The Night Stalker (Erika Foster Series, 2)

Overall I think I liked this one better than the first one, but on the other hand, it wasn't anything particularly special I suppose. It was your typical murder mystery. The main character frustrates me because she keeps operating outside the law and being super brash and all, but at least there's some consequence of that in this book. I also really like the developing relationship between Erika and Isaac, and I hope there will be more of that in the next book. Otherwise, I don't really have much to say. I felt that the final take-down of the killer was pretty anticlimactic, tbh, so that was kind of disappointing. I'll probably still keep reading this series though.

I realize this is a very mediocre review and not exactly a ringing endorsement.

There's a summer heat wave in London, in the midst of which Detective Erika Foster is called to the scene of a murder. A local doctor, his wrists bound, suffocated when a clear plastic bag was placed over his head and tied securely. He had also ingested Rohypnol, commonly known as a date rape drug or "Roofies." When another victim, murdered in precisely the same manner, is discovered a few days later, Erika knows a serial killer is on the loose. What do the victims have in common? They are single men.

Erika is determined what links the victims. Do they harbor secret pasts? What is the killer's motive? As usual, she must deal with administrative short-sightedness and superior officers seeking political expediency. Undeterred, Erika will stop at nothing to solve the mystery before the killer claims more victims. And when the killer gets close to Erika, she becomes even more focused.

Robert Bryndza introduced Erika in The Girl in the Ice, and follows up that fast-paced thriller with another deftly-plotted mystery in which he continues exploring Erika's tragic past and the manner in which her emotional state fuels her determination. The second anniversary of her husband's untimely death is upon her, and she is unwilling to let grief slow her down. Indeed, her mourning has taken on new characteristics as time passes, a fact that she examines and must cope with.

Bryndza reveals the killer and the motive fairly early in the story, setting up a game of cat and mouse between the tragically deranged murderer and Erika that keeps readers turning the pages. Despite interference and direct orders (that she of course disregards) from her superiors, Erika places herself in danger in order to catch the killer and save a dear friend & colleague. In the process, the action never stops until the satisfying conclusion. Despite reveal the killer's identity, Bryndza throws in a few curveballs to sustain readers' interest and delivers an exciting adventure. The Night Stalker is a worthy second installment in the Erika Foster series.

Thanks to Net Galley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.