SOLVED. 3 forgotten books for the price of 1! [s]

[khi]

I wasn’t sure if I should have posted this multiple request separately or not.
I am requesting information on the following books (the first two of which may be one and the same) and including potential spoilers:

(view spoiler)[ Murder/thriller – this book is about a serial killer who has been kidnapping and torturing women. I believe (but am not sure) he has set up remote surveillance and observes a woman he has strapped down naked; I think he keeps food and water from her as part of her torture.

Murder/thriller – I cannot recall if this is part of the above book, or if I simply remembered forgetting (!) two serial killer books at the same time. This book contains someone who kills in both Italy and the States. In Italy, he forces a young girl to bathe in icy cold water and then kills her in the tub and dumps her body in a fountain in one of the piazze. I believe the murders in the States take place in one of the Southern states and that the killer is someone with means and family connections. Also, he taunts the authorities with what he believes to be his superior intelligence. A well-known woman in the murder business (perhaps a profiler, a pathologist – cannot remember now) goes to Italy; either she is there to give some sort of lecture or she goes to check out the possible murder connection between the two countries. I don’t recall much other than that she is treated with some condescension by the man who is heading the investigation in Italy.

In one of the above murder/thrillers, I remember the author is a man and that he actually conducted an extensive jail interview with a serial killer, which is included in part at the end of the book.

Romance – two individuals die and have to help a man and woman with their lives. These “guardian angels” help the humans fall in love and also end up falling for one another. I think the woman “guardian angel” was a rich woman but not well-loved (I recall there being a dearth of mourners at her funeral); I believe she was portrayed as selfish and bratty and spoiled. After they have accomplished their good deeds, they are given the opportunity to return to earth as humans and live happily ever, etc.
(hide spoiler)]


Thanks everyone!

[khi]

I just remembered the romance book - Second Chances. Thank you all!

However, the murder mystery is stumping me yet!

[Sue]

The washing in cold water reminds me of Silence Of The Lambs.

[khi]

Sue, thanks for the suggestion, but unfortunately it's not Silence of the Lambs! IIRC, the individual in this unknown novel used this method a few times to make the recipients even more miserable.

[Jak]

Murder Thriller 2 is Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell

http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/b... (***spoilers***)

1 could well be another Cornwell book.

[khi]

2 down, 1 to go!

Jak wrote: "Murder Thriller 2 is Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell

http://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/b... (***spoilers***)"

Jak - yes, yes, YES! I thought Cornwell before posting but shook my head, secure in the knowledge that surely it couldn't be so easy as a book I had read not that long ago by an author whose name I coudn't forget if I wanted to do so! Thank you!

[Jak]

khi wrote: "2 down, 1 to go!

Jak - yes, yes, YES!

Blimey! It's been a while since I had that effect on a woman!!! ;-)

Glad to help. Funnily enough I'd not actually read that book. But when you described Italy, Southern sates, the murder business and the woman being treated with condescension by a man it sounded like most of the Cornwall books I had read.

So, now you only need one more!! Can you remember any more as that's not too much to go on?

[khi]

Jak - you either have been picking the wrong books or the wrong women then!

Too true re your comments on recognizing a Cornwell... seems to have been a tree for the woods moment for me.

Now, for the remaining mystery/thriller (hopefully it is not too redundant):(view spoiler)[
- serial killer
- has been torturing women
- a woman is strapped down naked and kept from water/food
- the killer observes her from remote cameras, I believe
- faint glimmer remembering that either the detective/cop meets the killer but doesn't recognize him as such OR is very, very close to the killer's whereabouts - maybe the detective/cop lives near the killer's lair
- perhaps the killer has traps set-up to prevent his lair being found or the victim saved --- maybe fire or a bomb comes to mind
- I don't believe the killer lives where he "works"
- slim chance the killer has killed in more than one state (or I'm still going on about Cornwell's book!); if so, then I think one of the bodies gets washed up in some lake
- I believe the woman gets found/saved at the end... in the nick of time, of course (hence the mind lingering on there being a bomb)
- the author is male
- he has interviewed a serial killer (perhaps killers) and discusses his findings at the end of the book in the form of a Q&A... but I think there is some information he leaves out to protect the public (hide spoiler)]

Good luck!

[Jak]

Gotta say, book one is not ringing any bells at all. Sorry :-(

[khi]

How sad am I! Thanks, nonetheless!

[Kate]

I, Alex Cross by James Patterson could be this book. It definitely has the torture of women in it.

[khi]

Kate wrote: "I, Alex Cross by James Patterson could be this book. It definitely has the torture of women in it."

Kate, thanks for trying; unfortunately, it's not the book! Sadly, I had forgotten I had posted this... I think I am going to shelve this request and repost just the remaining forgotten book. Please don't hesitate to post again if you recall anything else!