Lovemurder - Saul Black
The predictability and familiarity of the serial killer plot of Saul Black's second Valerie Hart thriller is both its weakness and its strength. Its weakness is that it's very much a of cat-and-mouse thriller in the Manhunter or Silence of the Lambs mode, where an uneasy relationship and even grudging respect builds up between the detective and the killer. It's a dangerous relationship to form as it can be one that gets into your head, and there are some images and thoughts one doesn't want put there. The strength of this familiar scenario is that not only is it still thrilling, but it gives the author enough the opportunity to delve into some very uncomfortable places to explore deeper questions about human behaviour, and Black proves to be very capable indeed. Six years prior to the events of the current situation in Lovemurder Valerie Hart was involved in the case of two particularly twisted killers who sexually humiliated, tortured and abused six female victims b...