Review: Death Notice by Todd Ritter

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Minotaur Books (October 12, 2010)
• ISBN-10: 0312622805
• Source: Publisher

Kat Campbell is a single mom & chief of police for the small town of Perry Hollow, PA. Other than a few minor crimes, Perry Hollow is a pretty quiet town. Until one frigidly cold day when a coffin is found on the side of the road.  Inside the coffin is the body of a local farmer.  Two shiny pennies lay over his eyes; his mouth sewn shut.  On his neck was another wound, stitched closed with the same black thread that sealed his mouth.

Henry Goll works for the local newspaper as an obituary writer. It’s his job to makes sure every obituary printed contains a death sentence-the line that details who died, how & when.  Henry has quite the history; after surviving a horrible crash he’s left with a severe scar and burns covering a large portion of his face.  Henry’s a loner, keeps to himself, never smiles.  He’s known as Henry Ghoul by other reporters.

It is normal for Henry to receive faxes from funeral homes, announcing the deaths of citizens of the small town.   However one fax he receives is very different. It is the death notice for George Winnick, the farmer found in the coffin, sent before his body was found.

Chief Campbell knows she’s in over her head and seeks the assistance of Nick Donnelly, a state police officer with special knowledge about serial killers. When Goll continues to receive death notices for the killer’s victims, he becomes an integral part of the investigation.

Death Notice is a chilling & suspenseful debut novel.  Readers will become instantly invested in the well-developed characters.  I felt for Goll’s character, in particular.  In a hell of his own already due to the horrific accident that scared him, he faces his own fears to help save the citizens of the small town.

What really impressed me about this book was the fact that it isn’t one of those formulaic, cookie cutter crime novels.  It was well-paced, not rushed at all.  The killer was kept a secret til the very end, despite several false leads. All in all, I can’t say enough just how much I recommend Death Notice.  It’s one of those one-sitting thrillers; you won’t be able to pull yourself away til you turn the last page.

I’m not sure if Ritter plans a follow-up to this novel.  In any case, I look forward to reading what he writes next.