The Third Deadly Sin

By: Lawrence Sanders

Narrated by: Marc Vietor

The First Deadly Sin made him a success. The Tenth Commandment made him today's best-selling suspense novelist. Now Lawrence Sanders presents his biggest and best ever: the nonstop thriller about a "Hotel Ripper" stalking New York's nightside with a Swiss Army knife and the retired cop named Edward X. Delaney determined to catch him. Or the killer.

Prolong the suspense: follow the further crime-solving career of Edward X. Delaney.©1981 Lawrence Sanders (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Big-time suspense.... a first-rate thriller.... It's as good as you can get." ( The New York Times)

The best book in a fantastic series

Psychological thrillers don't get better than this. The Deadly Sin series always cares deeply about its characters and Sanders takes considerable time making sure they appear as real, breathing human beings. But the third book in the series is a masterpiece by itself. You do not need to be a Sanders fan - or even a previous reader of this series - to enjoy it thoroughly.

Written ten years before Aileen Wuornos embarked in her deadly killing spree, Sanders predicts the first female serial killer in American history and tries to imagine what she might be like. Her descent into madness is fascinating and horrifying to watch, as is the methodical Edward X. Delaney as he chases her.

Though Wuornos was not nearly the type of killer that Sanders creates in the "Hotel Ripper", this is a wonderful, intellectual and satisfying read.

Buy it now. You'll thank me later.

Did Not See That Coming

My husband and I both liked this book. It is obvious it's a male author when he talks about a woman's time of the month. It's not worded the way a woman would talk about it. The story has some good characters and I didn't expect some of the twists. Worth the read or listen.

Great storyteller!

I read this book 30+ years ago. I really enjoyed it being ready to me, Edward X. Delaney!

Good cop, bad ex-cop

I enjoy the "Deadly Sin" series quit a bit. They all hold my attention from start to finish The stories are excellent. What I find hardest to deal with is how contemptible the main character is. Edward X. Delaney is no better than the killers he stalks. His unspeakable belief that the job of a police officer is to "protect the police department" instead of to protect the public results in a totally unnecessary death. I recognize the contradiction here. I love the stories and despise the main character. Perhaps that is what draws me. I still recommend the books. All of them. The McNally books are great, too. They are much lighter in tone than these. I really enjoy that main character. So give them a listen. Realize though, EXD is a foul man.

THE HOTEL SPIDER

I have always been a Lawrence Sanders fan. True to form, he doesn't disappoint in offering this story. Try as I might, I could not help feeling sympathy for the killer. If ever there was a need for psychiatric help, this story screams for it. I love the way Sanders manages to include his teams' efforts in discovering the serial killer by hard work and dedication. Also amusing, is the time spent in enjoying the various appetites of the Captain. (Makes you want to pause and go to the refrigerator.) Still, I could have passed on what I thought to be a little, 'preachy' about the plight of women in this country. (We already knew that.) And, as much as I admire the main character, I don't always agree that everything in life is black and white and no gray areas.