Face of a Killer

FBI forensic artist Sydney Fitzpatrick confronts a decades-old murder case that hits close to home - her father's killing. When new evidence emerges suggesting her father's convicted killer may be innocent, Sydney launches an investigation into the truth. As Sydney reconstructs faces from the past and present, she discovers unsettling connections between her father's murder and current crimes. Her professional skills as a forensic artist become crucial tools in uncovering a conspiracy that spans twenty years. Working alongside other law enforcement agents while pursuing her personal quest for answers, Sydney must navigate department politics and potential threats to her safety. The investigation forces her to question everything she believed about her father's death and her own past. The novel explores themes of justice, memory, and how the past shapes identity. Through Sydney's unique perspective as both an investigator and a victim's daughter, the story examines the complex relationship between professional duty and personal truth.

Readers find Face of a Killer to be a solid police procedural with authentic forensic details, drawing on Burcell's law enforcement background. The protagonist Sydney Fitzpatrick receives praise for being relatable and competent without falling into typical female detective tropes. Likes: - Technical accuracy in forensic art and FBI procedures - Fast-paced second half - Complex plot connecting multiple cases - Realistic police dialogue and interactions Dislikes: - Slow start in first 100 pages - Too many plot threads that some found hard to follow - Several readers note predictable romance subplot - Some found the ending rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (428 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (81 reviews) "The forensic art details felt authentic and fascinating" - Goodreads reviewer "Takes too long to get going but pays off in the end" - Amazon reviewer "Could have used tighter editing but shows promise for the series" - LibraryThing review

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🔎 Robin Burcell worked as a police officer, detective, and forensic artist before becoming an author, bringing authentic law enforcement experience to her Sydney Fitzpatrick series 🎨 The protagonist's job as an FBI forensic artist is based on Burcell's real-life experience creating composite sketches of suspects for criminal investigations 📚 "Face of a Killer" is the first book in the Sydney Fitzpatrick series, which spans six novels following the FBI special agent's cases 🖼️ Forensic artists can create age-progression drawings showing how a person might look years later, helping solve cold cases and find missing persons 🚔 The book draws on the actual process used by the FBI's Forensic Art Unit, where artists must complete intensive training in facial anatomy, psychology, and interview techniques