William Joiner

Tracking the Butcher William Joiner

The mystery itself is sound, with a convincing and memorably unsettling wrap-up. - Kirkus ReviewsA client comes to a P. I. for help with a divorce, later that morning her husband is brutally murdered in his own home. All the evidence points to the wife as the killer. Can the P. I. prove she's innocent before she goes to a trial she won't win? Or will he have to prove her innocence while she sits in a prison cell?As an LAPD police officer Derrick Forrester came up against some of the worst criminals in Los Angeles, but now heading a private investigation firm, he's faced with dull divorce cases and temperamental clients; that is, until a new client, Alana Justice-Reiner, seeks his firm's help. Things have been difficult with her husband, Alex, and she suspects that another woman could influence the division of Alex's fortune. Under the terms of their prenuptial agreement, Alana gets half of everything if he cheats. Alex claims that he only started seeing this woman after they separated. Derrick and his associates, surveillance expert Bryce Flannery and former LAPD detective Sparta Jones, find out that Alex is a serial adulterer and has been seeing one woman, Debra Hastings, for months and report this to Alana. Later that morning, Alex is found brutally murdered in his home. Alana becomes the prime suspect; even Derrick is suspicious of her alibi. Alana had access to the house, motive, and means. She admits that she drove by the house. Alana is arrested, but Derrick wants to solve this case before Alana goes to a trial she can't win. The police launch a full investigation of Alana and discover that Alana had two other husbands who had died under what in hindsight is seen as suspicious circumstances. Both husbands are being exhumed for a second autopsy looking for evidence of poisoning. Sergeant McNully warns Derrick, "I know you, Derrick, and I know you want to save people in trouble. That's what she's banking on. Think about it."To make matters worse, danger spikes when a gang leader named Ravi Kilmore escapes from jail. Ravi has been caught by Derrick before for bank robbery and murder. He and his brother Ricky have a vendetta against Derrick for killing their younger brother, Robbie Kilmore, in a shootout that occurs when Robbie takes fifteen elementary school children hostage. Ravi plans to make Derrick pay by killing his loved ones before killing him. Sergeant McNully procures enough evidence to pin Alana as the murderer, but Derrick suspects that someone who has been infatuated with Alana is responsible for the murder of at least one of her husbands. With time running against him, and danger at every corner, they must watch their backs while they close this case once and for all. To serve and protect - Derrick will have to violate his own rules to protect those he loves.