Book Review: Scavenger

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Scavenger     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Tom Savage
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Serial Killer
Dutton, Jan 2000, $24.95, 275 pp.

Mystery writer Mark Stevenson receives critical acclaim for his apparent bestseller Dark Desire, a fictional account of the deadly serial murders perpetrated over a decade by the “Family Man”. The real killer, who was never caught, would kill entire families. Before leaving his grisly scene, the murderer would then pose his victims in some sort of domestic tranquillity scenario.

Mark wrote the novel to attain some closure as a surviving member of one of the family victims of the notorious killer. Instead, someone called THE SCAVENGER leaves a computer disk on the door of Mark’s Manhattan apartment. The disk contains a clue to the identity of The “Family Man”. The Scavenger has challenged Mark into a deadly scavenging hunt that takes the author all over the country and places him in one dangerous situation after another.

Though a bit predictable at times and requiring leaps of faith, SCAVENGER is an exciting, adrenaline pumping serial killer tale. The story line never slows down as Mark and his opponent play a deadly game of cat and mouse. Author Tom Savage cleverly explains Mark’s motives to participate, but that of the mass murderer falls short in comparison. Still, fans of action, especially serial killer thrillers will want to read Mr. Savage’s latest, very entertaining story.

Harriet Klausner

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