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Riley Spartz #4
Killing Kate
Not all angels are divine…
As TV reporter Riley Spartz discovers a serial killer drawing chalk outlines shaped like angels around the bodies of his victims, she unearths an eerie legend dating back nearly a century. Tracking clues to an Iowa cemetery, Riley finds an infamous Black Angel monument that may be connected to the string of homicides throughout the Midwest. Now she is up against a delusional young man who believes the statue is urging him to kill.
The local police are convinced the killer has left their territory and Riley's boss is convinced viewers are tired of hearing about so much crime, but a personal connection with the latest victim, Kate Warner, makes Riley determined to solve the case.
Riley also gets the scoop on a dog left locked in a hot car. Her pet-loving news director is crazy about this story, but the dog owner goes crazy, too. Is he now stalking Riley? Or has the angel-killer put Channel 3's top investigator on his hit list? Yearning for love and ratings, it's unsure whether Riley will find either before the killer finds her.
When she meets a mysterious stranger, Riley must decide whether he is her guardian angel or an angel of death. The answer doesn't come until a graveyard confrontation where the dead are the only witnesses.
As TV reporter Riley Spartz discovers a serial killer drawing chalk outlines shaped like angels around the bodies of his victims, she unearths an eerie legend dating back nearly a century. Tracking clues to an Iowa cemetery, Riley finds an infamous Black Angel monument that may be connected to the string of homicides throughout the Midwest. Now she is up against a delusional young man who believes the statue is urging him to kill.
The local police are convinced the killer has left their territory and Riley's boss is convinced viewers are tired of hearing about so much crime, but a personal connection with the latest victim, Kate Warner, makes Riley determined to solve the case.
Riley also gets the scoop on a dog left locked in a hot car. Her pet-loving news director is crazy about this story, but the dog owner goes crazy, too. Is he now stalking Riley? Or has the angel-killer put Channel 3's top investigator on his hit list? Yearning for love and ratings, it's unsure whether Riley will find either before the killer finds her.
When she meets a mysterious stranger, Riley must decide whether he is her guardian angel or an angel of death. The answer doesn't come until a graveyard confrontation where the dead are the only witnesses.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published July 26, 2011
15 people are currently reading
356 people want to read
About the author
Julie Kramer
22 books209 followersJulie Kramer has moved from journalist to novelist. She writes a mystery series set in the desperate world of television news—a world she knows well from her career working as a freelance news producer for NBC and CBS, as well as running the acclaimed WCCO-TV I-Team in Minneapolis.
Her thrillers, STALKING SUSAN, MISSING MARK, SILENCING SAM, KILLING KATE, SHUNNING SARAH and soon to come - DELIVERING DEATH (January 7) - take readers inside how newsrooms make decisions amid chaos. She's won the Minnesota Book Award and the RT Book Review's Best First Mystery. She has also been a finalist for the Anthony, Barry, Shamus, Mary Higgins Clark, Daphne du Maurier, and RT Best Amateur Sleuth Awards.
Julie grew up along the Minnesota-Iowa state line, fourth generation of a family who raised cattle and farmed corn for more than 130 years. Her favorite childhood days were spent waiting for the bookmobile to bring her another Phyllis A. Whitney novel. An avid reader, she tired of fictional TV reporters always being portrayed as obnoxious secondary characters who could be killed off whenever the plot started dragging, so her series features reporter Riley Spartz as heroine.
Julie lives with her family in White Bear Lake, MN.
Her thrillers, STALKING SUSAN, MISSING MARK, SILENCING SAM, KILLING KATE, SHUNNING SARAH and soon to come - DELIVERING DEATH (January 7) - take readers inside how newsrooms make decisions amid chaos. She's won the Minnesota Book Award and the RT Book Review's Best First Mystery. She has also been a finalist for the Anthony, Barry, Shamus, Mary Higgins Clark, Daphne du Maurier, and RT Best Amateur Sleuth Awards.
Julie grew up along the Minnesota-Iowa state line, fourth generation of a family who raised cattle and farmed corn for more than 130 years. Her favorite childhood days were spent waiting for the bookmobile to bring her another Phyllis A. Whitney novel. An avid reader, she tired of fictional TV reporters always being portrayed as obnoxious secondary characters who could be killed off whenever the plot started dragging, so her series features reporter Riley Spartz as heroine.
Julie lives with her family in White Bear Lake, MN.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
January 30, 2019
This was the first book that I have read by this author, but it won't be the last one. The main character is an investigative reporter in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There are multiple story lines, but not all are resolved in this book. This is a fast-paced book with some twists and turns.
August 8, 2019
This one is a bit heavier & darker than the previous ones in the series though still smartly written.
I was intrigued by the mystery & trying to figure out who/why.
It was interesting to learn about tv news ratings as well.
big twists at the end that surprised me. wasn't expecting that to happen w/some of the characters.
I was intrigued by the mystery & trying to figure out who/why.
It was interesting to learn about tv news ratings as well.
big twists at the end that surprised me. wasn't expecting that to happen w/some of the characters.
March 2, 2012
Maybe I've been reading too much heavy stuff. Or maybe it was just
time for me to laugh a little. For whatever reason I found this book
to be exactly what I needed.
KILLING KATE is a mystery about Riley Spartz, a television investigative
journalist, who finds herself in the middle of a crime involving a serial
killer.
I understand this is the third or fourth book by Julie Kramer and I'll
certainly go back to read the ones that came before. In some ways I wish
I'd have read them in order, but no harm done.
There are sideline issues involving counterfeit money and a divorced
couple with a custody dispute over their dog.
Riley and her boyfriend amused me with their game of movie quotes. If
one drops a line into their conversation that is a movie quote, the other
one must recognize it as such and identify which movie star said it, which
movie it came from and the year the movie was released.
The mystery itself is very good with its twists and turns. It was impossible
to take it seriously because Riley is such an upbeat interesting character.
This book may never win any big literary prizes, but it will give many people
a few hours of lighthearted, good fun reading.
I'd love to give it five stars for the good it did me, but I'm trying to be
realistic.
I saw several typos. I don't blame the author for these. She had a reputable
publishing company with an editor and someone else should have been more alert.
Do yourself a favor and get acquainted with the works of Julie Kramer.
time for me to laugh a little. For whatever reason I found this book
to be exactly what I needed.
KILLING KATE is a mystery about Riley Spartz, a television investigative
journalist, who finds herself in the middle of a crime involving a serial
killer.
I understand this is the third or fourth book by Julie Kramer and I'll
certainly go back to read the ones that came before. In some ways I wish
I'd have read them in order, but no harm done.
There are sideline issues involving counterfeit money and a divorced
couple with a custody dispute over their dog.
Riley and her boyfriend amused me with their game of movie quotes. If
one drops a line into their conversation that is a movie quote, the other
one must recognize it as such and identify which movie star said it, which
movie it came from and the year the movie was released.
The mystery itself is very good with its twists and turns. It was impossible
to take it seriously because Riley is such an upbeat interesting character.
This book may never win any big literary prizes, but it will give many people
a few hours of lighthearted, good fun reading.
I'd love to give it five stars for the good it did me, but I'm trying to be
realistic.
I saw several typos. I don't blame the author for these. She had a reputable
publishing company with an editor and someone else should have been more alert.
Do yourself a favor and get acquainted with the works of Julie Kramer.
October 8, 2022
The main woman character is just uuuugh. I find the characters to be based on horrible cliches. Y’all are grown ups, just use your words. Idk. Maybe I am expecting too much out of books but I want to see health adult communication dynamics.
February 1, 2014
A murdered erotica writer with books of coded messages. An urban legend about a cursed angel statue in a cemetery. Chalk outlines of angels mysteriously appearing at crime scenes across the Midwest. What more could you want in a crime novel?
Julie Kramer delivers this and much more in her Minnesota-set Killing Kate crime novel. It's another in her series featuring TV journalist Riley Spartz.
I'd discovered Kramer through Delivering Death (there's that alliteration again that themes these titles), a crime novel that I thought packed all the right punches. Killing Kate was to be my confirmation that I could add author Kramer to my list of regular reads. (Note: Killing Kate comes before Delivering Death in the series, but reading out of order doesn't seem to mar the experience.)
Test passed. Killing Kate moves just as quickly and as smart as Delivering Death. The shift between third and first person POVs is there, as is a worthy adversary to match wits with Spartz.
I wanted so badly to give this five stars, but I'm going with four. Here's why.
Unlike Delivering Death, Kramer takes the wind out of her novel's sails by giving away the murderer early on in the novel. It's just a matter of time until the murderer and Spartz cross paths. We know it because Spartz is too smart not to put all the pieces together.
Watching Spartz do that is entertaining, but it felt dragged out. That there are B, C and D plots for Spartz to address just added to the wait.
Don't get me wrong. This formula (giving away the bad guy) can work if the suspense is cranked up. There seems to be an effort to do that, but Spartz's other commitments push the thrills to the background.
Even with this handicap, Kramer rescues the reader with her pure storytelling ability. If Spartz takes a few chapters to do a news story about a divorced couple fighting over a dead dog, the novel doesn't necessarily suffer. Kramer could make the ingredients list on a package of frozen waffles breathe to life.
That said, I'll continue reading Kramer and her Spartz series. They're easily my best find of 2014 so far.
Julie Kramer delivers this and much more in her Minnesota-set Killing Kate crime novel. It's another in her series featuring TV journalist Riley Spartz.
I'd discovered Kramer through Delivering Death (there's that alliteration again that themes these titles), a crime novel that I thought packed all the right punches. Killing Kate was to be my confirmation that I could add author Kramer to my list of regular reads. (Note: Killing Kate comes before Delivering Death in the series, but reading out of order doesn't seem to mar the experience.)
Test passed. Killing Kate moves just as quickly and as smart as Delivering Death. The shift between third and first person POVs is there, as is a worthy adversary to match wits with Spartz.
I wanted so badly to give this five stars, but I'm going with four. Here's why.
Unlike Delivering Death, Kramer takes the wind out of her novel's sails by giving away the murderer early on in the novel. It's just a matter of time until the murderer and Spartz cross paths. We know it because Spartz is too smart not to put all the pieces together.
Watching Spartz do that is entertaining, but it felt dragged out. That there are B, C and D plots for Spartz to address just added to the wait.
Don't get me wrong. This formula (giving away the bad guy) can work if the suspense is cranked up. There seems to be an effort to do that, but Spartz's other commitments push the thrills to the background.
Even with this handicap, Kramer rescues the reader with her pure storytelling ability. If Spartz takes a few chapters to do a news story about a divorced couple fighting over a dead dog, the novel doesn't necessarily suffer. Kramer could make the ingredients list on a package of frozen waffles breathe to life.
That said, I'll continue reading Kramer and her Spartz series. They're easily my best find of 2014 so far.
July 18, 2011
My edition is the ARC.
This is a fast paced book with great pacing, short chapters and memorable characters. Riley is an investigative reporter who is bold and resourceful. Her parents are great, I find myself laughing at their parts in her stories, and I can identify them with other people I know from this area. Her parents are protective and even a bit underhanded at time. I love the fact that she writes about Minnesota and Minnesota nice, even when mixed with murder and Iowa at times.
The mystery and murder keep you on your toes wondering whodunit. The small on-going plot weaved into her stories continues, even if it didn’t end the way I would have liked it to (actually I doubt if it is over and look forward to more in the next book.) Riley’s co-workers are unique individuals that have endearing and not so endearing qualities about them. Her characters feel real and as I read the book I could place many of my friends and acquaintances in their places making the book come to life and more interesting.
If you have never read Julie Kramer then start now, you will not be disappointed. Her mysteries are interesting and she uses real places in her stories, place you can visit if you feel so inclined to do. I have to say that I wish she wrote them faster, but then I wouldn’t want the quality to drop in the haste. This book is number 4 in the series and it will not disappoint. Go pick it up today.
