The Stalking Man

by William J. Coughlin

In a twisted trail of blood, he spelled out his name, The Stalking Man, hunting women in cities across the country the way his father had once taught him to hunt deer. He loved the moment of terror frozen on their faces when the all-too-horrifying realization would hit them-they were going to die a death more violent and ghastly than their worst nightmares...

They had caught him once-he did his time and now he was "cured." But he'd been sloppy then. This time he slithered through the country, striking with cunning and precision, laughing at the law as he outran them again and again. Now two men must piece together his macabre clues and stop a sadistic killer who's about to strike too close to home...

Genres: Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Mystery

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

William Jeremiah Coughlin (1929-1992), former defense attorney and judge in Detroit for twenty years, was the author of sixteen novels. He lived in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan with his wife, Ruth, an author and book critic.

Also wrote under the pseudonym of Sean A. Key.

Reviews

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edward Teague, also known as the Stalking Man, is back! After being found guilty by reason of insanity for killing innumerous women, he was sentenced to a hospital for the criminally insane under the care of Dr. Rose.

When a series of brutal deaths of young women appear across the Midwest, Lieutenant Anthony Russo's first thoughts go to the Stalking Man, the man Russo had hunted down and brought to justice. Still angry at the defense attorney, Thomas Knapp, for keeping his client out of prison, he becomes even angrier when he learns that Dr. Rose has quietly discharged Teague as being "cured" a year ago.

Russo immediately starts looking closely into the recent reported deaths and comes to the conclusion that Teague is out there and he is still torturing and killing, spelling out clues to his identity in a gruesome game.

But no one seems to believe him ... not his supervisor, not his partner, not the investigating officers of the recent murders and not his girlfriend.

Meanwhile, Teague is working his way closer to Russo .....

First published in 1979, this is a well written serial killer thriller ... using nothing but a detective's gut feelings and intuitions. There are no forensic AHA moments anywhere to be found.

Edward Teague, as he continues his country-wide search for new victims, takes the reader back to his younger days, when his father would take him hunting. He is applying all those helpful hints to stalking, substituting women for the bear or deer. And each kill is more brutal than the last.

Lt. Russo is a good cop ... and he knows his instincts are correct when it comes to Teague. And he's going to prove it one way or the other. The reader gets a glimpse of his personal life, which up to now how mostly his life consists of police work. He now has a girlfriend and he is terrified that she may become the Stalking Man's next victim.

The Stalking Man certainly kept me turning the pages to see what happened next.

Many thanks to the author / Endeavour Press / Netgalley who provided a digital copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Mule Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good

One of the best books I've read in awhile. Good, very likable characters that I would have liked to seen again.

[Kaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Stalking Man probably deserves a little more than two stars on the enjoyment front. It was a brisk and fun read that never left you bored. The problem was the storyline was so vanilla and shallow that it has no chance of sticking with me for any length of time. It was very linear and the characters were so simple. The stakes and the third act felt a little cheap and wrapped up in too simple of a way. It wasn’t horrible by any means but there are so many better cat and mouse detective thrillers out there.

[Susan Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of Coughlin's earlier books are being reissued and this is one I hadn't read. Lieutenant Anthony Russo's long career included the successful capture of a serial killer years ago. Edward Teague got an insanity defense and was committed to a mental hospital. But, now he's out but few know it. Russo has to start from scratch and the bodies are piling up. This is a well written, engaging thriller.

[Ronald B. Felts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, lousy editing

This was really good story and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. However, the editing left a lot to be desired.

[George O'Neil, Jr, MD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Crazy evil killer vs great homicide cop thriller with all that's wrong about our current legal system makes for a great read.

[em slaughter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stupid lol

[Tomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story.

[Manu Ribxs · Rating 4 out of 5]

reads like a movie but the ending could've been better tbh

[Nelly Fisher · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF after 100 pages. Don't care about the characters or the plot.

[Edward Weiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even 3-stars is probably to much for this mediocre book, but worse less than a mediocre story.

As the story unfolded, and as the characters were presented, my constant thought was "So what?"

If there ever was a nothing there there this novel is where it is to be found!

Who cares about a serial killer who is barely introduced?

Who cares about a homicide detective the reader barely gets to know?

Who cares about a lawyer the reader gets to know even less?

The interaction between the detective and hid new love is less exciting than a high school romance. We already know that the homicide detective isn't much. The female love character is even less, a woman I would never want to meet, a real schmuck.

Then there is a major typo. On page 14, the serial killer has been found "guilty by reason of insanity."

There is such a verdict as "guilty by reason of insanity." But, it doesn't make sense, at least to the average reader, unless fully explained. Even though i am not a lawyer, I know of this possibility, so since the author is a lawyer, I expected him to explain this to me.

Since he didn't, it had to be a typo, right?

