The Third Deadly Sin

Deadly Sins #4

by Lawrence Sanders

Divorced Zoe Kohler passes as an invisible middle-aged secretary for New York City Hotel Granger security, but by night, in a midnight black long wig, clingy dress, stiletto heels, hiding a lethal Swiss Army knife, she prowls large hotel bars to end lechery of conference attendees. NYPD officer Edward Delaney takes on the serial killer.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Crime, Detective, Suspense, Mystery Thriller

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

There is more than one author with this name

Lawrence Sanders was the New York Times bestselling author of more than forty mystery and suspense novels. The Anderson Tapes, completed when he was fifty years old, received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for best first novel. His prodigious oeuvre encompasses the Edward X. Delaney, Archy McNally, and Timothy Cone series, along with his acclaimed Commandment books. Stand-alone novels include Sullivan's Sting and Caper. Sanders remains one of America’s most popular novelists, with more than fifty million copies of his books in print. Also published as Mark Upton.

Reviews

[*The Angry Reader* · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off - the sandwiches. A plethora. A smorgasbord. So many sandwiches described in such detail. There’s 5 Stars right there.

And then Zoe - she was creepy. Sad. Smart. Careful. And again - creepy. Definitely our best murderer yet.

Edward blurred the lines between good and evil. He was an unctuous prick. Per his normal. His ends always justifying his means. And so damn certain that it’s right. Highhanded. When you add in the feminism and the concept of a female killer. Arguably this was Edward at his worst. Which equates, for the reader, to Edward at his best.

[Algernon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book from Sanders. Read it three times already, since I bought it in second hand bookshop. Serial killers are not usually my cup of tea, but this is something special, more frightening than vampires or werevolves. An ordinary person - the kind that could be living in the apartment next door - developing a taste for murder, her sanity gradually disintegrating, incapable of going back to a normal life, even when given a chance. An ordinary policeman, patiently gathering scraps of evidence and building a psychopat's mental profile, struggling with his own solitude.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Deadly Sin books when they came out, so of course at the time none of it seemed "dated," as many reviewers have said. These police procedurals are the best of the genre, imo, and are also Sanders' best work. The Third Deadly Sin is my favorite of the series.

Captain Edward X. Delaney, Ret., is a lovable character and ace crime-solver who loves sandwiches and Heineken beer. There are two kinds of sandwiches for Delaney: the kind you can eat over a paper towel at the kitchen table, and the kind you have to eat over the sink because of the mess. :)

Most memorable quote: "There, there, there."

[Kathryn Flatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one even better than "The First Deadly Sin." Kept going back to re-read favorite passages in the paperback I had until the darned thing went to pieces. Again, Mr. Sanders switches between viewpoints of the killer and the cop, making for pretty good suspense. The book was written (and I read it) decades ago, before personal computers, cell phones, and the Internet, and I find it fascinating to follow the unraveling of a complex crime by persistence, hard work, and the use of intellect.

[Jill Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

An oldie but goody -- a "must read" for fans of the police procedural.

[Teri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll say it again: sometimes a re-read is just better than a new read. Loving this one all over again.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the cover, bought it, started reading and couldn't put it down, loved the characters, from the detective, his secretary and especially the killer. I feel A must read.

[Circa Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the second deadly sin in the series felt like a tired counterfeit, this entry to the series returns to the dual, reflective perspectives of the criminal and Delaney that I loved about the First Deadly Sin. Still, I was slightly put off by Delaney's deteriorated role in the investigation and his lack of direct influence in the case. The earlier books followed his painstaking research, routines, file keeping, analysis , reluctant manipulation tactics and questionings and how each tedious step was crucial to drawing to a big clue to the suspect. I felt this grounded the series to a sense of realism and I appreciated learning about the true nature of police procedures and detective work when dealing with crime on a large scale.

