Once again, psychotherapist Daniel Rinaldi has been called in to consult with the police. This time it’s in Wheeling, West Virginia, where a guy has killed a local businessman, but will only lead detectives to the body if Rinaldi rides along. No sooner does he get back from Wheeling than FBI agent Alcott shows up, reluctantly asking for Rinaldi’s help with retired agent Lyle Barnes, whose years as a profiler have apparently taken their toll. To complicate matters, Barnes might be on a hit list related to the case of a small-time serial killer with a lone, angry fan. And, oh yeah, he has no intention of sitting around a hotel room like a sap when he can’t even get a decent night’s sleep.
Now, Rinaldi’s a likeable guy for the most part. He may have a hero complex and get himself into more trouble than his cop friends and enemies would like. Well, “enemies” might be a slight misnomer since about the only ones who don’t seem to think he’s charming are the stressed-out cops and agents who don’t care for “shrinks.”
He’s friends with former patients, even his ex-girlfriend and her new fiancé. He gets along with his family. He has a nice house, a thriving business, and he keeps himself in shape. He even goes out of his way to talk to the mother of the killer he feels is guilty, mostly to assuage her concerns. In other words, aside from his apparent need to chase after shooters and rogue agents, Rinaldi is perfect boyfriend material. And he’s sort of available, ladies.
“Fine lookin’ woman, that Lowrey. Totally buffed. Epic tits.”
“Funny, that’s the same thing she says about you.”
“Bite me. But I mean it, I envy you, Rinaldi.”
“Afraid there’s nothing to envy. We’re just friends.”
“Uh-huh.” A bleary-eyed conspiratorial look. “Just make sure you tell your ol’ buddy Dave all about it when you close the deal.”
“Right, you’ll be the first one I call.”
I was getting pissed off now. It wasn’t just the boozy familiarity. It was the casual way he spoke about Eleanor Lowrey. Though we’d only seen each other for drinks a few times since the summer—busy schedules, some family issues on her part, the usual contemporary approach-avoidance dance—I felt a pang of disloyalty allowing Parnelli to speak crudely about her.
Even drunk, this notion managed to penetrate his thick Italian skull. He tried to get to his feet.
“Hey, Danny, c’mon…Don’t get your shorts in a twist. I like Lowrey. Really. Great cop. Helluva girl.”
He’s patient and understanding with Lowrey, who has feelings for him, feelings for her ex-girlfriend, and feelings of guilt and responsibility related to the family issues.
Then again, there is that hero complex. Might be a little hard on a relationship to know he can’t stop himself from chasing killers through warehouses and alleys whenever the opportunity presents itself.
It wasn’t merely guilt. It also flew in the face of my own self-concept. Over time, belief in yourself and your actions becomes habit. A hard one to break, especially when you’ve allowed yourself to be seen as someone who usually comes through. Once you believe in your skills, your own convictions. Your own publicity.
Is that what I’d been doing the past few years, involving myself in these police cases? Making promises I couldn’t keep? Turning my desire to help those suffering from trauma into some absurd pseudo-heroics? Mere ego disguised as courage, narcissism disguised as compassion?
Probably not questions I could ever answer. Not for sure, anyway. No matter how hard I explored my own motives. As the Buddhists say, “The eye cannot see itself.”
And, he can be a bit of a smartass. In fact, he’s not above a petty dig now and then.
Biegler scratched his chin. “By ‘significantly involved,’ he means you’ve been shot at. On two separate occasions. Not to mention all the goddamn cuts and bruises. Whatever. How valuable that makes your so-called input is open to dispute.”
Eleanor gave me a sympathetic look, but I pretended I hadn’t seen it. Kept my eyes on Biegler.
“You know, Lieutenant, as much as I normally enjoy trading insults with you, I’m not really in the mood right now. A good person was killed just hours ago, right in front of me. A person who was constantly assured by the people in this room—including me—that she’d be safe. Protected.”
“Yeah, I know. So?”
“So let me just say, from the bottom of my heart, go fuck yourself.”
Bristling, Biegler got to his feet. Fists pressing down on the table, knuckles going white. “Listen, you arrogant piece of—”
“Lieutenant!” Alcott had risen, too, squaring his big shoulders. “Shut the hell up! I don’t care what your beef is with him, this isn’t the time or the place.”
