Book Review: The Fifth Victim

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Fifth Victim     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Beverly Barton
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Romance   Romantic Suspense
Series: Cherokee Pointe - Tennessee
Zebra, Apr 2003, $6.50, 352 pp.

In Cherokee Pointe, Tennessee "gifted" Genny Madoc "sees" the ritual murder of a teen through the eyes of the killer. She informs her cousin, county Sheriff Jacob Butler who knows to trust in her visions. He finds the corpse of Susie Richards based on her input.

On his own time, FBI Agent Dallas Sloan has been hunting the killer of his niece for about a year. He believes a serial killer murdered four women and drank their blood, before a final homicide in which the culprit cut out the heart and probably ate it. He thinks this killer has followed this pattern four times in different locale and once he learns about the death in the Smoky Mountains, he believes round five has begun. Dallas arrives in an unofficial capacity and finds himself half in love with the bewitching Genny though he scoffs at her powers. As three more die, he and Jason conclude that the killer wants Genny next. Both men willingly risk their lives to keep her safe.

Though some of the antics of Genny’s wannabe lovers seem unreasonable and the man that her best friend loves seems inane, readers will appreciate this strong romantic suspense. The lead couple is a delight as she knows and he doubts, but both need each other. The serial killer is an intriguing character who seems so shadowy and frightening while the police procedural is top rate. Readers will be pleased with this taut tale and look forward to the two upcoming novels starring the heroine’s best friend and the sheriff respectively.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner