What’s the perfect killing field for a murderer?
A place where he (or maybe she) can learn your secrets from your own mouth and then make friends over coffee. A supposedly “safe” place where anonymity is the norm. The horror who calls himself The Axeman has figured it out and claimed his territory — he’s cherry-picking his victims in the 12-Step programs of New Orleans.
And he’s had the gall to … he’s had the gall to name himself after a historical serial killer. He just needs to go down, and fast, because this is New Aw’lins, dawlin’ — half the town is either alcoholic or co-dependent!
Who better to take him out than tall, funny, social-misfit Skip Langdon, now a homicide detective on the Axeman team, a gig that takes her into the 12-Step groups to meet the suspects (giving author Smith a chance for gentle satire). As Skip threads her fascinated way from one self-help group to another, she finds she has more in common with the twelve-steppers than just the murder — her mother, for one thing, whom she encounters at Overeaters Anonymous! And she knows what they do not: that among their anonymous numbers is a murderous, and dangerously attractive psychopath.
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Second book in the Skip Langdon series — enjoyed it just as much as the first! Great mystery/thriller series that’s not too cozy and not too hardcore either. Nice to find a series in the middle of those two extremes!
Skip Langdon is a riveting character. A woman cop that is relentless in finding justice for victims.
Smith weaves in realistic characters with all the disfunctional twists imaginable.
I liked this book. It has just a hint of the supernatural.
I received a free electronic copy of this novel from the author. Thank you, Julie Smith, for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work, I enjoy southern novels, and Ms. Smith writes a fine tale. I am happy to recommend her to friends and family.
Axeman’s …
The whole Skip Langdon series is great to read, especially if you have any familiarity with New Orleans.
Gotta love Skip Landon. Thanks, Julie Smith for another great book
Fun read
Skip goes to lots of 12-step meetings trying to find the killer preying on attendees. There are multiple suspects and the body count is rising.
I found some of the character development to be tedious and taking too long.
I liked Axeman’s jazz. It kept me wanting to read more.
It was good, I enjoyed the New Orleans setting.
Action packed but quite unrealistic in many parts. An entertaining read though.
This book was good. The suspects were so quirky that you weren’t really sure who did it until the very end. The setting of New Orleans made it more interesting.
A fun mystery and set in New Orleans too! Good easy summer read.
I enjoyed the characters in this book. And I loved the way that the story of New Orleans is woven into the story lines. Over all a decent mystery, with good characters and great background. Well worth the read.
Julie Smith tells a great story. Very informative about the culture in New Orleans. I enjoyed the depth of the characters. They were presented as realistic. The story got bogged down in parts, but overall was very exciting. What a surprise ending. I would not have guessed who the bad guy was.
My favorite series.
I love Julie Smith’s writing. She’s a keen observer of human strengths and frailties, and a superb plotter and scene-setter. I believe I’ve read all the books in this series, and enjoyed them no end.
Mot too intresting and not my taste
Second book I’ve read by this author and I really don’t care for her writing style. Maybe one of her other character books will be better.