In “The stranger you seek,” Amanda Kyle Williams explores a whodunit serial killer mystery, at the heart of which is PI, ex-FBI profiler Kaye Streets—an Asian woman who grew up with an American family and struggled with alcohol addiction before being forced to quit her job. Kaye is well into her life operating her own small investigation firm, when violent murders start taking place—and Kaye is contacted by the killer. Kaye soon finds out that none of the victims seem to have anything to do with each other, as they’re all different genders, races, and live in different geographical locations. Even scarier, their killer orchestrates their murders in a grotesque way—and posts accounts of them on an online forum. But Kaye has enough on her hands already. One of her co-workers is far more dangerous than she realizes. Her friend and crush, A.P.D. lieutenant Aaron Rauser, seems to be dating someone behind her back. Her own ex-husband Dan is a dicey guy, and willing to sell her out for the media. While Jacob Dobb, an overconfident and show business hogging police overachiever threatens to take over Kaye’s serial killer case from her. Overall, this was an interesting mystery. Some scenes are quite unexpected. I was not able to guess whodunit. The pacing is pretty solid throughout the story, which increases in intensity when Kaye’s safety gets involved. Recommended for fans of mysteries. Published by Bantam. August 2011. 304 pages. List price $25
