Title:	A Perfect Evil
	Author:	Alex Kava
	Published:	2000, Mira Books
	No. of Pages:	461
	Cover Price:	$4.99 US

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A Perfect Evil is the debut thriller in the Maggie O’Dell series by Alex Kava. Maggie O’Dell is a criminal profiler for the FBI, but is not up-to-speed, since her marriage is falling apart and she is having flashbacks and trauma due to a serial killer forcing her to watch while he murdered and cut up two women; during this recent incident, he also sliced her open and she barely survived. Maggie has been assigned to travel to the small town of Platte City, Nebraska to assist the sheriff in solving the kidnapping and murder of several young boys. The sheriff, Nick Morelli, was elected to the position because of his father, the previous sheriff. He has no experience, and is actually fairly incompetent when it comes to solving murders or investigating real crimes. He is, however, good looking and sexy to Maggie, and as she becomes familiar with the community, she must overcome the temptation of Morelli and focus on using her skills to find the murderer before he kidnaps more young boys and murders again.

The problem with the first book in any new series is often the fact that the author is inexperienced and unable to make the novel flow, or that the author spends much of the novel on background information to get the series going; that is definitely not the problem here. The problem is that the writing is excellent, the plot is fascinating, there is chemistry between the characters (both positive and negative), and the reader is tempted to forego all important tasks and curl up and read the book cover to cover.

There are several twists and turns in this novel, and enough suspense to keep any reader on edge. Kava has a way of giving the reader only enough information to fascinate, but not enough to solve the case. In fact, while the reader will have hunches, the actual dénouement isn’t totally understood until the last page. Readers have no way of knowing who to trust, and will be clueless as to whether Maggie is losing it or if she is well enough psychologically to solve the case without getting herself and the good guys killed. Kava is skillful in weaving the personal and human aspects of the characters with the facts and resolution of the case.

No novel is perfect, however, and there is some graphic violence and unpleasantness. A Perfect Evil is definitely not a cozy or light thriller. However, thriller junkies will like the characters and will want to read the subsequent novels in the series. This book is highly recommended.

This book was purchased with personal funds and no promotion of the book was solicited by the author or publisher.

This book may be purchased at Amazon:
A Perfect Evil
A Perfect Evil (Maggie O'Dell Novels) Kindle Edition