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Seventy-five years ago, the Torso Killer terrorized a city with a horrific spree of murder/dismemberments. He was never caught.
It would be impossible for the maniac to still be at large—and active—today . . .
A decapitated body has been found in a sealed room in an abandoned building—and forensic scientist Theresa MacLean believes the decades-old corpse is a previously unaccounted-for victim of the legendary psychopath. But the discovery of a second body—newly slain and bearing the unmistakable signature of the Torso Killer—suggests the unthinkable: that a copycat serial killer is following in a madman’s bloody footprints.
A long-dormant nightmare has been reawakened as a dark history repeats itself. Theresa MacLean’s forensic investigation has opened a door into a terrifying past—a door someone desperately wants to keep closed . . . and will keep killing to make it so.
Lisa Black is the author of three previous thrillers featuring Theresa MacLean: Trail of Blood, Evidence of Murder, and Takeover. A latent fingerprint examiner and CSI in Florida and a former forensic scientist for the Cleveland coroner's office, she is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and has testified in more than fifty homicide trials. A native of Cleveland, she lives in Cape Coral, Florida.
Anonymous
Posted March 4, 2013
I bought this book once a long time ago and did not make the connection from the description, but as soon as I read the first page I remembered. This would not have been so bad,but I did it with two of this author' s books. Both were worth a reread. I guess purchasing them twice, I could say they were doubly good. These books are graphic and pretty violent. They remind me of Patricia Cornwell's early books. This series is based on a woman forensic specialist as well and is very believable. No sex or cursing, but lots of gore. Well edited. I only noticed three mistakes in 330 pages. Recommended for readers 18 and up.
AD
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.reaganFF
Posted February 26, 2011
Being a Clevelander, I really enjoy how specific Lisa Black's Theresa MacLean novels are with regard to Cleveland landmarks.
This book references Cleveland's "Torso" serial killer that plagued Cleveland in the 1930s. Those murders are being recreated, and Theresa MacLean must solve the mystery of who is the culprit.
I've researched the Torso Murders in the past, and I was very pleased to see how meticulous Ms. Black was with her research; although this is a fictionalized account of the Torso Murders, she takes great pains to bring the past to life and help the reader understand just what was going on during that time in Cleveland. This is by far the best part of the story.
The modern-day storyline has good pacing, and while it's a bit incredible at points, is a relatively solid 'whodunit.' While I don't think this is in any way a deep book that would be a good book club choice, it's definitely a good suspense novel. I've already purchased two of her other books for my nook and look forward to future novels from this author.
9 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.DAinNY1
Posted October 6, 2010
The discovery of a mutilated body is connected to a serial killer who caused havoc nearly a century ago. When the same type of mutilation is found on several bodies, it looks like the work of a copy-cat serial killer. The author takes us on a past and present journey that culminates in the identity of the two killers. This book was a thrilling ride that I did not want to get off. The non-stop action kept me turning the pages from the first paragraph to the last sentence. The suspense was so riveting, I didn't know which way I was being led. The back and forth between past and present was well written and I loved how they both meshed together.
9 out of 9 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Just as 19th century London had its unsolved Jack the Ripper killings, so, too, did Cleveland, Ohio have a string of horrific and unsolved murders in the 1930s. Labeled the "Torso Killer" because of the remains he left of mutilated corpses, the killer was never found...not even by investigator Eliot Ness! When forensic scientist Theresa MacLean is called in to examine a headless corpse found on a building site, she discovers that the remains are over 70 years old which means it falls into the killing period covered by the infamous serial killer. What follows is a scary investigation which often leads the reader to flinch at Theresa's often reckless attempts to solve the crime. She is an Everywoman trying to raise a teen, considering a new relationship...oh, yeah, and trying to find a murderer who had eluded all attempts in the past to bring him to justice. Flasbacks give us the identity of the dead man, making him a flesh and blood character which lends his murder poignancy. Black's use of an actual historical crime as her jumping off point for this modern crime story gives it extra depth and, as always, Cleveland as a city lends its own character to the book.
8 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Mobad
Posted March 22, 2013
Write is fair at best. The killer is easily exposed within the first few chapters and dances painfully along until the conclusion.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 19, 2013
This book will have you wanting more. I promise you that when you pick up this book you will not want ro set it down.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 14, 2013
Good book
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 6, 2013
Hello. She growled.
1 out of 26 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 24, 2013
This is my first book by Ms. Black. It was a really god read. I did find it interesting that part of the book delved into the true case of the "Torso Killer." She did a great job of weaving that historical case into a modern day mystery and I loved it!
It started off kind of slow, but once it got rolling the mystery really pulled me in.
Great first read by this author, I will definitely be looking for more from her!
-- SPeeD
Anonymous
Posted April 19, 2013
Still on book #2.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.didi109
Posted April 19, 2013
Another good book. I am enjoying the Theresa Maclean series.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Great book. Lots of twists and turns, but I figured out the culprit before the end. It was still a good read. Could be a bit graphic.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.melamia
Posted April 16, 2013
A good, simple read. Recommended.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.gator1mom
Posted April 12, 2013
I usually like Lisa Black's books. I just could not get into this one. It was very slow, not enough excitement and not enough conversation. I didn't even finish it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Kenzer
Posted April 7, 2013
This book was okay, it is a book that goes from the past to the present and back and fourth. It was a good story but it did drag a bit. Wouldn't read it again
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 7, 2013
I enjiy this series
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 5, 2013
Story was ok. Noted several typos
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 5, 2013
I enjoyed the book and the suspense. I did get confused with all the
railroad lines however so I just didn't focus on those.
2KnitOrNaught
Posted April 5, 2013
I just finished the first 3 books in this series- amazing learing experience although disturbing. Represents the darkest of the culture and the issues related to then and now.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 31, 2013
336 pages that keeps you from 1st to last page, this is a really good mystery. I did figure out the killer when the fibers were found. If you like mysteries read this. This is my favorite of books by this writer. GJRA
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Overview
Seventy-five years ago, the Torso Killer terrorized a city with a horrific spree of murder/dismemberments. He was never caught.
It would be impossible for the maniac to still be at large—and active—today . . .
A decapitated body has been found in a sealed room in an abandoned building—and forensic scientist Theresa MacLean believes the decades-old corpse is a previously unaccounted-for victim of the legendary psychopath. But the discovery of a ...