This is the second Alex Cross book, the second serial killer he's been called in to catch, this time set not in DC but in Durham, North Carolina. Coincidentally, his niece, Naomi is also missing as well. When he gets down there, he finds evidence that not only is there a serial killer on the loose, but he also seems to be harboring alive, some of his victims. Fortunately, one of his targets, Kate Mc Tiernan, an internist, escapes from his clutches though she is severely injured. She recovers and begins an intense friendship with Alex because both have good reasons for finding the killer. Two other coincidences, a serial killer in California is rampaging through the LA area, calling himself the Gentlemen Caller. And he just happens to be an acquaintance of the killer in North Carolina, who calls himself Casanova. When the 'Gentlemen Caller' makes a mistake, the police close in on him but he escapes to, where else, North Carolina so he can team up with Casanova.
Eventually, Cross, with the help of a local historian, finds a few cellars in the woods that were used to house run away slaves. In one of them, he finds his niece along with five other desperate women. He calls in the FBI but no one is yet sure who is Casanova. They determine the two killers are working together. Cross realizes they have been watching him, chases them and kills the Gentlemen Caller but Casanova gets away. Time goes by but Alex does not give up piecing together the evidence, which leads, eventually, to one of the lead Durham, NC, detectives. They end up in a fight at Kate's home, where Casanova has gone to finish up what he started. Casanova fights off both until Alex eventually shoots him. Alex heads back to DC with his niece, parting with Kate as just good friends. I think this will be the last Alex Cross book I will read...enough of serial killers.
No comments:
Post a Comment