Dean Blackwood is an FBI agent, well for the next 3 years. He has to take some of the cases that no one else can solve as he is paying back for what he and his father had done. So, to not prosecute Dean, he has to work the next three years on his assignments.
For the start of this one, they have given Dean some time off before his next case. He plans to maybe take his girlfriend on a vacation and just get some rest. But, his sister, who is a Lt in a local police department has called and asked for his help. She has some murders that are happening in her city and thinks that Dean with all his abilities can help her. This serial killer has a reason for killing and he might be able to kill Dean before he figures out who is targeting these couples and now the Serial Killer left a message for Dean!
I am a bit torn on this series. I dislike "Woody" the voice in Dean's head that is constantly egging him on to extremes. Somehow, the FBI doesn't like his methods but forgives them when he breaks the case wide open. Dean cannot let go once he is on a case, which has caused him contact with his son.
It's not necessary to read the last in the series, but it does reference Dean's involvement in dismantling "SMASH" -a bunch of crooked cops in a previous book.
Talk about intense. Figuring out the puzzles in this book were....just WOW. But if you are not some one who watches movies, like me, you would be in the dark on all the clues.