Frank Quinn

Series · 13

books · 2004-2015

By John Lutz

Books in series

Darker Than Night

2004

In order to salvage his career and reputation, ex-homicide cop Frank Quinn, framed for a crime he did not commit, will stop at nothing to catch a serial killer known as "The Night Prowler" who preys on successful married couples. Original.

In for the Kill

2007

New York Times bestseller Frank Quinn, the relentless detective who made his debut in John Lutz's acclaimed thriller "Darker Than Night, " faces his toughest—and most personal—case yet. . . An Invitation Written In Blood. . . A madman is stalking women in the city. By the time his victims are found, they've been dismembered with careful precision, their limbs stacked into a gruesome pyramid and completely cleansed of every last drop of blood. To Catch A Killer—Or Die Next. . . Accustomed to working on the most grisly homicides, detective Frank Quinn's nerves don't rattle easily. But when the last names of the killer's victims spell out "Q-u-i-n-n," the veteran cop feels a chill run down his spine. Then a fresh victim is linked to the one woman Quinn can't stop desiring. Hunting down killers is what Quinn does best. But this time, Quinn is up against a psychopath that will test him as never before. . . "Lutz is one of the masters."—Ridley Pearson "A major talent."—John Lescroart "I've been a fan for years."—T. Jefferson Parker

Night Kills

2008

Frank Quinn is sure he is hunting for a madman: someone is shooting young women in the heart, defiling their bodies, leaving only torsos to be found. Quinn, a former NYPD detective, is called into the case by an ambitious chief of police and mobilises his team of brilliant law-enforcement misfits. But in the concrete canyons of New York, this shocking serial murder case is turning into something very different.Jill Clark came to the city with too many hopes and too little cash. Now a seemingly deranged woman is telling her an extraordinary story. New to an exclusive dating service, Jill is warned that other women have died on their dates - and that she could be next. Struggling against a death trap closing in around her, Jill has a powerful ally in Frank Quinn. But no one knows the true motive behind a rampage of cold-blooded murder - and how much more terrifying this is going to get.

#3.5

Other Than Murder

2009

A dark, compelling suspense story that reveals a surprising insight into the background of Homicide Detective Frank Quinn, the popular continuing character of John Lutz's serial-killer thrillers.

Urge To Kill

2009

For A Killer, Once Is Never Enough Homicide detective Frank Quinn can't stay retired when a new breed of murdering madman is on the prowl. In a city terrorized by bloody brutality, Quinn and his team hunt a psychopath who lures beautiful women into a night of unbridled passion, then wakes them to a vicious, drawn-out death. Stumbling over a trail of horribly defiled bodies, Quinn can't seem to catch up to the killer—because the killer is about to catch up to him. . . "Lutz is in rare form."—The New York Times Book Review on Chill of Night "Gritty. . .Surprising. . .. Enthralling."—Publishers Weekly on In For the Kill "A dazzling tour de force."—St. Louis Post Dispatch on Chill of Night "Lutz knows how to make you shiver." —Harlan Coben

Mister X

2010

Fear Leaves A Mark He mutilates his victims. Slices their throats. And carves an X into their flesh. Five years ago, he claimed the lives of six women. Then the killings abruptly stopped—no one knows why. Ex-homicide detective Frank Quinn remembers. Which is why he's shocked to see one of the dead women in his office. Actually, she's the identical twin of the last victim, and she wants Quinn to find her sister's murderer. But when the cold case heats up, it attracts the media spotlight—and suddenly the killings start again. . . "A Heart-Pounding Roller Coaster Of A Tale."—Jeffery Deaver on Night Victims "Lutz Is Among The Best."—San Diego Union "Lutz Is In Rare Form."—The New York Times Book Review on Chill of Night "Lutz knows how to make you shiver."—Harlan Coben

Serial

2011

The Killer Becomes The Hunted She was gagged. Violated. Tortured. Nailing the killer is priority number one and only the best will do—that means Frank Quinn. And Quinn wouldn't want it any other way. Because he recognizes the victim. Years ago, as a homicide detective, he saved her young life. Now the hunt is on, and deep in his gut, Quinn welcomes it. He knows he's seeing the work of a truly twisted serial killer. Except it's not the ritual weapon that makes this killer so disturbing. It's who he kills—and how he makes them suffer. . . "A Heart-Pounding Roller Coaster Of A Tale." —Jeffery Deaver on Night Victims "A Page-Turner. . .Twisty, Creepy."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Mister X "Lutz Is In Rare Form." —The New York Times Book Review on Chill of Night

