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Howard County Mysteries #1
The Fibonacci Murders
"I start with zero. Nobody dies today."
The strange note was just the beginning. Soon Howard County, Maryland Detective Lieutenant Rick Peller is in pursuit of a cunning killer basing murders on the Fibonacci series, a mathematical sequence in which each number is the sum of the preceding two. And all Peller knows for sure is that the series never ends.
As the murders pile up, Peller, his protégés Detective Sergeants Corina Montufar and Eric Dumas, and consulting mathematician Tomio Kaneko race against time to identify and capture the killer. Nor is murder their only problem. Simultaneously, a golf-club wielding mugger is terrorizing their community. Both crime sprees are wrapped in impenetrable mystery. Are mugger and murderer one and the same? Why does the murderer seem to know Peller? Why is the Pentagon eager to keep a lid on the investigation? Can the detectives find the killer before he commits his final, terrible crime?
A thrilling, fast-paced crime drama, "The Fibonacci Murders" is the first novel in Dale E. Lehman's Howard County Mysteries.
The strange note was just the beginning. Soon Howard County, Maryland Detective Lieutenant Rick Peller is in pursuit of a cunning killer basing murders on the Fibonacci series, a mathematical sequence in which each number is the sum of the preceding two. And all Peller knows for sure is that the series never ends.
As the murders pile up, Peller, his protégés Detective Sergeants Corina Montufar and Eric Dumas, and consulting mathematician Tomio Kaneko race against time to identify and capture the killer. Nor is murder their only problem. Simultaneously, a golf-club wielding mugger is terrorizing their community. Both crime sprees are wrapped in impenetrable mystery. Are mugger and murderer one and the same? Why does the murderer seem to know Peller? Why is the Pentagon eager to keep a lid on the investigation? Can the detectives find the killer before he commits his final, terrible crime?
A thrilling, fast-paced crime drama, "The Fibonacci Murders" is the first novel in Dale E. Lehman's Howard County Mysteries.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2014
39 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
About the author
Dale E. Lehman
12books167followersDale E. Lehman is an award-winning writer, veteran software developer, amateur astronomer, and bonsai artist in training. He principally writes mysteries, science fiction, and humor. In addition to his novels, his writing has appeared in Sky & Telescope and on Medium.com. He owns and operates the imprint Red Tales. He and his late wife Kathleen have five children, six grandchildren, and two feisty cats. At any given time, Dale is at work on several novels and short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
December 9, 2020
The Written Review:
Looking for a new book? Here are some of my favorite self-pub, indie and smaller author-books in my .
4.5 stars
Detective Lieutenant Rick Peller has seen just about everything come through his county.
The envelope had landed on top of a pile of paperwork, to the casual glance one snowflake in a storm.
But this?
I start with zero. Nobody dies today.This seemingly innocuous note starts a deadly chain reaction that rocks Peller and his team to their very core.
There's a murderer on the loose - following the Fibonacci pattern (where the next number in the sequence is the summation of the previous two (i.e. 0, 1, 1, 2, 3...etc))
"Doesn't it strike you as a lot of trouble to go through?It's strangely sinister and the deaths are escalating quickly.
Peller along with his Detective Sergeants, Montufar and Dumas, will need to solve this increasingly high-stakes case as quickly as possible - before the murderer takes this "game" to a whole different level.
"This is getting way too twisted," Dumas said.I quite liked the start of this series!
"And it'll probably get even more twisted before we understand it."
I really didn't know much going into it other than it was a detective book themed about a number sequence but I was pleasantly surprised throughout.
The characters felt fresh, vibrant and exciting - which really made the book pop for me.
There were quite a few main characters and the story line jumps a bit from the various detectives but the strength from the overall narrative kept the book from feeling too confusing.
I definitely have a soft spot for Peller and I am totally keep my fingers crossed for the couple (you know the type - the one "couple" in the book that totally aren't together but totally should get together).
The plot was thrilling and fast-paced. I was really intrigued by the concept of the Fibonacci Murders and I was hooked from the start. The mathematician was a great addition to the detective team!
And there were enough twists and turns that I had absolutely NO idea where the book was going next.
All in all, a fabulous book to spend my birthday reading!
