Search - Alone with the Dead (Joe Keough, Bk 1)

New York City is in the grip of a nightmare. A twisted serial killer called the Lover is stalking young women, leaving his calling card with their dead bodies-a single rose. But that's not the worst part.

There's a copy-cat out there too, determined to do his idol one better. But the Lover isn't flattered. He's furious that some rank amateur is mudding his good name. As the nightmare grows ever more intense, one detective begins to suspect the truth. And as his superiors close ranks on him, he realizes that his only ally may be...the Lover himself.

The introduction of detective Joe Keough, a hard-living, hard-driving Matthew Scudder-type. I'm really looking forward to reading more by Randisi and about Keough.

NYC women are being stalked by a twisted serial killer known as the Lover. There's a copy cat out there too. Can the detective on the case figure it out?

Not a synopsis. This is the second Randisi book, and I'm definitely going to order more. Well written, attention grabbing and holding. The protagonist is very likable and believable. All the male characters are well developed. Female characters are fairly typical damsels, but luckily are not big parts of the story.