Seven years ago Lara Church was brutally assaulted by the Seattle Strangler, and the attack left her so traumatized that she still has no memory of that night. Lara left Seattle soon after the attack, and more or less has lived in her truck just running. She has accumulated a couple of important items -- a German shepherd named Lincoln, and a collection of cameras. Discovering she has an awesome talent with photography was a very welcome surprise. Lara is back in Austin, Texas where she spent most of her summers when she was growing up. She is living in the house that was bequeathed to her by her grandmother, and she is very close to her only relative, her cousin, Cassidy Roberts. Cassidy is having a showing of Lara's photography at her art gallery; the theme is "Mark of Death." Lara has a collection of scenes of death sites from the areas she visited on her seven-year road trip, impressively done in black and white and taken with an antique tri-pod camera that uses glass negatives.

Texas Ranger James Beck is one tough enforcement officer. There have been two strangulation/rape/torture deaths in his area, both bodies found by the side of an interstate highway. The cases are soon linked to the Seattle Strangler, who has been MIA for the last seven years, since the attack on Lara. When Beck discovers Lara now lives in the area, he gives her a visit, and is met with a double barrel shotgun pointed at him and a growling watch dog. Beck treats Lara with the same hostility she shows him, and threatens her with obstruction of justice if she doesn't tell him everything she remembers.

THE SEVENTH VICTIM is a first class, Blue Ribbon thriller and features meticulously created characters, dialogue, and story lines. Just when you think you have it all figured out --- you're wrong! In the meantime, just enjoy an excellent whodunit.