But, I'm stopping in Iowa City my next trip to the in-laws to check out the Black Angel and the lore surrounding her. Very Spooky Stuff!
This is a fast paced book with great pacing, short chapters and memorable characters. Riley is an investigative reporter who is bold and resourceful. Her parents are great, I find myself laughing at their parts in her stories, and I can identify them with other people I know from this area. Her parents are protective and even a bit underhanded at time. I love the fact that she writes about Minnesota and Minnesota nice, even when mixed with murder and Iowa at times.
The mystery and murder keep you on your toes wondering whodunit. The small on-going plot weaved into her stories continues, even if it didn’t end the way I would have liked it to (actually I doubt if it is over and look forward to more in the next book.) Riley’s co-workers are unique individuals that have endearing and not so endearing qualities about them. Her characters feel real and as I read the book I could place many of my friends and acquaintances in their places making the book come to life and more interesting.
If you have never read Julie Kramer then start now, you will not be disappointed. Her mysteries are interesting and she uses real places in her stories, place you can visit if you feel so inclined to do. I have to say that I wish she wrote them faster, but then I wouldn’t want the quality to drop in the haste. This book is number 4 in the series and it will not disappoint. Go pick it up today.
But, I'm stopping in Iowa City my next trip to the in-laws to check out the Black Angel and the lore surrounding her. Very Spooky Stuff!
October 23, 2011
Of course I grab a good book from the library.
Of course it's part of a series, that I have not even read nor heard of.
I swear. I need to pay attention more when I go to the library.
But I will look into starting at the start of this series.
One day. It was a good book. Nothing fantastic or special.
Of course it's part of a series, that I have not even read nor heard of.
I swear. I need to pay attention more when I go to the library.
But I will look into starting at the start of this series.
One day. It was a good book. Nothing fantastic or special.
September 19, 2013
Where's a good copy editor when you need one?
I read this for the Iowa City references, and now I feel dirty and shamed.
I read this for the Iowa City references, and now I feel dirty and shamed.
December 11, 2025
"Killing Kate" opens with promise, giving glimpses of a soon-to-be murder victim and her killer. The killer's POV is interesting enough to build momentum. And then ... well, once you meet protagonist Riley Spartz, the reader is plunged into the world of a TV newscaster, a world that seems familiar because the plucky reporter as detective outsmarting police and predators has been done to death.
This book works when it is centered on the Black Angel killer and exploring his motivation. Then, you're jolted into newsroom politics as the unlikable protagonist battles the WHOLE WORLD to catch a bad guy and it quickly loses steam.
Does plucky Riley Spartz have a long-distance relationship? Sure does -- wonder how that will turn out? Is her boyfriend, a member of law enforcement, constantly battling plucky Riley Spartz because his job puts him at odds with her job? Take a wild guess.
"Killing Kate" isn't a bad book, and it tries to throw in a couple of Chekhov's guns (one is literal) to make you realize, hey, there's a reason why the author went off on those rabbit trails earlier. Future stories could be improved by realizing TV newsrooms aren't as interesting as the author thinks. TV and movies have covered this territory and there's not much left to explore. Readers also want someone to root for in the suspense genre -- preferably, not the killer, unless the author is going the "Day of the Jackal" route.
This book works when it is centered on the Black Angel killer and exploring his motivation. Then, you're jolted into newsroom politics as the unlikable protagonist battles the WHOLE WORLD to catch a bad guy and it quickly loses steam.
Does plucky Riley Spartz have a long-distance relationship? Sure does -- wonder how that will turn out? Is her boyfriend, a member of law enforcement, constantly battling plucky Riley Spartz because his job puts him at odds with her job? Take a wild guess.
"Killing Kate" isn't a bad book, and it tries to throw in a couple of Chekhov's guns (one is literal) to make you realize, hey, there's a reason why the author went off on those rabbit trails earlier. Future stories could be improved by realizing TV newsrooms aren't as interesting as the author thinks. TV and movies have covered this territory and there's not much left to explore. Readers also want someone to root for in the suspense genre -- preferably, not the killer, unless the author is going the "Day of the Jackal" route.