With thanks to the author for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
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December 13, 2017
I like a thriller where the reader has a chance of working out the outcome. There is nothing worse than a contrived thriller that just leaves you saying “really,� when you get to the end. The Fibonacci murders runs well, there are some good clues and excellent characters. The use of the number theme gives it a little twist and provides the book with a nice degree of originality. Professor Kaneko is an excellent central character, well painted and as the book progresses the reader develops a real liking for him. I am sure there will be another book featuring the Professor in the future.
December 11, 2017
A page turner that kept me gripped until the end. An interesting view into the origin of certain crimes. Well written and great full bodied characters.
December 5, 2017
Good Plot... Could have been smashing!
=================================
Let me start by saying that I liked Dale E Lehman's The Fibonacci Murders. For a debut novel I thought he had done a good job, I liked both the idea and the characters, and even though I had solved the case before the police detectives, I thought it was thrilling.
Lieutenant Peller, along with his sergeants Dumas and Montufar, are chasing a serial killer who's basing his killing spree according to some twisted interpretation of the Fibonacci number sequence (a series where the number is always the sum of the last two). The killer keeps the team on their toes by sending them letters with clues and calling in person, and he keeps changing the meaning of the subsequent number in ways that are too complicated for the team to figure out. They use a Professor of mathematics, Tomio Kaneko, to try and get into the killer's head. Meanwhile there's a raging mad golfer who's on the loose, mugging people around Howard county. Things get complicated as more people die - yet the team has not a single lead...
The plot of the book is solid, and while I found the writing somewhat too mechanic and precise (maybe thanks to the author's algorithms and software background), it didn't disturb me - the book was flowing and gripping at the same time.
My issues with "the Fibonacci Murders" lay within a few aspects of the book, and while I don't judge harshly a debut novel, I thought that if given attention to these back on the drawing board, it could have been s smashing thriller, which would have given a fight to anything Dan Brown had written.
First, the novel is not long enough, I was missing a bit of action, and felt we're jumping to an early conclusion. Suddenly the team all profiled the culprit (accurately) and that's that... Moreover, Professor Kaneko somehow manages to find the identity of the perpetrator, and yet goes and investigates on his own - so his revelation eventually has close-to-zero contribution to the novel. I wanted to find out more about the characters, I thought they were very well drawn and multi-dimensional, and had the notion that we are getting details to thicken the book and not necessarily the right ones (Montufar's brother's accident as an example).
Second, I was hoping the author would explore the Fibonacci/Lucas sequences a bit more. I felt Mr. Lehman was playing it safe, rather than challenging our mathematical abilities.
Having said the above, it is an easy read which will keep you glued to the chair. I loved the Howard County police force naivety, it's not something you see everyday in a crime thriller, and I thoughts the Professor was a character well worth a sequel, unlike any other anti-hero I've encountered. 3.5-4 stars, depends upon how complex you like your thrillers.
I've received my review copy for free on BookGobbler.com - free books | honest reviews.
=================================
Let me start by saying that I liked Dale E Lehman's The Fibonacci Murders. For a debut novel I thought he had done a good job, I liked both the idea and the characters, and even though I had solved the case before the police detectives, I thought it was thrilling.
Lieutenant Peller, along with his sergeants Dumas and Montufar, are chasing a serial killer who's basing his killing spree according to some twisted interpretation of the Fibonacci number sequence (a series where the number is always the sum of the last two). The killer keeps the team on their toes by sending them letters with clues and calling in person, and he keeps changing the meaning of the subsequent number in ways that are too complicated for the team to figure out. They use a Professor of mathematics, Tomio Kaneko, to try and get into the killer's head. Meanwhile there's a raging mad golfer who's on the loose, mugging people around Howard county. Things get complicated as more people die - yet the team has not a single lead...
The plot of the book is solid, and while I found the writing somewhat too mechanic and precise (maybe thanks to the author's algorithms and software background), it didn't disturb me - the book was flowing and gripping at the same time.
My issues with "the Fibonacci Murders" lay within a few aspects of the book, and while I don't judge harshly a debut novel, I thought that if given attention to these back on the drawing board, it could have been s smashing thriller, which would have given a fight to anything Dan Brown had written.
