Private Dancer by Nicholas Raven

About the book

Homicide Detective Caitlyn Lewis, beautiful, smart and resolute, faces the biggest challenge of her career, and most probably her life. A twisted killer with an insatiable bloodlust for attractive women is terrorizing the tropical paradise of Miami's South Beach.

In a race against time and the rising body count, Detective Lewis and her veteran partner, Saverio Tosca, step through the glittery and glamorous looking-glass that is South Beach only to discover a world of dysfunction, debauchery, drugs and death.

The illusion, however, is not limited to this trendy playground of the rich and famous Detective Lewis' tough city cop exterior is a façade as well. A façade that is penetrated by club disc jockey Anthony London, who joins forces with the detectives after the brutal murder of his wife at the hands of a madman.

Much to the chagrin of Detective Tosca, London is able to break through Caitlyn's veneer of grit and resilience and find a vulnerable woman with issues, long repressed issued she has in common with the victims. Another common denominator the victims shared was an acquaintance with the chief suspect, David Shelby. A shady businessman with an affinity for drugs and violence, Shelby knew all the victims intimately, including the bereaved disc jockey's late wife.

The ritualistic killings continue as the trio close in on Shelby, but the killer slips away each time, leaving behind no clues, only carnage. Taunting them, as if he know their every move. Meanwhile, Tosca seethes with jealousy as he watches Caitlyn and London inadvertently fall in love. Their happiness, notwithstanding, may be short-lived as Lewis, Tosca, London and the ever-elusive Shelby come together for the climatic final confrontation.

About the author

Nicholas Raven was born and raised on the tumultuous crime-ridden streets of Miami, Florida. Raised by his determined single mother and a no-nonsense truck-driving grandfather, he fought his way out of the dead-end streets with a blue-collar toughness and instinct to become the first in his family to receive a college degree.

Inheriting his grandfather's love for the road, he traveled cross-country working as a disc-jockey and studio-engineer until he temporarily settled in Southern California, on Venice Beach, where he spent most of his time D.J.'ing the L.A. Club and Rave scenes and surfing.

Eventually returning to Miami to be near his family, his deep-rooted love of composing songs, poetry, and short stories flourished into a desire to write fiction that not only appealed to his generation (Generation X) but also paid homage to his biggest influences: Edgar Allen Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, Clive Barker, Trent Reznor and Jim Morrison.

After completing his next novel, Raven plans to take his son, Jordan, sailing around the world.