Talent for killing

Author Name: Peter Swanson

Martha Ratliff had long since resigned herself to the idea of ​​permanent singlehood. It didn't bother her; she found happiness in her solitary world, stimulated by her work as an archivist, constantly surrounded by ideas that stimulated her mind and the books she loved. Then she met Alan, a charming, kind divorcee whose job required him to travel half the year. When he proposed, she accepted, even though she felt he was still a bit of a stranger to her. The marriage lasted well for a year, except for a strange bloodstain on the back of one of his shirts he wore to a conference in Denver. Martha's suspicions turned from curiosity to certainty, and she began investigating the cities Alan had visited over the past year, discovering a horrifying pattern: five unsolved cases of women murdered under mysterious circumstances. Had she married a serial killer? Or was it just a coincidence? Confused, Martha called an old college friend for advice. Lily Kintner once helped Martha escape the clutches of an abusive lover, and perhaps she could shed light on the matter. Curious, Lily offers to interview Alan to find out what kind of man he is... but what Lily uncovers is more complex and sinister than either of them could have imagined.