A serial killer known as “The Burier,” who murdered five young men and women 25 years ago, may be set free. In order for this to happen, the firm representing him must fully discredit a decorated police detective and prove that he mishandled the case and suppressed evidence.

DI Anjelica Henry is especially torn over this new development. Years earlier, she found the body of the Burier's first victim, who was one of her closest friends. The late DCI Harry Rhimes, whose name is now being dragged through the mud, was her boss and mentor. Thus begins criminal defense attorney Nadine Matheson’s latest thriller, THE KILL LIST. Her novels ring true with details that only someone working inside the system would know, and she can be compared to other great writers who are able to slip inside dark minds and bring them to life on the page.

"In a brief period of time, Nadine Matheson has become one of my go-to writers. I cannot speak highly enough of her keen insights that run throughout this brilliant series."

We get to witness interactions between Rhimes and Andrew Streeter, the alleged Burier. He continued to profess his innocence right up to the point where the judge sentenced him to life in prison five times over. Along with burying his victims, the killer would sew their mouths and eyes shut. It becomes slightly evident that Rhimes may have been pushing rather hard to see Streeter go down for these crimes, but no one could believe any claims of conscious mishandling of evidence to assure conviction.

Streeter, who continues to swear he's innocent, is dying of cancer. Elias Piper of the Redemption Foundation reaches out to Henley on Streeter’s behalf as he had sent her some unreturned correspondence requesting a face-to-face visit. Henley reluctantly agrees after first meeting with Streeter’s ex-girlfriend, Kerry, from back in the day. Rhimes allegedly pushed Kerry away from his case, even though she may have been able to provide an alibi for Streeter regarding one of the murders.

Now in remission, Streeter is pleasant throughout his meeting with Henley and hopes she does not take the discrediting of her former mentor personally, considering his life is on the line. One key clue that Rhimes had found but then somehow misplaced at the time of the trial was a “kill list” that the killer had composed containing the names of all those he was planning to murder. Streeter ends up being cleared of all charges once the Redemption Foundation gets his case reopened. This is followed by two shocking circumstances. Just prior to his release, Streeter is injected with rat poison by a prison nurse and dies, and Elias is attacked and kidnapped by an unknown assailant who most likely is the real Burier seeking revenge.

Henley’s current boss orders the Serial Crime Unit to do something they are not specialized in doing --- revisit the five cold cases that were originally attributed to Streeter. Meanwhile, Henley and a couple of her colleagues are working on Streeter’s murder and Elias’ disappearance. When Elias’ body is found stuffed inside a refrigerator of a house being shown for sale, they now must add a second murder to the count. His eyelids and lips are sewn shut, and a message that reads SLEEPING DOGS SHOULD LIE is found at the scene.

Eventually, we begin to see things from the vantage point of the killer, who always seems to be one step ahead of everyone. What has this individual been doing for the past 25 years, and is he responsible for the cold cases during that period? To answer these questions, the motive must be determined, which is where the kill list comes into play.

In a brief period of time, Nadine Matheson has become one of my go-to writers. I cannot speak highly enough of her keen insights that run throughout this brilliant series.