Night Rituals by Gary Paulsen

Published by

Sarah Ann

on

February 13, 2014

I’m a sucker for vintage thriller and suspense novels like Night Rituals, which came out in 1989.

The story begins when a janitor at the Denver airport finds a severed boob in an abandoned carry-on bag. Ed “Push” Tincker, the homicide detective assigned to the case, soon learns that a serial killer is cutting up women and scattering their body parts across the western part of the United States. Push also learns that the murderer is practicing a crazy ritual that is either satanic or part of an ancient Indian or South American ritual.

Night Rituals isn’t very good. However, I enjoyed it because it was fun reading about Push’s train wreck of a character.

Push is a 35-year-old divorced homicide detective who spends most nights in the seediest parts of Denver. He drives by his ex-wife’s house a few times a week, has an ongoing affair with a saucy flight attendant, and even bangs the occasional hooker. All other nights, he can be found at the local cop bar owned and operated by a former detective.

There are a handful of short chapters about some of the murder rituals told from the serial killer’s point of view, but most of the book is about Push and his hunt for the killer. Actually, Night Rituals appears to be more about Push’s life than about the murderer.

The denouement of this novel is weak and unsatisfying, even given the gritty and dark mood that surrounds the story. In the end, my fondest memories of Night Rituals will be Push’s descriptions of cruising along Colfax Avenue in Denver.

Night Rituals is just one of hundreds of books Paulsen has written. Other books by Gary Paulsen include:

What’s your favorite book by Gary Paulsen?

Last Updated on November 24, 2025 by Sarah Ann

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