Book Review: Killer Takes All

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

[5 stars]

Killer Takes All Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Erica Spindler
Class/Genre: Mystery Romance Romantic Suspense Thriller Police Procedural
Series: Stacy Killian # 2
Mira, Jun 2005, $19.95, 384 pp.

The pop noise awakens former Dallas Homicide Detective Stacy Killian. Though a grad student in Eng Lit, she is still conditioned to react instantly from her days as a police officer. Stacy goes on alert searching for the source when she realizes the decibels meant the apartment of her next door neighbors, University of New Orleans students Cassie and Beth who were shot to death. After looking at the crime scene, Stacy calls 911. New Orleans Homicide Detective Spencer Malone and rotational partner Tony Sciame team up to head the investigation into the homicides.

The two cops interview Stacy, first at the scene so she is a suspect. She mentions that she and Cassie became friends and that the coed enjoyed role playing games (RPG). Since the murders were not sexual or a break and enter robbery, and a laptop is missing, Stacy wonders if an RPG is somehow involved. Not trusting the rookie or the near retirement detectives to solve the case, Stacy investigates until she joins forces with Spencer looking into the RPG White Rabbit and its designer Leo Noble when other murders occur. Neither the former cop nor the detective realizes the danger of falling down the hole into the RPG realm of White Rabbit.

Police procedural suspense thriller fans will want to read Erica Spindler’s tense tale as the action-packed novel glides on two investigative paths; that of Stacy and that of Spencer until they merge their efforts. The key to the suspenseful story line is how the serial killer has raised the stakes of White Rabbit RPG into a real life game of winner takes all while losers die. Readers will enjoy this fine effort and hopefully see future pairing of the lead duet especially if the heroine returns to the force.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner