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Dave Gurney has retired from the NYPD and is moping around his house in the Catskills when he receives a request to help a young video journalist, Kim, who is the daughter of a friend. Kim, who interviewed the surviving families of a serial killer ten years after the original deaths, is being courted by a sleazy TV news station to produce a show based on her interviews and wants Gurney along on her meeting with the producer to add gravitas to her presence. When Gurney arrives to pick her up, he finds Kim frightened by an intrusion into her home, a break-in that involves knives and blood. She claims that the intruder is her ex-boyfriend and refuses to notify the police since they'd taken no action when she called them about similar intrusions in the past. Gurney finds himself sucked into both the unsolved investigation of the multiple murders from the past and Kim's troubles in the present. There are apparent warnings to back away from his investigations, including the destruction of Gurney's barn by arson, a sawed-through basement step in Kim's home, and a whispered threat to "let the devil sleep." Gurney develops a theory of the ten-year old murders that is vastly different from the one held by the FBI and its profiler. Because of his status as NYPD, retired and opposition from the FBI investigator, Gurney turns to an old friend and colleague in the Department, Jack Hardwick, to provide him with information about the original investigation. Jack is happy to oblige because he really dislikes the FBI. The book is peopled by misfits and oddballs, including Kim's ex-boyfriend stalker, a paranoid anti-establishment recluse, and surviving family members of the original murders who have found very odd ways of dealing with the tragedy of their loved ones' deaths as well as the lack of resolution regarding the murderer. When first one, and then another, of the surviving family members is murdered and hints are left behind that tie those deaths to the original serial killings, Gurney has many possible suspects to choose from. The FBI's reluctance to reopen the investigation of the original murders leaves Gurney little time to prove his theory correct before another surviving family member is killed. The book races to a violent conclusion, with Gurney at the center of it. There are some tender moments in the book, as well, particularly between Gurney and his wife, Madeleine. Kim and Gurney's son, Kyle, meet during the investigation and a relationship develops between the two. Gurney finds a connection with Kyle centered on the original murders that causes him to regret his time away from his son and to strive to find a way to breach the gap that had formed between them. Verdon's strong characterization extends beyond individuals and into relationships. Verdon sets his story in the Catskills, and he describes the setting very convincingly. Having lived in the area for many years, I found that the descriptions rang true, and I enjoyed recognizing many of the locales. The author also does a great job with characterization, bringing each of his unusual and often menacing characters alive. This is the third book in a series, and though I have not read the other two, I nonetheless found Gurney's reaction to having been shot in the previous book very believable. This book stands on its own. The reader will have no problem picking the series up with LET THE DEVIL SLEEP, and other readers may feel as I do that heading back to the first two books would be a good direction to go. § Sharon Mensing is the Head of School of Emerald Mountain School, an independent school in the mountains of Colorado, where she lives, reads, and enjoys the outdoors.
Reviewed by Sharon Mensing, September 2012
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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