By the time of this fifth novel, I was growing tired of the sexual obsession theme found in three of the previous four novels. This tale is about a man who is technically a serial killer, but not of the "normal" type. As the FBI's Crime Classification Manual points out, there are more motives to multiple homicides than sexual predation. I wanted to dig deeper into Richard's psychological challenges, as well as Jill's continuing struggle to accommodate herself to her husband's vocation. She too has gone through tremendous peril, not once, but twice.

 

          As this story progressed, a new reminder of the fragility of life, and of what Richard calls "the random cast of fate's net" arose. Now, the Carters have Mirabelle to build their lives around. He feels that fate has granted him two precious loved ones that he doesn't deserve. Illogically, he fears an approaching redress of the balances.

          A puzzling sniper case becomes personal when the killer strikes close to home. Accusations of police involvement in the drug trade stirred up by an unscrupulous local editor flood the area while the snipings continue. This story is all about the search for a motive.