Killer Blonde Book Review and Author Interview

Do you remember when serial killer stories were all the rage? You could throw a rock and hit a reader holding a paperback copy of the latest detective thriller. That trend may be making a comeback with author Allan Evans’ novel, Killer Blonde. Below is my review of Killer Blonde along with an interview with the author, Allan Evans, about his book.

Killer Blonde plot summary

Investigator Cade Dawkins arrives on the scene of a deadly car accident on a Minnesota highway and discovers suspicious evidence which indicates the crash was no accident. The victim is a young, blonde, beautiful, successful woman. And she’s not the only one. A serial killer is on the loose, stalking, assaulting, and killing women who all fit the same physical and professional profile.

As the popularity of the case grows, Dawkins must maneuver through the egos, politics, and the meticulous way in which these crimes are carried out. Luckily, he has a team of allies to help him, including TV newswoman Reynolds Devries, who fits the profile of the killer’s victims and has captured Cade’s romantic interest as well. But the killer not only wants to kill; he wants to outsmart Dawkins, proving his superior intellect before making Dawkins his next victim.

A classic detective story

Killer Blonde is a classic whodunit reminiscent of Thomas Harris or James Patterson. Evans hooks the reader early by opening on a standard kill, the victim spinning out on the highway after her bumper is tapped by the vehicle behind her before careening off the road.

She’s banged up, but her injuries are minor until she sees a man rapping at her window. She lets him in so that he can help her, but instead, he goes to work on her.

The action is brutal and impactful without being overly graphic. We’re clear on the sequence of events that follow thanks to a thorough investigation by Dawkins and the rest of the crew who arrive on the scene.

A conversation about tire marks and bumper damage doesn’t sound like it would be interesting. But Evans crafts down-to-earth, easy to follow exposition given by the characters to explain why what looks like a concrete tragedy to the average person comes across as suspicious to investigators. The breakdown of the details of the case is intertwined with witty banter that punches up the scene and brings life to its characters.

The characters

Like most detective stories, Killer Blonde is essentially plot driven. It devotes most of its time to unraveling the investigation and clues rather than creating a detailed backstory or motivations for its characters. The crime takes center stage, but the characters are still interesting in terms of their involvement in the investigation.

Dawkins takes his job seriously, but he never comes across as rigid. He’s often calm and calculated but also human. When the stakes are raised, his anger and anxiety spikes. However, his team keeps him grounded, including his partner, Rob Zink, his boss Capt. Rejene, and his trusted ally Grace Fox.

The reader also follows along with the killer whose thoughts and responses about his crimes are weaved in between the meat of the story. His behaviors and motives are pretty standard serial killer protocol. He remains nameless until his identity is revealed halfway through the book. Then, it’s up to the characters to catch up with what the reader already knows. It then becomes not about the “who” but the “how.”

The women

The victims themselves are the typical helpless, unassuming damsels in distress. It’s their idealistic appearance and professional success that leads to their positioning as the killer’s prey. They’re completely undeserving of their fate yet hard to identify with for the average reader with their lavish lifestyle, abundance of self-confidence, and head-turning appearance. Even Reynolds Devries doesn’t get much character development or substance, despite the larger role that she plays in the story.

To balance them out, there are plenty of women also populate the law enforcement side of the book’s events. Dawkins has smart, reliable, witty and respected colleagues who aid in the investigation, from the level-headed Grace to the esteemed Capt. Rejene to the scrapper Kelly Kirkland.

Gender is an afterthought, though. Evans is good about keeping focus on the investigation rather than harping on the fact that he filled his female character quota. Diversity is admittedly hard to come by, but given the Minnesota setting, it fits the terrain along with the situation.

The crime and the criminal

Ultimately, Killer Blonde isn’t anything that you haven’t seen before. Luckily, detective stories about serial killers never get old. The very idea of being targeted by a psychopath due to a particular look or trait is terrifying and enticing at the same time.

