The Pawn (The Patrick Bowers Files, Book 1) - Softcover

James, Steven

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0451412796 ISBN 13: 9780451412799

Publisher: Berkley, 2009

Synopsis

Special Agent Patrick Bowers had only met one man who made him truly afraid. Until now. When he's called to North Carolina to consult on the case of an area serial killer, he finds himself in a deadly game. Cunning and lethal, the killer is always one step ahead of the law, and he's about to strike again. 
It will take all of Bowers's instincts and training to stop this man who calls himself the Illusionist. And just when the pieces start to come together, Bowers realizes they're not quite adding up. Can he unravel the pattern and save the next victim? Or will the Illusionist win the game by taking one of his opponent's pieces? 
Thrilling, chilling, and impossible to put down, The Pawn will hold suspense lovers in its iron grip until the very last page.

About this title

From the Author:

This was my first novel. I'd been writing non-fiction books and wanted to write a mystery or suspense novel. So my publisher asked me to send in fifty pages. They offered me a three-book deal and the Bowers Files began.
I'd originally intended to write a story about a one-armed detective and a guy who snuck into cult compounds to free people for their family members. Neither of those storylines worked.
However, all of the research that I did on cults led me to the Jonestown storyline in The Pawn.
While researching the book, I was able to interview one of the three people still alive who had survived the Jonestown massacre. The book is dedicated to his wife and his son, who both died on that tragic day.
People often tell me that the opening scene to this book is one of the most visceral and shocking scenes in all of the Bowers Files. The final twist only came to me after many months of working on the book.
If you love stories with a jaw-dropping twist, check this one out.

From the Back Cover:

Special Agent Patrick Bowers never met a killer he couldn't catch. Until now. Called to North Carolina to consult on the case of an area serial killer, Bowers finds himself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Cunning and lethal, the killer is always one step ahead of the law, and he's about to strike again. It will take all of Bowers's instincts and training to stop the man who calls himself the Illusionist. Thrilling, chilling, and impossible to put down, The Pawn will hold you in its iron grip until the very last page. "A captivating look at the fine line between good and evil. The Pawn is not to be missed."--Ann Tatlock, author of Every Secret Thing "Steven James combines 21st-century high-tech law enforcement techniques with 18th-century Sherlockian deduction to craft an exciting, suspense-filled story."--Dr. Kim Rossmo, Center for Geospatial Intelligence and Investigation, Texas State University

About this edition

• Publisher: Berkley
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0451412796
• ISBN 13: 9780451412799
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 448