SECOND CHANCE

An FBI profiler chases a methodical serial killer who gleefully taunts him in Byrne’s debut thriller.

Deke O’Brien is fresh out of rehab for his alcoholism. He had succumbed to the stress of his work at the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit as well as guilt over his son’s playground injury, sustained while under his care. Now he’s on a case, already underway: Someone has been sexually assaulting women at movie theaters after injecting them with a lethal dose of a paralytic drug. The “Movie Theater Killer” finds victims in various United States cities, but even DNA evidence and security footage have not led the authorities to any suspects. Then the killer begins texting and calling Deke, goading him with all he knows about the profiler, including details about his divorce. His derisive messages soon turn to threats against Deke’s family and others the profiler is close to. Much of this grim and intermittently violent novel unfolds like a procedural, as Deke and his partner, Louise D’Antoni, meticulously look over details on the murders to build a profile. This approach leads to some repetition, as they often reexamine what they know without any new information. The narrative periodically shifts to the killer’s perspective; his manner of seeking out victims and the development of his M.O. are very disturbing (“A lone female is sitting way up on the left, all by herself, in the second-to-last row. She looks youngish and attractive—exactly what he looks for”). His identity is kept from readers, who will be right alongside Deke trying to unmask the serial killer. Later in the story, a startling revelation puts readers ahead of the FBI; while that dampens the mystery, it also boosts suspense to know that Deke is closer to the killer than he realizes. The story closes with an exciting and gratifying final act.

An unnerving villain invigorates this dark, absorbing murder mystery.