GREAT READS

Think of a Number

John Verdon.

David Gurney is a retired homicide investigator who gets pulled into a mystery by an old friend. Mark Mellery received a very intriguing and frightening letter from an anonymous person. He is asked to think of any number and is dumbfounded when he turns the letter over to discover that number. He is then asked to send a payment to a fictitious address in order to gain more information. What he begins to receive are poems alluding to dark and condemning references to Mellery's past. Fearing to involve the police due to this evidence that could crush his career, he calls the only discreet person who may be able to help, David Gurney. Gurney's wife was anticipating more time and attention from her newly retired husband, but slowly recedes into disappointment and dissatisfaction as David gets drawn into another investigation which may be his, and Madeleine's, last.

This debut author, John Verdon, pulls the reader into an intricate and intriguing mystery involving a serial killer, potential suspects and absolutely baffling tricks made by the menacing perpetrator. While creating a suspense thriller, Verdon sets this within the emotional story of Gurney's unraveling family life. I really enjoyed this engrossing thriller and it's an exceptionally well done addition to the genre that haunts you even after the end.

Recommended by Allison Holbrook