Here's my rec to close out mystery/case file week here at Epic Recs!

Title: Rictus
Fandom: NCIS
Pairing: Gen
Categories: Mystery, case file, angst, pre-canon, backstory
Length: Epic (63,144 words)
Warnings: Violence, case deals with a killer targeting children, descriptions of crime scenes with children victims

Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Author’s profile @FFN

Special thanks to epona34 for letting me rec in her normal sandbox this week! :D

Summary:
How Tony Dinozzo started working for NCIS.

Review:
If you’re in the NCIS fandom you’ve no doubt read this story from the mid 2000’s. It is a terrific tale that takes a small piece of dialogue between Kate and Tony and expands on it in a completely plausible way explaining how Gibbs and Tony met and the circumstances that brought Tony to NCIS. Obviously this has since been Jossed, but I think it still stands the test of time.

The overall story is well written and the mystery keeps you wondering as it does Gibbs and Tony. I enjoyed the procedural part of this almost as much as the storyline itself because police work and investigations do take time, are frequently frustrating, and sometimes it’s knowing that all the pieces are there and just not being sure how they fit together.

The author has a great ear for dialogue, especially when it comes to Ducky, and the characterizations of Gibbs and Tony are layered and believable. The OC’s are incredibly strong and distinct and add much to the story.

If it’s been awhile since you’ve read this, I recommend giving it a re-read, it truly is just as good, even years later. And if you’ve never read this story? I’m a little envious of you and recommend you give it a shot because this is one of those stories that highlights the best of what fanfic is all about.

Rictus