Heartsick Chelsea Cain St. Martin's Sept. 07 $23.95

Chelsea Cain's Heartsick is the most unique serial killer novel you'll read for quite some time. There are two killers operating in Heartsick. Like Hannibal Lector, the most manipulating one is behind bars. She, yes, she, was put there by the main protagonist, Archie Sheridan. Gretchen Lowell kidnapped and tortured Archie, who is, after two years, still recovering. He's asked to head up the task force to catch the latest killer; dubbed The After School Strangler. The mayor 'assigns' a reporter to the task force. Susan Ward is a feature writer looking to become a reporter. The interplay between these three characters makes for highly recommended reading.

Ms. Cain's plotting is tight, the police actions are totally believable. The ending is satisfying. Go out and get Heartsick. Everything after it will be derivative.

Dave Biemann