The Night Stalker Paperback – June 2, 2016

“This is the problem when you create enemies, Erika. They go off and plot, and often flourish in the shade.”Holy cheez balls! That was a gripping ride! Consider Robert Bryndza my new one-click buy! (I’ve already purchased the next two books in this series!)This was a fantastic follow up to his debut book, The Girl in the Ice, which I was immediately obsessed with! Erika is a gritty protagonist, a strong female lead who doesn’t take crap from anyone, and can sometimes come thisclose to being a vigilante. She’s a flawed individual, and I love that. Nothing irks me more than when a character is written like they are perfect.What I especially loved in this book was getting to know Isaac more. I loved his and Erika’s developing friendship in the first book, and to see them become closer friends here was great. The politics of her job is what will infuriate you the most. Everything conspires against Erika when she is solving murders: the Chief Superintendent seems to dislike her; Superintendent Marsh (her direct superior) doesn’t seem to support her when she needs it most; and she always manages to attract the attention of the serial killer, putting her life at risk.Beware! These stories are addicting! You won’t want to stop reading or listening to these stories. You will loath some characters, and become champions of others. I’ve been listening to these books on Audible, and the narrator, Jan Cramer, brings the characters to life. There’s an intensiveness that Cramer brings to the story which I love. I don’t want to spoil anything for you, so I’ll stop here. Now to start book 3!My Rating: 5/5 stars

I had read the Girl on Ice some time ago and when I was browsing for something to read I remembered that I liked the character of DCI Erika Foster so I downloaded The Night Stalker. Erika is tough, yet with some vulnerabilities and I find her as well as the rest of the characters in the book likeable and interesting. I particularly like Moss. I also like the fact that the author is not afraid to have a main character who is a woman that smokes, and occasionally drinks --- yet is not deeply flawed with a dark sordid past like some of the male detectives in other police procedurals. I also like that there is no big cliffhanger at the end, although it definitely left me wanting to know what path Erika is going to go down for the rest of her career so I did immediately download the next in the series, Dark Water. While I got the Night Stalker for free I felt like it was quite worth it to pay the $3.99 for Dark Water.

I have fell in love with this author. He is so amazing!!! The detective Erika Foster novels have me hooked. I truly hope he continue to write about DCI Foster. I do not want to give away too much but it picks up form Erika's last case/adventure in 'The Girl in the Ice'. She is now a fixture in the department and good friends with Pathologist Issac, her colleagues Moss and Peterson. The complex nature of each of her relationships are so well developed, I can truly understand Erika's complexity. Erika is not angel and she continues to fight her demons. This book goes more into each of the supporting characters and their relationships so that you now become attached to them as well as Erika. If you loved 'Girl in the Ice', you will become hooked onto 'Night Stalker' and 'Dark Water'. Robert Bryndza if you read this, please continue to write about Erika and her cases. You have me hooked!

I enjoyed the first Erika Foster novel but having now read the second I am a dyed in the wool fan.It's clear from the unique story line that the success of Girl In The Ice was no one off victory. DCI Foster makes for a wonderfully complex character, both gritty and compassionate, smart yet impulsive and both brave and reckless.In this installment you'll find yourself both despising and feeling sorry for our villain. Erika has a tough case to crack and as per usual, no real support from her superiors. I'm still a bit conflicted about a certain bit in the ending; no spoilers but I'm not sure if I agree or disagree with SI Marsh's perspective on Erika's work ethic. Then again, it's structured in a way that leaves room for lots more delicious plot twists in future books.Well done! A five star thriller.

I would have bet that book #2 DCI Foster would have lacked the excitement Book #1, Girl in the Water, I was absolutely wrong.The story line unique, the personalities more defined, the politics in the workplace definitely ' right on'. The entire story line totally different from the first book.This has me waiting for Book #3. Here in the US, I would love to see these books developed into a series that our public television would run.Everyone has a story, their personal life often links into the work place life, that was captured very well in The Night Stalker.What an excellent way to spend leisure time. Hats off to Mr. Bryndza

Another great installment in the Erika Foster series. At this rate I will not be getting anything done until I have read all of the books in the series. Erika is stubborn and persistent and battles authority but it all kind of makes sense because of the personal struggles she deals with or rather, doesn't deal with. I do wish that the title would simply be "The Night Stalker" as I don't feel that a chilling or thrilling serial killer does not need to appear on every cover. I think that would deter some readers. I'm off to start book three.

