[.ca] The Red Scream (ISBN 0553571729)

From Amazon.com:
In this 1995 winner of the Edgar Award for best mystery novel, crime reporter Molly Cates has chronicled the exploits of Louie Bronk, a brutal serial killer scheduled for execution, for her first book. With his execution just a few days away, Molly decides to write the closing chapter on her disturbing relationship with the man known as the Texas Scalper. Strangely, both her boss and the husband of the woman whose murder got Bronk the death penalty pressure her to back off the story. When she receives a chilling anonymous letter and another body is found, she begins to suspect that Bronk is not the killer at all. Her quest for the truth, she discovers, not only discredits her work, but places her own life on the line.

Simply The BEST:
Have you ever run across a mystery series that you never want to end? Try the Molly Cates series by Mary Willis Walker! I have found myself laughing out loud and then later, running for the box of tissues. Ms. Willis, keep up the great work and please, bring us more Molly!

Lacklustre:
I have to say I am surprized by the glowing reviews that this book has previously received on Amazon - disapointed too as I bought the book on the strength of them. That will teach me! The Red Scream is not a bad book it is simply nothing special. Yet another pseudo-femminist heroine of a certain age, with a boring relative (daughter) for padding. Each chapter is introduced by a deliberately bad poem (by the "arch-villain") which is of no relevance to what immediately follows (that I can see) and has, therefore, no validity stylistically or otherwise. And the constant harping on about "the red scream" itself? I got it the first time. It didn't need hammering home! The cover design is cheap and nasty and the cover blurb is ludicrous - "One of the creepiest killers since Hannibal Lecter"??? I think not! It reads like a crime story by numbers. The kind of safe, formulaic fiction that publishers churn out when they want a safe bet . Disappointing.

I JUST LOVE MOLLY CATES!!!:
I don't know what it is about this Molly Cates Woman. I just love her in this book (the first starring Molly Cates) and UNDER THE BEETLE'S CELLAR (the second starring Molly Cates). Like I said in my review of Under the Beetle's Cellar, she's so normal. Because of that, she's so easy to relate to. She's a crime reporter for a monthly magazine. In this book Molly has written a book (and several newspaper articles) about this psycho that kills people and then shaves their heads. Molly Cates is anti-death penalty; but she admits that even Louie Bronk deserves to die. He's committed many many murders and shavings over the years. Then it comes to her attention that Louie Bronk may be just days away from being executed for the capital crime he may or may not have committed \othe murder of an woman married to an upper class man\c (although, let's not forget he's committed others--all worthy of the death penalty). Well, her book comes out. She starts getting letters in her mail that lead her to believe that there may be a copy cat on the loose. When the 2nd wife of the upper class man gets murdered...people start thinking copycat or are we about to execute the wrong person?! Needless to say, the book is creepy, scary, messed up, entertaining. It keeps you guessing all the way to the end! Mary Willis Walker has a way of writing that's so wonderful I just can't describe it. Just READ THIS Book and then read Under The Beetle's Cellar. You'll be so happy you did. The bad part of the books starring Molly Cates? They End!! BooHoo!

Death Penalty Novel:
Edgar-Award winning author Mary Willis Walker demonstrates her talent as a serious writer with this death penalty novel. She does not preach but provide a few things that could go wrong when executing someone guilty of capital murder. In this novel she introduces Louie Bronk, a self-confessed serial killer, who in the next few days will be executed for a crime he might have not committed. Molly Cates is a crime writer for Lone Star Monthly from Austin, Texas. She has recently published a true crime book chronicling the life of Louie Bronk and the murder of Andrea 'Tiny' McFarland. As she prepares to follow-up with this story she is being deterred by the victim's husband as well as her boss no to proceed with the story. A few days later two people related to the McFarlands are brutally murdered. If this was not bad enough Bronk confesses to dozens of murders except the McFarland one. He has found religion and he is not going to confess to something he did not do. Molly hates to look like a fool after everything she went to write her book so she is determined to find out the truth. Everything she believed about the case will be shattered and she will do what she can to make things right. Mary Willis Walker has a winner with this book. This is her first book in a series that will be a pleasure to continue to read. Her character development is very strong by showing everything she can reveal about Molly, warts and all. There are times when Ms. Cates is not sure about what she is doing that the author reflects on her weaknesses and her insecurities. This makes her appear more real to the reader and more appealing. THE RED SCREAM is pure enjoyment and hopefully her other novels will be just as good.

Better Late Than Never:
"The Red Scream" was written almost ten years ago and I was late coming to the party. I can say that am I ever glad I put on my best black dress, Grandma M's pearls and those slinky black shoes and made my appearance. By the time the party was over, I was raising my glass in a toast to Ms. Walker for writing "The Red Scream." "The Red Scream" is about Louie Brock, a serial killer, who has been on death row for over ten years. Although he murdered many women, he was sentenced to death for killing Tiny, the wife of a rich and prominent builder in Austin, Texas. While Louis is in jail counting the precious few days before he is scheduled to be executed, there is a copycat murder. Louis confessed to the murder ten years ago but now is claiming he is innocent. Molly Cates, a crime reporter, has been involved with Louis' story since Tiny's murder and has written numerous articles and a book about Tiny's murder. She now questions whether Louis actually did murder Tiny or whether he was railroaded into confessing. Although she feels he is a despicable character and probably deserves to die for all the other women he murdered, she sets out to prove that he is innocent of that particular murder because she has a very strong sense of justice. Did Louis murder Tiny ten years ago? We can't take his claim of innocence at face value because Louis is a notorious liar. If he is telling the truth this time, with a horde of suspects and possible murder scenarios, we are left guessing until the last few pages of the book. For those who like a little romance along with their sleuthing, this book will deliver. During the course of the investigation, three times divorced Molly comes in contact with her first husband, Grady, who is a police officer. Are they still in love with each other after more than 20 years and, if so, can they get together. Another mystery that is not revealed until the end of the book. The "voice" of this book is a strong condemnation of the death penalty. The fact that Louis has killed many people but that Molly is fighting to save him from being executed because he may be innocent of the particular crime that sent him to death row is an innovative and stunning way to approach this controversial subject. Ms. Walker had made it to my list of favorite authors and I am looking forward to reading everything she has written.