Cheater

by Ken Goddard

Cheater is the story of Henry Culver, a surveillance expert who retired from the CIA when his technical skills were used as a front for an assassination. Disgusted and demoralized, Culver seeks other uses for his skills and finds himself employed as a police officer in Fairfax, Virginia - a suburb just outside Washington, D.C. - helping to hunt down a psychopath called "John Doe Thirty-three."
The clues are The sadistic killer goes after his victims through the crawl spaces of their homes...cutting a secret entrance in the floor...installing small hinges...razor-cutting through the carpeting...and then waiting for his victims like a trap-door spider.
But what Henry Culver doesn't know is that John Doe Thirty-three, a.k.a. "Digger," is also a surveillance agent for a rogue faction of the CIA that intends to permanently alter the balance of power in the agency - and in the world. He doesn't know if his old supervisor in the CIA can still be trusted. He doesn't know why a French Interpol officer is suddenly very interested in his welfare. And he doesn't know if one of his childhood friends - and now a fellow police investigator - is really working with Digger on a hidden agenda of their own.
In short, Henry Culver doesn't know just how much danger he's really in....

Genres: Thriller, Fiction

415 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1991

About the author

Ken Goddard describes himself as "a crime scene investigator, forensic scientist, wildlife crime lab director, husband, father, grandfather, supposed cattle rancher, and more to the point, a fiction author who writes fiction novels about professional terrorists, underground chemists, demented burglars and malicious poachers for any number of reasons."

Reviews

[Katy M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Non-stop action. Almost too much so. Too many characters. Not enough characterization. I loved the ending, though.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1997. Goddard is a thriller writer I followed in the 90's and 2000's, his last book was 2011. He was a reliable suspense practitioner.

[Toesnorth's mom]

so-so, too involved

[Nicci · Rating 1 out of 5]

I oouldn't finish this book. It was too confusing. Every time a character would have depth the chapter would change a new character would be introduced. It was distracting.

[Leslie Hysom · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept you on the edge of your chair! Excellent!