I love this writer, as do I love the New Orleans life it describes to a tea, a Great Mysery writer and edgar award-winning author.
Skip Langdon is bummed about the case of a reincarnated serial killer of 70 years ago.
This novel, along with a slew of quirky characters, captures the rich look of pre-Katrina, New Orleans. This is a stunning story of a serial killer loose among the city's self-help groups. The tradition of anonymity gives the predator good cover and their neediness makes "12 steppers" easy prey. The "girl" detective Skip, is a interesting and like-able southern character and you will want to read more of the Skip Langdon series. A well-researched, with psychological insights thriller!
This is part of a series of mysteries set in New Orleans. Great descriptions of the city in the decade before Katrina, and a wonderful main character, a policewoman named Skip Langdon.
For dective Skip Langdon, cheated of a romatic vacation by the killing of Linda Lee Stricklan, the case is a bummer. Yet as she treatds her fascinated way from one self-help group to another, she finds she has more in common with the twelve-steppers then just the murder. And she knows what they do not; that among their anonymous numbers is a deadly dangerous, and dangerously attractive psychopath.
From Kirkus Reviews: "New Orleans social-misfit Skip Langdon postpones her vacation from homicide when the ``Axeman'' writes the police and taunts them about two murders he has committed. Both victims belonged to several 12-step recovery programs, so Skip and her fellow officers attend meetings, swipe membership phone lists, and finally concentrate on two group participants--Di, once up on charges for child abuse, and Alex, a randy psychiatrist once accused of assault. Another murder occurs before Skip and sharp-tongued police-shrink Cindy Lou realize that Di is being framed. By then, however, Axeman has taken Alex hostage, and the two women must talk the killer into giving himself up..." Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
