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We really know very little about serial killers, especially successful never-captured serial killers, such as the Zodiac killer from the 1960s in California. The killer taunted the law enforcement agencies by sending letters to them and then permanently disappearing. MASTER OF THE GAME is about the little brother of the famous Zodiac killer, who decides to taunt the law enforcement agencies into playing a game with his killings. The game resembles baseball in that there will be nine innings, nine women who will disappear and be presumed to be dead, with their bodies never being found. To make this more interesting to the killer, he selects a reporter to tell his story to, but the reporter must follow the rules. To be hunting a brilliant killer is the nightmare of the law enforcement agencies, and this one anticipates every move, and then taunts the incompetent agencies. The victims and the players are constantly stalked by the killer and he does know their every move. All of the victims, though, have one common element; they are somehow linked to the FBI, either as a previous employee or as a family member of an agent. Frank Wycheck is the unfortunate chosen reporter who is required by Simon, the killer, to quit his job and to be available at anytime for his exclusive interview. By quitting his newspaper, though, Frank cannot pay for his Porsche or his drug habit. He carefully manages to entice the paper to pay for his absence with the promise of this novel about Simon's crimes. When Simon discovers that his rules are not being perfectly followed, Frank is punished, but continues to live in more fear of the stalking killer. John Hightower, through previous successes, has become almost a legend with the FBI in solving cases. He is eventually given this case and Simon does consider Hightower to be a worthy opponent. With Simon leaving behind no witnesses, no crime scenes, no bodies, and exhibiting extreme amounts of patience as well as being a master of disguise, MASTER OF THE GAME is an all too possible realistic novel. The law enforcement agencies hope for a criminal who makes mistakes. But how do you prevent murders with a criminal who doesn't make a mistake, is a master of disguise, and possesses intelligence to outmaneuver with every move he makes? The intensity and the personal voice of MASTER OF THE GAME is what makes it such a gripping and terrifying novel. The graphic descriptions are all too realistic and visual at times, but isn't that what makes an excellent writer? MASTER OF THE GAME is William Tepper's first novel and considering the intensity with which he writes, I strongly look forward to his future novels.
Reviewed by Teri Davis, August 2004
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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