I am addicted to police procedurals. Erica Foster would be terminated, should she actually work as a sworn officer. That is exactly why I enjoyed this novel. I loved the pace, and the undercurrent of backstabbing - which ius a very real part of that career.It kept my interest. I look forward to the next book in the series, and atwatching how Erica grows. I would like to see her learn how to manipulate the situations to her advantage, particularly with Sparks.She needs to nail that jerk in the next book! Please!!

Resilient DCI Erika Foster returns from her EPIC ordeal in The Girl in the Ice to tackle the elusive serial killer journalists have branded The Night Stalker. It’s the name they have conjured up to sensationalise the nature of this criminal’s grim method of dispatching people.The Night Stalker is targeting people who meet certain criteria, in other words our Stalker has taken their actions very personally. As a result they have successfully discovered a callous way of disposing of their chosen victims under the cover of darkness, armed only with a plastic bag (and the encouragement of an anonymous chat room ‘friend’).The brief, yet insightful, chats between Night Owl and Duke tell of the suffering both of them have endured during their lives, as they share a bond where they can unburden themselves but retain the protection of online anonymity.Dealing with a killer who is convinced they have a perfectly legitimate reason to take another person’s life and who leaves no major clues to their identity, the case won’t be a walk in the park – but if it that was the case we wouldn’t be sitting on the edge of our seats, would we?! And so Erika once again battles with her superiors concerning her opposing ideas surrounding the her ideas of a suspect, the inner politics of the of the force and her personal methods, all of which grate on those higher in the ranks and regularly see her in the firing line, not ideal when a promotion dares to raise its tempting head.Erika’s approach means she’ll find herself in hot water, allowing the emotion of the two year anniversary of her husband’s death to be explored further when she is officially taking a ‘holiday’. This unbearable time sees Erika receiving unwelcome contact from the killer. Let’s be honest that’s a tad freaky and our DCI knows she has to do something, even if her boss doesn’t always endorse her actions.Whilst this was nothing short of gripping, I found the explosive grit of The Girl in the Ice was replaced by more intense character psychology in The Night Stalker. Everyone’s little nuances came alive in this investigation, as they were written with depth and controlled with the perfect timing. Moments when killer’s frustration peaked as their ‘acts of kindness’ produced a different result to the one they had imagined were gruelling, for both the killer and the poor person on the receiving end. If a writer can play with your mind to make you feel a warped kind-of sorry for a serial killer (AND their cheerleader in places) then they’re obviously doing their job right!The Night Stalker offers such an intriguing invitation it would simply be rude not to read it. Yes, people expire in an unpleasant manner and there are aftershocks from multiple diverse issues. No, it’s not always a comfortable ride, but the combination of mountainous tension and a thoroughly ‘human’ element creates a terrific crime thriller in every conceivable way.P.S. There’s enough background info cleverly incorporated so that this can be read as a standalone, should you wish.(Sincere thanks to the publisher for providing a digital copy of this title, via NetGalley.)

A dark figure cuts through the shadows, their destination a quiet home in Honor Oak Park. They have murder on their mind and their target? Dr Gregory Munro, a local GP. The method is well planned, all bases covered. Drink spiked, phone lines cut and electricity turned off. They are meticulous and they are patient and so once inside the house, they wait…When the Doctor’s body is discovered, it has all the hallmarks of a sexually motivated murder. Recently separated from his wife, there are aspect of Munro’s private life which certainly bring into question whether his life was as straightforward as his mother would have them believe. When DCI Erika Foster and her team are called in to investigate, Foster knows that there is more to this murder than meets the eye. Complicating the investigation further is the conflict which exists between Munro and his brother in law, a man who incites hatred and stirs up Petersen, but who harbours his own secrets making him not unknown to the police.When a second body is discovered in identical circumstances, Foster knows that this is more than a simple sex game gone wrong, that the killings have the hallmarks of a serial killer, but their profile is not one that Foster or her colleagues would necessarily suspect. A third victim is found, a man very close one of the team, and a simple threat left on his answerphone quickly turns them into a suspect, making the case more than personal for Foster. She trusts her instincts and is determined to prove their innocence, even when the SIO is adamant that they have their man.‘The Night Stalker’ is the second instalment in the DCI Erika Foster series. In this book we get to learn more about Foster and the raid which claimed the life of her husband, a trauma from which she has never been able to recover. The damage has been done and each and every day the battle she fights with her demons colours her work and her reputation, something played to good effect by Bryndza in this book. She is somewhat of a maverick, relying greatly on instinct as much as solid police work, bypassing protocol and hierarchy in favour of getting to the truth. We learn more about Petersen who has been a little bit of a closed book throughout the first story and are treated to a little more of the ‘softer?’ side of Foster as her friendship with pathologist Isaac is developing throughout the story.The pacing in this book is excellent. The chapters are kept short and the tension builds right up to and beyond the point that the identity of the killer is revealed. This isn’t so much as a whodunit or even howdunit as the reader is able to look over the shoulder of the killer as they commit their crimes. There is also no big reveal at the end as the murderer is disclosed to the reader about half way through, although the savvy and observant amongst you will have probably worked out whodunit before this point. This is more about why and about how Foster will be able to prove it. As the killer takes a personal interest in Foster, it looks like she will be once more in the firing line, making her need to solve the case very personal indeed. The devolution of the killers already fragile mind is not sensationalised or trivialised and this keeps the story believable and yet somewhat unpredictable.I love the fluid writing style, the way in which, in spite of knowing the killer, Bryndza still manages to keep the surprises coming and the tension high. There is always a feeling of Foster working from the outside, accepted by her team but not fully by the top brass, and the conflict between her and senior officers certainly adds to the interest in the story as she is doubted at every turn of the investigation. She is damaged, she is flawed, she plays by her own rules and the events at the end of the story will make you wonder what next for our heroine. I can’t wait to find out.Thanks to Publishers Bookouture and Net Galley for the advance copy in exchange for my review.A tension filled 5 star read - highly recommended.