First, the novel is not long enough, I was missing a bit of action, and felt we're jumping to an early conclusion. Suddenly the team all profiled the culprit (accurately) and that's that... Moreover, Professor Kaneko somehow manages to find the identity of the perpetrator, and yet goes and investigates on his own - so his revelation eventually has close-to-zero contribution to the novel. I wanted to find out more about the characters, I thought they were very well drawn and multi-dimensional, and had the notion that we are getting details to thicken the book and not necessarily the right ones (Montufar's brother's accident as an example).
Second, I was hoping the author would explore the Fibonacci/Lucas sequences a bit more. I felt Mr. Lehman was playing it safe, rather than challenging our mathematical abilities.
Having said the above, it is an easy read which will keep you glued to the chair. I loved the Howard County police force naivety, it's not something you see everyday in a crime thriller, and I thoughts the Professor was a character well worth a sequel, unlike any other anti-hero I've encountered. 3.5-4 stars, depends upon how complex you like your thrillers.
I've received my review copy for free on BookGobbler.com - free books | honest reviews.
December 19, 2017
Great thriller crime cross that kept me guessing. I think it is a great set up for a series, I am going straight onto True Death now. Well written, fast paced and with an interesting premise.
October 18, 2020
Ever since I first heard the term Fibonacci's rabbits I have been fascinated by the mathematics and so when I saw the book with the title 'The Fibonacci Murders' I could not resist. It did not disappoint.
It starts on a snowy day which cleverly adds to the chill of the first note received by the police, most of whom can't work it out. Peller can and he's proved right. But things don't progress as Peller expects - something is not quite right.
An absorbing puzzle, twists galore. I loved it.
It starts on a snowy day which cleverly adds to the chill of the first note received by the police, most of whom can't work it out. Peller can and he's proved right. But things don't progress as Peller expects - something is not quite right.
An absorbing puzzle, twists galore. I loved it.
February 22, 2020
First of all, when I picked up ‘The Fibonacci Murders� (TFN), I came off a few rather long, somewhat slogging non-fiction books so I was delighted to have chosen something fun, light, fast for my return to narrative fiction. And TFM delivers just what the doctor had prescribed, a breezy, suspenseful two-hundred page ride (200 pages according to amazon; on ŷ it clocks in at just 174).
While TFN doesn’t reinvent the wheel � it doesn’t have to as the existing wheel still has a lot of mileage to it (excuse my mixed metaphors, will ya?) � it’s an engrossing old-school cat-and-mouse thriller that sticks to the rules of the genre and works like a treat.
The premise is as classical as they come: serial killer murders according to some obscure mathematical methodology and taunts the police with clues about his or her next victims, clues that are concise and yet seemingly too broad for the police to be able to do anything about, however hard they try. That’s all I’m saying. I find it’s always best to go into a book without too much prior information about the plot. Let yourself be surprised. The premise will do nicely.
The prose is economical and lean, just as I like it. However, no book is perfect (well, that’s not quite true, but precious few are), and my biggest issue in the case of ‘TFN� is that the characterisation of the members of the police team in pursuit of the culprit, the three heroes of the piece, is somewhat flat and undistinguished. The author would have done well to invest them with more personality to make them click as relatable people.
Having said that, the overall pacing is spot on and the story compelling.
For the record, I received a free copy of ‘The Fibonacci Murders� in exchange for an unbiased review.
While TFN doesn’t reinvent the wheel � it doesn’t have to as the existing wheel still has a lot of mileage to it (excuse my mixed metaphors, will ya?) � it’s an engrossing old-school cat-and-mouse thriller that sticks to the rules of the genre and works like a treat.
The premise is as classical as they come: serial killer murders according to some obscure mathematical methodology and taunts the police with clues about his or her next victims, clues that are concise and yet seemingly too broad for the police to be able to do anything about, however hard they try. That’s all I’m saying. I find it’s always best to go into a book without too much prior information about the plot. Let yourself be surprised. The premise will do nicely.
The prose is economical and lean, just as I like it. However, no book is perfect (well, that’s not quite true, but precious few are), and my biggest issue in the case of ‘TFN� is that the characterisation of the members of the police team in pursuit of the culprit, the three heroes of the piece, is somewhat flat and undistinguished. The author would have done well to invest them with more personality to make them click as relatable people.
Having said that, the overall pacing is spot on and the story compelling.