It may have made for slower storytelling, but it also allowed for plenty of insightful dialogue with Delaney's many coworkers, witnesses, friends, etc about the nature of the criminal, social issues, city politics, the nature of man, and psychology. As each step cautiously opened up a new lead, Delaney and his various associate characters were given room to breath, play off each other and reveal the quirky, flawed, soulful spirit of New York, Sander's vision of diverse humanity and the progressive ebb and flow of the 1960s and 70s.

In this one Delaney is truly more of a consultant role and is relegated to getting pissed off at public relations inspired decisions from the commissioner and ruminating over every frustrating inconsistency of the crime with his wife Monica. He may be retired and a bit older, fatter and less compromising than the modern cops he is drawn back in to working with, but I don't see why that should detract from a stronger role in the plot of the book. I mean he's the protagonist and choice lead Sanders fans return to again and again for a reason. I wanted to see Iron Balls being good ole' Iron Balls and sidestepping compromise, convention and moderation to get the next lead. Here he was remarkably restrained and it wasn't in keeping with his tireless obsession with justice from the previous books.

Moving on from Delaney, I was happy to see Boone relegated to an informative convenience character rather than partner. He was a waste of space in the last book and he's no more interesting in this one, although perhaps a bit whinier and less patient. Monica was surprisingly more involved in the book and her exploratory conversations with Delaney foreshadow and follow many climatic criminal chapters. I'm torn on whether this development was a charming addition though. While I appreciate how the series has slowly solidified Delaney and Monica's partnership and marriage, I found her more abrasive, critical and moody than usual.

So why the four stars? Because like the First Deadly Sin, Sanders captures a captivating, yet sad and frightening criminal perspective. Zoe Kohler is cold, calculating, deeply irrational and hiding a secret bloodlust. A true predator. However, much like Daniel Blank, she is still uncannily complex, human and pitiful. Sanders is not so crude as to degrade his work into strict battles of good vs. evil or strip the criminals down to villainous, repugnant monsters. He carefully develops Zoe in a way that retains moment of humanity, hope and sensitivity. Every month she slits a man's throat and genitals, but she is also falling in love with her gentle-natured boyfriend, acting as shoulder to cry on for her boisterous and lost best friend and dreaming of a future where she could be married, healthy and complete and not have to resort to violence to feel strong and alive.

There are no easy answers or explanations for why she commits brutal murder or how she can continue a dark path and continue on in her humble secretarial life. She is simply broken. Opportunities for redemption and fulfillment come too late and her story coincides with the fast-paced investigation in a quiet, lingering tragedy. Literally the end of her personal journey and degradation is so fucking depressing and fatalistic that I held one of those thousand yard stares for a good ten minutes after turning the last page.

Delaney once again strives and feels out desperately for human contact with the criminal. Wanting to go beyond clerical and police profile understanding and actually examine the humanity within the headlines beast upclose. With the exception of the second deadly sin, Sanders never allows Delaney this moment. All the pulpy noir action builds to a profoundly sad truth that the sociopathic or criminal mind is always out of the reach of our understanding and resolute, clean justice is typically an unrealized ideal. Police procedural investigation and a keen sense of human profiling can only get Delaney as far as acknowledging the culprit but it can never guarantee a walk in their shoes or the satisfaction of live, face to face arrest. He is denied the answers he fears the most and secretly yearns to know but at the end resigns to his wife and home. Ivar asks "How do you figure?" and Delaney can only reply "I can't".

[Urenna Sander · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book sometime ago and consider it a page turner. You won't want to put it down. Lawrence Sanders is an excellent storyteller.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these books about Edward X. Delaney, retired NYPD detective. This one is about a female serial killer who seduces and then murders her victims. Sanders definitely gives a convincing glimpse into the mind of the killer, though all of the characters in his books are always so well-depicted. And yes, Edward does eat a lot of sandwiches in this book, too.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 3rd Deadly Sin by Lawrence Sanders (1982)

[David Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of a kind trail-blazing fiction from an age when "Serial Killer" was a new concept in the lexicon of human speech and experience. Creepy. Stay out of hotel bars.

