Shadow Man: Smoky Barrett, Book 1 - Softcover

SHADOW MAN grabs you by the throat and yanks you along for a hell of a scary ride. A spellbinding read from first page to last. - Faye Kellerman 'This disturbing serial killer drama set in California marks a promising debut for McFadyen, who combines many conventions of the genre but with far more exquisite, intricate results than the norm. FBI agent Smoky Barrett, a haunted, complicated woman, leads a team of investigators assigned to a serial killer task force. Barrett, who escaped the clutches of a different serial killer a year earlier but lost her husband and daughter in the attack, is now tracking a madman known as "Jack Jr.," who believes he's a descendant of Jack the Ripper. He mauls women, mostly prostitutes with Web sites, then sends the videotapes of the killings to Barrett and her crew. The plot follows a typical arc, complete with some nauseating details and predictable twists. There's also a romance between Barrett and a bodyguard that seems tacked on for future installments. Yet McFadyen's writing is crisp and smart, and his scenes pack a visceral punch without being cheap or exploitative. Barrett, for her part, - Publishers Weekly Coldly, stunningly brilliant. Move over Thomas Harris, Mcfadyen has brought a new game to town. - Lisa Gardner SHADOW MAN is one of the most powerful and authentic portrayals of a serial killer and the people who hunt t

A computer games designer, Cody Mcfadyen lives in California with his wife, who is a photographer, and their daughter.