Private investigator and former Atlanta cop Marcus Rydell is fighting with depression and
seriously contemplating suicide when a disturbance at his apartment building interrupts his
thinking. Hearing the cries of a child in distress, Marcus’ conditioned response sends him to
the rescue. Another resident of the building, Dr. Kat Holly, shows up as well, to see if she can
help. The situation is brought under control and the authorities are alerted to take charge of
the scene.
Kat seems to know an awful lot about Marcus considering that this is their first meeting.
They agree to meet again in order to get to know one another better and the meeting is anything
but pleasant for Marcus Rydell.
At first Kat threatens Marcus with a revolver promising to kill him. The ensuing conversation
reveals that Kat’s husband had been an Atlanta cop killed in the line of duty while responding
to a call along with Marcus. Marcus claimed to have blacked out during the shootout and lay
unconscious on the sidewalk while the killer finished off his partners. The implication was that
Marcus was a coward who had played possum instead of backing up his fellow officers. Marcus argued
that his periodic blackouts were real, although unexplained.
Kat reveals that the killer, a monster of a mountain man and former Marine, has returned to the
area after four years of hiding and plans to finish what he started by killing all of the relatives
of the cops who had tried to arrest him. He would save Marcus Rydell for his grand finale.
Iden Cantu, the killer, appears to know every move that Kat and Marcus make. And when one of the
killer’s stated targets is found murdered in a grisly manner and hung up like a hunting trophy,
Marcus knows that the game has begun.
Marcus and Kat gather the remaining targets of Cantu’s revenge and they all hide out at Marcus’
parents hideaway, a remote cabin on a small lake in the deep woods. But Cantu’s research has been
thorough and he is there waiting for them.
Author Robert Walker does an incredible job of making Iden Cantu one of the scariest characters
I’ve ever encountered in a mystery novel. Every time he appears he gives me goose-bumps. Walker
is known for writing dark stories and this one definitely doesn’t disappoint. The quick and terse
dialog keep the story moving at a surprisingly rapid pace and the characters all have faces.
Another winner for Walker.