The Watson Girl

By Leslie Wolfe


This story begs the question-How well do we really know the people that we know so well?

A whole family is murdered, at least that's what the monster thought, until he saw the "family sticker" on the van.  He killed three children - two boys and a girl. However, the sticker showed two girls and a boy.  He screwed up, but he couldn't imagine how.  He searched through the house one more time just to be sure, but there was no one else there (no one who was alive anyway).  Upon hearing sirens, he ran off, hoping his mistake wouldn't ruin him.  

Hours passed before Laura Watson was found.  She not only became known as the little five year old who survived while hiding in a laundry hamper, she also became known as The Watson Girl.   Though Laura was adopted by family friends, she still struggled growing up.  She couldn't remember her own family or the details of that horrific night.  At least the killer was captured; and now 15 years later, his execution was imminent.

With justice served, what else could go wrong?  Enter FBI Agent Tess Winnett.  She believes that the man behind bars known as The Family Man is a ruthless killer, just not the killer of the Watson family.  If the real killer is still roaming free, how long will it take him to seek out his only witness...to finally silence The Watson Girl forever?

I really like how Leslie Wolfe incorporates chapters in this story from the viewpoint of the killer.  Reading his firsthand account is a very realistic way to see how his sick mind works.  His arrogance reminded me a little of the narrator in Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart.  In addition, I must add, I will never look at buying apples the same way again.