New York City is experiencing a deadly heatwave. Lieutenant John Brannagan doesn’t think anything could make this heatwave worse, but he is wrong. Someone begins sending riddles to him. Each time he gets a riddle, he has to solve it before 9 p.m. or someone will die.
He doesn’t take the threat seriously the first time he gets a riddle, figuring that it is some kind of sick joke. But then someone is found dead, and a strip of cloth with I (upside down heart) NY, is found stuffed in the victim’s mouth. Does this killer hate New York for some reason?
Brannagan and the other cops race like crazy to figure out each new riddle he receives. They obviously don’t want anyone else to be murdered, but even when they solve the riddle, the serial killer still strikes. Is there some reason that the riddles are sent to only Brannagan?
The mayor, the police commissioner, and the taxpayers are demanding that this maniac be caught and his (or her) killing spree ended. Brannagan is under a lot of pressure to catch the murderer. He just doesn’t realize yet how close to this killer he is. With each successive murder, the police believe they are getting closer to catching the killer, who always seems to be one step ahead of them.
What caused this culprit to begin murdering people? Did I ever figure it out? No. And even though I should have at least come close to figuring out who the guilty party was, I didn’t. The Riddle Murders is an awesome book that I greatly enjoyed. The tension built with each murder as the police raced to find this elusive killer and the book became unputdownable. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a great mystery or simply reading about serial killers.
I was sent a copy of this book to review in exchange for an honest review. If you would like your own copy to read, I’ve provided an Amazon link for you below.
Amazon Link: The Riddle Murders
Favorite Sentences:
Thin and pale as a banshee, she seemed to have come straight out of The Addams Family TV series.
Against all odds, riddles—of all things—became the fad of the summer.
Resembling a Jackson Pollack painting, the floor, walls, bed, and even the ceiling were splattered with blood.
The media people pressed for information and swarmed like killer bees over the medical personnel entering or leaving the site.
New Words Learned:
corpulent – fat
cricoid – the ring-shaped cartilage of the larynx
esprit de corps – the common spirit existing in the members of a group and inspiring enthusiasm, devotion, and strong regard for the honor of the group
ecchymosis – a discoloration of the skin resulting from bleeding underneath, typically caused by bruising
irruption – a breaking or bursting in; a violent incursion or invasion
repatriate – send (someone) back to their own country
tangential – touching lightly
About the Author:
F.E. Cassis worked as a creative director from some of the world’s most renowned advertising agencies. Throughout his professional career, he received many awards for outstanding creativity. And after tackling whimsical clients, unrealistic deadlines, and internal review boards for over 25 years, he retired to a Caribbean island to do what he does best: writing hard-to-put-down thrillers.
He is a movie buff, a passionate chess player, and a self-confessed chocolate addict.
The Riddle Murders is his first novel. At present, he is working on a story of international intrigue spanning four continents.
Sounds intriguing!