You Fit the Pattern

In Haseldine’s entertaining if predictable fourth mystery featuring Detroit crime reporter Julia Gooden (after 2018’s Worth Killing For), a murderer dubbed the Magic Man Killer is abducting female runners and killing them in abandoned churches—and the victims all bear a striking resemblance to Julia. Fresh off a sabbatical to write a book about her brother, Ben, who was kidnapped and murdered as a child, Julia is ready to pursue the story. Julia asks her old friend, New Orleans cop Douglas Prejean, for help after occult symbols are found at the murder scenes, and her boyfriend, Det. Raymond Navarro, takes charge of the investigation. The Magic Man Killer leads Julia on a macabre scavenger hunt using clues that dare Julia to find his next victim before it’s too late. The suspense rises as it becomes clear that Julia is his ultimate prize. A smart, fearless reporter, Julia is more than able to hold her own in high-stakes situations. Readers who enjoy breathlessly paced crime novels with just a hint of the otherworldly will be pleased. [em]Agent: Priya Doraswamy, Lotus Lane Literary. (Apr.) [/em]