Female readers are especially drawn to these stories because they play into the fears that cross our mind and that we take precautions against every day, despite their rarity. And seeing the investigation unfold piece by piece is a fascinating and comforting process that shows that there are effective ways to combat this deadly threat.

The killer is armed with a dangerous combination of strength and intelligence. However, he is also arrogant and out of control. He relishes in the helplessness of these women during the attack, whether they fight back or freeze. And he’s threatened by Dawkins’ attentiveness and admired public persona. Childhood trauma is hinted at as a motive for his actions, but there is no attempt to help the reader sympathize with the villain.

It may sound like a backwards step to portray such a two-dimensional killer in modern literature, but I found it refreshing. After all, this story is about catching a killer – not understanding one, beyond learning enough about his actions in order to identify him.

It’s also interesting how Evans works in different police philosophies and behaviors, admitting to their human errors and temptations via Dawkins’ carefully worked in exposition. He never loses touch with the fact that mistakes can be made on both ends, and there are varying degrees of competency and respectability in the world of law enforcement. This tactic grounds the story in realism, keeping the reader on edge with its unpredictability.

My recommendation

Allan Evans has written a focused, straightforward crime thriller that will suck in the murder mystery junkies who pick up Killer Blonde.  It’s a page turner that maintains a balanced tone, likable protagonist, and classic crime, great for an airplane ride, beach read, or a rainy day to feed your murder mystery addiction.

About the Author and Book

Author name: Allan Evans

Author links 

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Book Title: Killer Blonde

Genre: Thriller

Book Summary

Every serial killer has a type. But what if that type is part of a larger, more dangerous agenda?

With virtually identical women being murdered in Minnesota, panic is causing huge political pressure to get the killer off the streets. Celebrated investigator Cade Dawkins is given the hot potato case and hopes to get it wrapped up before the governor has his head. But the killer has his own agenda—one that goes beyond simply murdering knockout blondes. As it becomes a cat and mouse game between killer and investigator, Dawkins begins to realize he just may be the mouse.

Book excerpt

“Okay, Crash, let’s say you’re correct about this being more than your typical late-night one-car fatality. The evidence suggests someone bumped our victim’s car on this deserted stretch, and the bump sent her vehicle into an unrecoverable spin. She ends up dazed in the ditch, vehicle pointed in the wrong direction. So far, so good?”

Cade looked to Crash for confirmation.

Crash nodded.

“I don’t have a sense of how much trauma occurred from the spin, but I have to assume there was some. Our mysterious perpetrator then enters the vehicle, and in no particular order, kills her, molests her, and unbuckles her seat belt. He cleans off the dent, thereby removing any evidence of his vehicle’s paint and heads for home and the comfort of his own bed, leaving her to be found hours later—all without a single witness.”

“Yeah, that about covers it.” Crash stated. He held Cade’s eyes.

“I’m guessing our perpetrator must have had some issue with our victim and wanted to make it look like an accident.” Cade shook his head. “Odd way to go about it though.”

Holding up a finger, Crash hesitated. “There’s one more thing.” Cade’s eyebrows went up, but didn’t say anything. “Remember the early morning fatality last month on Highway 95? Black BMW, woman apparently fell asleep, a St. Paul attorney.”

“I saw the report, but Rob handled the case. How do you remember all these cases?”

“It’s all I do. I have no life.”

“Sucks to be you. Anyway, what about it?”

Crash let out the breath he’d been holding. “It was the same victim.”

Talking Shop

Name a fact or detail about your story that readers will never know is there.

I’m a youth soccer coach and have dropped in a little of the game here and there. Several of my former teammates and players have cameos in the book.

What famous books can you compare to your own?

I’ve been majorly inspired by author John Sandford’s Prey series. Beginning with his Rules of Prey, the writing and storytelling has been nothing short of magnificent. If it wasn’t for that book, I’m not sure I’d be writing today.

What is the most fun part about writing?

I love writing dialogue and banter between characters. Anytime I can work in some humor, the story gets better. Thrills and humor pair very well.

The most difficult?

The many revisions.

