Weekly Reader: Profiler by M.A.R. Unger; Multiple Subplots Mar Otherwise Decent Murder Mystery About Criminal Profiling and Military PTSD

 

Weekly Reader: Profiler by M.A.R. Unger; Multiple Subplots Mar Otherwise Decent Murder Mystery About Criminal Profiling and Military PTSD

By Julie Sara Porter

Bookworm Reviews

Spoilers: M.A.R. Unger's murder mystery novel, Profiler, would be a decent mystery dealing with criminal profiling and the consequences of PTSD in military veterans. It may make a decent series where Dr. Tom Jessup uses his gift for criminal profiling to uncover the serial killer du jour while investigating his own background. The problem is that Unger does too much in one book. Unger puts too many subplots into one book making it difficult for the reader to focus on the main  story.

One night, trouble occurs around Jessup's property. Police arrive to inform Jessup that there has been a murder around his place. Jessup had the TV on loud and didn't hear a thing. Neither did his closest current neighbor, Liz, a nosy woman who is house sitting for a wealthy artist. Jessup becomes concerned when he discovers that the murder occurred near the trailer of Beau Travers, an Iraqi War Vet and Jessup's friend and patient who suffers from PTSD. Relieved that the deceased was not Beau, Jessup offers his services out of concern for Beau's welfare. A quick investigation reveals that the deceased was also a vet named Reddi Mercado and a picture reveals that he and Beau served in the same regiment. Other people in the picture have or will be killed, so if Beau isn't the killer, then he will soon be killed.

Meanwhile a serial killer dubbed the Southwest Killer is picking out college students. Jessup analyzes this case with the help of his girlfriend, Denver police officer Baxter. 

It's not unusual for a mystery or psychological thriller to have a few subplots to go with the main action. After all, where would we be without the mystery solver's relationship woes, problems with their troubled teen, or the suspect/potential love interest? Sometimes the subplot involves one of the suspects to give the character more depth and make them a red herring and false lead. However, what makes Profiler so unfocused is that Unger gives two thriller subplots that have nothing to do with each other.

By themselves, the Marine Vet plot and the Southwest Killer plot are both interesting. The Marine plot is particularly compelling, particularly in the interactions between Beau and Jessup. There is a very effective moment where Beau is in the grips of a PTSD flashback and Jessup has to talk him out of harming others or himself. This chapter reveals the tight friendship between the two characters and how the horrors of war are not always left behind on the battlefield.

We also see the toll war takes on soldiers and civilians alike when some characters can't let go of the things that were done during war time.

The Southwest Killer plot also has some genuine moments of suspense such as when Jessup gives his analysis on the killer's motives and behaviors and is not only proven to be right but a potential victim is accidentally put right in the killer's path. One character also takes advantage of Jessup in the worst way possible, jeopardizing both of their careers and possibly lives.

 The problem is not that these two plots exist. It's that these two plots shouldn't exist in the same book. Alone they would make compelling narratives as separate books in the series. However, together they cause the book to be weighed down. We don't have enough time  to focus on one plot when the narrative moves to Jessup and colleagues discussing the events of the other plot. This happens several times in the book, making the writing hard to follow.

There is a point where the plots converge in a way that suggests that they are related. But they veer off in opposite directions that have nothing to do with each other. The overall effect is that the book would have done just as well or better without either the Marine plot or the Southwest Killer plot and the book would not have suffered much without them. 

Profiler could be an engaging series. Perhaps that is what Unger was hoping for. But a quick word of advice: Don't throw all the volumes in one book otherwise the Reader won't care to read the other books in he series.