A Perfect Evil (Maggie O'Dell Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Alex Kava (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Nick Morrelli is the Platte City, Nebraska, sheriff who must be smarter than he appears, since there's a framed Harvard law degree hanging on his wall. Not that appearances don't count. The reader is treated to a number of descriptions of his sexy, lady-killer looks and his charismatic effect on even the most hard-bitten woman character in this somewhat muddled, serial-killer thriller. Nick is investigating the kidnap-murders of two young Platte City boys when FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell shows up and all but takes over the investigation. Several years earlier, the former sheriff--Nick's father--capped his own career with the arrest of the last serial killer in the neighborhood, who abducted and tortured three boys in an eerily similar crime spree. When Antonio Morrelli returns from retirement to meddle in the investigation, and when Nick's own sister uses her connections to advance his career, Nick hardly raises an objection. And that's the central weakness of what would otherwise be a good, first effort. --Jane Adams --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly
A serial killer eludes an FBI profiler and a smalltown Nebraska sheriff in Kava's engaging debut, which manages to remain entertaining despite a fairly conventional plot line. As the story opens, recently appointed Sheriff Nick Morelli is as relieved as the rest of the citizens of Platte City that his predecessor, who also happens to be his father, has captured the child killer who plagued the town. But after the killer is executed, another child is discovered dead, and Morelli realizes that the convicted man was in fact a copycat killer, leaving the original criminal still on the prowl. Morelli gets some much-needed help in the investigation from FBI profiler Maggie O'Dell, but the hunt gets complicated when Morelli's sister, a journalist, leaks info to the media. Things become even stickier when O'Dell unearths a couple of unlikely suspects who've been dismissed by the police, and the search takes on a new level of urgency when Morelli's nephew is abducted and appears to be the next victim. Kava keeps her prose simple, but she does a nice job of setting up the chemistry between O'Dell and Morelli while balancing the various family issues Morelli faces in the investigation. She also makes good use of the smalltown milieu, tightening the tension by establishing that the killer is part of the fabric of the community. The result is a well-crafted page-turner involving the reader in the specter of murder in an intimate and disturbing fashion, with a plausible setup for a sequel. Agent, Philip Spitzer.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Mira (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1551668246
• ISBN-13: 978-1551668246
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #959,989 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Almost Perfect Debut, August 3, 2000

By	Michael Butts (Martinsburg, WV USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: A Perfect Evil (Paperback)

Nebraska at Halloween Time. An unusual early winter storm. A serial killer on the loose. Alex Kava's "A Perfect Evil" uses this setting to unravel a disturbing and compelling story of perfect evil. I admit that I had a hard time putting the book down, finishing it in one day, so that's definitely a sign it's an above average thriller. The plot has been laid out in other reviews, so I won't bore you with more. I can't give the book five stars, though, for two reasons: the dialogue and description of Nick and Maggie's romance is reminiscent of a Barbara Caitland romance novel, which is out of place in such a graphic, well-plotted novel. It tends to lessen the suspense, even though the characters are well developed and likeable. I just wish Alex would have stayed more within the confines of her novel. The other is that even though Ms. Kava takes us on several "red herrings" and twists, the killer's identity is much too obvious early in the book. To her credit, she plants some other possible suspects, but if you've read mysteries a lot, the identity is way too easy to spot. The ending obviously leaves room for her sequel, coming next year: "Split Second." I don't know if she'll keep both Maggie and Nick for the sequel, but I hope she does. They are great characters who I really liked. They could ditch Christine though. Her "conversion" to a likeable character didn't work for me; she still remains a victim of her own ambition, and even though she transformed, I'll bet she returns to her real self if she's in the sequel! But, anyway, this is a very good debut, and one worth reading!

Michael Butts

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfectly wonderful!, August 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Perfect Evil (Paperback)

Alex Kava really knows how to spin a yarn. From page one till the very end, the story moves swiftly under Kava's expert use of multiple points of view. The narrative is excellent, with many exciting moments and plenty of plot twists and turns. I disagree with the reviewer who called this a mystery. It's not; it's a suspense-thriller, and does not disappoint in that regard. If you want a mystery, read Perry Mason. If you want some thrills 'n chills, read A Perfect Evil. Agent Maggie O'Dell rocks! Hope to see her back in lots of future books. Watch out Grafton and Cornwell ... you've finally got some real competition.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible page turner!, July 27, 2000

By	Rachel (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Perfect Evil (Paperback)

I honestly couldn't put this one down until I finished it and I'm not usually crazy about books with serial killers. Once I got to know the characters, I had to find out what happened to them.

And these are not picture-perfect characters. They make plenty of mistakes and do some rather stupid things. Sheriff Nick Morelli is incompetent as sheriff and even he knows it. But there's something charming about this guy, that makes you want him to do okay. Agent Maggie is tough but vulnerable, dealing with some scars from a past case where things got too personal with another serial killer she had been chasing. Then there's Christine, the news reporter, who should be fired for some of the things she does to get a story, yet you find yourself rooting for her.

I picked up an advance copy when I was at the Book Expo of America in Chicago earlier this summer, started reading it when I got home, and then wouldn't let my family talk to me until I finished. If you're looking for an entertaining page turner, I would highly recommend this one.