Throughout the revision process, I printed out triple-spaced copies that allowed plenty of room to make notes and changes. I read the entire thing out loud, first to myself and then to others. The goal was to have the writing and dialogue sound natural.

After that, I turned to beta readers to get feedback on pacing, character development and the overall story. Throughout the polishing of the revision process, the writing got better, and as the writing got better, a more distinctive personality came out in the writing. The magic truly happens in this process.

Did you consult with any professionals or people who lived through a particular event to help you craft your story?

I did several ride alongs with the Minnesota State Patrol. There’s nothing like racing on the freeway at over a 100 miles per hour to get your heart rate up. I also met with the head of security for two of Minnesota’s governors to learn the ins and out of the duties. We spent several hours over beers discussing this. I also met with accident reconstruction specialist to learn how they can read the road and vehicle to learn what happened.

What is your most stereotypical writer trait?

I admit it: I need caffeine to write. Most of the book was written in coffee shops—one of which has a cameo in the book.

Your least stereotypical?

I am an extrovert and love to talk to people.

“What If” Scenarios

You’re given $10,000 to spend on marketing for your book. How do you spend it?

I’d hire Black Panther director Ryan Coogler to direct a Killer Blonde book trailer.

Your book becomes a best seller. What do you do next?

Check my contract to see what I agreed to for the movie rights. After that, finish the sequel (already in progress).

Would you rather own your own book store or your own publishing house, and what would you sell or publish?

After reading John Grisham’s Camino Island, owning a book store sounded like a lot of fun.

You have final say over who reads the audio book version of your story.

Who do you choose? Morgan Freeman of course! The man is a legend.

Your story gets picked up by a streaming service to make into a series. What service would you want it to be, and would you want them to follow your story closely, or would you rather see what directions they take it in?

I’d be open to Apple or Netflix to produce the series. As long as I could get Aaron Sorkin as screenwriter, I’d be open to seeing what direction he would take it. If you’re not familiar with Aaron Sorkin, he’s created some of the most intelligent, optimistic and entertaining television ever seen. His credits include The West Wing, A Few Good Men, The Social Network and Moneyball.

Just for Fun

What legacy do you want to leave behind?

I’ve spent nearly the last two decades coaching youth soccer. At the end of our last practice, I told the team to look at the players around them. It’s not the drills and sprints, it’s who you’re sharing the experience with that matters. That shared experience is what being a team is all about. Being part of a team provides tools that translate into other aspects of a child’s life: Positivity. Providing encouragement. Trust. Supporting each other. Striving for excellence. Accepting responsibility. Like my coach back in the day told us: TEAM means Together Everyone Achieves More.

Favorite place you’ve visited/place you want to visit.

The Montmartre area of Paris. I went there a few years ago for my honeymoon and was sitting outside at a small cafe, sipping a latte while I wrote my book. The weather was perfect as the morning sun gleamed on the cobblestone streets while a nearby street performer was playing Hotel California on his acoustic guitar. I remember thinking, I haven’t had many perfect days, but this one was definitely perfect.

A book that you recommend everyone reads.

Can I just say Killer Blonde? It’s entertaining and a fun read.

The topic you can’t shut up about and the topic you wish everyone would shut up about.

I tend to talk about ghosts a lot. As much as I was excited about the ghosts that were part of my last book, Abnormally Abbey—and the real life ones that inspired the book—there’s a right time to talk about them. As my wife likes to point out, a job interview is not the time to bring them up. She may have a point as there appears to be a strong correlation between me mentioning ghosts and me not getting hired. My least favorite topic: politics. I’m writing this three weeks before the 2020 presidential election…

Celebrity you’d want to be friends with.

Bill Murray without question. This is the guy who crashes bachelor parties and wedding receptions and photobombs random people on the street. How much fun would it be hanging with Bill?

When time travel is achieved, do you go forward or backward?

I’d go back in time to 1947 Chicago to see my father, Doc Evans, as he led the band at the new Jazz Ltd. club. That was the time of his life that gave him his big break and set him up as one of the county’s leading jazz trumpet players.

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