A Necessary Evil (Maggie O'Dell Novels)

Someone is killing Catholic priests across America—ritualized murders that speak of vengeance and hatred. As the killing spree continues, it becomes clear to Maggie O'Dell—the FBI profiler assigned to the case—that more than one perpetrator is responsible. As she begins to drill down into the facts, Maggie discovers a disturbing Internet role-playing game for youths who have been victims of male authority figures—including Catholic priests. When a twisted priest offers to help Maggie solve the crimes in exchange for protection, she has no choice but to ally herself with an elusive child killer—the person she despises with an almost religious fervor. Maggie must cross a dangerous line into a world of malevolence from which she may not return unscathed.