For the record, I received a free copy of ‘The Fibonacci Murders� in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 11, 2017
From the time Detective Lieutenant Rick Peller received a note reading “I start with zero. Nobody dies today,� I was hooked. It was a brain teaser deciphering the hidden meaning behind the continued notes from the killer. What did it mean? Did he want to be caught or was he just showing his superiority?
It became clear the clues to the crimes were being based on the Fibonacci series where each number is the sum of the previous two. The detectives researched the possibilities and found that the Fibonacci (sequence) matched the clues. The sequence was created by mathematician Leonardo Pisano Bigollo (1170-1250). He was also known as Leonardo of Pisa.
The killer changed the pattern and meaning of the numbers and signed off each note with a variation of the mathematician’s name. The detectives were on their toes never knowing what weapon or place he would strike next. They needed help analyzing the clues in the notes so the killer could be arrested before more people were murdered.
A highly regarded mathematician Tomio (Tom) Kaneko from a nearby university was recruited to assist the police in analyzing the murders. He was methodical in studying the numerical series to which the killings were tied. His discovery of the killer’s purpose, if left unstopped, trumpeted any serial crimes to date.
The Fabonacci Murders will make you look at a Wilson Nine Iron with suspicion and that’s just the beginning. Hold on to your hat and enjoy being an armchair detective as the murders become more deceitful and personal to Detective Lieutenant Rick Peller.
It became clear the clues to the crimes were being based on the Fibonacci series where each number is the sum of the previous two. The detectives researched the possibilities and found that the Fibonacci (sequence) matched the clues. The sequence was created by mathematician Leonardo Pisano Bigollo (1170-1250). He was also known as Leonardo of Pisa.
The killer changed the pattern and meaning of the numbers and signed off each note with a variation of the mathematician’s name. The detectives were on their toes never knowing what weapon or place he would strike next. They needed help analyzing the clues in the notes so the killer could be arrested before more people were murdered.
A highly regarded mathematician Tomio (Tom) Kaneko from a nearby university was recruited to assist the police in analyzing the murders. He was methodical in studying the numerical series to which the killings were tied. His discovery of the killer’s purpose, if left unstopped, trumpeted any serial crimes to date.
The Fabonacci Murders will make you look at a Wilson Nine Iron with suspicion and that’s just the beginning. Hold on to your hat and enjoy being an armchair detective as the murders become more deceitful and personal to Detective Lieutenant Rick Peller.
July 17, 2018
“Fibonacci”Numbers Originated In Ancient India*
I enjoyed reading this gripping, fast-paced mystery which features a cunning serial killer who uses the Fibonacci sequence to confuse the police. This mathematical gem was also used by a psychopath in a 2008 Criminal Minds episode. In this book, the author made excellent use of numerical patterns to build the complex storyline.
There are two bad guys committing different crimes at the same time—or so I thought—until the author surprised me with an unexpected twist. Well played, Mr. Lehman! I quickly reassessed my theories whilst searching for the killer.
The three police protagonists were well developed and were great to follow whilst they investigated the serial murders. The antagonists were very interesting, especially the one the CID nicknamed “Leo”—an homage of sorts to Leonardo of Pisa, who introduced the Hindu/Indian mathematical sequence to the west. I was delighted that an important secondary character was a mathematician, who consulted with the CID detectives.
A plus for me: I lived in the Baltimore area for several years, so I enjoyed the nostalgia of riding around Howard County, Maryland with the detectives.
An enthusiastic 4 stars.
*
I enjoyed reading this gripping, fast-paced mystery which features a cunning serial killer who uses the Fibonacci sequence to confuse the police. This mathematical gem was also used by a psychopath in a 2008 Criminal Minds episode. In this book, the author made excellent use of numerical patterns to build the complex storyline.
There are two bad guys committing different crimes at the same time—or so I thought—until the author surprised me with an unexpected twist. Well played, Mr. Lehman! I quickly reassessed my theories whilst searching for the killer.
The three police protagonists were well developed and were great to follow whilst they investigated the serial murders. The antagonists were very interesting, especially the one the CID nicknamed “Leo”—an homage of sorts to Leonardo of Pisa, who introduced the Hindu/Indian mathematical sequence to the west. I was delighted that an important secondary character was a mathematician, who consulted with the CID detectives.