#6.5

Switch

2012

FIND THE CAT, CATCH THE KILLERDead in her penthouse apartment. Designer scarf around her neck. Dismembered finger in a place it should never be. What the police haven't found is her diamond-and-ruby bracelet, switched with a cheap imitation. A bracelet that mysteriously ended up around the neck of a little girl's pet cat. Now the feline is missing, the killer has struck again-and former NYPD detective Frank Quinn has to track down both the cat and the culprit before the next body drops. Quinn's played his share of cat-and-mouse games before. But this time, when fingers are pointed, the claws come out... "Lutz knows how to make you shiver." -Harlan Coben on "The Night Spider" "A heart-pounding roller coaster." -Jeffery Deaver on "Night Victims" "Nail-biting...dramatic suspense." -"Publishers Weekly" (starred review) on "Mister X"

Pulse

2012

Some Killers Come Back For More The killer’s depravity is insatiable. What he does to his victims is unthinkable. Homicide detective turned P.I. Frank Quinn has seen this M.O. before. A demented ritual, it’s the work of Daniel Danielle—a notorious serial killer who blurs the line between male and female, human and monster. Danielle disappeared ten years ago. Is a copy cat repeating the crimes? Or has Danielle made a deadly return? Either way, this time the killing won’t stop…

Twist

2013

Kill. . .Or Be Killed Frank Quinn is a decorated ex-cop. A former homicide detective specializing in tracking serial killers. Now his niece, Carlie Hobbs, needs help. Someone is stalking her, and the NYPD can't stop him. A blonde, blue-eyed beauty, Carlie fits the victim type of the killer who's been terrorizing women—leaving them bound, gagged, and tortured with surgical precision. To win against the most personal adversary of his career, Quinn will have to set the perfect trap. All he needs is the perfect bait. . .

#8.5

Carnage

2014

THE BIRTH OF A KILLING FRENZY The killer has a pattern. Abduct a girl from a beachside community. Tie her up. Torture her to death. Move north along the coast. Repeat. With each gruesome killing, a clue is delivered to New York City investigator Frank Quinn. The ex-homicide detective understands that the message is more than a taunt. It is an invitation—to play. And the game has just begun… 12,500 Words

Frenzy

2014

Pretty Maids All In A Row Six dead women in a hotel room. Five of them students, still in their teens. Tied up. Tortured. The NYPD recognizes the suspect's signature—three bloody initials carved into each victim's forehead. Ex-cop Frank Quinn has faced this madman before. Both bear scars from their last encounter. Killer and cop, hunter and prey . . . In a deadly game of matched wits, only one can prevail. It's not just about who gets killed. It's about who will survive . . .

#10

Slaughter

2015

A beautiful jogger, drained of blood, dismembered, then meticulously reassembled on the the grass in Central Park. Subway derailments, plummeting elevators, collapsing construction cranes, apartment explosions—all creating a bloody, senseless puzzle. Detective Frank Quinn knows that even while the slayer is taunting the cops and the public, he’s also screaming to be caught. But Quinn will have to risk everything he holds precious to bring in this killer. . .

Author

John Lutz

Author · 48 books

Librarian’s note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. John Lutz has captivated suspense enthusiasts for over four decades. He has been one of the premier voices in contemporary hard-boiled fiction. His work includes political suspense, private eye novels, urban suspense, humor, occult, crime caper, police procedural, espionage, historical, futuristic, amateur detective, thriller; virtually every mystery sub-genre. John Lutz published his first short story in 1966 in Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine and has been publishing regularly ever since. He is the author of more than fifty novels and 250 short stories and articles. His novels and short fiction have been translated into virtually every language and adapted for almost every medium. He is a past president of both Mystery Writers of America and Private Eye Writers of America. Among his awards are the MWA Edgar, the PWA Shamus, The Trophee 813 Award for best mystery short story collection translated into the French language, the PWA Life Achievement Award, and the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Golden Derringer Lifetime Achievement Award. He is the author of two private eye series, the Nudger series, set in his home town of St. Louis, and the Carver series, set in Florida, as well as many non-series suspense novels. His SWF SEEKS SAME was made into the hit movie SINGLE WHITE FEMALE, starring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, and his novel THE EX was made into the HBO original movie of the same title, for which he co-authored the screenplay. Lutz and his wife, Barbara, split their time between St. Louis and Sarasota, Florida.