Retired DC homicide cop Marty Singer witnesses a horrific murder and the family of the victim hires him to find the killer. But when he peels back the cover on the case, Marty discovers a rotten core of corruption, graft, and violence that runs from the lowest city street to the top of the political food chain. The only way to catch the killer is to dive right in—and stay alive long enough to find out who or what is The Spike.

Revised edition: This edition of The Spike includes editorial revisions.

Matthew Iden writes fantasy, science fiction, horror, thrillers, crime fiction, and contemporary literary fiction with a psychological twist. An eclectic resume—he's held jobs with the US Postal Service, international non-profit groups, a short stint with the Forest Service in Sitka, Alaska and time with the globe-spanning Semester at Sea program—has given him inspiration for short stories and novel ideas, while trips to Iceland, Patagonia, and Antarctica haven't hurt in the creative juices department, either. A post-graduate education in English Literature wasn't necessary, but it helped define what he didn't want to do with his life and let him read a great deal of good books. Matthew lives in Alexandria, Virginia.