The Mermaids Singing

The Mermaids Singing by McDermid, Val. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780061011740.

Another body has been found. The fourth. Now even the most reluctant members of the Bradfield police department have to admit they have a serial killer on their hands. A sicko. All the victims have been young men, their naked bodies broken and battered. All have been tortured. Detective Inspector Carol Jordan has been working around the clock, teamed with criminologist Dr. Tony Hill. While Jordan is hunting for clues, Hill is composing a psychological profile of the murderer. The puzzle he is piecing together is very detailed - and very disturbing. According to Hill, "Handy Andy," as theyve dubbed the killer, considers the murders sheer perfection - each one meticulously planned and flawlessly executed. "Andy" is too good to leave clues and too smart to get caught. This killer is searching for something far more insidious than revenge or justice - its a way to showcase skills. And the skills on display are murder and torture. But Tony Hills profile of the killer is grounded in several basic assumptions - and if even one is off, the consequences could be fatal.