Author: Julie Kramer
Publisher: New York: Doubleday
ISBN: 978038552476
Copyright 2008
Pages 308
Quick Review, Lisa: 4 Stars (out of 5)
Quick Review, David:
Why I Read It, Lisa: The author is local, from the Rose Creek area. David had read this and suggested it to me to read.
Why I Read It, David: Julie Kramer is a local writer and her family was promoting the books at a parade last summer. A co-worker got the information and let me know about it while discussing books one day.
Where We Obtained the Book: I picked this up at my local public library.
Synopsis: Inside the desperate world of TV ratings, an investigative reporter discovers that a serial killer is targeting women named Susan and killing one on the same day each year. Television reporter Riley Spartz is recovering from a heartbreaking, headline-making catastrophe of her own when a longtime police source drops two homicide files in her lap in the back of a dark movie theater. Both cold cases involve women named Susan strangled on the same day, one year apart. Last seen alive in one of Minneapolis’s poorest neighborhoods, their bodies are each dumped in one of the city’s wealthiest areas. Riley senses a pattern between those murders and others pulled from a computer database of old death records. She must broadcast a warning soon, especially to viewers named Susan, because the deadly anniversary is approaching. But not just lives are at stake— so are careers. November is television sweeps month, and every rating point counts at Channel 3. Riley must go up against a news director who cares more about dead dogs than dead women, a politician who fears negative stories about serial killers will hurt the city’s convention business, and the very real possibility that her source knows more about the murders than he is letting on. When Riley suspects the killer has moved personal items from one victim to the next as part of an elaborate ritual, she stages a bold on-air stunt to draw him out and uncovers a motive that will leave readers breathless.
Review, Lisa: I liked this book. I found the pace fast and easy to follow. Having Minnesota land marks and the Twin Cities as a back drop, made it fun to read. I had actually been to many of the places mentioned in the book.
Her character Riley is tough. She has had loss in her life, but forced herself to keep going and succeed. She has moments of doubt about her job and her life in general. Maybe a bit 'Superwoman' at times, but I like her.
The mystery is interesting and keeps you turning the page. I would suggest this to anyone. It's a fast, enjoyable journey.
Review, David:Great mystery and wonderful writing. It also opens up a lot of the inside world of TV news reporting. Plus if you have any Minnesota experience you can have “secret insider” knowledge that just adds to the book.
This book is hitting on all levels for me. The cover had me worried that it might be light chick-lit suspense (the bright yellow and the female outline) but I was rewarded with a solid, gritty procedural investigation (my favorite). Here is hoping Mrs. Kramer writes another twenty of them.
Author Biography: Julie Kramer is a freelance news producer for NBC's Today show, Nightly News, and Dateline. Prior to that she was a national award-winning investigative producer for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis.
Julie grew up along the Minnesota-Iowa state line, fourth generation of a family who raised cattle and farmed corn for 130 years. Her favorite childhood days were spent waiting for the bookmobile to bring her another Phyllis A. Whitney novel. An avid reader, she tired of fictional TV reporters always being portrayed as obnoxious secondary characters who could be killed off whenever the plot started dragging. So her debut thriller, Stalking Susan, features a TV reporter as the heroine and takes readers inside the world of television news. She lives with her husband and sons in White Bear Lake, MN.
Other Reviews:
| Publisher Weekly | |
| Kramer's impressive debut, a thriller, introduces Riley Spartz, a Twin Cities investigative TV journalist. Riley's favorite source, a former Minneapolis homicide detective, suspects a serial killer is behind two cold murder cases of women named Susan strangled on November 19 one year apart. Still grieving for her late patrolman husband, Riley relishes the distraction of a possible hot story. After discovering that a raincoat links the two victims, one a 26-year-old waitress, the other a teen prostitute, Riley unearths other cases that may fit the pattern, including the apparently solved murder of a former Miss Duluth and the suspicious suicide of a terminally ill woman. Kramer, a freelance television producer, delivers more than another ho-hum remix of a 48 Hours episode thanks to a snappy subplot--Riley's exposure of a bad veterinarian doing scam pet cremations. Readers will look forward to seeing a lot more of the appealing Riley, who cares about justice as much as snagging at least a 40 audience share. (July) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved |
| Library Journal | |
| Drawing on her experience as a TV news producer, Kramer has crafted an engrossing and suspenseful debut thriller focusing on investigative reporter Riley Spartz and full of memorable characters and convincing insight into broadcast journalism. Bernadette Dunne, whose Audie Award-nominated reading of Elizabeth Cohen's The House on Beartown Road was a Best Audiobook of 2004 (LJ 6/1/04), skillfully captures the story's personalities and emotions while maintaining pace and tension. A compelling and addictive production; highly recommended for public libraries. [Audio clip available through library.booksontape.com; watch the book trailer at www.juliekramerbooks.com/trailer.php; the Doubleday hc was recommended "for all public libraries," LJ 7/08.--Ed.]--Melody A. Moxley, Rowan P.L., Salisbury, NC Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information. |
FYI: Currently selling for $17.21 on Amazon in hardback.
Julie Kramer is coming to town. We plan to have her sign a copy of her newest book, Silencing Sam.
Saturday, October 30, 8 am-noonRose Creek, MN
Waffle Feed
Benefit for Southland Schools
201 1st St NE
chatting & signing
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