Postcard Killers :James Patterson and Liza Marklund

Author : James Patterson and Liza Marklund




Synopsis (from bookcover)


NYPD detective Jacob Kanon is on a tour of Europe's most gorgeous cities. But the sights aren't what draw him- he sees each museum, each cathedral, and each cafe through the eyes of his daughter's killers.


Kanon's daughter, Kimmy, and her fiance were murdered while on holiday in Rome. Since then, young couples in Madrid, Salzburg, Amsterdam, Berlin, Athens and Paris have been found dead. Little connect the murders, other than a postcard sent to the local newspaper prior to each attack.


Now Kanon teams up with the Swedish reporter, Dessie Larsson, who has just received a postcard in Stockholm- and they think they know where the next victims will be.


Excerpts:


"THEY ARE CHARMING, PLEASANT PEOPLE, THESE killers," Jacob said to Dessie, stretching his back in the thin sunlight. "They find it easy to make new friends. Are you sure you don't want a cinnamon bun?"
   Dessie shook her head, letting the American eat the last one.
   IT was really too cold to be sitting outside, but Dessie couln't bear Jacob Kanon's body odor after feeling sick at the murder scene.
   "So you think there's two of them? A couple- a man and a woman.? Why?
     Jacob nodded, chewing hungrily on the bun. He seemed completely unaffected by the grisly scene they had just witnessed.
     "A couple is less of a threat. They're probably young, attractive pair of carefree travellers meeting others doing the same thing. People who drink chamapagne, smoke dope, live it up a bit.."
    He drank some coffee. 
    "And they probably speak English." he said.
    Dessie raised her eyebrow quizically.
    "The postcards. They're written with perfect grammar, and most of the victims have been native English speakers. I'm guessing the rest have been fluent."




Maithili Speaks:


A clever and well plotted story which makes this book a page turner. I couldn't put down this book till I read it to the end.


Jacob Kannon has been travelling across Europe always being steps behind the killers. He is obsessed with tracking them and it is the first time that he is so close to the killers in Stockholm. He proclaims to the killer's nature the best. 


Dessie Larson who received the postcard in Stockholm and who is also doing a thesis on Criminology is at first apprehensive of working with this American who seems obsessed with post card killers. Later when she realises that Jacob's only daughter, Kimmy, has been one of the victim Dessie rests her guard and helps Jacob. 


The story is not about "who done it" , it is more about "how they did it and why they did it". From the very beginning you know who the killers are but till the end you hang on to know the reason they did it and their weird psychology. 


There are some terrible murders , gory one can say. The history of killers is disturbing and the reason they kill is terrifying! But you can't help marvel at the sheer geniusness of the plot!


If I speak more I might give out on the thrill of reading it !


Thank you Freelancer for putting this book on the list and I m glad I chose it :) Thank you again for the book !


Rating: 4.7 on 5.


Price: Rs 550