There's a killer in DC and he likes to play!
When a girl is found brutally murdered in DC, Australian FBI profiler Sophie Anderson suspects that the killing spree has just begun. With her fellow agents she delves into the mind of the killer, trying to predict his next move.
Then another victim turns up. Sophie knows that she's 'seen' the girl before, raped and murdered - in her dreams. Struggling to separate fact from fiction, reality from nightmare, Sophie becomes more and more ensnared in the killer's mind as the body count rises.
Suddenly the murders become personal and Sophie is caught up in a cat-and-mouse game that may cost her everything - even her life.
Body Count, PD Martin
From the book cover: "When a young woman's mutilated body is found in DC, Australian FBI profiler Sophie Anderson knows she's got real problems. She's 'seen' the victim before, raped and murdered in her dreams - and she knows this is just the beginning. With her fellow agents, Sophie delves into the mind of the killer, trying to predict his next move. Then another victim turns up and Sophie struggles to separate fact from fiction, reality from nightmare as she becomes more and more ensnared in the killer's mind. The body count is rising, the killer is moving closer and Sophie is running out of time..."
There's a lot happening in this book - probably ultimately a bit too much for my liking so that it all started to get a bit frenetic and messy. For some reason we have an FBI Profiler who is actually an Australian, involved in profiling offenders. She starts to "see" visions of victims in another case her best friend is put on when another agent is pulled off half-way through. When Sophie's friend is then snatched by the serial killer she has to rescue her (and then herself). There's a real feeling all the way through the book that Sophie's romantic interest (a fellow FBI officer) is more involved in these serial crimes than he is admitting, but this itself is fairly obviously a setup from the outset.
All in all, a first book, with a good premise that just got a little too crowded but is worth reading.
Body Count, PD Martin (review by Sally906)
Sophie Anderson is an Australian profiler working in the USA for the Behavioural Science unit with the FBI. She is also psychic, she sees through the eyes of the killer, and sometimes the victim, in her dreams. She is currently based in Washington DC and soon makes friends with fellow female investigator Sam who is the only person who knows Sophie's abilities. Sam is assigned a case of a serial killer who has murdered two women and soon makes it clear that he is after her. When Sam disappears the investigation team know they have between 3 and 5 days to catch the killer.
Sophie is assigned the case - along with her new love interest, Josh Marco. Together they and the other team members spread their hunt through several US States trying to track down the killer. Sophie try's frantically to use her talents - but she can't control them - and can't quite get the whole picture from them. She uses the investigation to hone her skills - can she get control of them to save Sam?
I really enjoyed BODY COUNT. It is different to the other mysteries because of the "woo woo" (paranormal) element. PD Martin also wrote from the killers perspective from time to time giving the reader another insight into the plot. I didn't suspect who it was until the same time as Sophie - in fact my main suspect was in another direction completely.
A well written page turner - there are two more in the series , THE MURDERS CLUB and FANMAIL. Book number 4 is with the publisher, with a contract for at least one more after that.
Body Count, PD Martin (review by Sunnie Gill)
Australia's loss is America's gain.
The Victorian Police sent Sophie Anderson on the FBI's International Program, a six week course at Quantico to refine her profiling skills. When the FBI discovered she had dual citizenship she was offered a profiling job with the FBI unit at Quantico.
Sophie Anderson brings to the job psychic skills that she barely understands but that she recognises she has had all her life. Sophie specialises in serial killer profiling and is already, after only six months, establishing a reputation for herself. Sophie is assisting her friend Sam Wright with one of her cases, a serial killer operating in Washington DC. At the same time she herself is having some disturbing dreams that prompt her to check the security of her own flat before going to bed every night.
When the DC Slasher leaves a personal message for Sam at the site of his latest victim, she is taken off the case and it is handed to Sophie.
A good first novel, strong writing