A plus for me: I lived in the Baltimore area for several years, so I enjoyed the nostalgia of riding around Howard County, Maryland with the detectives.
An enthusiastic 4 stars.
*
May 27, 2022
Detective Peller has two problems: an unpredictable killer and someone assaulting people with a golf club. The first in the series had its strong points, pacing done well and location descriptions. The role of math was handled smoothly. I would have liked to see Peller given more depth if he is to continue in the lead. The killer is reprehensible, striking in unforeseeable ways even after Peller identifies his strategies. Peller and the two detectives working with him engage in frustrated pursuit as the count of victims climbs.
October 29, 2017
A killer is on the loose in Howard County. Working the Fibonacci sequence he taunts the police with cryptic clues to his next crime. The Fibonacci sequence of numbers works on the next number being the combination of the previous two, i.e. 1, 2, 3, 5, 8,
Meanwhile a serial mugger is clubbing people with a golf club and stealing their valuables.
Lieutenant Puller and his two lead detectives are forced to split their time between the crimes, and as both perpetrators seem to be escalating, they are forced to turn to mathematician Professor Kaneko for help. Together they must stop the killer before things escalate to unimaginable levels.
Dale Lehman has constructed a solid thriller with occasional flashes of clear crisp descriptive passages. The story generally works, but for me there were a few issues that stopped it from being a great story.
The subplot of the mugger doesn't really add anything to the story, and doesn't really come to a satisfactory conclusion (I don't want to go into too much detail as it would contain spoilers).
The character of Professor Kaneko is well drawn, but again seemed unnecessary. Apart from the initial consultation, which required his expertise, the work he does to identify the killer is standard grunt work that could have, and should have, been done by the police. It didn't require any specialist mathematical knowledge.
Also I found the intro sections for each chapter too long, and unnecessary. They didn't add anything, and the intro to the first chapter indicates a large part for the character than actually occurred.
I liked the three main police officers, they were well defined in both their working and personal lives. Perhaps due to the shortness of the book though I felt like the character of Leo could have been provided with greater depth. And the final revelation on why he was doing it was a complete let down.
I'm not American and so don't know the ins and outs of law enforcement over there, but it seemed really strange to me that the FBI wasn't involved in a serial killer case. Especially one that had achieved national and international attention (CNN and BBC at a press conference). THe police department in Howard County seemed content to try and solve it themselves without calling for assistance, which seems odd.
All in all as I said it was a solid first book, but I felt if the author had taken his time and made it slightly longer, we would have had a much richer tale.
Meanwhile a serial mugger is clubbing people with a golf club and stealing their valuables.
Lieutenant Puller and his two lead detectives are forced to split their time between the crimes, and as both perpetrators seem to be escalating, they are forced to turn to mathematician Professor Kaneko for help. Together they must stop the killer before things escalate to unimaginable levels.
Dale Lehman has constructed a solid thriller with occasional flashes of clear crisp descriptive passages. The story generally works, but for me there were a few issues that stopped it from being a great story.
The subplot of the mugger doesn't really add anything to the story, and doesn't really come to a satisfactory conclusion (I don't want to go into too much detail as it would contain spoilers).
The character of Professor Kaneko is well drawn, but again seemed unnecessary. Apart from the initial consultation, which required his expertise, the work he does to identify the killer is standard grunt work that could have, and should have, been done by the police. It didn't require any specialist mathematical knowledge.
Also I found the intro sections for each chapter too long, and unnecessary. They didn't add anything, and the intro to the first chapter indicates a large part for the character than actually occurred.
I liked the three main police officers, they were well defined in both their working and personal lives. Perhaps due to the shortness of the book though I felt like the character of Leo could have been provided with greater depth. And the final revelation on why he was doing it was a complete let down.
I'm not American and so don't know the ins and outs of law enforcement over there, but it seemed really strange to me that the FBI wasn't involved in a serial killer case. Especially one that had achieved national and international attention (CNN and BBC at a press conference). THe police department in Howard County seemed content to try and solve it themselves without calling for assistance, which seems odd.
All in all as I said it was a solid first book, but I felt if the author had taken his time and made it slightly longer, we would have had a much richer tale.
