ALAFAIR BURKE
NY Times Bestselling Author
In this electrifying thriller, 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.
“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
DEAD CONNECTION
In this electrifying thriller, 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.
PRAISE FOR DEAD CONNECTION
“. . . this is an enjoyable new character. I hope to see more of Ellie in the future.”
—Deadly Pleasures
“Dead Connection makes us want more stories about Ellie. With two strong female leads, Burke could have two powerhouse series.”
—South Florida Sun-Sentinel
“Readers won’t need to be lured into the story — it’s gripping from the very first page.”
—The Romantic Times
“Thirtysomethings will love the new face Alafair Burke has given the mystery genre.”
—Winnipeg Free Press
“. . . a solid, workmanlike effort, with a nice tangle of leads and official stonewalling.”
—Houston Chronicle
“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
“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
“A great, topical, complex plot. Terrific writing, a great ending and a cast of characters to carry the whole thing off.”
—Material Witness
“I do have to give major props to the author for a well-crafted mystery. I really liked the construction of this one and how the whole plot worked out. I thought it was very clever. Four stars from me.”
—Speed Reading Book Nerd Reviews