Stalking Susan

Book No: 35
Title: Stalking Susan
Author: Julie Kramer
Genre: Mystery
Completed: 7/10/09
No. of Pages: 308
Rating: 3/5***

Stalking Susan is a debut novel, which looks like a promising start to a new series.

Riley Spartz is an investigative reporter for the local news station in Minneapolis. When one of her sources, Det. Nick Garnett, decides to retire from the police force he gives her his files on a couple of cold cases he believes are related; several women have been murdered, all named Susan and all on the same day. Riley decides to investigate the case and all too soon is up to her neck in trouble.

This was a very quick read and I really enjoyed it. I think the mystery was not the best part of the book, any seasoned reader of this type of book will quickly figure most of it out. What made the book so enjoyable was the appeal of Riley, she has a really interesting back story, she’s smart but doesn’t take herself too serious and she’s got an interesting set of friends and acquaintances that add some comic relief when needed. There is also the obligatory boss from hell and egotistic politicians and authority figures, but it doesn’t feel as cartoonish as some of the other female investigator books out there. There are some moments of real suspense and lots of clever banter between Riley and her buddy Garnett. Julie Kramer is a former television reporter so her insight into all the behind the scenes working of a network added a lot of reality to the novel.

A very enjoyable read and I already have the sequel, Missing Mark, lined up.