The Night Watcher

Set in post 9/11 Manhattan, Lutz's gritty psychological thriller finds
NYPD homicide detectives Rica Lopez and Ben Stack on the hunt for a
vengeful serial killer whose modus operandi includes binding and burning
his prey in their high-rise co-ops. The only clue they have to go on is
that the Torcher has an apparent penchant for wealthy victims, so they
start at square one and investigate all of the known arsonists in the
city. In the end, Rica and Stack prove to be no match for the Torcher,
who manages to stay several steps ahead of them until the very end, but
their lack of leads doesn't make this book any less compelling. Lutz's
details concerning police procedure, fire-fighting techniques and FDNY
policy ring true, and his clever use of flashbacks draws the reader deep
into the killer's troubled psyche. The novel's primary weaknesses
include the tenuous romantic link between Ben and Rica, frequent
point-of-view shifts and an overwhelming parade of possible suspects
ranging from an avaricious real-estate magnate and her aging male escort
to a lesbian mayoral campaign manager. Unlike many authors in the
genre, however, Lutz manages to present a fully realized villain who
simultaneously inspires the reader's sympathy and revulsion.