Darker Than Night

Rating:
Summary: Cheers for Darker Than Night
Review: I loved this book. In Darker than Night, John Lutz has written an eminently readable thriller. This is a tightly woven web of plot line and character development leading to a surprising conclusion. Characters, including police, victims, and killer are all intelligently and realistically drawn, with just enough red herrings to keep the reader a bit off balance. Particularly interesting is Frank Quinn, the disgraced detective who is brought back to the department to track down a serial killer who is targeting and brutally murdering happily married couples. And the back story of the "Night Prowler," himself, is intriguingly planted throughout the book, shading the edges and giving it depth. This thriller provides all the anticipated suspense, plus a bonus--truly well written prose. Thank you, Mr. Lutz, for an altogether excellent read.

Rating:
Summary: action-packed police procedural
Review: While investigating a drug deal murder, New York Police Department Lieutenant Frank Quinn discovered that a group of his peers were receiving kickbacks to look the other way on illegal activities. Before he goes to Internal Affairs, someone informed IA that Frank raped a fifteen years old girl. He chooses the moral path, but his wife and IA do not believe in his innocence and takes their daughter across the country leaving a stunned Frank behind. He took a half pension rather than be fired

A serial killer The Night Prowler is murdering married couples in their kitchens. Nobody seems to hear him when he lets himself in using an apparent key. Assistant Chief of Police Henry Cortez, with a chance for the top job, feels Frank can solve the case and brings him on as a civilian consultant. Frank feels he has a chance to redeem himself and get his job back.

Readers will believe that they just stepped off a tilt-awhirl after reading this action-packed police procedural. Though he knows he got a raw deal, the protagonist instead of whining and feeling sorry for himself, he jumps into the fray the first chance he has to prove himself. Fans will root for Frank, who has powerful enemies that he is unaware of who want him removed form the scene. John Lutz places Serpico in a serial killer venue with his blue knights still after him.

Harriet Klausner