Someone is killing the most alluring women of Boston. Someone whose keen eye for beauty masks a twisted mind. Someone who insinuates himself into his victims’ lives and leaves them with nothing but an elegant black stocking knotted around their necks.
Homicide detective Lt. Steve Markarian must stop the killer before another vulnerable woman is sacrificed—possibly even his own estranged wife.
Beset with loneliness and addictions, Steve pursues leads all over greater Boston—from the haunts of blue-blooded Brahmins, to seedy strip joints, to mansions by the sea, to the halls of prestigious universities, to the offices of his own precinct–and to the recesses of his own heart, only to discover that he himself may actually be the killer.
In this stunning psychological thriller, bestselling author Gary Braver explores the nature of beauty, how women may strive to achieve it, and the forbidden yearnings that kill in its name.
“Here’s a successful thriller from an author who gets better with each book. In Boston, someone is cleverly murdering some very beautiful women. Tasked with finding the killer is Detective Lieutenant Steve Markarian, whose normally razor-sharp mind may be just a little cluttered with this own personal issues, including a recent separation from his wife and a couple of very incompatible additions. As he tracks the nameless, faceless killer, Markarian–this might sound flimsy, but Braver completely makes it work–begins to suspect that he could be the man he is chasing. Not only is this Braver’s best novel so far (it follows Flashback, 2005), it’s a gripping, twisty thriller that deserves a wide audience. And Steve Markarian, the deeply troubled hero, is a man we can’t help rooting for, even as we entertain serious doubts about his psychological stability.”- David Pitt, Booklist
“What Braver knows inside and out is what scares us — and what fascinates us. And in SKIN DEEP he stitches the two together better than ever before. It is by far the most psychological of all his thrillers to date, relying more on the inner workings of the mind, the fears that plague, the flashbacks, the self-doubts. . . Picking it up to finish was like covering one’s eyes in a scary movie but parting two fingers just enough to see what’s happening, because you’re scared and fascinated at the same time. To call SKIN DEEP an engaging medical thriller isn’t enough. It’s chilling. To the bone.”- bookreporter.com
“Gary Braver’s latest novel Skin Deep cuts to the bone, a nerve-jangling thriller that combines the horror of Silence of the Lamb with the medical terror of Robin Cook. Here is a novel that will make you question your own reflection in a mirror. As terrifying as it is ingenious, the book is destined to become a classic of suspense and horror.”- James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Judas Strain
“I read Skin Deep by Gary Braver in a single sitting. It is an outstanding medical thriller, sharply plotted, with crisp dialog, intelligent characters—and a premise that will freeze your blood. Don’t read this book if you are contemplating plastic surgery… Gary Braver is a hell of a good writer. Wow.”-Douglas Preston, New York Times bestselling author of Blasphemy
“As a long-time devotee of literate thrillers, I can’t say enough about Gary Braver’s Skin Deep. I found it well-written, compelling, and unputdownable. The police procedural material and all the details about plastic surgery felt well researched and authentic. Gary Braver manages some clever twists and turns in this terrific new book.”- Anita Shreve, New York Times bestselling author, Body Surfing
“Put off that tummy tuck until you read Gary Braver’s new chiller, Skin Deep. And don’t forget the down comforter, because the latest from this medical mystery master will turn your spine into a Popsicle.”- Jacquelyn Mitchard, New York Times bestselling author, The Deep End of the Ocean and Still Summer
“Skin Deep is a fascinating, frightening tour de force–a riveting mix of medical thriller, forensic puzzler, and intense psychological drama. If you haven’t been introduced to Gary Braver’s lean, mean prose and masterfully drawn characters, this is the time to start. You’ll love reading Skin Deep. I certainly did.”- Michael Palmer, NY Times bestselling author of The First Patient
“Braver manipulates and surprises his readers. Not just once, but over and over again. Yes. This is the way a good thriller should be written. A standing ovation for Braver. What an author!”– Kees deBree, Crimezone.nl