Kristen Conner Mystery Series by M.K. Gilroy

Chicago has new resident, a heartless killer with a long and bloody history. When a successful young woman is found dead in her fashionable town home, a red flag goes up in Washington, D.C. The FBI knows an elusive “organized killer” is at work again. The problem is the Feds have only one tenuous lead to assist local police in the manhunt … a most unlikely place the killer likes to find his victims... moreChicago has new resident, a heartless killer with a long and bloody history. When a successful young woman is found dead in her fashionable town home, a red flag goes up in Washington, D.C. The FBI knows an elusive “organized killer” is at work again. The problem is the Feds have only one tenuous lead to assist local police in the manhunt … a most unlikely place the killer likes to find his victims. Kristen Conner is light as a feather but punches harder than most guys—growing up in a cop’s home, being a student of hand-to-hand combat, and not being able to shoot a handgun straight does that. Her life is built on faith and family: she coaches her 7-year-old niece’s soccer team, the Snowflakes, when she isn’t fighting with her partner, police department brass, and most of all, her glamorous TV news reporter sister—or looking for the man who is terrorizing the women of her city. She’s a good cop but she’s never faced an adversary like this. From the opening chase scene that leads Kristen to a back alley where a punk with a knife awaits her, to the climactic scene where she goes one-on-one with the hauntingly familiar man who is killing innocent women in her town, Cuts Like a Knife, is loaded with action, humor, and wry introspection through the voice of its irrepressible lead character. less

"Kristen Conner is no stranger to bad guys, big crime, and heart-pounding danger... more"Kristen Conner is no stranger to bad guys, big crime, and heart-pounding danger. In Cold As Ice, she packs some serious heat!" John Valeri, HARTFORD EXAMINERWHEN THE RUSSIAN MAFIA WANTS YOU DEAD, THERE IS NO WHERE TO HIDEWhat can go wrong on a run on in Central Park on your last day of vacation? Even if it is brutally cold? Everyone told Detective Kristen Conner to stay inside, which guaranteed she would go outside-and stumble onto a gang murder that puts her in the cross-hairs of a Russian "Red Mafyia" hit man.Back in Chicago, murder strikes closer to home. Just down the street from where her mom lives, a popular schoolteacher, solid citizen, and great guy-he shovels snow for widows and volunteers to work with underprivileged kids-is found dead. It was supposed to look like an accident, but crime scene investigators discover more than one killing blow to the back of his head. When Conner lands the case, she knows from day one who the key suspect is. That's simple. The person most likely to kill you is someone close . . . someone you know and love. But his wife? The nice lady down the street? How could that be possible?Kristen is about to discover there is more violence beneath the surface of the working-class neighborhood she grew up than she ever dreamed possible. She's also about to discover that when the Red Mafyia wants you dead, there is no place to hide. You better be ready to fight. Mix in her on-again, off-again relationship with FBI Agent Austin Reynolds, and Kristen Conner is once again swept into a world of danger, intrigue, and a confusing love life. less