Opening Moves by Steven James

A Ticking-Clock Prequel Thriller of Serial Killers, Chess Grandmaster Clues, and Forensic Profiling

In 1997, long before he became the FBI's top environmental criminologist, Patrick Bowers is a young, sharp-witted homicide detective in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When a young woman is found brutally murdered with a carved chess piece left at the scene, Bowers realizes he is on the trail of a calculating, highly intelligent serial killer. As more bodies surface, each accompanied by strategic chess moves and cryptic riddles, Bowers faces a predator who treats the entire city as a game board.

To stop the escalating killings, Bowers must rely on his pioneering techniques in spatial analysis and geographical profiling—methods his traditional precinct bosses view with deep skepticism. Racing against time through frozen streets, Bowers is dragged into a high-stakes psychological duel where one wrong move could cost him his career, his loved ones, and his life.

Why You’ll Love This Book

Steven James delivers a high-octane prequel to his bestselling Bowers Files series, offering an explosive origin story for fan-favorite agent Patrick Bowers. Blending intricate criminal profiling with intellectual cat-and-mouse suspense, this thriller is perfect for readers who love Mindhunter, James Patterson's Alex Cross series, and Hannibal Lecter-style criminal masterminds.