[Tina R Jolliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A can’t put down read

I stayed up all night I was so engrossed in this one, third one in the series and so far the best. I love the story line and writing style. I only wish I could pinpoint the time frame better, I thinking 70s I keep wondering why they are not reviewing surveillance footage

[Melissa Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of his best.

If you've never been sorry for the killer this might well change that. Zoe is the epitome of the plain jane. A woman who few look at once much less twice. But she has a secret deadly side no one knows about. In spite of this she pulls at the heart.

[David K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Book

All of the Deadly Sin books never disappoint. Edward X. Delaney at his very best and so are his sandwiches!

[Cheryl · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh! Abandoned at 50% mark. Too dated and too sexist - even for 1981 when it was published. Lots of stupid theories about "Women's Liberation" creating female criminals. Avoid this one.

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read most of Sanders work over 20 years ago. I decided to revisit them and review them. The protagonist Chief Delaney is very well written as a retired police detective. I love that Sanders has a deep understanding of police procedure and everything seems plausible which is rare for crime thrillers nowadays.
Chief Delaney loves making sandwiches and this described in detail really made me hungry..lol. New York is the perfect backdrop for his books. The detectives working the case are competent and you can actually learn some things.
This is one of my favorite of all his books. Can you feel for a serial murderer? Turns out if it's a woman you can. I truly believe Sanders made this a point in the novel. I genuinely felt sorry for Zoe. That may sound strange but definitely read this book and see. Some have said Sanders work is dated, I totally disagree. Just space the books out, they are all great reads. I didn't remember the plot ( over 25 years ago, but Delaney was like an old family member coming to visit, unforgettable, I rarely reread books, unless they are written as well as Sanders).

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a series of gruesome murders take place in New York City’s finest hotels the NYPD’s best efforts to solve the case fall short. There is just no rhyme or reason behind why the “Hotel Ripper” is doing this and seemingly no way to stop it. So they call in the now-retired Chief Edward X. Delaney to assist in the case, knowing his history with achieving the impossible.

I read my first Lawrence Sanders book way back in 1994. It was called The First Deadly Sin and it was something completely new for me. At that time, I read mostly science fiction and fantasy novels with the occasional historical fiction thrown in but rarely did I stray into the realms of mystery or thrillers or serial killers or any such combination. But that book changed my outlook and I realized there was a lot more out there to read than just my old stomping ground genres.

Nevertheless, it was years later before I finally read the second book in the series and I was equally enthralled by that one as well. The hero of the series, Edward X. Delaney, is unlike any other cop/detective/PI that I have read before or since (and I now read dozens of these kinds of books every year). He is meticulous to the nth degree and in fact if you look up the word “meticulous” in the dictionary, you will see a picture of Edward X. Delaney, New York Police Dept right there.

The author of these books does a great job at recognizing the sheer hard work and detail-oriented procedures that police go through to solve tough cases. There is just no substitute for pounding the pavement, interviewing countless potential witnesses, running queries through databases, etc. That’s how cases get solved. And since this book takes place around 1980 or so, the easy solutions that we see today on CSI or NCIS (especially DNA evidence and computer assistance) just wasn’t as robust then. But while this sort of police-procedural approach sounds boring, these books are “thrillers”, meaning we readers already know whodunnit, right from the very beginning, and get to spend a lot of time with the perp(s) as well, and even gaining some sympathy towards their lives. This third book in the series is particularly noted for that, with the serial killer becoming almost entirely sympathetic to us as they experience a mental journey unlike any I’ve read about before.

I only have one more in this series to go but I can guarantee it won’t be another 5 years before I tackle that one…

[L. · Rating 1 out of 5]

Zoe Kohler is a Plain Jane by day, serial killer by night, and menstrual cycle. For some reason it's imperative we follow every step of her hygiene routine. What kind of soap she uses. What it smells like. How much it cost. Where she bought it. I DON'T CARE!

