AS THE TWIG IS BENT begins with the second in a series of brutal rape/murders, which are occurring in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. At each scene, the killer has left a distinct signature, a heart carved into his victim's breast. Contained within the heart are the initials "J.C." and the initials of the deceased. Also found are copies of the New Testament - with underlined passages referring to infidelity - and the fingerprints of a juvenile arrested in the 1960s in Upstate New York.Assigned to the case is NYPD detective, Matt Davis, who is hopelessly addicted to fly fishing - and chocolate. A one-quarter Mohawk Indian partner, a scarred Vietnam veteran, and a female detective looking for "true love" complete the cast in this mystery thriller that features a startling glimpse of the sordid underbelly of the world of Internet chat rooms. The nerve-tingling plot grabs hold of the reader and doesn't let go, propelling "As The Twig Is Bent" toward its unlikely, bone-chilling conclusion.