The Night Stalker

Detective Erika Foster, Book 2

By: Robert Bryndza

Narrated by: Jan Cramer

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's Summary

If the Night Stalker is watching, you're already dead.

In the dead of a swelteringly hot summer's night, Detective Erika Foster is called to a murder scene. The victim, a doctor, is found suffocated in bed. His wrists are bound and his eyes bulging through a clear plastic bag tied tight over his head.

A few days later, another victim is found dead in exactly the same circumstances. As Erika and her team start digging deeper, they discover a calculated serial killer - stalking their victims before choosing the right moment to strike.

The victims are all single men, with very private lives. Why are their pasts shrouded in secrecy? And what links them to the killer?

As a heat wave descends upon London, Erika will do everything to stop the Night Stalker before the body count rises, even if it means risking her job. But the victims might not be the only ones being watched: Erika's own life could be on the line.

©2016 Robert Bryndza (P)2016 Bookouture

Another Great Police Procedural From BryndzaR

This is second and last available Erika Foster novel. Surely more are to come. Foster is a middle aged, brilliant detective. She is also abrasive, oppositional, loyal and tenacious. While many of her superiors and equals resent her harsh personality and obnoxious (in their minds) confidence, her subordinates are fiercely loyal and dedicated to her.

The police work and inner department politics are sharp and realistic. Early on in the story the killer is revealed. The question is how will Foster and her team catch the killer. One key suspect is exonerated because he is under surveillance for other grevious crimes. This presents the first inner department politics. Next a rival, though bumbling DCI blunders into her investigation. No one, regardless of rank, stops Erika when she knows she is right.

You need not read the books in order. However, if you enjoy police procedurals you must read this book!

Very Good, Not Great

This is the second book in this series. I really like the primary character Erika Foster and the team she is building around her. We are learning enough about them that the entire story does not rest on one character's shoulders. I think her tragic back story as well as her "foreignness" give her depth and complexity. I believe the author does a good job overall of realistically laying out the crime solving process.

Even though you know fairly soon who he murderer is and is not, there is still suspense enough to keep you reading.

My only issue, and this occurred in first book as well, is that the plot goes along in an orderly fashion and then all of the sudden, a totally unbelievable twist is thrown in, that is intended to either throw the reader off or further complicate the story line, and I felt the twist actually detracted from the story.

I thought the narrator does an OK job. I recommend this book.

My newest favorite mystery writer!

I bought the first book in the Erika Foster series when Audible recommended it based on my preference for detective mysteries. Robert Bryndza delivers every time.

There are a lot of twists and turns and I find myself still awake in the wee hours because the story keeps you gripped wondering what will happen next.

Jan Cramer is brilliant in her reading of these novels. Can't wait for Book 3!

The Night Stalker....wow

Robert Bryndza has crafted another great book. There were many twists and turns. The kind of story that grand you from the very first page and refuses to let go of you. Had a surprise ending that shocked me. Jan Cramer has a beautiful voice. She changed her voice and made it easy to distinguish who was speaking. If you're a fan on suspense books you won't want to miss this one.

Another great detective thriller by Robert Bryndza

The Detective Erica Foster series started with the excellent The Girl in the Ice and continues with the even better The Night Stalker. The Detective Chief Inspector Erica Foster series is set in the London area of England in the current day. Foster is still grieving the loss her husband and fellow detective two years ago. She blames herself for his death because she was in charge of the raid that took his life.

In this novel the tough as nails Foster is removed from the investigation of a serial killer when her friend and medical examiner is arrested for the murders. Foster is convinced the serial killer is a female, so she continues the investigation despite being ordered not to do so. She is more than a bit stubborn and insubordinate.

The Night Stalker is a brilliantly written and well narrated novel. I hope there will be more books in the series.

Erika Foster, book 2

If you could sum up The Night Stalker in three words, what would they be?

Chilling, precise and intense.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Erika, of course! Who doesn't love a strong female lead that is far from perfect, but good at what she does.

What does Jan Cramer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She brings the characters to life.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Erica nabbing the bad guy!

Any additional comments?

This is my favorite murder mystery series! I want these books to be made into a TV show, but who would play Erika? Hmmm.... I'll think on that.

MUST READ/LISTEN series, I promise you won't regret it!

Excellent narrator, and the story is GRIPPING!

If you could sum up The Night Stalker in three words, what would they be?

