Murder Code

September 16, 2013
Det. Andrew Hicks likes to believe he has reduced homicide investigation to a science, but his system seems woefully inadequate pitted against a diabolic serial killer in this grisly but ingeniously plotted British thriller, Mosby’s U.S. debut (previously published in the U.K. as Dark Room). The killer terrorizes with blitzkrieg efficiency an unnamed industrial city that somewhat resembles Mosby’s hometown of Leeds, daring police to decipher the pattern underlying his apparently random savagery. As Hicks—wrestling with personal demons, including his disintegrating marriage—and his acerbic partner, Det. Laura Fellowes, desperately scramble to crack their adversary’s “code,” Mosby deftly explores themes of evil, fate, and the possibility of a grander design in life, even if it’s one we only imagine that we see. Though the book is not for the squeamish—graphic scenes include a bludgeoning murder and animal torture—Mosby’s strong characters, stunning plot twists, and overall assurance leave a powerful impression.

October 15, 2013
A series of brutal murders intersect with a detective's troubled past in an unnamed British city. When Detective Andy Hicks examines the faceless corpse of Vicki Gibson, he clings to his philosophy that every murder has an explanation, even something as senseless as beating a young woman to death with a hammer. The similar murder of a homeless man further tests Hicks' belief and distances him from his pregnant wife, Rachel. She knows he doesn't want their baby, but Hicks can't tell her why. After more bludgeoned bodies appear, a pattern emerges that includes isolated locations, easy prey and a killer dressed in black who sends a letter to Hicks, taunting him that even he won't be able to crack the code the killer has generated. Worse still is evidence of a murder in progress that Hicks is helpless to prevent. When the killer attacks someone from one of Hicks' earliest cases, the detective is forced to confront his most painful memories as he frantically studies the murderous pattern for the one element that doesn't fit. Hicks is right: There is a reason for the murders, even though it's not altogether persuasive. Still, you root for him and Rachel to reconcile as he struggles to end the killings and his own pain. Mosby (Black Flowers, 2011, etc.) spares no graphic detail in building tension and terror. His attempts at complexity stretch credulity in an otherwise crackling good tale.

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November 1, 2013
If it's possible for a detective to be complacent about murder, Detective Inspector Andrew Hicks fits the bill. He is convinced crimes always make sense; there's always a pattern if you look hard enough. His theory is put to the test when he arrives on the scene of the brutal murder of a young woman and finds, not far off, the similarly brutalized body of a homeless man. Aside from the manner of killing, there's no personal connection between the victimsor between other victims discovered in the days that follow. Just as puzzling are the letters Hicks receives from the killer; their rational tone seems totally at odds with the frenzied manner of the murders. Further complicating matters, Hicks' attention is divided between the case and the upcoming arrival of his first child, an event that brings forward memories of his abusive father and fears that his father's influence and his own past actions will compromise his ability to be a good parent. In the end, everything turns out to be about fathers and sons. Satisfying reading for those who favor character-driven crime fiction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)