The Soul Catcher [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Alex Kava (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2003

For FBI special agent Maggie O'Dell, there is nothing routine about being called in to work these two cases. As an expert criminal profiler, Maggie provides psychological insight on cases that involve suspected serial killers. She can't understand, then, why she has been assigned to two seemingly unrelated crimes.

But as Maggie and her partner, Special Agent R. J. Tully, delve deeper into the cases, they discover there is a connection: Reverend Joseph Everett, the charismatic leader of a high-profile religious sect.

Is Everett a psychotic madman who uses his power to perform heinous crimes? Or is he merely the scapegoat for a killer more cunning than he? Maggie realizes the only way to find out is to use her own mother, a member of Everett's church, as a pawn in a deadly trap.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When a senator's daughter is murdered at a religious revival in Washington, FBI Special Agent Maggie O'Dell, a criminal profiler, and R.J. Tully, her partner, suspect that it's the work of a serial killer. They soon discover that the girl's murder is connected to the suicides of five young men during a Waco-like standoff in a rural Massachusetts cabin--even if they're not sure how. But then Maggie learns that the minister who seems to have turned her alcoholic mother's life around and Revered Joseph Everett, the charismatic sect leader whose followers died in the standoff, are the same person, and he may have drawn her into his deadly web to get at Maggie herself. Is the serial killer one of Everett's acolytes--and will Tully's daughter and Maggie be his next victims? Kava's third thriller (after Split Second and A Perfect Evil) showcases her gifts of pacing, plotting, and characterization; Maggie O'Dell is a smart, likable protagonist. She and Tully deserve a return engagement. --Jane Adams --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Kava dives headfirst into the headline-grabbing worlds of cult religions and FBI standoffs in this third novel to feature Special Agent Maggie ODell, whose profiler talents were first showcased in A Perfect Evil and Split Second. When a Massachusetts standoff results in the deaths of five out of six young cult members holed up in a backwoods cabin, things are bad enough. But when a U.S. senator's daughter is found murdered in Washington, D.C., and her death seems to be related to the cult and its charismatic leader, Rev. Joseph Everett, the situation really heats up for Maggie and her partner, R.J. Tully. The case hits particularly close to both partners homes, since Maggie's former alcoholic mother has joined Everett's church and Tully's daughter was with the senator's daughter on the night she was killed. Will Maggie be able to solve the case without endangering her own mother? From the Ruby Ridge-like standoff to the inability of some spiritual leaders to sexually practice what they preach, the novel manages to humanize both the seemingly impersonal institution of the FBI and cultists who are normally just labeled as wacko. Kava uses a strong supporting cast to provide Scarpetta-like authenticity and the psychological insights of Alex Delaware, and gross-out levels are high enough to satisfy the Fear Factor contingent. Add to that a clever surprise ending, and this one is sure to be spotted all over the beach by summers end.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 592 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786249250
• ISBN-13: 978-0786249251
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,135,044 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ALEX KAVA's two stand-alone novels and seven novels featuring FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell have been published in more than twenty countries, appearing on the bestseller lists in Britain, Australia, Poland, Germany, and Italy. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. Alex divides her time between Omaha, Nebraska, and Pensacola, Florida.
Photo credit Deborah Groh Carlin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Know where your children (and) your mothers are, August 24, 2002

By 

Suzanne Vitale "jackeroophillip" (Bowling Green, Kentucky USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Soul Catcher (Maggie O'Dell Novels) (Hardcover)

Alex Kava has taken FBI/ATF standoff tragedies and written a compeling fictional story about a religious cult headed up by a character insisting on being called FATHER. Father is actually a miserable but fairly predictable pervert who preys on the lonely and disenfranchised. The story opens with a shootout in a cabin in Massachusetts where members of the cult are holed up and the FBI is trying to talk them out. The leader passes out sucicide pills, and all but one of the six die. One FBI agent is fatally wounded.

FBI Special Agent Maggie O'Dell is assigned to the case and as she begins her investigation, two murdered girls are discovered that seem to be linked somehow to Everett's church which is recruiting new members daily. As the story unfolds it is easy to assume that Everett is somehow behind the murders. Most of the characters, in the story, however have deep secrets or ghosts that they are battling including Agent O'Dell. Maggie's mother turns up a member of the cult and in danger. Maggie and her mother have had a difficult relationship since the death of Maggie's father. With each murder there is a rally being held. There are surprises as each character finally ties in to a relationship with members of the cult.

We first met O'Dell in A Perfect Evil when she solved a case, and met Nick Morelli. She is a likable character with a lot of baggage including a controlling soon-to-be ex-husband and a past with Morelli that she can't come to grips with. O'Dell and Morelli worked well together. Hopefully in books to come they will get back together. The Soul Catcher is a good read.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars strong police procedural, August 14, 2002

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Soul Catcher (Maggie O'Dell Novels) (Hardcover)

In Suffolk County, Massachusetts, the FBI and ATF agents have the secluded cabin surrounded trapping the six cult members inside with a large cache of weapons. "Father" informs the sextet that they must not allow Satan to catch them so they each swallow cyanide capsules just before the bullets fly. However, Eric Pratt spits out his capsule deciding life with Satan is better than no life. Six dead in all counting the hostage negotiation team agent.

FBI Special Agents Maggie O'Dell and R.J. Tully investigate the Massachusetts massacre and the related homicide of Ginny Brier near the FDR Memorial. Both are linked by a connection to the charismatic Reverend Joseph Everett. However, this case has personal implications for the two Feds heading up the inquiries. Maggie's mother is a member of Everett's church and Tully's daughter was with the victim of the FDR Memorial killing on the night of the murder.

THE SOUL CATCHER is a great FBI tale due to the strong secondary cast though one must wonder why the agents were not excused from the case due to conflicts of interest. Turning a Ruby Ridge-Waco scenario into a real drama works for this novel because the zillion of support characters seem so genuine leading to a plausible, exhilarating plot. Alex Kava transforms the imagery of a monolithic FBI and sheep-like cultists into a series of intelligent human beings who sustain a strong police procedural tale.

Harriet Klausner

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars NOT THE ALEX KAVA READ I USUALLY GET, November 18, 2002

By 

Buffalo Bill (Maywood NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Soul Catcher (Maggie O'Dell Novels) (Hardcover)

I have to say.... I am really disappointed in this third outting. Every August I wait until Ms. Kava's books are out and this one was like no other wait. Unfortunately, it was not worth the wait. I fell inlove with Ms. Kava's two previous novels (A Perfect Evil and Split Second- both 5 star and above novels). Imagine my disappoinment trying to get through this book. Took me a week and a 1/2. Normally her books take a maximum of 3 days with me.
Maggie was a lush in this book with such a wall around her, you almost didn't care for her. And Greg!!!!! Get rid of him. Its a no-child divorce that should've been done with at the end of the last book. Heck, she has enough of her own money, so whats the hold up? I want more NICK MORELLI. This is too long of a tease. And the plot just seemed to drag on when I knew who the killer was half way through. Still, I eagerly await any other book Ms. Kava writes. She is on my list of faves and I am not giving up on her yet!