer has now arrived in Glendale. FBI profiler Ed Griffin has been following the RDK and is called in to assist; he predicts that the killer will make direct contact with Hank, the lead investigator.

In the midst of this investigation, Karen and Sandy are putting the finishing touches on their wedding plans and an annoying Lt. Helen Cassion has moved in as acting captain. Cassion is abrasive, opinionated, and inexperienced; she is determined to make everyone uncomfortable and add difficulties.

Two members of the Glendale PD fit the description of the RDK's preferred victims, and one of them is Karen Stainer.

OK--in spite of the grisly serial killer paradigm, this is an excellent crime novel with compelling characters. After reading this NetGalley ARC, I immediately ordered the first in the Donaghue and Stainer series, Blood Passage, and have interrupted my TBR que to begin reading it.

NetGalley/The Plaid Raccoon Press

Police Procedural/Crime. Oct. 1, 2013. Print Version: 304 pages.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Rainy Day Killer is the fourth in Michael J. McCann’s Donaghue and Stainer Crime Novel series: dark American police procedurals featuring Homicide Lieutenant Hank Donaghue and Detective Karen Stainer of the fictional Glendale Police Department in Maryland. In this book they are pitted against a cunning and horrifying serial killer who is moving across the US, taunting the police and abducting, raping, mutilating and murdering women, specifically on rainy days. When it realises the full extent of what - or who - it is dealing with, the Glendale PD calls in the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, one member of which happens to be Detective Stainer’s fiancé. As the wedding day approaches, the Rainy Day Killer starts to take a worryingly keen interest in the bride to be.

Although I had not read any of Michael J. McCann’s earlier Donaghue and Stainer novels, that did not affect my understanding or enjoyment of this book. The central story is self-contained and well-written and the characters are clearly drawn, realistic and believable. McCann’s writing is very strong and his plot is tight enough to keep you turning the pages; I cared about what happened to the characters. The Rainy Day Killer commits some particularly nasty and unpleasant crimes and you might be glad of a strong stomach at some points. At times, I was reminded of Patricia Cornwell’s early Kay Scarpetta novels. Although the story has a fairly swift conclusion, which left me with one or two questions, that does not take away from a very enjoyable and thrilling novel. I will definitely be reading the preceding books. Reviewed by Julia for Readers' Favorite.

[Kathleen Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr.McCann has done it again with his new book, Rainy Day Killer, a Donaghue and Stainer Crime Novel. Another killer is on the loose in the Chesapeake area. He is torturing, sexually assaulting and murdering young women and sending cut off breasts and other body parts to the Detective in charge of the investigations. He is a serial killer who enjoys showing off his work via videos, oh yes, he kills when it rains, taking women right from their front door steps, off the street etc. He is very well dressed and carries an umbrella who looks like any average guy,a very narcissistic man who thoroughly enjoys keeping the detectives guessing when he will strike next.

Detective Karen Stainer is preparing for her wedding to Sandy Alexander, an FBI agent. It appears that the killer has chosen his next victim and Karen may just be his next target, at her own wedding no less. This is a great continuation of the series, a well thought out and true to life police procedural. I love the characters, especially Karen, who is just one of the guys, nothing girly about her. When she puts on that wedding gown, then she is transformed, but still ready for the bad guy with a gun strapped under her gown. Each book I read by Michael just gets better. I totally enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next in the series, assuming of course that there will be one.

[Star · Rating 3 out of 5]

A serial killer who has killed women across the country and spends time taunting the authorities has come to Glendale, Maryland. Lt. Hank Donaghue is the lead investigator and the Rainy Day Killer begins a conversation with him by delivering a package with the newest victim’s body parts. Along with the FBI, Donaghue and Det. Karen Stainer race to find the killer before the body count in their fair city gets any higher. Meanwhile, there is a new pro tem captain who is only worried about everyone making her look good and Stainer is trying to plan her wedding. Will Donaghue and Stainer be able to take down the Rainy Day Killer quickly?

