Stalking Susan [Mass Market Paperback]

Julie Kramer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 2009

Inside the desperate world of TV news, a reporter discovers a serial killer is targeting women named Susan.Riley Spartz is recovering from a heartbreaking, headline-making catastrophe of her own when a Minneapolis police source drops two homicide files in her lap.Both cold cases involve women named Susan strangled on the same day, one year apart. Riley sees a pattern between those murders and others pulled from old death records. As the deadly anniversary approaches, she stages a bold on-air stunt to draw the killer out and uncover a motive that will leave readers breathless.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Dazzling…. Readers who enjoy Janet Evanovich will soon be stalking Julie Kramer.”
—Chicago Tribune

“A rocking good story…. Chilling, twisty, and clever.”
—Kathy Reichs

“A snappily paced debut thriller.... Truly scary no matter what your name is.”
—People

“Riley Spartz is a classic spunky investigator. She'll have readers cheering for her gutsy determination to stop the killings and boost her ratings.”
—USA Today

“Stalking Susan is a fantastic debut. Julie Kramer has crafted a thriller that will get your heart racing.”
—Vince Flynn

About the Author

Julie Kramer is a freelance television news producer for NBC’s Today show, Nightly News, and Dateline. Prior to that, she was a national award-winning investigative producer for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis. She lives near Minneapolis in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Anchor; 1 Reprint edition (June 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307388514
• ISBN-13: 978-0307388513
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #394,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julie Kramer is a freelance network television producer. Prior to that she was a national award-winning investigative producer for WCCO-TV in Minneapolis.

Julie grew up along the Minnesota-Iowa state line, fourth generation of a family who raised cattle and farmed corn for 130 years. Her favorite childhood days were spent waiting for the bookmobile to bring her another Phyllis A. Whitney novel.She now writes thrillers set in the desperate world of television news.

Her debut STALKING SUSAN, won the Minnesota Book Award and the RT Reviewers Choice Award for Best First Mystery. It was also a finalist for the Mary Higgins Clark, Anthony, Barry, and Shamus Awards.

Her second book, MISSING MARK, was just nominated for the Daphne du Maurier Award for excellence in mystery/suspense.

Library Journal described her third book, SILENCING SAM, as her best yet, calling it "Riveting" in a starred review.

Kramer lives with her family in White Bear Lake, MN.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smart Women, September 13, 2008

By 

Mantorville Mom "Tessa" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stalking Susan: A Novel (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this couldn't put it down debut book. I liked the character development, feeding you more information about the main character, Riley Spartz bit by bit. It was also surprising the age picked by the author of her main character, 36. Not a young woman out of college, she has experience behind her and a few winkles. It makes the story line have more depth and believablity. The subplot made me laugh as I read it, it added to some of the craziness of the multiple story lines that the news media are working on at the same time. I liked the mixture of the comical line with the heavier murder scenes. It seemed so current, like I was reading about it in today's paper.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Author of Practical Homicide Investigation, July 18, 2008

By 

Vernon J. Geberth "murdercop" (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stalking Susan: A Novel (Hardcover)

Congratulations to Julie Kramer on her first novel. Julie provided me with the opportunity to read her original manuscript before publication to provide her with technical advice on Practical Homcide Investigation®. The revisions and finished product is a fantastic read and captivating thriller involving a serial killer who is stalking women named Susan, who are killed on the same day each year. Is there a pattern here?

The heroine's position as a news reporter provided a unique approach to this genre of writing.What begins with a personal tip from a source, soon develops into a full-fledged murder investigation just in time for the television sweeps month and all the behind the scene dynamics and the types of personalities who dictate television news.

The strong point of the author's writing in this novel is her ability to weave together an exciting story and at the same time reveal through her characters the duplicitous nature of major network news and how stunning careers can obliterated overnight on a vindictive news director's whim.

Her characters are authentic and professionally developed throughout the book. The mystery reader, who likes surprises will not disappointed with Julie's nerve-racking and clever ending. Stalking Susan is a non-stop sequence of exciting of twists and curves that will keep the reader glued to the book.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smashing Debut!!, July 20, 2008

By 

Marcia Fluer (Twin Cities, MN, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stalking Susan: A Novel (Hardcover)

Julie Kramer's debut novel, Stalking Susan, is a ripping good tale. Her "ear" for what goes on behind the scenes of a TV newsroom is spot on. And while the tension mounts, she employs the comic interlude to let the reader relax before she marches to the really scarey parts. I want to see more of Riley Spartz, her cynical heroine, and look forward to the next book.