On the other side of the law is retired detective Edward X. Delaney. I've not read any other books in the series so I don't know what the X stands for but by God you do not leave it out. Once in a rare instance the character is referred to as just Delaney, but otherwise he is the full Edward (not Ed or Eddie) X. Delaney.

Anyway, with Edward X. Delaney it is imperative we know exactly what he is eating. Is he making a sandwich? How many layers? What kind of bread did he put it on. What condiments did he use? Is he eating it over the sink? I DON'T CARE!

This was just a hideous old book filled with misogyny, racism and homophobia. When the killings first begin the police force simply can't believe a woman could be a suspect therefore the killer must be a gay man in drag. The police start shaking down (harassing) the gay community. Edward X. Delaney is the only one who has a theory the killer is a woman. He further theorizes the reason for the murder spree is because the pressures of women's lib have caused a woman to flip her lid and become a serial killer. Women aren't able to handle the new freedoms and responsibilities of equality, which is why alcoholism, drug use and crime rates are on the rise. I think I gave myself whiplash from all the head shaking I was doing at this point. A new character is introduced who is of Asian descent and author Lawrence Sanders writes this man like something out of a Charlie Chan flick. I would not have been a bit surprised if Dr. Ho had been given a line like, "Honorable Detective Edward X. Delaney, Confucius say, 'Dog who barks at midnight, gets boot up the ass.'"

I almost teetered on being generous and giving this a two star rating as the pace does pick up well in the second half of the book. But in the end I have to be true to myself and admit I did not enjoy this book at all. There is not one nice thing I can say about it. This was a best seller in 1981, probably from the novelty of having a female serial killer, but I would not recommend this to anyone. Blech.

[Jill Meyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Lawrence Sanders died about 20 years ago, after publishing 25 or so books. Mostly mysteries, I think, the ones I read back when they were published in book form, were story-telling masterworks. Oh, the plots were the same old ones that all mystery writers seem to use, and the characters were fairly plastic, but somehow, Sanders put an interesting spark in his writing that made a reader want to read on... Now that ebooks are being published, Sanders' backlist is coming to your Kindle app. I recently bought and read Sanders' "Deadly Sins" series. I've read Second through Fourth and will go back and read "First". I want to review "Third Deadly Sin" as I think it was the most interesting of the three I've read.

New York City in the late 1970's is recovering from the Son of Sam murderer. People remember all too well the random murders - men, women, couples, were found shot to death all over town. "Son of Sam" was real; the murderer in "The Third Deadly Sin" is fictional, but plays off "Sam" and the terror he caused. These murders, which take place in hotels all over mid-town, are brutal ones. Men are found with their throats slashed ,and their genitals basically hacked off. Former police captain, Edward X Delaney is chafing in his retirement and the powers-that-be call on his expertise to advise the police task force on the killings. Sanders established the murderer early in the book and the reader becomes involved in both the killings and the police precedurals as the spree continues to terrorize New York City.

Lawrence Sanders also does an excellent job in moving Edward X Delaney's life and family and friends forward as the years pass. That's very important in series books which feature the same characters. And for today's readers, it's interesting compare today's policing methods with those in the 1970's. I was glad to go back and read Sanders' series and found them as enjoyable now as they were when I first read them.

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mr. Sanders makes an interesting choice with this detective novel by providing slowly converging plot lines from the very beginning. We know the name and motive of the murderer, and the book is devoted to the detective's slowly approaching her until the book's finale. This helped avoid the annoying provision of an obvious decoy suspect halfway through the book, which so many other mystery/detective authors seem to love.

