Clean Cut

I think this novel, a debut for the author, was a really very good read. Its hard to find a suspense novel that actually focuses on the lead character, Paris Murphy. You do have a couple of scenes with the love interest but thank goodness the main attention stays on the pursuit of the serial killer. It also shows Murphy interacting with her male partner in a non sexual sense which is so great! Finally we can read a suspense story that is not all wrapped up in sex (that always gets in the way) and see a heroine who is actually strong, without having a man to be there to support her every step of the way! Bravo!

Wow, one reviewer called this homocide detective horny. What? Must have been a review by a man. Det. Paris Murphy's sex life is hardly what this book is about. Even though we are introduced to the killer in this book early on, it is a cat and mouse game between the police and the killer that sets this book apart from the other ho-hum books in this genre.If you like interesting characters and scary suspense then I would definitely read this book. This book is very brutal in its reality. Highly recommended for anyone who likes thrillers.

What a fun no brainer read. Although a little formulaic and a little slow in the beginning, this book works it's way into your being. I couldn't put it down. It drew me in and it left me needing more of the character. I will definately read her next novel. If you are looking for a fun read with a scary sexy bad guy and a tough female lead then this is your book.

Theresa Monsour writes a lot like John Camp AKA John Sandford...Good. ... Monsour is a fine writer with an interesting story. Clean Cut reads very, very much like a John Sandford "Lucas Davenport" novel but don't believe for a moment that this is ripoff of Sandford's work. Monsour writes her own story with her own characters. Her main character is Paris Murphy, a St. Paul police sergeant chasing down a well-bred "clean cut" psychotic killer of hookers in MN. About a third of the book is told from the perspective of the killer. Monsour handles the change of views effortlessly and IMhO it makes for a more interesting book. ...There is sex and violence in the book but it's part of the story. Monsour does NOT play Paris Murphy as some sex obsessed bimbo, she gives all her character a suitable amount of depth.... I really look forward to seeing more novels from Theresa Monsour. I'm sure she is going to get tired of being compared to John Camp but since I consider Camp to be the best of the best I hope she takes it as a compliment.

He is one of the most esteemed plastic surgeons in the Twin Cities and is connected, through his relatives, to the people in power of St. Paul. Dr. A. Romann Michaels is married to a high society woman and has two beautiful daughters. After having a fight with his wife, he leaves his country cabin and returns to the city. He does what he does best when the buzzing in his head becomes too loud: find a longhaired prostitute to rape, kill and cut off her hair as his trophy.St. Paul homicide detective Paris Murphy doesn't realize at first that she is dealing with a serial rapist killer when she is assigned the case of the murdered prostitute. The case doesn't begin to take shape for her until a Catholic priest is almost murdered in the confession booth, holding the prostitute's cross in his hand. As the death toll mounts, Paris and Michaels are involved in a cat and mouse game that will only end when one of them is dead.This is Theresa Monsour's debut novel but nobody reading this exciting police procedural would ever believes it. The characters are well developed to the point where the reader ever understands even the killer's motivation. CLEAN CUT is fast-paced and the plot is believable but the heroine is the star of this work. She is determined to find a way to bring the antagonist in so justice can be served even if it means putting her life on the line. She is courageous and spunky.Harriet Klausner