From an author hailed by the New York Times as ‘the master of suspense’ comes an electrifying thriller shot through with dark humour – about a female forensic photographer on the trail of a brutal killer with ties to her past.
When Alexandra Rafferty was a girl, something unspeakably cruel happened to her on a summer afternoon. Only her father knew about it – or so she thought. Now a forensic photographer for the Miami PD, Alexandra remains haunted by that horrible day, and it colours all of her relationships. Stan, her loutish husband, drives a security van and has his own mindbending agenda. Her not-altogether-there father is more and more dependent and less and less dependable. And her work photographing crime scenes has become a life-consuming obsession.
Now Alexandra is about to get caught up in a gruesome series of rape-murders that seem to speak to her long-hidden past. But before she can understand the killer’s message, her personal life spins out of control, sending Alexandra on the run – from her husband, from the crooks after him, from a surprisingly persistent boyfriend, and from a killer who’s bent on making sure Alexandra won’t live long enough to translate his message.
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‘An edgy and engrossing thriller.’
The Times
‘Body Language is James Hall showing his best stuff. Complex and edgy, engrossing and masterful. I’ve been reading and learning from Hall for a long time but this book’s a cut above the rest. It’s his very best.’
MICHAEL CONNELLY
‘Body Language seduces you, then it grabs you and never lets you go. This is a first-rate thriller by a masterful writer.’
JAMES PATTERSON
‘Alexandra Rafferty is a fabulous addition to the ranks of law enforcement. Smart, competent, the consummate professional, her job as a Miami PD photographic specialist places her at the heart of the crime scene, with a cold eye for detail and a passionate commitment to justice.’
SUE GRAFTON
The easiest and most rewarding part of the novel to write was the relationship between Alexandra and her father, Lawton Collins. Lawton's memory is fading fast (a condition I've had a very small glimpse of in my own life), and in his childlike innocence he can be both wise and foolish as well as put himself and his daughter at great risk. In several scenes, Lawton scared me to death. I was never sure if he was going to survive the novel or not.
I also had a lot of fun with Stan, Alexandra's husband, who has become obsessed with criminals and the history of crime and fancies himself a legendary criminal in the making. I've always liked wild card characters. Minor characters who come into the story from odd angles and change the whole direction of things unexpectedly. There are a couple of those in Body Language. My favorite is a young woman named Emma who keeps a pet roach in her pocket and a mess of guns in her trunk. The novel moves between Miami and Seaside, Florida, a pretty little town up in the Panhandle of Florida. It's a pastel paradise where nothing bad could possibly happen. Until my characters show up.
I've centered five of my previous novels around a reclusive fisherman named Thorn. I decided to give Thorn a little rest for a book or two. I've been beating him up pretty badly lately. And working with Alexandra Rafferty was something of a relief. Her job as a forensic photographer for Miami police department gave me a whole new area to research, and it makes her character much more grounded in the world of crime and danger than any character I've ever created before. I'm considering using her in the future. I find that I already miss her and Lawton, their funny, sad, scary moments together.
The bad guy in this novel also spiked my blood pressure whenever he made an appearance. He's so utterly normal, so completely charming on the face of things that you'd never suspect what he's planning to do. It was uncomfortable to be inside this guy's head, but at the same time it was exhilerating. I take great pleasure in creating bad guys who scare the hell out of me. It sounds odd, I know, but unless the evil is truly evil in these books, they don't pack the wallop they should. I know the writing is going well when in the middle of a scene with my bad guy, I have to get up from the computer and walk around to relieve the tension. I did a lot of walking in Body Language.
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Book Description Hardback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR001936812
Book Description Hardback. Condition: Good. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine. Seller Inventory # GOR012111497
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Body Language This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780002258234
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780002258234
Book Description hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Reprint. 650 grams. From an author hailed by the New York Times as 'the master of suspense' comes an electrifying thriller shot through with dark humour -- about a female forensic photographer on the trail of a brutal killer with ties to her past. When Alexandra Rafferty was a girl, something unspeakably cruel happened to her on a summer afternoon. Only her father knew about it -- or so she thought. Now a forensic photographer for the Miami PD, Alexandra remains haunted by that horrible day, and it colours all of her relationships. Stan, her loutish husband, drives a security van and has his own mindbending agenda. Her not-altogether-there father is more and more dependent and less and less dependable. And her work photographing crime scenes has become a life-consuming obsession. Now Alexandra is about to get caught up in a gruesome series of rape-murders that seem to speak to her long-hidden past. But before she can understand the killer's message, her personal life spins out of control, sending Alexandra on the run -- from her husband, from the crooks after him, from a surprisingly persistent boyfriend, and from a killer who's bent on making sure Alexandra won't live long enough to translate his message Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Clean Copy. Seller Inventory # 006347
Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Good. Book is in good condition. Slight discolouration to the pages. Unclipped dust jacket. Seller Inventory # G0195174
Book Description Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00051949513
Book Description Hard Cover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Reprint. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Seller Inventory # 001335