October 19, 2017
The Fibonacci Murders by Dale E Lehman is a mind blowing contemporary murder mystery. Murders connected to the Fibonacci sequence really test the reader's power to figure out what is going on and who will be next?
Not a mathematician but I found the whole book fascinating in its complexity. It drew me in from the start and had me questioning - whose was the mathematician's voice?
The whole book hung together marvellously with a fabulous plotline and realistic characters. In my head I 'watched' the police drama unfold. I could easily imagine a bustling police department, the press conferences and the general panic amongst the public. The novel would make a great film.
As the book unfolded, so too did the identity of the perpetrator. With heart racing, I sped on to the conclusion of the novel.
A fabulous read for anyone who likes both a puzzle and murders to solve. The action came thick and fast, with no time for the reader to become bored. With well drawn and likable characters, The Fibonacci Murders is the perfect read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
Not a mathematician but I found the whole book fascinating in its complexity. It drew me in from the start and had me questioning - whose was the mathematician's voice?
The whole book hung together marvellously with a fabulous plotline and realistic characters. In my head I 'watched' the police drama unfold. I could easily imagine a bustling police department, the press conferences and the general panic amongst the public. The novel would make a great film.
As the book unfolded, so too did the identity of the perpetrator. With heart racing, I sped on to the conclusion of the novel.
A fabulous read for anyone who likes both a puzzle and murders to solve. The action came thick and fast, with no time for the reader to become bored. With well drawn and likable characters, The Fibonacci Murders is the perfect read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
November 12, 2017
I enjoyed this novel from beginning to end.
It starts with the intriguing premise of a serial killer who follows a mathematical formula. “I start with zero. Nobody dies today.� I’ve read a lot of police procedurals and serial killer thrillers and can usually work out what’s going to happen well before the end, but this one is far from formulaic, despite the premise, and kept me (and the detectives) guessing.
The story is very well written, the pacing is excellent and the characters interesting and engaging. Beginning each chapter with a short narrative piece is a clever device, as it’s not clear in the beginning who is narrating or if he is reliable. You don’t have to be good at mathematics to understand the plot, although it did brush up my mental arithmetic skills:-).
I have only one very minor quibble. I wasn’t sure if Montufar’s brother’s car crash was intended to be a red herring or not. If so, it could have been flagged up more clearly and used to mislead. However, it doesn’t detract from the quality of the novel, which should appeal to lovers of both puzzle type mysteries and fast-moving psychological thrillers.
It starts with the intriguing premise of a serial killer who follows a mathematical formula. “I start with zero. Nobody dies today.� I’ve read a lot of police procedurals and serial killer thrillers and can usually work out what’s going to happen well before the end, but this one is far from formulaic, despite the premise, and kept me (and the detectives) guessing.
The story is very well written, the pacing is excellent and the characters interesting and engaging. Beginning each chapter with a short narrative piece is a clever device, as it’s not clear in the beginning who is narrating or if he is reliable. You don’t have to be good at mathematics to understand the plot, although it did brush up my mental arithmetic skills:-).
I have only one very minor quibble. I wasn’t sure if Montufar’s brother’s car crash was intended to be a red herring or not. If so, it could have been flagged up more clearly and used to mislead. However, it doesn’t detract from the quality of the novel, which should appeal to lovers of both puzzle type mysteries and fast-moving psychological thrillers.
February 26, 2022
Having been a math major in college, I knew what the Fibonacci sequence is, but had no idea how that would be part of a murder mystery. And the way the story begins, neither do the police. It is only after the first few murders that the killer "shows his hand" and tips them off to his scheme. It explains (somewhat) the murders after the fact, but the clues the killer gives them does not help them know where the next murder will take place or who might be the target.
There is a team of detectives who work this case and another one equally as baffling. They go from thinking the two cases are related to being sure they are not. However, they do come back together when one of the killers meets his end.
The team decides they need the help of a mathematician to figure this out. They also begin to build a profile of the killer and start trying to identify him by his likely background. There is much intrigue in the story as well as good police work. The end is surprising, but leaves several questions unanswered. The reader is left half-satisfied, but it's a great book!
There is a team of detectives who work this case and another one equally as baffling. They go from thinking the two cases are related to being sure they are not. However, they do come back together when one of the killers meets his end.