Well, after thinking about it for 27 pages, but still being pretty sure there should have been a "not" in front of the "guilty," on page 41, the book finally tells us "not guilty by reason of insanity."

All-in-all, a major disappointment from an older publication, the author of which I have just discovered.

Well, maybe the next one!

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Endeavour Press for a review copy of The Stalking Man, a police procedural originally published in 1979.

Lieutenant Tony Russo captured a serial killer, known as The Stalking Man, only to see him sent to a psychiatric facility for the criminally insane. A recent spree of grisly killings reminds him of The Stalking Man's M.O. but as the crimes are spread throughout the Midwest, none come under his jurisdiction and The Stalking Man is under lock and key in a secure facility no one is interested in his theories and accuse him of being fixated.

I imagine that this was quite a modern and different novel when it was published with its split narrative between the killer and the police, not so much a whodunnit as a whydunnit. As a forerunner, or perhaps trailblazer, of the psychological thriller it is, however, now showing its age - criminals cannot be called nuts or loony any more. The plot is fairly standard nowadays - smart policeman chases smart serial killer who can't help killing young women because they remind him of his hated mother - but it does have some unexpected twists. The psychology behind it shows how much the discipline has evolved in the past 40 years and appears rather superficial to the modern eye.

The Stalking Man is an interesting novel in that it offers a view of another world (i.e. pre-DNA policing) but the plot now appears a bit simplistic

[lenora crenshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real thriller

Again the author has written a thriller that you can not put down. You are unwilling to put it down even to eat

[Ionia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a really good example of why I love to read thrillers. It was actually...thrilling. I know, I know. Duh. But really, lately I have felt let down by crime fiction and thrillers in general. So many books start out great and then just fizzle out into a long drama of procedural explanations. This one, I am pleased to say, did not do that.

If you are the type of person that likes mysteries that are hard to solve, murders that are creative and happens to possess a strong stomach, this book will be right up your alley. I liked the main detective and his refusal to give up on what he believed in even when he was being pressured to do otherwise. His connection with the killer, as far as him being able to interpret the next move and what the person was thinking enriched the story and made it that much more tangible.

The dialogue in this book is well written and smart, and I kept reading even when I told myself I should put the book down and go do other things. I was captivated by the story and the idea of justice for those who were wronged.

This was a very well thought out, intense story with a lot to recommend it. I'm looking forward to further works from this author.

This review is based on a complementary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Martha Brindley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read about a detective and a serial killer. A bit predictable but still an excellent story. Perhaps a bit too much violence for some people. I read it in one sitting. Thank you Net Galley for my copy.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

So well written. Again, the biggest problem I had with the book was the numerous typos. It must have something to do with translation from printed book to digital output. I don't know. But I can't give it four and a half stars, so I went with five.

[Trina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this arc from Netgalley.

A fairly good read. There were a few things that should have been cleared up that weren't. We never learn exactly what went on with Teague's mother. The ending could have more fleshed out. Overall a passable read.

[Neil · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

This is a fairly predictable thriller.
Although I finished it I have to say it was fairly far fetched.
I could not relate to the characters so was not really bothered with the ending or what happened to them.

[Michele Andre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this authors style of writing. I only have one complaint....it is so poorly edited that it really detracts from the stories. All three of his books I have read are full of typos and mistakes. What's going on here?

[Chaplain Stanley Chapin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great thriller

Too bad that the automatic spell check was not followed by editors. The story was enthralling and kept you involved, however the many words that were spelled wrong, but same sound was disturbing.

[Marci Kimball · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh my God! Review this piece of crap book???

This was, without doubt, the worst piece of vote & drivel I have EVER made myself finish!!! Author???? My ass!!! Story???? No story! Nothing but murder & mayhem on every stinking page!!! What a bummer read this was!!!! Disgusting!

[Brett]

Suspense

[pcb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally enjoy Coughlin's books. I read Death Penalty and The Stalking Man back-to-back and both had a few errors. Ex: lunch when it should have been hunch.

[Joe O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent; serial killer spells out his name using cities where he kills people, then goes after lawyer and cop who previously put him away.

[Rhod · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not for everyone because of the violence, but Coughlin weaves a tale that is hard to put down.

[Benjamin Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good serial killer vs ace detective book. Somewhat predictable, but entertaining.

[Kit★]

This was among a box of books given to me. Will try it someday.

[Brian Leclair · Rating 4 out of 5]

solid and interesting story....with a little bit of discussion on the issue of insanity.

[Mark Zodda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always liked books by William J. Coughlin and picked this up on sale. While mostly a good read, it hasn't held up well over the 20+ years since it was published.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After killing many women, a psychopath is determined insane and sent to an asylum. What happens when he is released is horrifying and one detective knows who is it. No-one believes him 26