The Dead Soul

In his first novel, the bestselling true crime author and star of ID's hit series Dark Minds takes you into the world of a sadistic serial killer.

M. William Phelps's The Dead Soul takes you on a suspenseful journey through Boston's illicit past, where Detective Jake "Sundance" Cooper fights to redeem his crumbling career. At the same time, a sadistic serial killer known as "The Optimist"—a character based on the author's 20 years of research and writing about real serial killers—terrorizes young female victims along the city's Freedom Trail. Cooper's investigation exposes a corrupt Boston PD. It puts him at the center of a choice between blue blood loyalty and the pursuit of truth as his mentor, Detective Mo Blackhall, faces an indictment for his involvement in a scandal.


This gritty thriller provides a fascinating look into the reality of Boston's mean streets. Driven by a cast of characters reminiscent of Dennis Lehane's finest fiction, The Dead Soul offers a thrill ride of suspense, mystery, and police procedural drama.

"Read the first page of The Dead Soul and you won't stop . . . Phelps's narrative grabs you by the lapels and doesn't let go." —John Lutz, New York Times–bestselling author