The team decides they need the help of a mathematician to figure this out. They also begin to build a profile of the killer and start trying to identify him by his likely background. There is much intrigue in the story as well as good police work. The end is surprising, but leaves several questions unanswered. The reader is left half-satisfied, but it's a great book!
June 18, 2023
An unusual police procedural.
Beginning with an interesting concept (a serial killer uses mathematical theorems to choose his victims), we are lead on an intriguing chase, with the police for the most part completely stymied.
The novel is well-written and the characters are fully fleshed and likable, so we can find compassion for their frustration with this mystery. The use of a brilliant mathematician as a foil to the police is an exciting ploy, especially as the story often skips to his first-person account rather than the third-person point-of-view present in most of the work.
The plot seems to sag just a bit in the middle of the story—when we’re presented several times with the lack of clues and detectives� inability to identify the murderer. However, that didn’t have a great impact on my enjoyment of the book, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspense novels and police procedurals.
I received a ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion, which is freely presented here.
Beginning with an interesting concept (a serial killer uses mathematical theorems to choose his victims), we are lead on an intriguing chase, with the police for the most part completely stymied.
The novel is well-written and the characters are fully fleshed and likable, so we can find compassion for their frustration with this mystery. The use of a brilliant mathematician as a foil to the police is an exciting ploy, especially as the story often skips to his first-person account rather than the third-person point-of-view present in most of the work.
The plot seems to sag just a bit in the middle of the story—when we’re presented several times with the lack of clues and detectives� inability to identify the murderer. However, that didn’t have a great impact on my enjoyment of the book, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspense novels and police procedurals.
I received a ARC of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion, which is freely presented here.
July 9, 2018
Thanks to my math geek husband, I was a little familiar with the Fibonacci series. However this well played out scenario took my knowledge to a whole new level. The local police are a little out of their depth as they deal with a serial mugger, using a nine iron and Leo, who uses Fibonacci for murders. The main police character, Peller, a lonely guy after the death of his wife, and one of his right hands, Montufar, are dealing with their own personal dramas. Also, a math “guy� named Tomio with his own interesting back story is trying to help. Being the first in the series there is some setup and what I hope will lead to more in-depth character development. There are several subplots that are left at least partially open to entice you to the next book but they do not detract from this story. On the whole it was an enjoyable weekend read and I look forward to heading back to Howard County and the next mystery in this series.
October 2, 2017
This is a gripping thriller that had me rushing to finish the book. As the police try to understand the murderer's motive and anticipate the next move, I was totally immersed in the complexity of the case. The body count mounts, and the murders are upsetting. As the pressure on the detectives increases, I could feel their desperation and anger at the lack of clues. The descriptions of each detective are good at rounding out their characters so that I was concerned about how the murders affected all of them. I know Columbia Maryland, so I carefully read the descriptions of the setting. Very well done. The use of numbers and patterns in the story is very clever and not too challenging, even for those of us who have fear of math. And most importantly, the ending is powerful and very satisfying.
August 28, 2021
This story started strong, and with the multiple points of view and the focus on the cops working this case, it reminded me a bit of Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series.
As other reviewers have already pointed out, the ending felt a bit abrupt - personally, I would have liked to learn more about the motive, the specifics of the pattern each of the victims fit. Plus, as has also been pointed out by others, one of the supposedly smartest people we meet in this story does something absolutely stupid - and not even his wife tries to dissuade him from his harebrained scheme?
Overall, I'd rate this story 3.5/5 stars.
That being said, I enjoyed getting to know Peller and his colleagues, and I'd like to read more stories in the series.
As other reviewers have already pointed out, the ending felt a bit abrupt - personally, I would have liked to learn more about the motive, the specifics of the pattern each of the victims fit. Plus, as has also been pointed out by others, one of the supposedly smartest people we meet in this story does something absolutely stupid - and not even his wife tries to dissuade him from his harebrained scheme?
Overall, I'd rate this story 3.5/5 stars.
That being said, I enjoyed getting to know Peller and his colleagues, and I'd like to read more stories in the series.
March 1, 2021
If you are a fan of the t.v. series Criminal Minds, this book is for you. I really enjoyed puzzling through this mystery thriller. I don't want to say too much, because I think this is one of those books to go into knowing as little as possible. I loved each distinct character of the detective crew, you aren't piecing the mystery together with one main hero but multiple, a team with each person having their own qualities to bring to the table.
