Ladykiller [Hardcover]

Lawrence Light (Author), Meredith Anthony (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2010

In the city that never sleeps, evil is wide awake. From the bright lights of Times Square to the dark alleys of New York, the Ladykiller is at work and at prey. Four women savagely murdered on the mean streets of NYC. The Ladykiller leaves no trail, no clues. The pressure is on for NYPD detective Dave Dillon - either he solves the crime or he can kiss his job goodbye. When Dave joins forces with Megan Morrison, a beautiful young social worker, the search for a cold-hearted killer leads to a hot romance. But a host of forces threaten to intrude. Megan's jealous mentor would delight in derailing the romance, as would Jamie, a determined detective with her own not-so-hidden agenda. And Dave's shadowy past is never far behind. The clock is ticking for Dave and Megan. Will they close in on the shocking truth behind the crimes, or will it close in on them? In the world of the Ladykiller, passion can turn deadly in a New York minute.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An improbable plot and overheated prose ("The killer strode through the New York night, its brisk, crystal air vibrating with electric bloodlust") weigh down Light and Anthony's serial-killer cat-and-mouse tale, set in early 1990s New York City. After the murderer, dubbed the Ladykiller by the press, has claimed four victims (women of vastly different backgrounds shot through the right eye), the authorities create a special police task force. When the killer claims a fifth victim, Reuben Silver, a counselor at the West Side Crisis Center, Det. Dave Dillon investigates. At the crisis center, Dillon meets another counselor, Megan Morrison, who soon distracts him from his job even as the killings continue. The revelation of the killer's identity early on removes much of the suspense, while a last-minute twist is both unconvincing and difficult to reconcile with earlier parts of the book.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

An award-winning journalist, Lawrence Light is currently the Wall St. Editor for Forbes magazine. A graduate of Columbia School of Journalism, he has been a reporter and editor for Business Week and Newsday. Meredith Anthony has written for film and TV. As a humorist, her work has appeared in MAD magazine and the women's humor quarterly, Hysteria.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 264 pages
• Publisher: Oceanview Publishing; First Edition edition (January 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933515058
• ISBN-13: 978-1933515052
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,847,264 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An astounding 5 stars!, April 20, 2007

By 

Terry South "Quality Book Reviews" (Maryville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ladykiller (Hardcover)

Ladykiller
By Lawrence Light and Meredith Anthony
ISBN: 1-933515-05-8
Suspense/Thriller 240 pages
Oceanview Publishing

Ladykiller is the debut suspense novel by Lawrence Light and Meredith Anthony, the husband and wife writing team, and what a unique writing team. They have penned a novel that is a must for crime enthusiast.

The setting is the streets of New York, and the year is 1991. Four women have been murdered from all different walks of life, including a cheerleader, stockbroker, a housewife and a prostitute. Homicide detective Dave Dillion of the NYPD is on the case and must solve these murders or risk losing his job. Dave encounters a beautiful social worker by the name of Megan Morrison, the two join forces in search for the serial killer, and romance ensues.

The press is calling the serial killer "Ladykiller". The killer has left no clues and no trail behind to follow. The murders always take place in some out of the way place where no witnesses can be found. There are never any signs of the victim being taken against her will and no signs of a struggle with their attacker, and the murders all appear to be personal in nature. Will Dave find the killer before its too late?

Lawrence Light is an award-winning journalist and is currently the Wall Street Editor for Forbes magazine. He graduated from Columbia School of Journalism and is the author of the Karen Glick novels. He currently resides in Manhattan with his wife and co-author Meredith Anthony.

Meredith Anthony has written for a variety of sources including film, television, print and the web. She graduated from St. John's College and also received a MA from The Johns Hopkins University.

Ladykiller is an intriguing, compelling and suspenseful crime novel packed with enticing twists and turns to keep you on the edge. The authors have created a powerful thriller that tantalizes with a sense of suspense and a steady flow of action. The characters are believable, finely developed and engaging. Ladykiller is superbly crafted with vivid detail that draws you into the story.

An astounding 5 stars!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dark, menacing and memorable! 5 Stars!, April 18, 2007

By 

K. Neith (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ladykiller (Hardcover)

Set in the gritty streets of New York City, Ladykiller reveals just how hard it is to catch a killer in a city of 8 million. I really loved following the characters through the cold, dark neighborhoods of midtown and wondering who was gonna get it next. Despite learning the identity of the killer early on in the book, the authors managed to keep me guessing until the last pages as to how the story would actually end! It was fun to try and piece things together in a different way than most mysteries present. If you're looking for a fresh thriller, this is one I highly recommend!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars IN-TENSE!, April 17, 2007

By 

Armchair Interviews (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ladykiller (Hardcover)

Thrown feet first into New York City's darkest side, the horror and brutality of life flood your imagination. A murderer without conscience, without regret, without a second thought, is on the loose.

Silently deceptive, cool and calm, the Ladykiller is both cunning and efficient. There are no obvious clues, no clear patterns and no easy answers for Detective Dave Dillon. A haunting mistake from the past makes this his last chance for redemption. The son of an Irish cop, Dillon is stubborn, intuitive, and dead set on solving the case. The Ladykiller is just as determined, systematically eliminating those who deserve to die. Each victim is eradicated in the same brutal way. Lured to a deserted location, no witnesses and by the cover of darkness, the killing takes place. Another murder and yet another, public and internal pressure on the Ladykiller taskforce intensifies. Time is running out and the answers are elusive.

Over and over Det. Dillon reviews each case looking at the photos and the facts. What do they have in common? What is their final expression trying to say? Where is the link? The experienced officers are determined to unravel the facts. When new tidbits of information shed light upon past discoveries, things come together. The link perhaps, but how? Persistence and resolve will find the answers, or does it? A confession or a bid for notoriety, half truths or just more lies, where will it all lead?

The Ladykiller is ruthless and shrewd, deceiving everyone, but for how long? Will there be another murder or will the taskforce arrive in time? Matters of the heart make it complicated. When reason is left behind, desires, passions and reality become a lethal mix. Only a level head and a clear mind can discover hidden secrets. Who is really in danger, who is hiding the truth and who will snap first?

Armchair Interviews says: The Ladykiller is addictive, intense and not for the faint of heart!