THE RAINY DAY KILLER is a very thoroughly researched novel, in both police procedure and the psychology/behavior of serial killers. I enjoyed the chase, the cat-and-mouse game RDK played with Donaghue. The events leading up to the ending seemed a bit out of character for the killer. Yet, perhaps it was way to showcase how good Donaghue and Stainer truly are as detectives and as a team. Overall, I really did like THE RAINY DAY KILLER and I think I’d enjoy the previous novels in this series.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. The storyline is great, characters are realistic and well done, well-written suspense from start to finish. A narcissistic killer, dubbed The Rainy Day Killer because he kills when it rains, is abducting, torturing and killing young women and has taken up residence in Glendale. Homicide Lieutenant Hank Donaghue leads a team trying to find and arrest him. In addition to his team, he is assisted by FBI profiler Ed Griffin and the fiancé of team members Detective Karen Stainer. Lieutenant Donaghue and his team follow the killer from one gruesome abduction and murder to the next, until the killer finally follows Detective Stainer to her wedding, hoping to commit the final coup, killing her on that day. I was immediately pulled into this book from the very first page. As I said, the plot/story line of this novel is well done and exciting, as the author takes the reader through twists and turns, leading to the ultimate act by the killer. This is a mystery I recommend to every reader of good mysteries. I know it will keep the reader’s attention throughout the whole book. I received this book from Library Thing through NetGalley to read and review.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great non stop action book for any thriller, mystery genre lover. This book was non stop action from the very first page.

I love how the Glendale police officers worked together to solve this case. They didn't even mind as much as I thought they would that the FBI was involved. Usually the locals don't like the Feds coming and taking over after they did all the beginning leg work.

The Rainy Day Killer or RDK is one very twisted individual. His murders are done on rainy days and the victims are left raped and mutilated.

I would of liked to of found out who exactly the RDK was, not just a name. I found myself wanting to know why did what he did. What made him tick? What made him pick the victims he did? Why the towns that he chose? He moved around to a few different states.

This is book 4 of a series for two police officers Donaghue and Stainer. I have not read any of the other books. It's safe to safe they can be read as a stand alone or the series. I will personally be looking for the other 3 books. I give this book the rating of 4 out of 5. That is only because of the questions I had about the RDK.

[Lenore Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off I wish to thank Michael J. McCann for sending me an autographed copy. This is something I greatly treasure and have a shelf for my autographed books. So you know your already on my keeper shelf! Next, Michael how did you know I am such a fan on the psychological thriller? It has been my favorite genre of books for over 30 years. Dear Hubby swears I am studying and is afraid he may be my final exam but that is not true. I just love trying to understand the way the human mind thinks, especially when it is so twisted. Michael you could have let me play around in his mind a little. Instead you kept me going at a break neck speed trying to keep up with him. Not easy to do but thankfully I am not the Detective, Karen is. Of course she has her plate full with her own personal life planning her wedding. This is a page turner that will have you flipping faster than you thought possible. Quick read but one that holds you there still. This is the 4th novel in Michael J. McCann's series from Hank Donaghue and Karen Stainer. Now I want to go and see what happened beforehand.

[JG · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Rainy Day Killer, is a good procedural crime story. As the title suggests, the Glendale Police Department is on the hunt for a serial killer who abducts, rapes and murders young women. Led by Lieutenant Hank Donoghue and Karen Stainer the killer leads them on to a merry cat and mouse chase with a couple of mutilated bodies scattered on the trail. This was one engaging read, not so much as trying to find out who the killer is but more when and how he's going to strike again. The pacing alternates between slow and very fast which keeps the tension just right. There were obvious clues along the way, that on hindsight would make you say " I knew it" but its the action, the character relations and the way the crime is solved that makes this an entertaining story. Although part of a series, The Rainy Day Killer can stand alone, however if you intend the first three books, it would be best to read them first since this one would cast spoilers.

*ARC of this story was provided by the publisher and NetGalley in return for an honest review*

[Chrissy (The Every Free Chance Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I enjoy this book: I really did.

I can make this review really short and simple: Stop what you’re doing and go buy this book.

