Puppets

This is Hecht's third novel, and again he sets a cracking pace while bringing unusual psychological insight to a bizarre situation. A sadistic copycat killer is abroad in New Jersey who enjoys a novel way of choosing and murdering his victims, such that when found they resemble string puppets. Mo Ford, the police officer assigned to investigate, becomes increasingly aware that he is working on the fringes of a political conspiracy and being deliberately stymied by those who are supposed to be aiding the investigation - one of whom may be the killer. It is here that Hecht lifts the narrative from the ordinary as he illustrates Ford's manipulation by the mysterious government agents he is forced to work with and his attraction to Dr Ingalls, a psychologist who is giving evidence in the original 'puppet' case. Ingalls - as Ford eventually discovers - is herself both manipulative and manipulated. As his investigation proceeds he learns of similar killings in other parts of the USA over at least two decades, but can find nothing which links them together. The search for the common denominator, no matter how unlikely, finally produces the answer he needs. The denouement is not unexpected and is in places trite and unconvincing but the insights into invoked pathological insanity go a long way to retrieve this lapse. This is a rattling good read, thoughtfully executed and which leaves the reader with a sense of unease about our masters' covert activities. (Kirkus UK)