Messiah by Boris Starling Review
Messiah by Boris Starling
Onyx Fiction, June 1999.Paperback, 457 pages.
ISBN: 0451409000.
Ordering information:
Amazon.com.
Investigator Red Metcalfe has been noteworthy
in his record of catching murderers and serial killers,
but this latest case has him puzzled. The
first killing was a cruel hanging and the second a savage
beating. Both victims had their tongues removed
and replaced with a silver spoon --
while the victims were still alive, showing
a killer that takes gratification in torture.
The police and Metcalfe could find no clues
at either crime scene. After the police are
called in on a third murder, this time the
victim is beheaded and also has his tongue
cut out and the familiar silver
spoon placed in his mouth, Metcalfe begins to
become more obsessed about this case than
any in his past. Except for the silver spoons,
each crime has been completely different
and the police cannot find any
pattern in the killings. For the first
time in his life since becoming a cop, Metcalfe
can't figure out where to turn for a lead. With his team of
investigators Jez Clifton, Kate Beauchamp and
Duncan Warren, Red must get to the bottom of
this seemingly unsolvable case and try to rid
London of this clever psychopathic killer.
Be prepared for a ghastly killer and a surprising plot turn in this exciting debut from British novelist Boris Starling. The Messiah is one of the most frightening fictional serial killers ever created. He loves to torture, he's methodical and he doesn't leave the police a clue. Starling also does an excellent job creating his heroes. Red Metcalfe, the lead cop, has had some misfortunes in his past that haunt him and is so completely hooked on the case he cannot get away from it even for a moment. His determination to get the job done and his unwillingness to fail are almost an illness itself and cause his wife to leave him. This is the first novel from young British author Boris Starling. who works for a company that specializes in kidnap negotiation and clandestine investigations. Previously, he was a journalist for the British papers The Sun and The Daily Telegraph. Be sure to read this debut thriller from Starling -- and keep your eyes peeled for more books from this hot novelist.
Return to the October 1999 issue of The IWJ.
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