Publisher's Synopsis
There's a murder in the heart of Manhattan, a simple corpse... stretched out upon a bench in Herald Square Park. On any other day, in any other city, the bloody slaying would be a sidebar of filler news for the networks to bury. But this was Christmas in the city that never slept, the Big Shiny Apple... a 24-hour media show of spectacular brilliance. At the center of the universe, the King of Christmas, Mr. Jolly Old Santa Claus didn't end up dead in broad daylight. The Mayor knew the murder was a real tourist killer, a heartbreak story that could destroy the biggest shopping season of the year. Thus, with City Hall wanting answers, the Police Commissioner is leaning on his men for answers. Enter the tough talking, street savvy, Puerto Rican Lieutenant, Rico Martinez, and his crackerjack Irish Sergeant, Mike Murphy. Dispatched to the scene to hunt down leads, they are intent on cracking the case. What nobody expected was a parallel FBI Serial Killer Task Force investigation into similar murders. When the agencies come together, it doesn't take long for everyone to figure they're hunting the same psychotic, diabolical lunatic who's already on police radar. In a rush against time... New York's Finest must break out the killer's Naughty List, and hunt down the monster intent on ruining Christmas. Lock the doors, close the blinds, and run for your life. It's gonna be a merry, scary Christmas. Called 'The 'Scariest book since The Exorcist', Smith hits a home run with this debut psychological thriller.