Still fuming, Biegler whirled to face Alcott. “Since when did you start kissing Rinaldi’s ass?”
“Since the Director ordered me to cooperate with him. To include him in the investigation.”
“But he’s a goddamn civilian—!”
“Paid consultant,” I corrected him, turning to Alcott. “Though I don’t think the lieutenant has ever gotten over it. I swear, he brings it up every time we’re in the same room. In my clinical opinion, it’s becoming an obsession.”
On the other hand, maybe there is a good reason he’s single. If you’d like to spend some time with him, Night Terrors is Rinaldi’s third adventure.
See more coverage of new releases with our Fresh Meat series.
This Sweepstakes has ended. Check out our feature page for current opportunities!
To enter for a chance to win one 3-book set of the Daniel Rinaldi novels Night Terrors, Mirror Image, and Fever Dream, signed by Dennis Palumbo, make sure you’re logged in as a registered member of the site, and then simply leave a comment below.
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NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 or older. To enter, fill out entry at www.criminalelement.com/blogs/2013/05/fresh-meat-night-terrors-by-dennis-palumbo-neliza-drew-traditional-detective-daniel-rinaldi-psychiatrist beginning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) May 4, 2013. Sweepstakes ends at 9:59 a.m. ET on May 11, 2013 (the “Promotion Period”). Void outside of the 50 US and DC and where prohibited by law. Please see full details and official rules at https://www.criminalelement.com/page/official-rules-dennis-palumbo-comment-sweepstakes. Sponsor: Macmillan, 175 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10010
Neliza Drew is a tofu-eating teacher and erratic reader with a soft spot for crime fiction. She lives in the heat and humidity of southern Florida with three cats and her adorable hubby. She listens to way too much music, writes often, and spends too much time on Twitter (@nelizadrew).
Read all posts by Neliza Drew on Criminal Element.
I enjoy psychological thrillers. This sound promising.
Looking good!
This is a new author for me. Looks promising.
They seem to be
like the kind of story lines that I like.
Looks like a good book.
I’m in the mood for a compelling psychological drama. Thanks for including me in your giveaway.
I would love to win these.
This series is new to me. It looks like a good one!
Oooh, this looks like a good read 🙂
i would love to read this.
Love reading these types of books.
Pittsburgh n’at !
Nice excerpt
New series for me – looks promising
my kind of reading, thanx 4 choosing me
book club woud love them..
looks like a good read
Groovy time!
I love to read these type books
This looks really good.
Looks Good!
Thanks for the chance.
Can’t imagine putting it down!
[b]Definitely a page turner, would love to win![/b]
A new author for me that I’d like to read.
I like this!
This is a new author for me. Love psychological novels!
I’m looking for a new series, and this one looks good!
I’m ready to read.
If Thomas Perry recommends this book then I am reading it for sure!
Looks like a good read. Thanks!
Sounds good to me, count me in!
a three for win Nice
A promising thriller title engages my
curiosity immediately. Wow, I would
love to win this one! Thanks for the chance.
Looks very promising!
thanks for the opportunity to win. This sounds like a great read.
Would love to read this series. Thanks for the giveaway.
Would love to read. Wheeling is only 15 minutues from my home. Count me in .
Psychological thrillers are my regular genre of reading and I’m always amazed at how many ways an author can create gruesome murder and instill fear in the reader. Night Terrors is on my list and I would love to win the set and read these in the order they were written. Why, oh why have I missed this author, Dennis Palumbo????
I would love copies of these books especially since they are signed
I’d love to win the signed copies
Hats off to her choice of crime location! Even more intriguing.
Excellent books, and I can’t wait for each CriminalElement.com Email !
I just looked these books up on B & N to check the prices & see if they have e-books. But winning these would be so much better!
Looks like it will be a great read!
I would love to read this book to report on at my Mystery Book club.
sounds good
This book sounds like a delicious thriller. Suspense is my favorite. Reading a great book gets me out of my life for a while and that’s a good thing. I would love to win this set so I could start from the beginning. Thanks to Dennis Palumbo for writing good books. They really make a difference in my life
Looks like a great book!