Erika Foster is back! And what a return! Bryndza has held nothing back with his second novel, fast paced, gripping and really creepy.Often, after writing an amazing debut novel the second rarely lives up to the hype but this is NOT the case here. Bryndza has created an unlikely heroine, who although damaged by her past, really packs a punch amongst her peers and suffers no fools. Erika Foster is a strong, likeable character who sadly lacks charm (purposefully) but always gets the job done!The second novel serves to better develop her character and relationship to her coworkers Moss and Peterson without too much repetition of the first novel. We start to see how the two friendships are not only strong work relationships but vital to Erika staying grounded in her personal life.I loved this book, it’s taking me longer to read them now I have a baby making her own demands. But even still, the short, pacey chapters were thrilling. Bryndza has fast become one of my favourite writers of crime fiction. So much so I have downloaded the entire series to follow on!

I am very much ‘team Erika’, when I read this book, it only made me fall further behind Erika’s character and endeared her to me more. I enjoy her attitude and the fact that she never lets anything get in the way of her solving the case. I did find myself getting a little annoyed in this second book, at how the male characters (especially those of a higher rank than her), couldn’t see or wouldn’t see Erika’s potential and pushed her into the box of ‘the woman who cannot take orders’. I think it annoyed me because Erika’s performance as a DCI was exemplary in that she was hard hitting and took every chance to capture those she hunted. Yet it was her personality or her ruthlessness that was always used to push her down and keep her from progressing in her job. Some of her approaches may seem too far but she is constantly being kept out of the loop, has had cases taken from her or her opinion is ignored in favour of taking the opinion of a man instead. Perhaps I am reading too much into things but it really started to bug me.Moss and Peterson are wonderful characters and compliment Erika quite well. I am looking forward to getting to know them better as the series continues. Marsh and Oakley, well, they’re the source of much of my annoyance in this book. They’d definitely mansplain to Erika if they got the chance. I guess the characters portray as old-school and don’t recognise the level of skill Erika has in the cases she takes on. They just see this woman who strives so hard and never backs down. They see a woman whose past actions caused the death of her team, a woman who acts rashly and a woman who never stops. I think both Marsh and Oakley see Erika as a woman first and a DCI second and that’s what really annoys me. I did enjoy this installment. Obviously I had issue with some points as I’ve just rambled them above, but for the most part, I thought the killer was inventive, the motives chilling and the driving force of Erika was the adrenaline thumping in my heart and pushing me onwards with reading. I liked the overall direction that this book took, though some of the decisions towards the end did annoy the hell out of me. I’m still invested enough to read the third installment and hopeful that Erika will finally get what she deserves.★★★★

I'm really getting in to this DCI Erika Foster series. My only criticism is that I feel there is a thread throughout this authors books where he tends to waffle on a bit. I find myself skipping chunks of the story to get to the bits I'm interested in, maybe too much time spent on developing the characters and how in depth he goes in each story. But saying that, I have just come from reading Angela Marsons DCI Kim Stone books and she is super short and punchy sentences , and short chapters but really good!The night stalker is a really good story non the less, and I've found myself 4 books in to this series so must be enjoying them!