43 - ANNIVERSARY MAN: R.J. ELLORY

Twenty years ago John Costello's life, as he knew it, ended. He and his beautiful girlfriend, Nadia, were victims of the deranged 'Hammer of God' killer who terrorised New Jersey City throughout the summer of 1984. Nadia was killed instantly. John survived, but withdrew from society, emerging only to work as a crime researcher for a major newspaper. Damaged he may be, but no one in New Jersey knows more about serial killers than John Costello. Then a new spate of murders starts - all seemingly random and unrelated - until John discovers a complex pattern that links them. But could this dark knowledge be about to threaten his life?

Another lucky find from the newer book shelf at the library. I had stopped bothering with most thriller type novels finding them becoming very similar and in some cases beyond gory. This one caught me from the very beginning and kept me turning pages right to the end. I will be checking out Ellory's previous novels and can only hope I enjoy the characters and find the storyline as readable.

I recommend this one to police, mystery and thriller readers.