Face Of A Killer is Robin Burcell's newest thriller
Robin Burcell launches a new series by catapulting her new heroine, FBI agent Sydney Fitzpatrick, into a murderous conspiracy thick with blackmail and government corruption. The novel is Face Of A Killer (Poisoned Pen Press), where Fitzpatrick uses her skills as a forensic artist and investigator to remove a killer from death row--a man accused of murdering her father--even as the task pulls her down a path that reveals ugly family secrets and cover-ups by the military and the CIA.Burcell weaves a tight story, as what you'd expect from an Anthony award-winning author (Deadly Legacy - 2003). After penning four Kate Gillespie novels, Burcell decided to leave her fictional world in the San Francisco PD and start over with Sydney Fitzpatrick in the FBI. Burcell did this to expand her story world and besides, as the author notes, the FBI has, "a way bigger budget." Meaning more gadgets to play with and a larger jurisdiction to mine for intrigue.
Retired from more than 20 years in law enforcement (as a patrol cop, detective, forensic artist, and hostage negotiator), Burcell now writes full-time. But her career switch was preceded by a car crash (the second one in her career as a cop) and a long and painful convalescence. Ever the optimist, Burcell worked to put the crash behind her. he returned to writing refreshed, her mind rested, and produced Face Of A Killer.
When asked if she is a plotter or pantser, Burcell acknowledges that she is definitely a plotter, except when she is making things up as she goes along. She starts with a general story idea--not even yet knowing the mystery secret--and fills in plot holes as she writes. Burcell changes the plot as needed and enjoys surprising herself with the big Ah-Ha! moment.We writers often hear: Write what you know. However, Burcell will be the first to tell you that despite her extensive experience in law enforcement, research for her police mysteries remains a challenge. Reality has a way of mucking up a good plot and Burcell uses her skill as a novelist to bend the truth enough to keep her story plausible and compelling. Search warrants? Forgetaboutit! Like any good storyteller, Burcell does her best to leave out the mundane, boring parts.
But she has plenty of heart-pounding moments to draw from. As in what's it like to pull a gun on a suspect. What's it like to see a fellow officer get killed. She's been in plenty of high-speed chases (and two crashes).
Burcell is eager to test the limits of Sydney Fitzpatrick's fictional budget in the FBI and so has added an international itinerary to the agent's assignments. To ensure accuracy and get the details just right, Burcell visited Rome, Amsterdam, and London to research the cities and absorb the necessary ambience for the forthcoming sequel, The Bone Chamber.
Check out Burcell's blog for the 2008 Bouchercon. For more info on Robin Burcell, visit, http://www.robinburcell.com
Contributing editor Mario Acevedo is a member of ITW and the author of the Felix Gomez vampire detective series from Eos HarperCollins. The most recent book is THE UNDEAD KAMA SUTRA. Mario lives and writes in Denver, Colorado.
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