Book Review: The Closer

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

The Closer     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Donn Cortez
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller   Serial Killer
Pocket, Oct 2004, $6.99, 384 pp.

One Christmas Eve, struggling artist Jack meets with a potential patron at Jack’s warehouse. His client never shows up, but when a disappointed Jack returns home he finds the murdered corpses of his wife, son and parents. His new goal is to kill the person who killed his loved ones, but first he must find out who did the dastardly deed.

He teams up with Nikki the prostitute as both shares in common the loss of loved ones due to serial killers. They search for serial killers and when they catch them they make them confess on tape who they murdered and where they buried the bodies. The police dub Jack the Closer because he provides some closure to the victims’ families. When Jack and Nikki learn about a secret site for serial killers, they gain the passwords and codes to the Stalking Ground. There he finds his family killer, but who will provide victorious in this cat and mouse game they play.

THE CLOSER is an exciting yet odd thriller reminiscent of Bronson’s Death Wish but somewhat different because all the characters even the professionals are serial killers. In his pursuit of justice, Jack crosses the line to become the thing that he wants to destroy which turns him into a paradox. Nikki keeps him grounded until he finally goes one step too far for even her and she is forced to walk away. There is plenty of violence in this crime thriller though the plot contains numerous serpentine twists and red herrings as Jack’s quest to find his family’s killer never stays on a straight path. Thouse detours make for a solid but intense reading experience.

Harriet Klausner

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