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Reviewed by Grant Leishman for Readers' Favorite
The Chameleon Killer: Alma Rossi Book 1 by Rick Mendes is an interesting mystery that has the feel of a “true crime” story. Alma Rossi is a young female detective in Hillsford, California, who, despite her age and gender, is the most senior of the detectives in the small Hillsford Police Department. In a quiet, low-crime community, violence and especially murder are a rare and unusual event, usually a passion-filled or spur-of-the-moment occurrence. In her time as a detective, Alma’s experience of murder investigations was limited to merely two. When a particularly brutal and public murder occurs, almost execution style, Alma and her team swing into action. When this first murder is quickly followed by three more, the small town’s resources rapidly become stretched to the limit. Despite the many differences in the crimes and scenes, Alma is firmly convinced they are dealing with a serial killer, despite some of her colleagues’ opinions to the contrary. Can the inexperienced but dedicated detective stop him before the killer strikes again?
Rick Mendes has created a fascinating lead character in Alma Rossi. As a woman in a predominantly female department, Alma strikes a blow for equality in all vocations. Her stubbornness and determination to succeed are mirrored by her immediate superior, a female lieutenant. I particularly appreciated the style of writing, reminiscent of “true crime” novels, where the meticulous police work involved in solving a mystery is detailed and outlined with clarity. This added believability to the novel. Alma is a multi-faceted character, and I appreciated the author using this opportunity to show her more human side than just the determined detective that she clearly was. What really lifts this story above others in the genre is the use of both Alma’s and the serial killer's perspectives. This allows readers to get inside the mind of the killer and, at times, even gain a shred of understanding or empathy for him. Fast-paced and action-packed but softened by the personalization of the characters, The Chameleon Killer is a fantastic read that I highly recommend.
