The 7th Victim

September 15, 2008
In Jacobson’s tepid third thriller (after Hunted
and False Accusations
), FBI profiler Karen Vail is obsessed with bringing to justice the Dead Eyes Killer, who’s gruesomely slain several women in Virginia. The action alternates between Karen’s attempts to unravel the clues left behind at the crime scenes and glimpses of the Dead Eyes Killer himself as he stalks future victims. A messy divorce and custody battle threaten to distract Karen, as do her tentative relationship with a local detective and disturbing revelations about her family history. The author fails to put a fresh spin on any of the genre’s clichés—the serial killer who taunts law enforcement, the FBI agent with an implausible connection to the case, the chaotic crime scene that contains clues only the hero can crack. Though Jacobson’s research into the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit is evident, he overloads his story with too much information and unbelievable coincidences. 5-city author tour.

THE 7TH VICTIM is a story of murder and intrigue, a satisfying whodunit that challenges the listener to play detective. The "Dead Eyes Killer" has been murdering young women in the Virginia-DC area, right under the noses of the FBI. Karen Vail, the FBI profiler who has been after the killer for months, somehow is always a step behind. Lila Wellesley, a voice-over actress whose voice is familiar to anyone who watches the Lifetime, PBS, or Oxygen channels, narrates the story from Vail's point of view. She also interjects impressions and thoughts of the killer as well, allowing the listener to see what the characters in the novel cannot. Wellesley gives the script a boost with skillful acting, as opposed to simple reading. M.S. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine