A serial killer thriller (McRyan Mystery Series Book)

One month before Mac and Kelly are to get married. Mac is called on a case. A killer has been on lose for 10 years. He kills woman. The woman are plus sizes woman. Than he display woman after a famous painting. When one woman is killed there is a clue at the crime scene about who is next on the list the thing is you have to figure out the clue. Mac and his partner are racing against the clock to find this killer before he kills the next woman. Another great book in the series. I have loved all the McRyan book.

Better, but still mixed bag: The Good, a tight mystery, no White House (Judge interference), the return of Sara. The bad, No Minnesota , Dara's showing of poor judgement in relationship with Ridge and of course the continued presence of Sally. She is beautiful and the sex is hot, but she adds nothing to the narrative. Her statement early on " that if there is anything I've learned in 2 years at the White House is that you do anything you have to do to win'. She has no moral compass and is becoming the political animal that Mac abhors. Heartache in the future??? He should just stick with Dara.

...from the other books in the series. I didn't like it as much.

But to be fair, it was me and not the book. It is gets into the head of a psycho killer and that disturbs me to no end.

The story is well written with twists and turns, giving who done it clues. Then the hook sets that throws in a major "What the ..." that pushes you ahead into the story line.

This book is much darker than the others in the series. I agree with other reviewer fans that missed the Minneapolis settings.

If or when, as the ending hints, there is a follow-up to this story I think I'll pass.

First half of the book is boring as hell, the second half is kind of like the past books. I figured out the second killer long before the book told you. The author should step back and have him move home. These sensational plots are not realistic.

With his much-anticipated wedding to White House Deputy Director of Communications, Sally Kennedy, only weeks away, the last thing Mac McRyan needs is a complicated, drawn-out case. I mean, it’s “get me to the church on time,” right? McRyan, a former St. Paul detective who moved to Washington, D.C. when his girlfriend took the job in the new administration, is no longer employed as a full-time cop. He’s independently wealthy, thanks to the sale of a business and also a recently published book with his FBI partner, Dara Wire. Mac and Dara first worked together on a political case and collaborated with a writer to tell their story. Now they take on special cases at the request of the FBI. When a serial killer known as “Ruben” re-emerges after a three-year hiatus, this becomes one of those times when their expertise is required.

A Rubenesque, otherwise called a “plus-sized” woman, is found strangled and carefully displayed à la a Ruben’s famous painting, along with a ticking clock and a clue as to who will be the next victim in The Next Girl on the List. Police investigators in Boston, Chicago, and Los Angeles have failed to solve the clues, although in one instance they came within minutes of being on time. Mac actually becomes involved when Ruben personally calls him and basically invites him to play his “game”. That’s what it is to him – a game of “taunt and haunt.” Now that Mac and Dara have become renowned crime stoppers, the killer knows he is up against the best. Not only is Mac a highly intelligent law school graduate and former attorney, but he is also an experienced street cop and detective. Dara Wire, a former FBI agent, is as tough and as professional as they come. The two special agents complement each other and are sure to give this elusive serial killer a run for his money. Besides that, they have the resources of the D.C. police and the FBI on their side.

I’ve read each of the previous books in Stelljes’ McRyan series, and this one had me feeling reluctant to do anything else but read. As serial killer thrillers go, this was fairly tame; the crime scenes are not grisly and gory. There is no torture. I’m not even sure there’s blood, or at least not much. But it had me riveted. The cat-and-mouse game between the killer called Ruben and Mac McRyan kept me thoroughly engaged. This killer was patient, meticulous, and followed a plan. Could Mac sort it all out before more women died?

Then. The unexpected twist. Oh my! Well done, Mr. Stelljes. There were a few details in that scenario that didn’t quite add up for me, but I chalked it up to artistic license, since we’re dealing with art here. The Next Girl on the List is my favorite book in the series so far. One side note – it wouldn’t be a McRyan book without a local reference. This time the one I caught (there may be more) was the indy book store, Once Upon A Crime, on Lyndale Avenue in Minneapolis.

I know that many readers have probably never heard of Roger Stelljes; I only discovered his books a couple years ago. What caught my eye was that he is a Minnesota author. What keeps me reading, however, is his writing. I love his characters and his stories. It’s as simple as that. And in my opinion, the stories are getting better all the time.

4.5 stars

I have really enjoyed the McRyan series so far. This is the 7th in the series and the 7th that I have listened to. I find the stories to be quick, engaging, and interesting. This book was no exception. I flew through this book in one weekend, listening while doing chores or driving. The case had enough details that I didn't feel bored, and enough twists and differences that it didn't seem like a copy of the last books.

One note on the narration - Although I enjoyed this narrator, I did find that I needed to speed up the narration to feel like it was at the correct pace. I find many of the audiobooks on audible to be reaaaalllly slow. to fully enjoy this and feel like the reading was at the same fast pace as the story, I listened at 1.6x speed.

I received a free copy of this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left my honest review. The free copy did not influence my review in any way.

This is the seventh book in the McRyan series and Roger Stelljes is still writing a superior mystery thriller. This was a fantastic novel that had me hooked fm the beginning. I've read all the books in the series and Mac and Dara just keep getting better. I thought I had it figured out, but was a little off in my choices. Great storyline and even greater ending. It intentionally leaves things open for a future novel. Superb writing and full of suspense. Looking forward to another in the series.

Ehhhhhhh. I've read 7 books now in this series and I gotta tella ya the last couple with the sensational plots are not a good turn of events. The author has taken a good character ( albeit a "Mr. Perfect" character) and taken him out of Minn. and into the Wash. DC elite scene. Please send him home and tone it down!!

Five Stars! A great thrill ride in the fashion to which we’ve become accustomed. There is the usual build of the case as this time Stelljes gives us a Mac McRyan constantly questioning himself and his own motives and methods as he matches wits with a ruthlessly deceptive villian who taunts Mac while playing a vicious game of cat and mouse. Then as the tension builds the story takes off in characteristic fashion to its thrilling conclusion, filled with one twist after another. It was another great read that I couldn’t put down, I just had to finish it.

Very compelling story line. Characters are believable and the story moves along quickly. Hard book to put down. For me this is Roger Stelljes best work. Very interesting plot twist that leaves you thinking. All in all a fun read.

I love this writer and look forward to his books. Great read. Love the characters and story moves quickly. If you have not read the series of Mac you need to start from the beginning and you will be hooked.

I recommend that any suspense/thriller/mystery enthusiast never miss a book in the McRyan Series. You will not be disappointed. Roger Stelljes never puts out a "run of the mill, cut & dried, hurried up, filled with useless descriptive filler" book. Never lame reading. To give a basis of comparison, some of my prior favorites have been the Prey novels by John Sandford and, of course, the Vince Flynn books. Don't miss a McRyan book!

Plus an additional 10 stars that just how great this book was. I loved this book and I love this author. I have read all of his books and loved them all. I highly, highly recommend this author and all of his books. I hate to see them end.