June 4, 2017
To me, this came across as a lifeless book. Bouncing between two narratives, the reader is either interested in Buddy, a dog that was left in an overheated car by an aggressive owner or a killer that is stalking waitresses in the Midwest.
Riley Spartz, an on air TV personality, is juggling two stories. The public is obsessed with the dog angle, yet a serial killer has met his match in Riley when his latest victim is an unassuming woman that has a secret life as a bestselling writer of erotica. Whereas the dog viewpoint will bring in many readers, it is not until the explosive end to that story where things get interesting. Yet, the dark angel and a family tree of homicidal killers is what kept my interest. Especially when you add in chalk outlines around the bodies in the shape of angels.
The Riley Spartz series is basically a big ball of fluff. There are no deep characters or interesting plot twists. Just straight forward writing that at times is completely skip worthy yet, there is something about Riley that makes me want to read the next book. If only Julie Kramer did not have to give so many camera angel notations. We get that Riley is an on air personality, but telling me what is going on with camera shots during her on air appearances was just annoying.
Riley Spartz, an on air TV personality, is juggling two stories. The public is obsessed with the dog angle, yet a serial killer has met his match in Riley when his latest victim is an unassuming woman that has a secret life as a bestselling writer of erotica. Whereas the dog viewpoint will bring in many readers, it is not until the explosive end to that story where things get interesting. Yet, the dark angel and a family tree of homicidal killers is what kept my interest. Especially when you add in chalk outlines around the bodies in the shape of angels.
The Riley Spartz series is basically a big ball of fluff. There are no deep characters or interesting plot twists. Just straight forward writing that at times is completely skip worthy yet, there is something about Riley that makes me want to read the next book. If only Julie Kramer did not have to give so many camera angel notations. We get that Riley is an on air personality, but telling me what is going on with camera shots during her on air appearances was just annoying.
September 6, 2017
I read this book and I thought it was a mediocre book that was slightly boring. Some chapters tell the story of the killer and you would think this would have been thrilling, but it wasn't.
Riley Spartz the MN TV reporter who uncovers that her college roommate'a sister was murdered in her home. Turns out she has a secret life as an erotica novelist. Her sister, Laura is someone i couldn't stand. She lied about a college rape to preserve her religious image. Riley couldn't go along with the lie in college, and that broke up their friendship. Good riddance because that's awful behavior.
Than Laura gets killed, and the killer stalks Riley. This part of the story was predictable and I wasn't a fan. Yes Riley kills Karl Dozeal, but that wasn't even exciting.
This book was mediocre and I wouldn't read a book by this author again.
Riley Spartz the MN TV reporter who uncovers that her college roommate'a sister was murdered in her home. Turns out she has a secret life as an erotica novelist. Her sister, Laura is someone i couldn't stand. She lied about a college rape to preserve her religious image. Riley couldn't go along with the lie in college, and that broke up their friendship. Good riddance because that's awful behavior.
Than Laura gets killed, and the killer stalks Riley. This part of the story was predictable and I wasn't a fan. Yes Riley kills Karl Dozeal, but that wasn't even exciting.
This book was mediocre and I wouldn't read a book by this author again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2023
My fourth read of the series and this is definitely the best of the bunch so far. Julie Kramer is one of my favorite female authors and one of the few I read regularly. It's a nice change of pace from the darker mysteries I read. Kramer's novels are more light-hearted definitely with more humor.
This book has a couple of converging plot lines. The "dog left in hot car fiasco" and the murder of Kate. Kramer's use of the TV news backdrop is brilliant. Riley's investigative reporting feels like the real thing. She's kind of a cross between the fictional detectives, Renée Ballard or Lydia Chin and Lucille Ball. Her romance seemed a bit strained and I just didn't buy it. They didn't seem real committed to each other, although I can't say that doesn't happen in real life. The twist at the end was unexpected and well done.
