Review: A Cruel Season for Dying

A brutal killer stalks New York City. His victims so far are gay men, found posed in their bedrooms, looking peaceful. The kicker is that wings sprout from slits in their shoulders. Three men die in a week's time, and then a fourth is murdered.

Detective Lieutenant James Sakura is given the task of investigating the murders, which don't seem to fit any previous pattern of serial killings. A strong element of fantasy, yes, and certainly they display extremely high levels of organization, but is there any sexual motivation? Then the pattern of killings is altered in a shocking way, and Sakura, with the help of an FBI profiler and former partner, has to fight time to catch a killer of increasingly psychotic proportions.

Given that summary, it would be easy to dismiss A CRUEL SEASON FOR DYING as just an ordinary serial killer/thriller novel. That would be a huge mistake. Although the investigation is a major part of the book, equally important is Sakura's life, whether presently as a high ranking cop or as a little boy, born in America but shipped off to Japan to grow up until reclaimed by his father and new family. Important, too, are Sakura's relationships, especially with women. His wife Hanae, the perfect Japanese wife who loves him yet struggles to overcome the growing distance between them, is juxtaposed with Faith Baldwin, the DA and Sakura's ex-lover who isn't averse to rekindling their romance.

It may seem strange to say this, but amidst the brutality was a great deal of sensuousness, especially in scenes involving James and Hanae. It's obvious that they love one another but the strain of the murders piling up and the media scrutiny takes its toll. By novel's end, their future is uncertain, and I wonder how Moore will resolve the issues that drive them apart.

I was very impressed with this book, which is Moore's debut. The combination of Japanese culture amongst a gritty Manhattan setting works well. The characterization is top-notch, and the supporting players are fleshed out, dealing with their fears or acting selfishly (especially Zoe Kahn, the unscrupulous female tabloid reporter staple in most such novels but who rises above the cliche).

A minor caveat, and one that may be unique to me. All the murders have one medical examiner attached. Considering that the killings happen in at least three different boroughs, it is absolutely impossible that a medical examiner would a) actually go to the scenes and b) autopsy each victim, since the ME's Office is split into four offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx (Staten Island is a separate annex with a slightly different system.) Obviously it's a contrivance that serves the plot better than having a whole host of ME's and medicolegal investigators on the case, but New York's a huge city and having one ME run around to do all the work just doesn't cut it.

Still, that's my bugaboo, and overall this is an extremely promising debut. I have no idea who Harker Moore is, but this is a writer to watch. A CRUEL SEASON FOR DYING is the first in a series and I look forward to the next installment.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Sarah - RAM

Book Review: A Cruel Season for Dying