On the other hand, the book just wasn't that great. The main character, Edward X. Delaney, is compelling enough, but it seems like every second page is devoted to details about what everybody was drinking (and everyone drinks so much that I wonder how they can still be functional). The book is set in the '70's, so there is plenty of side dialogue about feminism, which helps support the main twist of the book, which is *SPOILER ALERT, BUT NOT REALLY* that the murderer is a new kind of liberated woman who can commit mass murder, just like a man. The plot felt really dated to me, unsurprising in a book that is as old as I am. The medical details were also completely unrealistic, featuring the miracle-genius physician who knows everything (and draws his own blood), and his dutiful nurse who does nothing.

Anyway, the basic point is that it isn't really worth reading. I won't be picking up any of Mr. Sanders' other books.

[Surreysmum · Rating 3 out of 5]

[Thee notes were made in 1984:]. If I remember aright (and it's been a while), the "First" and "Second" books in this series are in the same pattern as this effort: the mystery is not in whodunit, or how, but why. Sanders takes us through two alternating narratives, one of the killer, and one of the detection efforts of Edward X. Delaney. The latter is always slightly further back in time to emphasize the catch-up nature of detective work, and Delaney never does completely confirm his hypotheses (we have confirmed them, tho'), since the killer commits suicide just before he catches up with her. Yes, her: this one's about a psychotic female mass murderer who stabs a man every month at the onset of her period. That sounds gross and sensationalistic, but Sanders manages to palliate it somewhat by giving it a philosophical and ethical context in the musings of his detective and the feminist leanings of Mrs. Delaney. I read this on an overnight plane flight, and it was just right: interesting enough to keep me awake, but not so demanding as to frustrate my sleepy brain!

[Anne Patkau · Rating 1 out of 5]

Suffering from painful menstrual cramps by day, divorced Zoe Kohler passes as an invisible middle-aged secretary for New York City Hotel Granger security, but by night, in a midnight black long wig, clingy dress, stiletto heels, hiding a lethal Swiss Army knife, she prowls large hotel bars to end lechery of conference attendees. NYPD officer Delaney takes on the serial killer. (Not a spoiler, because Sanders starts with her.)

I'm more for the drawing room puzzles of Christie than X-plicit X-rated. "She did not masturbate", lingerie concealing "the nipples and pudendum" p 32, "his flaccid penis and testicles, half-hidden .. With bloodied, slippery hand, she drove the knife blade again and again into his genitals" p 43.

Ick, uck, and yuck. I pushed through, forgot everything. Months later, barely read one chapter. I prefer eccentricity of his Archy McNally detective (though over-sexed) and Palm Beach setting.

[shapeofaflyingdeer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first time I read this and every other subsequent time I did so I found this work to be a masterpiece. In character variation in lit Zoe Keller is almost as prototypical as Scarlet O’Hara. She is every bit as heavy-handed as Candyman. You cannot embarrass her. She doesn’t (really) embarrass herself. She is quite an original character type in literature. This is probably my favorite Sanders work.

[Linda Branham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another reread. Some people think these books are outdated.... well they are old...written in 1981. Things were much different then, and they demonstrate the times that were written, Being a feminist, no cell phones, etc. I hardly think Mr. Sanders could include cell phones when they hadn;t been invented yet :)

[Jevon Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawrence Sanders nails in in these four series, I have read them all and one of them twice. I first read about him in the seventh grade, and although deceased I would still recommend these books to anyone who loves reading about a gritty, know it all, down to earth detective that lives for his job and solves the most hideous of crimes.

[Leif · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a whydunnit. A great part of the Deadly Sin series. I actually felt for the killer in a bizarre way although the killing ofc is far beyond me. Delaney, as though the entire series, is excellent.

[Masha Lagonell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I completely loved this book and will read it again some time. This guy's description of each scene and character, even the smallest things like Delaney's sandwich and beer are amazing. Can't wait to read the others.

[Suzie Q · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kinda predictable but I'm not sure if that was intentional or not. Also I found the whole PMSing thing to be quite cliché.

[Jack Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Lawrence Sanders has been writing for a long time, this excellent book shows why. I plan to read all his books now.