Plot or Premise

A serial killer is stalking hotel guests in New York City, and the police have no leads.

What I Liked

Delaney is asked for advice to help track down the killer after the second body drops. The MO is identical…a man alone in the city, a potential tryst in the room, naked or close to it, a stab wound in the neck, repeated stabbing of his genitals, a wet and wiped down bathroom, and missing towels. And no robbery or apparent motive. Eventually, Delaney starts to suspect it’s a woman, even though there are few examples anywhere of serial killers who are women.

The twists and turns, including information leaking out to the woman, are interesting. As is the life of the woman, what she’s experiencing, and the mental health conditions that are messing with her mind.

At one point, Delaney and his wife are talking about the case and how “mechanical” it feels, putting lists together (similar to The First Deadly Sin) as if they are “accountants”, and that feeling is definitely palpable but also believable.

What I Didn’t Like

The politics of the police station and who is backstabbing who are boring, as is the constant fixation on the killer’s medical fears.

The Bottom Line

Heavy on procedure and a rare female serial killer story for the time