This book has a couple of converging plot lines. The "dog left in hot car fiasco" and the murder of Kate. Kramer's use of the TV news backdrop is brilliant. Riley's investigative reporting feels like the real thing. She's kind of a cross between the fictional detectives, Renée Ballard or Lydia Chin and Lucille Ball. Her romance seemed a bit strained and I just didn't buy it. They didn't seem real committed to each other, although I can't say that doesn't happen in real life. The twist at the end was unexpected and well done.
July 4, 2017
As usual, coming to a series part way through. Oh, well, it didn't detract from the book.
Riley Spartz is a news reporter. She is off murder investigations, because of things that happened in the earlier books, but, somehow, she ends up on the case anyway.
The sister of a former best friend is found murdered. Because Riley recognized the address, she went to see what had happened and discovered a connection between this murder and previous ones.
She also fronts a story about a dog left in a car in a heat wave. The dog dies and there is some controversy over the custody of the dog between warring exes.
Interesting characters but I wasn't sold on the ending.
Riley Spartz is a news reporter. She is off murder investigations, because of things that happened in the earlier books, but, somehow, she ends up on the case anyway.
The sister of a former best friend is found murdered. Because Riley recognized the address, she went to see what had happened and discovered a connection between this murder and previous ones.
She also fronts a story about a dog left in a car in a heat wave. The dog dies and there is some controversy over the custody of the dog between warring exes.
Interesting characters but I wasn't sold on the ending.
December 20, 2018
By far this is my favorite of this series so far!! A mystery novel to keep you on your toes and wondering what will happen next!! Twists upon turns! I love the narrator of this audiobook and I’m glad to have her back after the last one being read by someone else! This series is just getting better as it goes! And I can’t wait to start the next one! The characters are likeable and with the setting being familiar to me I can help but feel like I’m right there with them!!
February 28, 2025
I love this local series. Still wondering if Riley and Nick will ever get married. Can't imagine what it is like to kill someone, even someone trying to kill me. The history of the cemetery angel in Iowa is interesting. May have to take a field trip someday. Looking forward to reading the next 2 in the series. Interesting that Noreen was killed off in the mass shooting. What will happen next at the station? Glad that part of Channel 3's history didn't really happen at Channel 4.
July 15, 2023
I really liked the local Minneapolis and St Paul setting! At first, I thought the plot was going to be a non-starter, but starting this book with a chapter from one of the character’s erotica book was just a literary device. Riley from channel 3 was likable. Can’t resist Bernadette Dune’s narration.
October 31, 2017
I listened to this thinking it was by a different author. There was some new stuff in here as the twists of the murder mystery unfolded that were very inventive. I enjoyed it, and should perhaps start from the beginning of the series.
May 24, 2022
I find the Riley Spartz mysteries particularly entertaining because they are set here in Minneapolis. This book in the series is a little darker than usual, but has a nice balance with humor. Recommend the series. Kristi & Abby Tabby
August 11, 2017
Lots of action . . . misdirection . . . impossible working conditions . . . TV news . . . likeable characters . . . on-again-off-again love interest . . . well-told tale
March 6, 2018
This is a cute series, I really like Riley.
September 24, 2018
This book had less interweaving of storylines than the previous books. Also it ended on a sad note which I’m sure impacts how I view the book overall.
Read
July 29, 2019Loved it. Read it probably around 2011-2012
January 28, 2020
Ending caught me by surprise! I liked the twist.
April 2, 2020
My first Kramer. Intestering reading it and watch Tiger King during the same time. A few similarities.
September 14, 2020
This one was definitely better than the last one. Riley's college roommate's sisters is found murdered, seems to be a serial killer on the loose.
January 24, 2021
3.5 I will continue this series
December 4, 2022
Wow..the ending. What a ride. I'm a huge fan of Riley.
July 24, 2023
Just okay. A little dull at times.
May 26, 2024
This was heavier than the other books in the series.
July 10, 2024
Hard to put down.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews