Kirk Stevens is a special agent with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and his partner is Carla Windermere, who is an FBI special agent. Their latest case is the rape and brutal murder of a young runaway who was a train hopper. As they investigate, they discover there are more than 25 unsolved cases of women who had disappeared or had been raped and murdered along the train line in the Northern Rocky Mountains.

I liked this book. Though this is the sixth in the Stevens and Windermere series (I've read them all), it works as a stand alone. If you want to get to know Stevens and Windermere, you should read the previous ones to find out the history and dynamics between them because the author doesn't dwell on any of that in this story. I liked the writing style and found the storyline interesting ... I didn't realize there was a train hopping culture. It's written in third person perspective with a focus on the various characters, including the murderer. As a head's up, there is swearing.

The book is dedicated to the memory of the missing and murdered woman of Vancouver, BC's Downtown Eastside and Stevie Cameron's book, On the Farm, was used as background for this story.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book!

This is one of a series involving two FBI agents charged with investigating violent crimes. It was my first introduction to this series - although some background on the agents that would have been gained by reading the other books would have been interesting, it certainly wasn't necessary to read this book.

Now, a book about a serial killer probably isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I enjoyed this thriller. The agents are tasked with looking into a young girl's murder on the High Line - the train system running through the northern most part of the country. As they investigate, they learn that the rumors of a ghost running the rails and targeting and killing young women seem to be true. The victims are the forgotten in our society - runaways, Native American girls, prostitutes - so no one is looking real hard and connecting the dots.

There is a lot of action taking place in the frigid wilderness and you feel the cold as you read this book. I'd now like to go back and read the beginning books in this series!

A legend exists where single female riders disappear on the high line and it isn't just the cold that gets them. A dead woman's picture appears on a stranger's phone. FBI Agents Stevens and Windermere are pulled into a mysterious tale of suspicious death. Limited cell service causes problems but as they uncover more unsolved cases a pattern begins to emerge. Weather, state lines, and victim choice help a serial killer stay off the radar for years.

I appreciated the ability to get into the mind of the killer without the in-depth descriptions of his crimes. You get a sense of his evil without having graphic reminders until the final showdown.

I found this difficult to get into right off the bat but as the story progressed the deeper you sink. It is chilling to think that a string of murders could be so easily missed and set aside.

Where there is a serial killer - count me in! Unfortunately, I did not know this was a series, and learned after I requested it that this is not the first in the series. However, I still very much enjoyed the book. I am definitely interested in reading all in the series to learn the backstory of some of the characters.

4 Stars
A powerful and well written book which kept me captive. It gave me all I could want... a story with realism, nuisance and multiple points of view. Each character provided just the right amount of inner story to push the tale along.
If you like the serial killer/police/ type of tale... this works on many levels.

A legend exists where single female riders disappear on the high line and it isn't just the cold that gets them. A dead woman's picture appears on a stranger's phone. FBI Agents Stevens and Windermere are pulled into a mysterious tale of suspicious death. Limited cell service causes problems but as they uncover more unsolved cases a pattern begins to emerge. Weather, state lines, and victim choice help a serial killer stay off the radar for years.

I appreciated the ability to get into the mind of the killer without the in-depth descriptions of his crimes. You get a sense of his evil without having graphic reminders until the final showdown.

I found this difficult to get into right off the bat but as the story progressed the deeper you sink. It is chilling to think that a string of murders could be so easily missed and set aside.