In an attempt to leave a terrible mark on society, a killer is about to start a streak of murders that will shake Houston. Robert W. Walker will only cool the reader with fright in the thriller “Cold Edge.”

Lucas Stonecoat has been forced into a case that may have links to his Native American culture. A new murder has taken to scalping his victims, also removing the hands as trophies. Could this killer be fueled by Native American blood?

Doctor Meredyth Sanger has worked with the police department for many years. She uses her training in psychology to develop profiles of violent killers hoping to aid the police hunt. Doctor Sanger has seen some of the worst crimes ever, but she will not be prepared for this.

In the mix is another psychiatrist, Thomas W. Morrissey, who is involved in studying serial killers and other violent offenders. Currently, Morrissey is involved in counseling recently paroled violent offenders. He has access to some of the most disturbed minds in the country, and may even have a lead on the scalping murders.

However, the killer remains at large and now is ready to escalate his crime spree. Detective Stonecoat is just about ready to dive into the case when trouble attacks his personal life. Stonecoat’s grandfather now lies on his deathbed.

Another barrier in the case is that Morrissey is refusing to reveal whether or not he has learned anything in his therapy sessions due to doctor-client privilege. Could one of the so-called reformed criminals be behind the slayings?

“Cold Edge” has all the makings of a top-notch thriller. Walker breaks out all the stops at the start of the novel. He uses excellent word pictures and sets a masterfully chilling crime scene. But then it all goes downhill.

An excessive amount of dialogue mixed in with a sappy family struggle turns what could be a suspenseful masterpiece into a slow-moving, boring affair.

Lucas Stonecoat has become a star in Robert W. Walker’s “Edge” series. “Cold Edge” is the third novel of three in the series. So in this novel the character development is not as in depth as it could be. Enough of Stonecoat’s background is given in “Cold Edge” to allow the reader to become familiar with his character without having to read the first two novels.

Another flaw in the story line of “Cold Edge” is the excessive number of killings involved. Also a larger number of characters diminish the story line. Much of the edge is lost in this novel due to confusion.

The ultimate disappointment in “Cold Edge” is the book’s steady decline in action and suspense. It is hard to keep interest levels up when the story drags on and on with little or no high points.

Robert W. Walker first gained critical acclaim with his “Instinct” novels. At this time the “Edge” novels have received some critical praise, but the books have yet to break into major reading circles.

Walker shows aspirations of becoming a great author. Perhaps he has hit a low spot trying to extend this current series.

“Cold Edge” has a strong plot and an interesting criminal mastermind. Unfortunately, slow dialogue and too many characters turn this novel into just another blood fest.