Read this one for book club. It's hard to get over how disturbing it is to be put in the mind of both an insane serial killer and also his rape/murder victims. It was fascinating at times, but I can't say, in the end, that I truly enjoyed it. I had to speed read through a few parts because it just got a little too gory for my taste.

I really liked the character of Valerie Hart, and felt a lot of sympathy for her. That has to be a really difficult job, when you feel as though you are responsible for not catching a murder when people are dying, seemingly in front of your face. I was rooting for her even when she was doing clearly stupid things, like drinking whole bottles of vodka and tracking down FBI agents to beat them up. She is smart, tenacious, and willing to do anything for the case. Not always a good thing, but mostly so.

If there's anyone I wish we got to learn more about, it was Carla, and whatever her relationship had been with Carter. Maybe it would have been easier to understand her obsession if we'd been able to see what exact effect Valerie had had on him.