Hmm…looks interesting. Would love to win this.
I really enjoy this series
This is a brand new author for me. I’d like to try his books.
You had me at “Pittsburgh” – a white collar investigator (at least I assume a psychotherapist would qualify as such) in a blue collar community.
would love to have a chance to read a new author.
This looks good. Count me in…
Sounds cool!
I would love to win these books.
Sounds good.
Awesome!
I’ll have to read the other books about Rinaldi if I win.
Fun title. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Very intriguing. I want to read it.
I love mysteries. Sounds real good.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Looks like a good read!
I’d love to read this.
Sounds like a good read I can share with my dad.
thanks for the chance
Would love to win – thanks for the chance.
Looks like a great set of books!
Give it up for my home state WV :)!!!!!
Give it up for my home state WV :)!!!!
Three books at once, and thriller mysteries, one of my favorite flavors of book. Count me in on this drawing.
Would love to win this!
My kind of guy and my kind of book!
Sound good to me.
Have read one other book by this author and loved it! Would love to win this one.
These all sound fantastic. Hope I win.
Very Interesting.
I enjoy reading a book that takes a lot of thought and this one sounds like it would keep me interested.
sounds like a good one
This definitely would not be a boring book…
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
I don’t need a psychotherapist but I need this book! Yes!
They sound like good reads and I would love to win them.
A 3 Book set giveaway. Love it. A story about a psychotherapist, working with police and the FBI… Intrigue all the time!
This looks good.
Pittsburgh is my home town and I’d love to read these! Thanks for the giveaway.
Pittsburgh has always had a special place in my heart as a long-time Pirates fan!
This sounds like a winner!
Read the first in the series and would like to read the other 2.
Would like to read not that I have nothing to watch on TV at night.
need some thrilling lit
Count me in, please!
allways need some good reads.
Sounds like a really good book. I love the setting. Thanks for this chance.
Exciting book – can’t wait to read.
Ok, I’m hooked. Don’t leave me hanging. I HAVE to read the rest! I would LOVE the chance to win copies of Rinaldi’s books signed by Palumbo! I could review them and share them with my friends! Thank You and best wishes for much success!
[b]I’ve been to Wheeling, WV. Nothing exciting then….until now. [/b]
[b]It would be nice to have Daniel as a shrink. I know he’d have plenty to talk about. ;-)[/b]
[b]Send ME the 3 book set. Thanks![/b]
love, love, love what I read so far! I’m tired of reading the same old thing. This is fresh and new. Thanks!
Always interested in reading new authors (to me). Thanks for the opportunity.
I would really enjoy these books!
Very nice!
sounds like a fun one!
I want to read!
xxbeccaannxx@gmail.com
I love psychological thriller, this looks like a great book!
Since I have not read any of this writer’s books, I think it would be a good read for me from the description.
Thank you for the great giveaway please count me in 🙂
I would love to own this
good read
I love reading books in which Pittsburgh is featured. He’s on my list to read.
Sounds like a good book!
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Sounds great
Sounds great
It sounds very interesting. Thanks.
Would love this book
This would make my summer! Three beach reads all at once!
Sounds like an awesome book.
Looks interesting.
Sounds like a great book, would love to win
Sounds like a good one!
Three books–what a great way to get to know an interesting character.
THIS LOOKS REALLY INTERSTING!!
This looks great
This looks so impossibly thrilling! Can’t wait to read it!
thanks for the chance to win!
This series looks interesting.
This looks very good, a little out of my norm, but about time I read some different books.
Oh, you know I gotta read this. It looks that good.
This sounds so interesting would love to read!
Looks great!
Looks like another awesome book!
“You know, Lieutenant, as much as I normally enjoy trading insults with you, I’m not really in the mood right now. A good person was killed just hours ago, right in front of me. A person who was constantly assured by the people in this room—including me—that she’d be safe. Protected.”
“Yeah, I know. So?”
“So let me just say, from the bottom of my heart, go fuck yourself.”
That was where I was sold. He may have a God comples, but there is nothing wrong with reminding the cops what their job really is…to protect and serve.