Body Count

Australian Martin's solid, well-researched debut introduces FBI profiler Sophie Anderson, a psychic unsure of her paranormal powers, but smart enough to use anything she can to catch a killer. Sophie, a transplanted Aussie who has been working at Quantico for six months in the Behavioral Analysis Unit, gets assigned to the baffling D.C. Slasher case after Samantha "Sam" Wright, Sophie's friend and fellow profiler, becomes one of the victims. Sophie, who's never quite recovered from the childhood murder of her brother, has disturbing visions and dreams that provide clues to the disturbing case. Lending romantic interest is FBI agent Josh Marco, who may have past links to the D.C. Slasher. This may sound like familiar thriller territory, but the intense first-person narration has enough twists and turns to keep forensics fans turning the pages. (Jan.)