In Alafair Burke's electrifying thriller, Dead Connection, a rookie detective goes undercover on the Internet dating scene to draw out a serial killer targeting single women in Manhattan.
When two young women are murdered on the streets of New York, exactly one year apart, Detective Ellie Hatcher is called up for a special assignment on the homicide task force. The killer has left behind a clue connecting the two cases to First Date, a popular online dating service, and Flann McIlroy, an eccentric, publicity-seeking homicide detective, is convinced that only Ellie can help him pursue his terrifying theory: someone is using the lure of the Internet and the promise of love to launch a killing spree against the women of New York City.
To catch the killer, Ellie must enter a high-tech world of stolen identities where no one is who they appear to be. And for her, the investigation quickly becomes personal: she fits the profile of the victims, and she knows firsthand what pursuing a sociopath can do to a cop-back home in Wichita, Kansas, her father lost his life trying to catch a notorious serial murderer.
When the First Date killer begins to mimic the monster who destroyed her father, Ellie knows the game has become personal for him, too. Both hunter and prey, she must find the killer before he claims his next victim-who could very well be her.
Expertly plotted and perfectly paced, Dead Connection advances Alafair Burke to the front ranks of American thriller writers.
Industry Reviews
"Intricately-plotted, fast-paced...Holds the reader's attention from first word to last, and begs for a sequel." --Kirkus Reviews
"Pure, heart-pounding escapism . . . Burke taps into a cultural hot-button issue: the increasing popularity of online dating sites and the very real possibility that the person you are connecting with is lying about who he/she is." --USA Today, in a Top 5 summer thriller pick
"Burke, the daughter of Cajun thriller maestro James Lee, is a terrific web spinner. She knows when and how to drop clues to keep readers at her mercy. A-" --Entertainment Weekly
"Intelligent, emotionally literate and unusually--given the dark subject-matter--funny, with strong characters and tight plotting, Dead Connection is a riveting read." --The Guardian Intricately-plotted, fast-paced...Holds the reader's attention from first word to last, and begs for a sequel. "Kirkus Reviews"
Pure, heart-pounding escapism . . . Burke taps into a cultural hot-button issue: the increasing popularity of online dating sites and the very real possibility that the person you are connecting with is lying about who he/she is. "USA Today, in a Top 5 summer thriller pick"
Burke, the daughter of Cajun thriller maestro James Lee, is a terrific web spinner. She knows when and how to drop clues to keep readers at her mercy. A- "Entertainment Weekly"
Intelligent, emotionally literate and unusually--given the dark subject-matter--funny, with strong characters and tight plotting, "Dead Connection" is a riveting read. "The Guardian"" "Intricately-plotted, fast-paced...Holds the reader's attention from first word to last, and begs for a sequel."--"Kirkus Reviews"""
"Pure, heart-pounding escapism . . . Burke taps into a cultural hot-button issue: the increasing popularity of online dating sites and the very real possibility that the person you are connecting with is lying about who he/she is."--"USA Today", in a Top 5 summer thriller pick""
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"""Burke, the daughter of Cajun thriller maestro James Lee, is a terrific web spinner. She knows when and how to drop clues to keep readers at her mercy. A-" --"Entertainment Weekly"
"Intelligent, emotionally literate and unusually--given the dark subject-matter--funny, with strong characters and tight plotting, "Dead Connection" is a riveting read." --"The Guardian"
"" "Intricately-plotted, fast-paced...Holds the reader's attention from first word to last, and begs for a sequel."-"Kirkus Reviews"""
"Pure, heart-pounding escapism . . . Burke taps into a cultural hot-button issue: the increasing popularity of online dating sites and the very real possibility that the person you are connecting with is lying about who he/she is."-"USA Today", in a Top 5 summer thriller pick" "
""
"""Burke, the daughter of Cajun thriller maestro James Lee, is a terrific web spinner. She knows when and how to drop clues to keep readers at her mercy. A-" -"Entertainment Weekly"
"Intelligent, emotionally literate and unusually-given the dark subject-matter-funny, with strong characters and tight plotting, "Dead Connection" is a riveting read." -"The Guardian"
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"Alafair Burke delivers a first-rate thriller, as a rookie detective investigates the dark side of internet dating while trying to survive the mean streets of New York. Absolutely riveting."-- Lisa Gardner, author of "Gone """ "Alafair Burke proves her flair for creating compelling characters and a tricky plot in "Dead Connection," Fans of detective fiction will enjoy young, complicated Ellie Hatcher as she willingly, frighteningly, plays victim, hoping to trap a killer."-- Perri O'Shaughnessy, author of "Keeper Of The Keys"
"These are characters I'd follow forever! "Dead Connection" is a sleek and utterly riveting thriller that deserves every accolade it is sure to get."-- Tess Gerritsen, "New York Times" bestselling author of "The Mephisto Club""" "Engaging characters, dark subject matter, and a compelling story. A suspenseful and entertaining read."-- Kathy Reichs, "New York Times" bestselling author of "Break No Bones"
