Catch a Catfish Killer — Ann M. Pratley

After a suspicious gas explosion wakes a usually peaceful community, what is left of the home reveals the charred remains of Bob Masters, a hospital orderly who has a solid reputation as someone good-hearted and caring. When fire scene investigators confirm their findings that the explosion was intended, so begins a murder investigation. The one question that's on everyone's mind is why? Why would anyone intentionally try to hurt such a kind and hard working man?Called in to work out what could have gone wrong in what appears to be a simple, quiet life, and who could be behind such a horrific act, Special Agents Ashley Power and Tim Moore start to realize how much more to someone's life there can be other than what people see on the outside.Embark on a murder mystery involving crime solving of the digital kind. Initially, through studying online actions and conversations, it becomes evident that catfishing - an unfortunate and sad aspect of modern day dating - seems to be at the root of what begins to be a pattern. Even knowing this, the journey of discovery the agents are subjected to still surprises them.Catfishing: a deceptive activity in which a person creates a fictional persona or fake identity on a social networking service, usually targeting a specific victim. With it being such an easy way to take advantage of people in the modern age, it may take quite some detective work to solve the mystery of who is ever behind any screen, at any time.~The books of the Power Moore Investigation Tales series are standalone stories and can be read in any order.EDITORIAL REVIEWS:Catch a Catfish Killer is book five of the six book Power Moore Investigation Tales series. Although I hadn't read any of the previous books, I found the premise of this one interesting: An arson fire which, on the face of it, leaves Special Agents Ashley Power and Tim Moore wondering why they were assigned the case, turns into a deeper exploration of the modern pitfalls of online dating, the needs of the lonely, and those who prey on them. What begins as a single home, single person explosion becomes a series of linked murders. It takes Power and Moore digging into the online personas of several men who present a much different face online than they do in person.Catch a Catfish Killer is not a fast-paced, edge of your seat, page turner. Instead it is more of a Sunday afternoon drive or a cold night in front of the fireplace kind of vibe. Written with a familiar and comfortable writing style, the book is a very easy read. The main characters are likeable and there is just the mildest hint of unrequited or untapped romance between the two.I would very much recommend this book to others. If you are a mystery buff, you will likely guess whodunit, but the why might keep you guessing.~~ Reedsy Reviewer