REVIEW for Dead Ringer

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TITLE: DEAD RINGER
AUTHOR: MARY BURTON
GENRE: THRILLER
RATING: 3.5 Stars


You know you have sure winner anytime you pick up anything by Mary Burton and Dead Ringer is no exception. While I feel her books are a little bit formulatic - there is always an element of suspense to each story that somehow manages to make it unique every time.

I find the opening (introductory paragraph) particularly scary - a psychopath who keeps telling his victims that he sincerely loves them - while in the process of killing them - gross and enticing. In Dead Ringer, a psychopath is on the loose. He is killing women - who are strangers to each other - yet they all have one thing in common - they all seem to look alot like local anchorwoman Kendall Shaw. From the other side, Kendall has latched on the murders and decides to investigate - all the while denying that the psychopath is doing this as perhaps some kind of practice run before her goes after her.

Of course, it would not be a Burton novel is there was not, somewhere lurking, a handsome (just happens to be single) guy who puts the pieces together and figures out beyond a doubt that this sicko's ultimate target is indeed Kendall (which Kendall still refused to believe).

What goes on from there is a very credible, intriguing and fun ride as both people team up to solve this case before it is too late. While the attraction between Kendall and Jacob (great names!) is palpable, it is not really take center stage in the storyline until well towards the end of the book. Rather, the intriguing storyline and the hunt for the killer is the main focus and for this reason, I would highly recommend this book - it will grab you and keep you guessing. Of course, we know that Kendall and Jacob will end up together (or do they?) but the mystery of "who is doing the killing" will not be quite as obvious.