"Murder by Symbols" by E.M. Kelly

photo: emkellythrillers.com
396 pages, published by Great Blue Hill Publishing, ©2024

In the town of Stoughton, Massachusetts, Colton Baker is ready for his first day as a detective. That first day will include a call to investigate a dead body at the train station. It will turn out to be the first of many victims of a serial killer, and it's just one of the tasks Baker is faced with in E.M. Kelly's "Murder by Symbols".

Victims and Their Clues

Throughout the book, the new detective takes on challenges at work and at home. The body at the train station becomes another case file added to a pile Baker was hoping to whittle down in his new position. It's not going to get any easier for him as more victims are found around town. The victims have coins over their eyes, coins from the time of the American Revolution. What is the significance of the coins, and do they have any connection with the symbols tattooed to the victims' foreheads? Speaking of the tattoos, there is also a mysterious "W" on the thumbs. Why?

And, there is the political wrangling between the Stoughton Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police Department, and the FBI. The struggle for jurisdiction intensifies when it's learned local members of the Mafia, the Romano Family, may be tied to the murders. The Romanos are suspected of bribing state troopers in return for road project contracts. Are victims getting in the way of lucrative public works jobs? Will the FBI step in and move Baker from the case? If Agents Wolf and Diaz are planning on such a thing, they're not saying. No matter what the Bureau's plans are, they'll keep it close to the vest. In the meantime, Baker and the beautiful Diaz will be paired together.

What is the Connection?

Stoughton Police Chief Catherine McCormack is doing everything possible on her end. On one side of her is an ever-growing contingent of media, including a journalist, Laynie Monteiro, from Los Angeles who has a knack for sniffing out stories and details. On the other side is the political wrangling between local, state, and federal law enforcement. There are people within the State police and feds who don't like Baker when they learn a previous case was bungled. Can Baker be trusted?

There is no connection to the victims. Bankers, firefighters, mechanics, even a town hall employee. Why is the killer going after these people. Will Colton himself be a target? Notes are left for the new detective, notes that detail his moves and locations in previous days. It's a dangerous game for Colton Baker. He needs to solve a string of murders, and he's already worried about his elderly parents, especially his father who is suffering from dementia. Colton is doing all he can to help his parents and the town of Stoughton, but will it be enough before the killer finds their next victim?

A Page-Turning Guessing Game

Kelly's book will have you guessing. There is a puzzle on each victim to solve and a list of suspects to weed out. Clues to the case lie around Stoughton and Boston. History buffs will enjoy the tie-ins to the American Revolution. Will the killer be found? Will Baker and Diaz' partnership go beyond the confines of police work?

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