Book Review for The Sawtooth Slayer (Venator Cold Case #2) by Nathan Dylan Goodwin
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In this second book of the Venator Cold Case Series author Nathan Dylan Goodwin writes a compelling mystery about a serial killer on the loose in Twin Falls, Idaho. By using the somewhat new tool of genetic genealogy along with good old detective work he weaves a story of a nameless man who is committing murders in the small city of Twin Falls. As the plot progresses the reader learns this serial killer has been targeting young, beautiful women and then depositing their lifeless bodies at random locations throughout the city.
A female detective, Maria Gonzalez, heads up the team that is investigating the grisly crimes along with Venator, an investigative genetic genealogy company that specializes in assisting law enforcement in solving crimes through DNA and researching family trees that may lead to important clues thereby attempting to bring the perpetrators to justice. Venator is brought into play to collaborate with the Twin Falls police department in tracking down the serial killer who is tormenting this Idaho city. The female owner of Venator, Madison Scott-Barnhardt, is somewhat hesitant to take on this case as it is a “live” case and Venator has previously only assisted on cold cases. All Venator’s investigation and research take place during a worldwide shutdown of most businesses, and through a tangle of personal issues of team members, making the process even more daunting than the usual cases that Venator handles.
From the first pages of the book, the reader is cast into the twisted world of the killer, but his identity remains a mystery. As the reader continues with the book Mr. Goodwin builds a true progression of the process that genetic genealogists use to help solve crimes. The sense of foreboding along with the urgency of this investigation is portrayed throughout the book. It was difficult to put it down. The reader will want to digest each word since the author describes in detail how the discovery process is accomplished.
If one follows the description within the reading of the book as to how the main character and her team members discover who the prime suspect is, theoretically you can do this also. Nathan Dylan Goodwin does a spectacular job of weaving the process into the prose of the book. He describes how time-consuming this job is yet how very much of how it is an integral part of apprehending criminals. Genealogists with a flair for details will love this!
This book was written mostly in the form of a dialogue between Venator team members, the Twin Falls police department, and the perpetrator himself.
Aspiring genetic genealogists and current genealogists will find this book very entertaining as well as instructional. By keeping this book handy and referring to it when practicing genetic genealogy skills, the reader will gain much knowledge to further their passion and enthusiasm for this subject. A fair number of geological websites are mentioned throughout this entertaining and well-researched book. Mr. Goodwin’s expertise in history, genealogy, and writing is very evident throughout this book.
Even though this is the second novel in the Venator Cold Case Series it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone story.
A few clues and breadcrumbs are sprinkled throughout the book that will motivate the reader to anticipate the next book in the Venator series.
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