Gripping. Frustrating end.

What other book might you compare The Night Stalker to and why?

The whole series. It's like 'The Killing'.

What does Jan Cramer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I love her versatility. The accents she tried. The emotions she conveyed in her performance.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Extremely frustrated with the ending! Poor Erika Foster. What happened to her wasn't fair! I bought the next book right after to see what have become of her fate!

Having read all three Erika Foster, this one is the best of the lot in terms of criminal case and character development.

It's also a rather sad case that resonates with me as a woman.

Any additional comments?

I always complain and return books because of production. But this is well-produced and mastered. There are parts where it was sped up, but they were minimal and unobtrusive for the most part.

The Suicide Bag!!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely! The story is not only a mystery/thriller, it is also psychological. (Which I Love.)

Who was your favorite character and why?

DCD Foster, and I have to say The Night Stalker. DCI - because of her "efforts," and The Night Stalker because of the psychological aspect that he/she brings into it.

What does Jan Cramer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The ability to get to know the characters.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Suicide Bags!!!!!

Any additional comments?

Loved the book, waiting for the third, let's go Mr.Brynzda!!!!!!!

Thrilling!

It's really dark- which is fine for a detective novel, murder mystery. It comes with the territory, right? In the third Erika Foster novel (I hope!!!) I'd like to see her have a bit more fun with some more humorous anecdotes to balance out all the rape, torture, and stalking.

Enjoyable with a unique style

This is one of the few series where the protagonist can pleasantly surprise me. I really love the realism of her personality. The more I read, the more I enjoy.

wow!

Another gripping story. Jan Cramer is a fabulous narrator. Looking forward to listening to book 3 and more of detective Erika

Fantastic, thoughtful and thrilling

I love this Erika Foster books and I really hope he writes some more. I was pulled in right from the beginning to the end. I highly recommend this if you love British crime thrillers, just keep the children out of ear shot.

I had so big problems with the narrator

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

With a different narrator it might be

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

To easy, far to easy

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Appalling

Did The Night Stalker inspire you to do anything?

Not to buy anything with this narrator

Fantastic

Gripping from start to finish. More please. I loved girl in the ice very much too. Definitely ready for more Erika.

Narrator's voice is soooo monotonous.

Tried twice to listen to the audiobook but stopped both times after about twenty minutes as I, and the second time as well a friend, found the voice far too monotonous to continue to listen.

Errrm. Predictable just like book 1

Is there anything you would change about this book?

For goodness sake make Erika more likeable AND way more competent. The other problem is that the rest of the metropolitan police come across as scheming idiots with no interest in any evidence. Erika Foster comes across as a poor copper who succeeds on luck. How on earth did she become a DCI? In real life I suspect she would have failed to get through training college. In fact that is true of almost every policeman in the stories so far.

Has The Night Stalker put you off other books in this genre?

No, However, I'll think carefully before buying another from this series.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Narration was not too bad. She did well with the story.

Was The Night Stalker worth the listening time?

Strange to admit it but yes! It's not too long and whilst the characters are mostly not to my liking (Moss being an exception) I did want to know the outcome.

Any additional comments?

As with book 1 this story is so predictable. You know where it is going from very early on. No surprises or "I didn't expect that" moments.

great book

I really like the way this author structures her books. kept me gripped from the beginning

gripping page turner once again

loved it, in a macabre way. well written, insightful and well researched, this is another example of Robert Bryndza at his very best. recommended.

Another brilliant tale from this author

What did you like most about The Night Stalker?

I really enjoyed the plot - lots going on with just the right amount of scene setting so you can picture it in your ind but not get bogged down in unnecessary waffle.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Erika Foster of course, a feisty woman with character and morals but who comes up against trials and tribulations in her private and personal life but still manages to do her job against all odds.

Which character – as performed by Jan Cramer – was your favourite?

Erika. That said, I absolutely love this narrator. Her grasp of accents and nuances of speech is wonderful and I have no problem identifying which character is speaking. I actively look for books Jan is narrator on.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Towards the end when she actually meets the culprits and things are not quite what they first seem.. (avoiding spoilers her lol)

Any additional comments?

I love this series and I am not sure if there are more, but I hope soon book 3 will be appearing on the site read by Jan again

Captivating read

I loved this book! I can't wait for the next one. Brilliant plot and you really engage with Erika and the other characters.