THE SOUL CATCHER
Alex Kava
Mira Books
Suspense
ISBN: 1551667010

It's interesting to watch a fictional character develop. Alex Kava, creator of FBI criminal profiler Maggie O'Dell, has been slowly fleshing out her creation for a couple of years now, a process initiated in her debut novel A PERFECT EVIL, continued in her sophomore effort SPLIT SECOND, and further developed in THE SOUL CATCHER, Kava's third novel.

Two seemingly disparate events open THE SOUL CATCHER. The first takes place in rural Massachusetts, where a standoff between a squadron of men guarding an arms cache and a group of FBI and ATF agents leaves five suspects and one FBI agent dead. The second takes place in Washington, DC, where a Senator's daughter is found murdered, with her body artfully, frightfully, posed. Maggie O'Dell, an FBI profiler, is called in to work these seemingly unrelated crimes. A connection between the two incidents is quickly revealed, however: a charismatic sect leader named Reverend Joseph Everett. The men guarding the arms cache were followers of Everett, and the murder of the Senator's daughter took place following one of Everett's rallies in the nation's capital.

The knowledge may do O'Dell little good, however, as Everett is unapproachable. He resides in a heavily guarded compound, cut off from the outside world except on occasions of his own choosing. O'Dell has a potential "in," however --- her mother is a member of Everett's church and is rapidly becoming part of his inner circle. O'Dell must tread lightly, as her relationship with her mother has never been close, and Everett has an almost radar-like ability to ferret out what he considers to be betrayal. When more young women are discovered ritualistically murdered in proximity to Everett, it becomes more important than ever to determine if Everett is a psychotic madman or if he is being framed for the crimes by a criminal mastermind of such evil genius that he may never be caught. O'Dell presses on with her investigation, unaware that she may be exposing her mother, and herself, to terrible danger from an unexpected source.

Kava is becoming expert at skillfully switching narrative viewpoints, as she gradually draws disparate scenes together while at the same time constantly keeping the reader guessing, incorrectly, as to how matters will end. I thought on a number of different occasions that I had things figured out. I was, at best, only half-right. Kava also leaves enough personal plot lines dangling at the end of THE SOUL CATCHER to keep readers impatiently waiting for her next novel featuring Maggie O'Dell. Hopefully, they will not have too long to wait.

   --- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

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