The endpages contained excerpts from the next 2 books and they sound just as fun to read. I think Mr. Lehman's writing is an undiscovered gem based on how many ratings are on this page.
The endpages contained excerpts from the next 2 books and they sound just as fun to read. I think Mr. Lehman's writing is an undiscovered gem based on how many ratings are on this page.
March 28, 2021
A guy's love for patterns and needs to kill sets up an intriguing page-turner. For a killer with such an interesting skillset, the story lacks a definite protagonist to keep him on his toes. The story had all the elements of suspense but the resolution could've been a bit better. The motifs used such as the Fibonacci series feel forced due to this. The story and the concept feel disparate to each other towards the end. This holds it back from becoming one of the best crime thrillers to just another one in the genre. The characters could've had much more depth or interesting traits to them. It still provides enough clues along the way to guess it so keeps us engaged.
November 19, 2023
A solid police procedural mystery with an original premise. Lehman hooked me with his idea for a serial killer who plans his murders based on the Fibonacci sequence, and mostly delivers on this concept by adding complexity to the pattern throughout the novel. The novel’s diverse cast of characters are chosen and fleshed out with care. But I actually wish Lehman had gone deeper in this 186 page novel, both with his characters and the plot. There seemed to be room for additional development, but since this novel is the first in a series, perhaps that will come in later installments.
November 19, 2019
My favorite thing about this story is how the author threw in character quirks that made me go, “Why is he/she behaving that way? Is he/she the killer?� It got my imagination revved up every time someone new showed up and was a whole lot of fun.
The chapters flew by in a blur and before I knew it, the I’d reached the end, still hungry to know more about the detective’s personal struggles and personal motivations. Well, I guess that’s what Book 2 is for. Can’t wait to read more.
The chapters flew by in a blur and before I knew it, the I’d reached the end, still hungry to know more about the detective’s personal struggles and personal motivations. Well, I guess that’s what Book 2 is for. Can’t wait to read more.
July 9, 2020
This book gets off to an excellent start as a thrilling, fast-paced crime drama and I like the main characters. But by the second half the story starts to get implausible and even unbelievable... There is no federal support for the Howard County police in their hunt for a serial killer; a mathematics professor goes out on his own to find the suspect...
Finally, the real dealbreaker: the background and motivation of the killer are not very well developed.
Close, but no cigar.
Finally, the real dealbreaker: the background and motivation of the killer are not very well developed.
Close, but no cigar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2022
A well-written, interesting story about a murderer who teases the police, using the Fibonacci Code, and terrorizing the inhabitants of a USA city; and a mugger attacking people with a golf club. Could the murderer and mugger be the same person? With the help of a mathematician, the detectives will have to decipher the mystery behind those crimes.
With a fast pace and an intelligent plot, it grabs our attention from the first to the last page.
With a fast pace and an intelligent plot, it grabs our attention from the first to the last page.
January 14, 2024
First, I must admit I was drawn to this novel because I also live in Howard County, MD where it’s based. I’m very glad I found it, because it is a very well written “Police Procedural� or as my grandmother used to call them, “a Murder�. Actually a Serial Murder. And it’s the first in a series of four, so I have three more to look forward to. Hooray! Read it, you will be hooked. Even if you don’t live in Howard County.
January 26, 2025
Dale Lehman is an exceptional author. Anyone who likes detective novels will enjoy his book. I am glad he was not too graphic in his description of the murders, and I appreciated not hearing GD and other repetitive curse words that do nothing for the story itself. While reading his novel, I felt like I was in the middle of a dramatic television show. Great job Dale Thanks for a wonderful and entertaining book.
April 22, 2025
An enjoyable read! I had a hard time remembering who was who at first, but their personalities developed pretty well. My biggest comment on the book is that it's hard to feel satisfied with an ending when the detectives don't prevent more murders.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2017
Very well written. Really enjoyed this mystery.
June 20, 2019
This is a well written novel with a fabulous plot linking math concepts to the antagonist. Loved it!
January 21, 2020
I enjoyed The Fabonacci Murders particularly because I live in Howard County. While the writing was good, I think it would have worked better with fewer point of view.
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