Book Review: Deviant Ways

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Deviant Ways     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Chris Mooney
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Government Agency   Serial Killer   Thriller
Pocket, Oct 2000, $24.95, 384 pp.

The FBI employs several excellent profilers, but none match the hundred percent serial killer catch rate of former employee Jack Casey. Once Jack killed a murderer, but his peers covered it up, protecting one of their own. Ironically, he was taped to a chair and forced to observe a nineteen-year-old slash Jack’s wife to death and that led to his retirement and turn to carpentry work.

Jack soon moves to the posh Northern Boston suburb of Marblehead where the wealthy residents demand crime-free streets. However, the desires of the rich means nothing to the Sandman, who intends to use the community as his personal playground where he will kill people, and blow up houses and streets. The Sandman plans to use the media to deliver his message to the world. No one including Jack realizes that interference means most likely death for one’s self and loved ones.

It seems ironic that the profiler and the serial killer seem like two sides of a coin, but Chris Mooney manages to make the reader believe that is true. With that concept as a foundation to the characters, Mr. Mooney develops the key players almost as if he has plausible real life people to copy their traits. Placing these individuals into a community inside an action-packed story line turns DEVIANT WAYS into a brilliant thriller that will gain much fan and critic acclaim for a rising author.

Harriet Klausner

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