The Review

Peter Simmons is thought to have died in the fire that killed his parents. Seventeen years later a series of peculiar murders cause the authorities to believe a maniacal murder is on the loose. Journalist Frank Wycheck, District Attorney Janet Bultaco, FBI agent John Hightower, Special Agent Mark Berlanger all figure in the apprehension of ‘Jaws’. Bodies are found bitten to death. The bites are not human, but they are not animal either. FBI investigator John Hightower solves case spawning media frenzy. Frank Wychek is the newspaperman who names the killer as “Jaws” while recording it from start to finish. And Simon is nearby, watching. Simon initiates his own game: Nine innings, Nine victims, No bodies.

Mary Splitorf is only one of many young women who begin to disappear without a trace. Writer Frank Wycheck is chosen by ‘Simon’ to write his story, Hightower is drawn into the matter through Simon’s resourceful machination. An admirer of the California killer known as ‘Zodiac’ Simon begins the Grand Game complete with faxed messages to authorities, meetings with Wycheck and many more disappearances. While the Zodiac murderer chose his victims at random Simon chooses his for pleasure. When Simon threatens Wycheck’s girlfriend Christine Wycheck is terrified. Sitting in a confessional at St Matthews church where the homeless are often found asleep on the pews Wycheck begins to tell Father Reyes about Simon and his terror that not only Christine, but Wycheck’s ex wife and daughter will be kidnapped and killed. Wycheck realizes too late that Simon, a master of disguise leaves no bodies and is not one to betray.

There is something about the subliminal self of a serial killer that the public often find fascinating. In William Tepper’s novel, Master of the Game, the writer follows the barbarous exploits of a domineering serial killer, Simon, as the maniacal assassin renders an almost faultless game of tease and bait with a powerful investigator and a bewildered journalist.

Writer Tepper has crafted a powerful, shocking thriller on the pages of Master of the Game. The narrative of Simon is skillfully interwoven through the stories of the other characters introduced in the work. Deranged Simon fits the profile of a serial killer; he is male, impenitent, sees his victims only as objects to be used as he pleases and disposed of at will. He is terrifying. Hightower and District Attorney Bultaco are no nonsense keepers of the law. Wycheck’s desperation regarding his family is palpable.

Tepper deftly captures reader attention from the opening pages as we follow Peter Simmons away from the inferno where his parents’ bodies lay. Attention is held fast in this gripping tale of desperation, horrifying death and spine tingling action. While the work is fiction, it is obvious writer Tepper has done his homework. Tepper has a clear understanding of the serial killer mind as well as extensive knowledge of the Zodiac killer who held California Bay Area in terror for years.

Master of the Game is not a book for reading when home alone or on a dark and stormy night. Be prepared to sleep with the lights on for a month or so after finishing the book. Ending may surprise you.

Hair raising read, sure to please lovers of the genre. Recommended.

Reviewed by: molly martin
http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/mollymartin
http://www.AuthorsDen.com/mjhollingshead