Julia’s story is the focus of Night Stalker, but in an interesting way, Topsy has her own chapter every now and then. Running parallel, these are two tortured women. Night Stalker could be a handbook for stalking, as the many faces of it are encountered here.

Julia’s now divorced husband, Peter, will not let her go. Growing up in a dysfunctional family, his early psychoses were nurtured and finally erupted into a full-blown obsession with Julia. After many episodes of threatening her with death by various means in front of the children, she filed for divorce. He continues to stalk her thinking he will scare her into reconciliation. Clearly an unbalanced man and repeated acts of vandalism and physical threats escalate.

Julia’s is frustrated with the legal system, as the police seem helpless in enforcing restraining orders. Moving to a state with strong stalking laws might have solved her problems, but she is trying to maintain in the Seattle area where a serial killer is on the loose apparently targeting prostitutes, and in unrelated killings, jogging women meet their deaths.

A jogger, Julia samples fear of this killer first hand when on a trail one night she believes she is being watched. Then her life turns from one perilous situation to the next. Providing some relief is a new acquaintance, Earl Paulsen, a successful criminal trial attorney and nonfiction writer.

They meet at a nonfiction writing seminar as panel members, and Julia is intrigued by Earl, but always mindful that he is married with two children and a wife who has panic attacks or agoraphobia. Their mutual writing interest and shared psychotic spouses and ex-spouses bring them closer.

More killings and attempted killings occur and the threat seems to be moving perilously close to Julia. Viewing Peter as the culprit is a bit obvious even for the most inexperienced mystery reader. But Anders has a complicated plot, driven by the burgeoning mental illnesses of many people.

The characters are well developed and Julia’s relationship with her children adds depth and interest to the story. The tension is maintained nicely and enriched with Topsy’s mental machinations and fears. Pacing is very good, and the scene segues are seamless and indicative of an excellent writer with a well-constructed plot. The story twists and turns, but once resolution is in sight it reaches the conclusion a bit too swiftly.

Night Stalker is an enjoyable read. However, if it serves no other purpose, it heightens one’s awareness to the crime of stalking by illustrating the many faces of a stalker, and the many forms of it.

--Thea Davis