In The Toe Killer, Mike Slavin crafts a gritty and tense crime thriller centered around Katrina Moon, a homicide detective balancing her professional life and personal struggles. Set in Orleans Bay, just outside of New Orleans, the book throws you into a world of high-stakes police work where Detective Moon is tasked with solving crimes while worrying about her terminally ill daughter, Jamie. The narrative kicks off with Moon caught between a bank robbery, a notorious killer with a toe fetish, and corruption within her own police department, adding layers to the relentless tension.

One thing I really enjoyed about this book is how vividly it immerses you in the atmosphere of the story. Slavin’s descriptions of Orleans Bay — its streets, its criminals, and even its baked goods — are so rich that I felt like I was sitting in Katrina’s car right beside her. For instance, the opening chapter’s tension between her job and her emotional state, reflected in her concern for her sick daughter while she chases criminals, immediately hooked me. The authenticity in the police procedures and the sheer chaos of the streets is compelling and terrifying. However, at times, the heavy use of police lingo could make it hard for someone not familiar with crime fiction to follow along easily.

Slavin does an excellent job in developing Katrina Moon as a strong, complex character. She’s tough but compassionate. The way her personal life bleeds into her professional life adds a layer of realism. The scenes where she is talking to her daughter, praying that she survives, stand out as the most emotionally charged moments. You can feel the helplessness, the weight of her responsibilities.

The tension Slavin builds throughout the book is gripping. The moments leading up to confrontations with criminals are intense, especially the showdowns with the killer. The toe-killer storyline, while horrifying, sometimes takes a backseat to other elements, like internal police drama, which can cause the pacing to slow. Despite this, Slavin redeems the story with chilling and brutal action scenes that keep you on edge.

The Toe Killer is a high-energy and emotionally charged thriller that will appeal to fans of gritty crime dramas who enjoy flawed but resilient protagonists. If you are into police procedurals with a dark and twisted edge, then this book won’t disappoint.