Killer Looks

Killer Looks by Steven Fisher is a fascinating thriller that looks inside the mind and psyche of a serial killer. Kevin Mathers is used to catching and putting away serial killers. He’s not a policeman, but the local force has used him on numerous occasions for his brilliant insights, ability to spot patterns, and investigative techniques. This, however, has come at considerable cost to not only his physical well-being but also his mental health. To be honest, Kevin Mathers is a broken man, living on sad memories and professional therapy. Serial killer hunting is not the future direction for Kevin. When a serial killer, dubbed the Note Writer, decides it would be fun to test Kevin’s abilities as an investigator, Kevin quickly understands that this is a game for the killer. He desperately wants to outsmart Kevin and prove he is invincible and immune to law enforcement. This is no longer just professional for Kevin; this is deeply personal, and he must become involved.

Killer Looks is an insightful delve into the mind of evil. Author Steven Fisher has done an amazing job in creating two disparate and fascinating characters in Kevin and the Note Writer. What I particularly appreciated was that the story unfolds from more than one perspective, and the reader has the opportunity to not only understand, empathize, and root for Kevin and his struggles but also to catch a glimpse into the mind of true evil in the serial killer. The amount of character building in such a short novel is impressive. I appreciated that the Note Writer was, to all intents and purposes, a successful and contributing member of society, but what the author does so skillfully is show that even just the veneer of gentility and normalcy can hide a dark and malevolent soul. The story contains enough red herrings and twists to keep any reader fully engaged. For me, the story was not just about the opportunity to see inside a serial killer’s mind, it was also a celebration of Kevin’s ability to rise above the pain and suffering of the past and use his talents to not only catch the serial killer but to find personal peace and satisfaction. I thoroughly enjoyed this read and highly recommend it.

– Grant Leishman for Readers’ Favorite

A past obsession turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse between a serial killer and his hero.

Killer Looks is an intriguing psychological mystery where every move becomes part of a twisted addictive puzzle. The question isn’t who committed the murders, we already know that. Instead, it is whether detectives can catch him before he makes his next move.

Frank is a serial killer who has managed to evade notice and capture for years. Bored of his “easy” conquests and the same routine, he decides to make things more interesting. He challenges retired Investigator Kevin Mathers, the nation’s top serial killer catcher, into a deadly game where he leaves clues that forces Kevin into a race against time before the next victim is killed.

Rather than building suspense around the killer’s identity, Author Fisher invites readers inside the minds of the killer, the detectives, and even some of the victims. Knowing who Frank is from the beginning completely changes the reading experience. Instead of trying to solve a traditional mystery, readers are caught up in the chase, watching the police and FBI slowly piece together clues while Frank stays frustratingly ahead of them.

While Frank’s identity is never a mystery, the man behind the crimes certainly is. Why does he kill? How did he become the person he is? Why is he so fixated on Kevin? And just how deeply are their lives connected? Those unanswered questions will keep readers invested throughout the novel.

The pacing is another strength. Killer Looks moves quickly, making it an easy book to keep up with. However, slowing down a few beats may have added more emotional weight to the story. It feels like we’re missing, especially, the interactions between Kevin and Frank before everything hits its climax.

Even so, Fisher tells this story with an entertaining cast of characters, each with their own personalities, struggles, and motivations. I especially appreciated how Frank is portrayed. He isn’t presented as a monster hiding in darkness but as someone who blends effortlessly into everyday life. The novel explores how dangerous people can hide behind charm, confidence, and attractive appearances while those around them remain completely unaware. It’s a reminder that evil doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. A psychopath can very much be a co-worker, son, or lover.

Kevin’s character and his development adds an emotional layer to the thriller. He’s still carrying survivor’s guilt, grief, and psychological scars left by the previous cases which forced him into early retirement. As he struggles to heal and forgive himself, this new investigation forces him to confront those wounds all over again. His internal battle raises an interesting moral question: where is the line between justice and violence? If you kill someone in self-defense—or to stop them from hurting others—does that make you any different from the person you stopped?

One passage, in particular, really stayed with me:

“Does that hold true for murder? If you kill someone, do you take on the guilt for all the people they killed along the way? Are you all linked together in a chain of death and destruction? Even if you are not a victim, are you still on the charm bracelet, joined by the links of bone and blood and death?”

Beyond the murders and investigation, Killer Looks asks readers to consider the lasting consequences of violence and whether anyone escapes it unchanged. More than a hunt for a killer, the novel explores whether violence ever truly ends with the person who starts it.

All in all, this is an engaging psychological mystery that offers a refreshing twist on the serial killer formula. Fast-paced and thought-provoking, Killer Looks is a great match for anyone who enjoys character-driven crime fiction with moral dilemmas woven into its mystery.

– Tomi Alo for Independent Book Review