This story grabs your attention on the first page and doesn’t let go until the end. Mr. McCann skips the stereotypical characters and predictable storyline to create an original and exciting murder mystery.

Being a native of Virginia, where a lot of the action takes place, I found some of his geographical references a bit off. But no one will notice that but me. He is from Canada. And this is fiction. So I guess I can let our author off the hook on that one.

Would I recommend it: Seriously y’all. Stop reading this and go get the book.

Will I read it again: I never read a mystery twice. Once you know the outcome, it’s no fun.

As reviewed by Belinda at Every Free Chance Book Reviews.

(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)

http://everyfreechance.com/2014/01/bl...

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a serial killer who only kills when it rains and when the body shows up there is very little evidence. The killer starts communicating with the lead investigator who is also dealing with a new temporary boss who is wanting to micro manage everything and he still needs to have the investigation run its course. The lead detective is getting married soon and though she is not doing the planning she is still required to show up at different times to make it appear that she is wanting this marriage. The murder is interrupting her soon to be mother in law new plans. There is a lot of things going on in this story and I like that the author made each character different and unique and that there is friction when a new boss comes in, even though it is temporary. You can see who they feel self-conscious because he has a better understanding of the job and the people working for them. The story is fast paced but has some funny moments also. I enjoyed this book a lot. A good read. I got this book from net galley.

[Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings

A serial killer enjoys the wet weather and is able to take his victims in broad daylight and keeps them captive for four days while they endure the most horrific demise, sounds like a great who dun it to me! Set in a town close to where I live, this police force must use everything they have to catch this killer, especially when he decides to target one of their own while she is trying to get married.

My one issue with this book was there were a few parts that were beyond predictable. The two times the killer was very present, were overly obvious to the reader while the police detectives were clueless, I wish they had had a little more inkly earlier on as to when the killer was "seen." Although beyond this point, I loved the whole search for this killer and enjoyed when he contacted the police force; it made the hunt exceptionally interesting.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Someone has been killing women during rain storms. The police’s only witness is an elerly woman that witnessed the abduction. Now every woman in Glendale is on high alert, looking for a man in a suit with an umbrella. Will they catch the serial killer before he kills again? What’s with his fixation with Karen Stainer?

This book puts you on an emotional rollercoaster as you wonder, could it be him? The development of the story was well paced and made this a great page turner. Although this was book 4, it’s very good as a standalone. My only issue with the novel was that I feel that I was left hanging. We do find out who the killer is, but no reason why he started doing it or anything about him. There are loose ends that I felt would have satisfied my curiosity and made this a five star novel.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

In The Rainy Day Killer, a serial killer abducts, rapes and kills young women and then leaves their bodies to be found. He mutilates them after death and always contacts the investigating officer, in a twisted mind game. This time he is in contact with Hank and targets Detective Karen Stainer, who is about to get married, as his next victim.

The story has that great "can't put it down" quality and wonderful characters. I loved Karen and her family especially. I definitely want to go back and read the author's previous novels.

[Patricia Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solved crime despite budget problems and
lack of some technical equipment and
personnel and with disrupting office
administration politics.


Killer communicates with the lead
investigators and becomes more overt
with each crime and even tells the
police when he plans to do the next
kidnapping and murder.

Keeps one guessing the personality
of the murder and what has been
missed at all the crime scenes and
phone calls.

[Shari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read the previous books in the series but I don't think that affected my feelings for this entry. The major characters are very likable detectives and FBI agents and the case, in and of itself, was interesting. But, the graphic details of the crimes were sickening and unnecessary. I read a lot of mysteries and crime novels but these crimes were just too much for me.

[Lenore Riegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like my crime thrillers dark. For some reason, this brightens my days. The Rainy Day Killer was so dark I needed sunglasses when I put it down - which wasn't often, since it was gripping enough that time sped by. This is my first Donaghue and Stainer, well-paced and well-written. I'm sure I'm not the first to say this makes the perfect read for a rainy day.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[Heather Fineisen]

setting this one aside until I read earlier novels in the series.