This is a fascinating book with a terrific and timely premise. Chapman writes with confidence and conviction and his cops are real people, real cops, and it's a world where things don't always go right and the good guys don't always win. There is a real sense of this throughout the intricate narration of the investigation - there are false leads, lost chances, mistakes, moments of despair, and some potentially avoidable deaths. I loved the rhythm of the book, with its chilling monthly killings, and the counterpoint rhythm of leads urgently followed, followed up, and lost.
The mind of the serial killer is expertly conveyed through his blog entries. Chilling in their absolute self belief and sense of entitlement. I liked the ambivalence about the victims: should we care if seriously bad guys get killed?
And the twist at the end??? Oh how I loved that. Thank you Mr Chapman.