““Katia Lief skillfully weaves a complex tale of an emotionally scarred central character, nail-biting suspense, and a diabolical killer that will grip you until the very last page. I can’t wait for the next Detective Karin Schaeffer thriller.”
—Richard Montanari”
““This riveting new book by Katia Lief...is nearly impossible to put down, and is highly recommended.”
—Spinetingler Magazine”
Detective Karin Schaeffer was a happily married mother in New Jersey when her life was shattered by a serial killer who murdered her husband and daughter. Martin Price is known to the police as JPP for Just Plain Psycho because of the brutality of his attacks. To the press and the public he is known as The Domino Killer because he systematically murders whole families one by one, after leaving a trail of dominoes as clues.
Now JPP has escaped prison and is on his way to find Karin...but instead of fleeing, she waits for him in her new apartment in Brooklyn. After a failed attempt at suicide she has promised her family she will not try again to take her own life; instead, she will let JPP do it for her. But in the course of the attack she realizes that he won't stop with her but will go on to hunt other members of her family. She changes her mind, fights back and barely escapes.
With the help of her former partner and close friend, Mac MacLeary, she struggles to overcome despair and save her remaining loved ones. Layers peel away, unexpected truths surface and in a startling revelation they discover that JPP does not work alone. Then Karin's young niece vanishes, marking her as the next victim.
Now a child is missing and the bar is raised on the challenge to put a stop to this deadly team. Just as Karin and Mac close in—and as they begin to recognize tender shoots of love for each other—they find themselves in yet another ruthless trap. As the clock ticks on their lives, Karin has only moments to locate her niece, rescue Mac...and save herself.
““An exhilarating thriller”
—Harriet Klausner, The Mystery Gazette”
Book 1 in the Karin Schaeffer series
““A mesmerizing debut thriller, Lief introduces us to a new heroine in Karin Schaeffer. A woman struggling to come to terms with the murder of her daughter and husband we follow her quest for survival and a deep desire for revenge. A wonderfully evocative psychological that is multi faceted and intelligent—one not to be missed.”
—Milo’s Rambles”
““The eyes of a former cop are the windows into a darkly disturbing tale of murder and madness. The semi-suicidal heroine has been nearly destroyed by death and horror, but her journey is just beginning. Lief is a bold new voice in the suspense genre who demonstrates a talent for intricate plotting and ominous atmosphere. Someone to watch!”
—Romantic Times Book Reviews”
““Katia Lief doesn’t let her readers relax for long as her story cascades down through more suspense and games into a most satisfying ending.”
—Micki Peluso, New York Journal of Books”
““If you love suspense and excitement (and your heart can take it!), then this is the chilling thriller you have been waiting for. The tension and heartache Karin suffers brings tears to your eyes as the terror ripples through your body. This book is too exciting and thrilling to put down until the last page is read. I definitely look forward to Katia Lief’s next story in this series. What a sensationally gifted writer!”
—Kay Quintin, Fresh Fiction”