This is the author's best book yet in the series even though I've enjoyed all of them. While the others were suspenseful, this one was a real nail biter for me. I couldn't put it down. Even took it with me on trips to the bathroom!
Mac McRyan is once again teamed with Dara Wire in what I think is their most interesting case yet. They have a serial killer on their hands who, for some reason unbeknownst to them, is posing his bodies to resemble paintings by well known artist Peter Paul Rubens. The killer, himself, refers to himself as Rubens. Not only does he take his time staging the bodies elaborately but at the scene of each crime he leaves McRyan and Wire a clue and a timer. Its up to them to find the clue, which happens to be the name of the killer's next victim, decipher it, and race to find the woman before Rubens can complete his dastardly deed. As they dig into the investigation, they are amazed at Ruben's diligence in choosing the women he kills. Each one is what is referred to as being Rubenesque in stature. In all of the artist's paintings the women are plus sized so this is the type of woman the killer stalks. McRyan discovers Rubens has spent weeks, sometimes months, following his next victim, learning her likes and dislikes, her circle of friends if she has any, where she shops, what she reads, if she visits art galleries, museums, libraries. Mac learns the killer is well educated and can presumably relate to the women's interests which is what helps to attract them to him. The women are always loners with no family and few friends so there's little chance of anyone remembering Rubens later. His plotting of their demise is meticulous, leaving no room for error.
As Mac and Dara ferret out the clues, which is like finding a needle in a haystack, the clock is ticking. As their team works to find the identity of the next victim, Mac tries to get into the guy's head, to figure out what motivates him, how his mind works, and why he's chosen Rubens over all the other great artists. Mac also has to consider the phone calls he gets from the killer, taunting him, challenging him at every turn.
I was hooked from the start with this one and the ending was a total surprise. I did not see it coming. The sad part is waiting for the next book to come out to see where Mac and Dara go from here. Judging from the author's previous work, its bound to be good.