Hangman is a word game played by children. The goal is to solve the puzzle by guessing one letter at a time. Each time a letter is not in the puzzle, the hanging begins.

The game is harmless fun – that is until a madman starts to play the game using real people. “Hangman” is a chilling tale of revenge and mystery.

In the United States, dealing with a multiple-state killer is hard enough. Once caught, the states fight over who gets to hold the trial. In this case the stakes are raised. The killer is not terrorizing multiple states, but is terrorizing in two countries.

The crime spree begins in Seattle. A victim is found hanged with one leg removed. On the wall is a drawing of the hangman game with a puzzle.

A few days later in Vancouver, a second body is found. This victim too was hanged, but had both legs removed. Once again the murderer left the bloody calling card of the hangman game on the wall.

Detective Maddy Thorne has been placed in charge of the manhunt on the American side of the border. Her knowledge of serial killers has propelled her to a high-ranking career.

Detective Zinc Chandler is a member of Special X, a division of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A fighter to the end, Chandler will let nothing stop him from catching the killer.

The slayings appear to be a protest of death by hanging. Will the game being played be enough revenge for a wrongly convicted man’s death?

Thorne and Chandler join forces and work on developing solid leads. What is never discussed is which country will get custody of the killer once captured. This turf war could buy the killer enough time to finish and win the game.

Michael Slade has created a thrilling masterpiece filled with plot twists so shocking, no one will be able to guess the ending.

Michael Slade is the pen name of Jay and Rebecca Clarke. This father and daughter team has developed a unique style of story telling.

The storyline for “Hangman” is divided into three sections. Two investigations, one by the detectives and the other by a lawyer, are told in a linear fashion. The murders are told in past tense. Therefore, the main narrator of the story is actually looking back on the case while the investigation takes place around him.

The plot seems complicated, but it is told in a fashion that makes it understandable. Revisiting the crimes only adds to the suspense and horror of the story.

“Hangman” allows the reader to take part in the investigation. Finding the killer is only half of the mystery. Trying to figure out the motive is the other.

Slade’s use of comedic lines nicely breaks up the bloodshed. The character development is strongly done. In fact, one may think unnecessary information is being given, when in reality even the characters’ history plays an important role to the story.

“Hangman” creates an excitement that stays with the reader even after the book is completed. It is definitely thought provoking and will challenge one’s beliefs about the death penalty.